Embarrased Plod
Discussion
I wonder if any of you have ever had a similar experience?
About twenty years ago, I was driving home, quite late, through the streets of Edinburgh, heading out towards East Lothian. I (carefully) overtook a Panda car with two cops inside. Now, these cars are not fitted with speed detection equipment, so that's not an issue. However, I just knew that they would pull me, which they duly did after the next set of lights, parking in front of me. As I NEVER drink and drive, I thought that they were either on a fishing expedition or just bored. As I wound down the window, one of them said "Do you know why we've stopped you, sir?"
"Not a clue" said I.
"One of your tail lights is out, sir" he said.
I thought that I had struck gold. This was too good a chance to waste.
"That makes us even, then" I said
"Uh, how's that, sir?" said the now bemused cop
"So's one of yours, officer".
Looking at his car, he actually said, "Shit, that's a fair cop. Well, we'll just have to call it quits. Sorry to have troubled you. Good night, sir".
I nearly crashed the car on the way home from laughing. I have dined out on that story for years. Any one else?
I have another which I will keep for later.
About twenty years ago, I was driving home, quite late, through the streets of Edinburgh, heading out towards East Lothian. I (carefully) overtook a Panda car with two cops inside. Now, these cars are not fitted with speed detection equipment, so that's not an issue. However, I just knew that they would pull me, which they duly did after the next set of lights, parking in front of me. As I NEVER drink and drive, I thought that they were either on a fishing expedition or just bored. As I wound down the window, one of them said "Do you know why we've stopped you, sir?"
"Not a clue" said I.
"One of your tail lights is out, sir" he said.
I thought that I had struck gold. This was too good a chance to waste.
"That makes us even, then" I said
"Uh, how's that, sir?" said the now bemused cop
"So's one of yours, officer".
Looking at his car, he actually said, "Shit, that's a fair cop. Well, we'll just have to call it quits. Sorry to have troubled you. Good night, sir".
I nearly crashed the car on the way home from laughing. I have dined out on that story for years. Any one else?
I have another which I will keep for later.
My parents were living in Spain a few years ago. They drove their Spanish registered car back to the UK for a holiday.
We were going out to the pub one evening, mum driving and me in the passenger seet (on the right as it was left hand drive). Plod sopped us at a road block and came up to me (the passenger). He explained that they were stopping cars at random and asked my why I did not have a tax disk. I explained did not need one as the car was Spanish registered, at which point he went to the back of the car and shone his torch at the number plate to see the 'E'. He then asked me for my insurance certificate so I opened the glove box and passed him some papers written in Spanish. Of course he had no idea what they were but then neither did I. They certainly had nothing to do with insurance. This very confused and flustered policeman then sent us on our way without ever realising that he has not been dealing with the driver.
What a pity he didn't stop us on the way home that evening when I would have had 3 - 4 pints inside me and would happily have blown into the breathalyser.
>> Edited by bad company on Monday 2nd December 13:44
>> Edited by bad company on Monday 2nd December 13:45
We were going out to the pub one evening, mum driving and me in the passenger seet (on the right as it was left hand drive). Plod sopped us at a road block and came up to me (the passenger). He explained that they were stopping cars at random and asked my why I did not have a tax disk. I explained did not need one as the car was Spanish registered, at which point he went to the back of the car and shone his torch at the number plate to see the 'E'. He then asked me for my insurance certificate so I opened the glove box and passed him some papers written in Spanish. Of course he had no idea what they were but then neither did I. They certainly had nothing to do with insurance. This very confused and flustered policeman then sent us on our way without ever realising that he has not been dealing with the driver.
What a pity he didn't stop us on the way home that evening when I would have had 3 - 4 pints inside me and would happily have blown into the breathalyser.
>> Edited by bad company on Monday 2nd December 13:44
>> Edited by bad company on Monday 2nd December 13:45
I have had an almost identical experience in Coventry, I'm sure I've recounted it on here before but here goes....
Driving home one drizzley evening in the first year of Uni, from MJS's digs on the far side of the city, I was sitting down at Pool Meadow bus station waiting to turn right up across the front of the Cathedral.
Across the juction, I saw a pug 306 aproaching the junction from the other side as the lights went green. I couldn't see it clearly in the rain with the light from only one head light in my eyes.
I thought if I cleared the junction quickly I wouldn't cause the oncoming car any problems. It was wet and I was young so obviously wheel spin insued. You've to bear in mind that this was a pretty standard Mini1000 and Priory street is quite a steep hill.
By the time I got the top of the hill I could now see the Peugeot following me up the hill, its lights still obscuring it in the rain. I should have had no worries, I barely got to 30mph anyway. I got to the juntion on the main road to turn towards my house, and while I was waiting the car behind pulled up close revealing it was in fact a mobile pig stye.
I still thought nothing of it as I hadn't done anything wrong, but the guy followed me. "Strange" I thought, as they usually go straight on there (It's very close there hive, the pang for a cup tea is usually very acute). By now I wasn't surprised when the blue lights flashed, and I was pulled over.
The officer down marched from his car, lights still on, engine still running, and tapped agressively on my side window. I wound it little only a little way (it was really raining now).
"What do you think you're doing Chap, would you mind joining me in my car?" he enquired. Now I'm not usually an uptight kinda guy, but I'd just been pulled over, and asked to get out into the pouring rain to receive a bolocking for nothing...and to add insult to injury the respected officer called me Chap. Bloody hell! I believe sir was in order...
Sitting in the back of his car, like a tiny child in front of the headmaster, he informed that he had already seen a couple accidents like from people driving like "that" today. So in other words...
"I'v'e pulled you over for no reason, but I now feel I've got to have a go...oh, and demand your papers..."
Of course..."
"I'm afraid haven't got them on me (who ever does?), but I live just round the corner, you could come with me and I'll get them for you"
"Err.. no, we can't do that, here's producer...now on your way son."
"Thank's (for belittling me again)...just thought you ought to know you only have one working headlight and quiting your vehicle was a very nice touch... evening" 
Arrr... that's better, that ones been burning me for a while now...
Mouse
Driving home one drizzley evening in the first year of Uni, from MJS's digs on the far side of the city, I was sitting down at Pool Meadow bus station waiting to turn right up across the front of the Cathedral.
Across the juction, I saw a pug 306 aproaching the junction from the other side as the lights went green. I couldn't see it clearly in the rain with the light from only one head light in my eyes.
I thought if I cleared the junction quickly I wouldn't cause the oncoming car any problems. It was wet and I was young so obviously wheel spin insued. You've to bear in mind that this was a pretty standard Mini1000 and Priory street is quite a steep hill.
By the time I got the top of the hill I could now see the Peugeot following me up the hill, its lights still obscuring it in the rain. I should have had no worries, I barely got to 30mph anyway. I got to the juntion on the main road to turn towards my house, and while I was waiting the car behind pulled up close revealing it was in fact a mobile pig stye.
I still thought nothing of it as I hadn't done anything wrong, but the guy followed me. "Strange" I thought, as they usually go straight on there (It's very close there hive, the pang for a cup tea is usually very acute). By now I wasn't surprised when the blue lights flashed, and I was pulled over.
The officer down marched from his car, lights still on, engine still running, and tapped agressively on my side window. I wound it little only a little way (it was really raining now).
"What do you think you're doing Chap, would you mind joining me in my car?" he enquired. Now I'm not usually an uptight kinda guy, but I'd just been pulled over, and asked to get out into the pouring rain to receive a bolocking for nothing...and to add insult to injury the respected officer called me Chap. Bloody hell! I believe sir was in order...
Sitting in the back of his car, like a tiny child in front of the headmaster, he informed that he had already seen a couple accidents like from people driving like "that" today. So in other words...
"I'v'e pulled you over for no reason, but I now feel I've got to have a go...oh, and demand your papers..."
Of course..."
"I'm afraid haven't got them on me (who ever does?), but I live just round the corner, you could come with me and I'll get them for you"
"Err.. no, we can't do that, here's producer...now on your way son."
"Thank's (for belittling me again)...just thought you ought to know you only have one working headlight and quiting your vehicle was a very nice touch... evening" Arrr... that's better, that ones been burning me for a while now...
Mouse
I drove from Frankfurt to Scotland recently in my F355, just outside Glasgow the police stopped me for a *routine check*. They asked me for my documents, so as usual I handed them a pile of German docs (to save on a producer) and he stood and looked at them for a few minutes then had a look round the car and eventually let me go.
I don't think he believed it was my car.
Deester...
I don't think he believed it was my car.
Deester...
Related topic, but the docs need not be foreign. Not long after I passed my test, and whilst at uni, I was always stopped for spot checks. Young driver, decent car. The solution was wherever stopped, offer to produce early and eagerly, but at a station outwith that force. E.g. give station nearest uni, or home, whichever was most inconvenient to them. On several occasions I escaped a producer because of the paperwork involved to both cop shops. Not quite so drastic as getting german documentation.
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