Traffic wardens, can they book you?

[craigw]

Hi all, driving into work this morning (stopped in traffic) & picked up my mobile to make a voice memo at which point I saw a traffic warden on side of road note down my reg.

Can they book me ?

[t-c]

No they can't, they can direct traffic, they can report tax offences, they can report parking offences but that is it. Only a Police Officer in uniform can report traffic offences per se.

[craigw]

thanks very much. Mind at rest etc etc.

[craigalsop]

Hmmm, I think they can book you - check out this thread....here
Sorry to be the bringer of bad news & all.

[135sport]

Read the thread mentioned, and it would seem they can do you for not obeying a road sign.

But for picking up your mobile.......that is not an offence in itself, is it?

They would need to attach a 'driving without due care and attention' or something similar, no?

Can that happen when you are not moving at a junction?

>> Edited by 135sport on Monday 21st October 15:14

[loaf]

IIRC proper bona-fide traffic wardens (NOT the fascist clamping 'parking attendants' that the councils employ) can report excise (car tax), parking, and road signal/sign offences e.g. going through a red light, failure to observe a no-right-turn, entering an area marked with chevrons without due cause etc. One of the PHer's can probably advise further...

[bobthebench]

They have quite restricted and defined powers. Essentially only clear cut cases, no judgement calls such as standard of driving. Using a mobile is not in itself an offence, so need to be driving without tdue care, etc.

Unless of course the traffic was going so slow he thought you were parked !