View Full Version : Am I in the do do ?
OK let me set the scene. Coming down a 50mph A road at a rate of knots somewhat north of the limit. and I see a patrol car (ford Focus Estate, Panda not highway) parked in a layby with the back of the vehicle tawrds me. With about 300yds to go, I slams the anchors on and pootles past at 50mph. Friend does the same behind me a split second later. The patrol car then follows us back into my home town (about 6 miles) we obvioulsy stay within the limit from then on with no overtakes (dont want to give them an excuse). Anyway I get in to town and he still follows me the only reason I see that I get home without being stopped is that I go through lights just as they change and he has to stop.
My assumption is that if they had any evidence they would have pulled me, and that he was merely following us to let us know that he new we were speeding adn that with his presence we would be pooping it and therefore woudl slow down.
My question is, should I expect anything to happen, or to land on my mat in the next two weeks?
Oh extra info is that in his rear view he would have only seen me speeding for say 3 seconds max.
dirtsk8
30-08-08, 10:13 PM
Forget about it! If there had been a camera in the back of the car (and I doubt there was), there would have been no way for it to have captured your plate or any other identifying things!
He was most likely just following you to noise you up a bit. You probably disturbed his kip on the backroad!
Besides - as far as I'm aware, there has to be two of them. And they weren't even traffic cops.
Don't worry.
Dangerous Dave
30-08-08, 10:20 PM
If it is your local bobby panda car then there is no evidence as only the the traffic divisions vehicles are equipment with evidence gathering equipment.
As previous, without a doubt you have nothin to worry about if he had of caught you he would definatley have stopped you regardless of the traffic lights. As for there having to be two of them, that is rubbish, having two just re-enforces their evidence. It is much better for the police to stop you at the time of the offence rather than sending an NIP 2 weeks later!!
Dangerous Dave
30-08-08, 10:35 PM
As for there having to be two of them, that is rubbish, having two just re-enforces their evidence.
Correct, in a way.
Having two is only compulsory when the correct measures are not obtainable, if this was a regular panda car then there would be a need for two police witnesses as they do not carry on board video equipment. For example an officer with a laser gun is enough to prosecute you, the officer is backing up his equipment making that two witnesses. As for the camera vans and on board traffic vehicle video footage, no further evidence is required as you are there in black and white.
If this was a regular panda car then a sole officer in that car would not have the equipment ie laser to prosecute somebody for speeding. Panda cars are not calibrated and so even if there were 10 officers in an uncalibrated car then a prosecution would probably not be successful however that does not mean a prosecution could not be brought about. At no place in the law does it say that TWO officers are COMPULSORY when bringing about a prosecution for any offence, this is an unfounded myth! Which purely stems from officers prefering to have two officers to co-orberate one another. So again if one officer on his own in an uncalibrated car wanted to bring about a prosecution then he or she could do so, wether that prosecution would be successful is another matter. An officer in a calibrated car is simply more likely to be successful in a prosecution. In addition to all of this if an officer without equipment of any sort and in car wether calibrated or not, would have to conduct a following check over a certain distance to have the evidence to bring a prosecution. Putting it straight if the cop who you have said saw you did not have equipment to check your speed whilst static at the road side and did not do a following check then he has no evidence to take you to court.
dirtsk8
30-08-08, 11:06 PM
Anyway, Rog - you've most likely nowt to worry about!
Tah fellas, I am now not so worried. Thought as much but wanted to get other peoples views. Its a stupid limit as the road was 60 mph without incident for years and they have just continued extending the 50mph over the last few years. It hasnt stopped accidents as its the same road those poor 6 kids in one car were killed on.
Red Herring
30-08-08, 11:25 PM
Better still why not try and stick to 30, 40 and 50 limits and save play time for the NSL roads where there is less chance of rubbing locals up the wrong way or running into a speed trap?
Very true herring and I would normally stick to the the red circle limits, its just that its so damn stupid that they have a 50mph limit on what is a rural A road. Its actually made the road more dangerous because the disparagy (spell right?) of speeds between vehicles is far greater and the overtakes have consequently got far more frequent and dangerous (talking about between cars not when on bike).
I know this doesnt excuse challenging the speed limit :(
Hmmm - I think your question has been answered and there is little I can add, other than...
... you said 'do do'...
... tee hee hee. ;)
Red Herring
31-08-08, 08:42 AM
Very true herring and I would normally stick to the the red circle limits, its just that its so damn stupid that they have a 50mph limit on what is a rural A road. Its actually made the road more dangerous because the disparagy (spell right?) of speeds between vehicles is far greater and the overtakes have consequently got far more frequent and dangerous (talking about between cars not when on bike).
I know this doesnt excuse challenging the speed limit :(
Sorry, didn't mean to preach, but you are spot on about the effect that some of the recent speed limit introductions have on riders/drivers. I know quite a few who for years have always behaved impeccably in the red limits on the grounds that they then ride at an appropriate speed in the NSL, but even they are becoming frustrated at some of the rural 50 and 40 limits, especially when they appear to be the only persons making any attempt to observe them.
Dangerous Dave
31-08-08, 10:04 AM
At no place in the law does it say that TWO officers are COMPULSORY when bringing about a prosecution for any offence, this is an unfounded myth!
Do you want to ask my neighbour that and see what he says, he is a high ranking traffic officer and will vouch for what I wrote above.
Panda cars are not calibrated, true, but if you are obviously exceeding the speed they can still use that against you as long as one officer has a witness.
Hiya guys,,I know its not nice when you get a follow.Just to clear up the TWO OFFICERS thing.The law actually states that an offence of speeding (along with treason and perjury I believe) may only be prosecuted when there is coroborration as to the speed the offending vehicle .
This means that an officer on his own can coroborate what his VASCAR machine says or vice versa .They may have been looking for an incident of careless or even dangerous driving by following you, however, you would have been detained at the time I imagine if that was the case.
The only real difference to the above is that there are some speeding offences on motorways which do not require the same degree of coroboration.So be careful on the motorway.
cheers
pj
Do you want to ask my neighbour that and see what he says, he is a high ranking traffic officer and will vouch for what I wrote above.
Panda cars are not calibrated, true, but if you are obviously exceeding the speed they can still use that against you as long as one officer has a witness.
i will shut up
vBulletin® , Copyright ©2000-2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.