Failing To Stop For The Police And The Consequences

[squirrel_hunter]

Let me paint you a picture...

I'm on the way home on the M4 approaching Bristol, the "managed" section. Its 22:00 on a Sunday and the traffic is light. I'm in lane 1 do an indicated 70mph. As it is a "managed" section of motorway the speed limit can be varied and is enforced by cameras. While there is no reduction in the limit I'm sticking to 70mph as I have a feeling that the cameras will always be on the lookout.

In my mirrors I can see a pair of car headlights in lane 3 moving fast. Very fast. As the car comes past I can see its a Black "06" Seat one of those hot hatches. I barely have time to think about the letter he might be getting in 14 days then there is another set of headlights that come flying past. This time they are connected to Blue VW Golf with one of those German style plates "IBK", I wonder if that was a personalised plate or a Northern Ireland plate or similar.

They were most defiantly travelling together and I would estimate their speed at well into triple figures possibly 110-120mph judging by how quickly they came past me.

So as I wonder if the cameras are in operation and if they will get just the one letter or one for each camera another car comes past doing similar speed. But this car didn't look as if it was with them as it was a "10" plate Yellow BMW Saloon. It did look as if it was trying to catch up with the 2 hatches. And by its stance on the road straddling lanes 2 and 3 I suspected that it might be an unmarked car. Sure enough just as it starts to get indistinguishable in the distant night the disco lights come on.

When I finally pass them stopped on the hard shoulder the Seat is "assisting the officers with their enquires" but the VW is no where to be seen. So what happens now particularly for the VW driver?

Perhaps you saw the Seat pulled over because the VW overtook it, and so as a consequence of being the car at the rear, got stopped. VW probably got away with it.

The variable speed limit cameras up here around Brum only work when illuminated and showing a reduced limit, I've gone past them loads of times when 'off' at speed and never heard anything, there is probably some legislation preventing this.

If the police had evidence on the golf he will be hearing off them, if not he won't, as with all situations, if you don't take the p*ss, chances are you won't get a tug.

Its only failing to stop if they ask you to.

If they can't catch up with you you're usually safe. I wouldn't recommend it as a tactic though.

[PyroUK]

Would that not be the blue flashing lights and sirens chasing you down the motorway?

Originally Posted by PyroUK

Would that not be the blue flashing lights and sirens chasing you down the motorway?

Yes, but not the blue flashing lights chasing the car next to you.

And only if you could have been reasonably expected to have seen them.

[PyroUK]

Yeah fair point. If you are driving along and they stop someone else.

[squirrel_hunter]

When the lights come on they are fairly bright, trust me. And putting yourself in the drivers seat, at that speed pacing another car you know they want to talk to you both.

What I think happened is one of them stopped the other didn't. Now if I was in the Police car I'd be far more interested in the car that didn't fancy stopping as experience would suggest they have more of a reason not to.

So lets say they got the full plate of the car that didn't stop. I imagine that was relayed to any other Officers in the locality to keep a look out for it. But if nothing turns up and they have the registered keepers address, would they opt for a letter or a knock at the door? And what would happen if the keeper denies all knowledge?

Probably a knock at the door a couple of my mates have had the knock but with no consequence just a slap on the wrist and if we catch you next time you will loose your licence

[Bluepete]

The one that was stopped gets dealt with via summons for whatever offences are disclosed.

If the cops had the reg of the second car, I'd be getting a colleague to visit the keepers/insured address ASAP. If they don't find the driver that night, then an 172 notice/NIP.

Pete