Traffic Cops NOW

[Paul the 6th]

Originally Posted by punyXpress

A166 Fridaythorpe, about 20 miles east of York.

ah, driven through fridaythorpe a few times come to think of it... Sounds like such a nice place to live doesnt it.

[ogden]

Originally Posted by Baph

A point about that actually, if a copper asks you "what speed were you travelling at?" and you lie, that's perverting the course of justice. If however you say "The Human Rights Act gives me the right to not implicate myself in any charge, therefore no comment" - then

...

...you'll stand a chance of failing the attitude test.

"Anything which you do not mention now which you later rely on in court may harm your defence" (or something like that, it's been a while).

Last time I was sat in the back of a car like that lad, I was asked the same question. I did exactly what that kid did and gave answers that were a bit on the low side until the copper stopped taking the ****. 3 points and 60 quid for 110. Bargain.

[Paul the 6th]

the one thing which winds me up about "police cops" or "traffic wars" is that it's always the absolute nobs who get away with murder, then the odd people who are just a mph or two over the acpo limit get the full points, fine, driving improvement course, a spell in rehab and a space on the sex offenders reg (maybe I'm going over the top with this bit, but some people do actually have to attend a driving improvement course).

There was a guy in a big posh merc driving like a ****, undertaking, tailgating, flashing his lights, nearly clipped about 2-3 people over the course of a 5-10 minute video from an unmarked car... He was driving ridiculously dangerously and bullying everyone in his way, then speeding upto 120mph...

the traffic cop pulled & showed him the video, then told him he was going to lose his licence etc etc then at the last minute said, "I can tell your a professional working family man so I'll let you off this once" and sent him on his way.

I was stopped once or twice as a young'n - polite as can be, honest, no d!cking around and not really doing anything wrong (not speeding or driving like a div but fair play, they should be checking for insurance & full licences if you look a bit younger) - put me in the back of the police car, asked me where I'd been, what I was doing, why I was doing it, kept me for about 25 mins and then sent me on my way with a producer.

[ogden]

Originally Posted by Paul the 6th

the one thing which winds me up about "police cops" or "traffic wars" is that it's always the absolute nobs who get away with murder, then the odd people who are just a mph or two over the acpo limit get the full points, fine, driving improvement course, a spell in rehab and a space on the sex offenders reg (maybe I'm going over the top with this bit, but some people do actually have to attend a driving improvement course).

I was stopped once or twice as a young'n - polite as can be, honest, no d!cking around and not really doing anything wrong (not speeding or driving like a div but fair play, they should be checking for insurance & full licences if you look a bit younger) - put me in the back of the police car, asked me where I'd been, what I was doing, why I was doing it, kept me for about 25 mins and then sent me on my way with a producer.

I was stopped several times as a young'un, always for dicking about as teenagers do, and I was let off with nothing but a mild slap on the wrist every time.

I was stopped about 8 years ago after doing the thick end of 140 away from (what turned out to be) an unmarked car. Was sent away with a flea in my ear and promises of a summons, but nothing ever came.

Maybe the lesson is that you need to take the **** more and then you might feel less aggrieved when you're tugged anyway.

[timwilky]

I did not watch it, but remember it from last time.

From some of the points above. There was a time when in order to fine you you had to go before the magistrate, that took time, effort and evidence. therefore plod would use his discretion and send you on your way having learned your lesson.

Now with fixed penalties for everything, plod is lazy. Fixed penalty, he gets the prizes you get the points, his word against yours unless you are willing to risk it before the magistrate the majority of whom are still convinced plod would not lie and pervert the course just to get one over on somebody he has taken a dislike to, just to prove a point

It is not just motoring offences, it is the whole myriad of cautions people accept just to get out of the place not realising there is downstream implications despite what plod may say. Street cautions with 80 quid penalties when again people accept them not wanting to waste time in the cells, argue the case before a magistrate. They think they are saving time/money. They are letting plod get away with poor evidence/practice. yes if you are guilty and nicked they can be a quick/cheap way out. But they are over used when there is an element of doubt and proper policing required.

[ogden]

Originally Posted by timwilky

yes if you are guilty and nicked they can be a quick/cheap way out. But they are over used when there is an element of doubt and proper policing required.

I've never been tugged when I wasn't guilty of something. Any time I've been pulled over, I've had a list going through my mind of all the things I've done that they might be nicking me for. On balance, over the years, I'm well up on the deal.

Interesting that the policeman instantly took the word (and side) of the horse rider and not the biker.

*anything* could have happened on that bend but he instantly presumed it was bike rider fault. The horse could have been in the middle of the road. It could have been square on etc.

I can't remember the last time I saw horse riders riding in single file. They always ride side by side so they can chat. My girlfriend rides twice a day so I'm "in the scene". None of the horse riders round here ever ride single file. And none of them ever clean up their horse s*** either!

There were two bikes and two horse riders according the the program. Was the other bike in front? If he was, he would have paniced the horses. They were thoroughbred warmdbloods. Or in other words, as mad and frootloopy as a horse can be. And very very skittish. No one, on the back of a thoroughbred warmdblood, is ever in full control of it. They'll spook at a carrierbag in the hedge. Or a crow flying over. They're mad.

So a big, scary twin with it's lights on coming round a corner is going to be a bit of a "spooky thing" to a thoroughbred warmdblood. Especially if another bike has just gone by.

Good to see our Scottish policeman friend was openminded and objective.

And she openly claimed that her horse was going to be a handful when she took it back out onto the roads again if a motorbike was present. Probably a good idea NOT to take it back onto the roads then Eh? But was anything said? Nope, Free and clear to take your mad as a baloon, paranoid animal back out there on a road that's known for biking! Great idea!


Oh, and the guy who claimed to be a people person? Uhu!

I did like the guy on the 'Busa though. Id be happy if he was the average Joe policeman. Level head and very objective.


C

[ogden]

Originally Posted by Berlin

I did like the guy on the 'Busa though. Id be happy if he was the average Joe policeman. Level head and very objective.

Every traffic cop I've ever had to deal with has been like that, even when I've been on completely the wrong side off them. Thoroughly professional. I've never come across one even vaguely like the ****s you see on Traffic Cops. Maybe it's a northern thing?

[Bluepete]

Originally Posted by ogden

Maybe it's a northern thing?

Whatchootalkin' about Willis?

Where does that put me? Southener, well Herefordshire, now working in Manchester?

FWIW, I thought the Scottish cop was a bit, well, keen? Seen the programme before, didn't enjoy it then, didn't bother watching it second time around.

Pete

[ogden]

Originally Posted by BluePete

Where does that put me? Southener, well Herefordshire, now working in Manchester?

Hereford? Southern? You're a brummy in denial. In Manchester.

Might as well top yourself now.