fecking bar steward lone cop!!!!!!
Discussion
got caught for speeding by a lone cop in a 4x4 contraption on a motorway. he claimed he could hardley catch me in my powerful 1.2 corsa and reckoned i was doing 98 - 106 average. He must have been using vascar.
He claimed he had got other cars going to turn up and back him up, but they just turned up 5 minutes after being stopped and searched my mates and pissed off. I was shown no evidence on screen on any device and assume there was no video evidence cause he never mentioned it or showed it.
he gave a nip and let me go after passing the breathaliser.
thing is as far as i know no court in the land will do me for this as he was on his own. its very clear cut but i did not mention it so he does not change his story.
on the subject of the police, about 5 cop cars turned up at different stages and pissed off again, all in t5's etc and this is on an empty stretch of the A1m late at night. have they got nothing better to be doing, its a joke, especially after recent events. they should be put onto other duties!
He claimed he had got other cars going to turn up and back him up, but they just turned up 5 minutes after being stopped and searched my mates and pissed off. I was shown no evidence on screen on any device and assume there was no video evidence cause he never mentioned it or showed it.
he gave a nip and let me go after passing the breathaliser.
thing is as far as i know no court in the land will do me for this as he was on his own. its very clear cut but i did not mention it so he does not change his story.
on the subject of the police, about 5 cop cars turned up at different stages and pissed off again, all in t5's etc and this is on an empty stretch of the A1m late at night. have they got nothing better to be doing, its a joke, especially after recent events. they should be put onto other duties!
I agree with your comments on "Nothing better to do". I was one of the poor sods caught up the other weekend when a nutter in a campervan decided to help close the M4 in Wiltshire. After a nice tour of the b roads around junction 17 I finally managed to rejoin the motorway after a 2 hour delay, only to find some policeman going after "low hanging fruit" by having a speed trap 2 miles after the junction where the traffic rejoined westbound.
It must have been easy pickings for the day, and a great way of helping their numbers.
C
It must have been easy pickings for the day, and a great way of helping their numbers.
C
I'm no expert but am pretty sure your wrong in thinking your in the clear because there was only one cop.
Will a 1.2 Corsa do 106? why not go to court with the manufacturers data to prove the car is not capable of such a speed. I'm assuming it's not modified and you weren't going down the side of a mountain!
Will a 1.2 Corsa do 106? why not go to court with the manufacturers data to prove the car is not capable of such a speed. I'm assuming it's not modified and you weren't going down the side of a mountain!
My car is not modified but will push 95 -100 mph indicated speed though. Does anybody know the law on the requirement of two officers to be present.
I know that normal plod cant do jack if they are on thier own. but i dont know if i was being videoed but even if i was would it be submissible in evidence if thier was only one cop on duty. How can be tracking me at 100 about 1/4 to 1/2 mile behind me and acurately use the vascar system??????????? very dodgy!!!!!
I know that normal plod cant do jack if they are on thier own. but i dont know if i was being videoed but even if i was would it be submissible in evidence if thier was only one cop on duty. How can be tracking me at 100 about 1/4 to 1/2 mile behind me and acurately use the vascar system??????????? very dodgy!!!!!
Hardcore, I hate to say this but I think you're clutching at straws.
My understanding was that Vascar was the equivalent of having another police officer in the car so it's perfectly possible to be "done" by one police officer suitably equipped.
Check out one of the speeding sites like UK Speedtraps and the Speed Trap bible. Links no doubt to be found somewhere on this site.
My understanding was that Vascar was the equivalent of having another police officer in the car so it's perfectly possible to be "done" by one police officer suitably equipped.
Check out one of the speeding sites like UK Speedtraps and the Speed Trap bible. Links no doubt to be found somewhere on this site.
The 2 officers part is only relevant for corroboration of evidence. One officer can be present to corroborate the evidence of a approved measuring device, for example vascar, radar, laser, callibrated speedo, video etc etc. The only time 2 officers are needed are if no other form of measurement is used and in the opinion of both the speed limit was be exceeded. Popular urban myth harsh but a lot fairer than GATSO's.
Good luck Hardcore - from what you've said it doesn't sound like you were doing anyone any harm.
As for the other police who turned up - well they wouldn't want to patrol housing estates and industrial estates looking for thiefs etc. as that's dangerous. Much safer to come and see what their mates have 'caught'.
T/.
As for the other police who turned up - well they wouldn't want to patrol housing estates and industrial estates looking for thiefs etc. as that's dangerous. Much safer to come and see what their mates have 'caught'.
T/.
except....you say in your note 'and reckoned i was doing 98 - 106 average'
so what speed is he intending to do you for? If he says '106' , all you need to do, to get it thrown out, is prove that its an impossile speed in your Corsa - which isnt too hard.
(and yes, this IS clutching at straws but still.....)
so what speed is he intending to do you for? If he says '106' , all you need to do, to get it thrown out, is prove that its an impossile speed in your Corsa - which isnt too hard.
(and yes, this IS clutching at straws but still.....)
You also say - I was shown NO video evidence - if corroboration is needed, then where is it? I understand that a Policeman's word is good enough, but a calibrated speedo is the least that's required if definite speeds are to be quoted. I think this is one case worth fighting - I think, unfortunately, that a Corsa full of young lads is a prime target for the Police - especially if you've gone down the Max Power road of alloys, body kit, etc.
the data protection act means that you may request ALL evidence pertaining to your case, prior to court.
Your car will not do 106 in standard form, I beleive. Just prove that the figure quoted is impossible, and case overturned.
How can the word of one human being be taken over another? I don't get this. Coppers are only human, and all of us are subject to anger, exaggeration, jealousy, insecurity etc.
Think the law needs to change. Tony Martin gets locked up for shooting burglars on his own property - the cops took the kids word over his. How can you get done for speeding just 'cos a cop says you were. Don't make sense.
Your car will not do 106 in standard form, I beleive. Just prove that the figure quoted is impossible, and case overturned.
How can the word of one human being be taken over another? I don't get this. Coppers are only human, and all of us are subject to anger, exaggeration, jealousy, insecurity etc.
Think the law needs to change. Tony Martin gets locked up for shooting burglars on his own property - the cops took the kids word over his. How can you get done for speeding just 'cos a cop says you were. Don't make sense.
Thanks! some interesting points have been raised.
I am thinking of putting in a complaint against the officer on the basis that his grounds for stopping me were that i overtook him and did not slowdown and sit at 70mph just in front of him.
If i complain, he has no other cop to back him up so its my word against his and surely they will just drop it cause its not worth the hassel!
Does anybody know whether you can put in a complaint or try and fight this before i get a court date, or if you have anything else to say at a later date do you have to wait until you get to court????
thanks
I am thinking of putting in a complaint against the officer on the basis that his grounds for stopping me were that i overtook him and did not slowdown and sit at 70mph just in front of him.
If i complain, he has no other cop to back him up so its my word against his and surely they will just drop it cause its not worth the hassel!
Does anybody know whether you can put in a complaint or try and fight this before i get a court date, or if you have anything else to say at a later date do you have to wait until you get to court????
thanks
Hardcore I would be very careful. It was clear you were breaking the speed limit. I think you should take the rap and put it down to bad luck. Start making waves and you could end up with "dangerous driving" charges etc. Which not only pushes the points but also Insurance payment etc.
If I were you I would take the rap and contest that you were doing less than 100mph (ban) but you were speeding making it points and fine but no ban.
If I were you I would take the rap and contest that you were doing less than 100mph (ban) but you were speeding making it points and fine but no ban.
Hardcore,
A lot of drivers speed on motorways and now and again we get caught. The law of averages says you will get nicked at some point if you speed - you got caught, take it on the chin and don't make it worse for yourself.
If you overtook him doing more than 70 then you were pushing your luck
and asking for a pull.
As far as I know there only needs to be one copper in the car and you can be done on the basis of his word from a calibrated speedo - I know, I have been many years ago. However in this case you are often done for 'a speed in excess of ..' rather than a fixed speed, ie 98mph, 102mph. I was on a bike doing 60 in a 30 (I know) and got done for 'in excess of 30mph' which was a fair result.
Does the NIP state a speed ? You may find you get a summons for 98mph or even 'speed in excess of..' in which case you are only liable for points and a fine. If it goes to undue care, dangerous driving etc then you could get a ban.
It's your decision.
Edited by JSG on Sunday 4th November 17:32
A lot of drivers speed on motorways and now and again we get caught. The law of averages says you will get nicked at some point if you speed - you got caught, take it on the chin and don't make it worse for yourself.
If you overtook him doing more than 70 then you were pushing your luck
and asking for a pull. As far as I know there only needs to be one copper in the car and you can be done on the basis of his word from a calibrated speedo - I know, I have been many years ago. However in this case you are often done for 'a speed in excess of ..' rather than a fixed speed, ie 98mph, 102mph. I was on a bike doing 60 in a 30 (I know) and got done for 'in excess of 30mph' which was a fair result.
Does the NIP state a speed ? You may find you get a summons for 98mph or even 'speed in excess of..' in which case you are only liable for points and a fine. If it goes to undue care, dangerous driving etc then you could get a ban.
It's your decision.
Edited by JSG on Sunday 4th November 17:32
Interesting, but sorry Mr Harcore one cop on his own can 'do' you Vascar, Calibrated Speedo, or video. Its only in Scotland that the rule differs. Intresting comment though complain about what ??? you got caught fair and square as far as I see it. Just a point re other patrols 'turning up' etc if the cop thought it was stolen or thought a persuit situation might develop he would be giving a comentary back to the control room, others would be then involved to try and stop you. Much as we would all like to be catching burglars, some of us have the job of peventing nutters killing themselves and others by driving beyond their capabilities. ( sorry if i've gone back to sarcastic/condescending mode but for the last few weeks we have been inundated by serious RTA's involving kids (17-25) killing/seriously injuring themselves by driving like complete t*ts..
P.S. Idon't particularly like to stereotype but would you fall into the above mentioned category?? Take the ticket as a lesson the next thing that might stop you could be a lampost they are a lot less understanding than the Police or courts, trust me, I'm a policeman,(I can also get a few morticians to back it up as well)
Edited by john robson on Sunday 4th November 23:23
P.S. Idon't particularly like to stereotype but would you fall into the above mentioned category?? Take the ticket as a lesson the next thing that might stop you could be a lampost they are a lot less understanding than the Police or courts, trust me, I'm a policeman,(I can also get a few morticians to back it up as well)
Edited by john robson on Sunday 4th November 23:23
Regardless of the fair cop or not aspect, what gives with "98-106 average" if a 1.2 Corsa really cannot do 106? (That's me being devil's advocate.)
Hardcore, is your car a 16v or a 8v/12v? A squint around on the web rekons the current model 16v will hit 106 dead, but you'll have to be thin as a rake, foot to the boards, and running on an empty fuel tank to hit that (Probably). If you don't have a 16v car (i.e. previous generation), 106 seems a little far fetched.
(16v ref: http://buypower.vauxhall.co.uk/showroom/search/technicalSpecifications.jhtml?driveCode=AB08&driveCodePack=EE5B&description=Club+1.2i+16v&brand=Corsa)
(older model ref: www.carchase.co.uk/guides/display.php3?idtag=vau-corsay-01-yyyyyy and www.carcomparison.co.uk)
Hardcore, is your car a 16v or a 8v/12v? A squint around on the web rekons the current model 16v will hit 106 dead, but you'll have to be thin as a rake, foot to the boards, and running on an empty fuel tank to hit that (Probably). If you don't have a 16v car (i.e. previous generation), 106 seems a little far fetched.
(16v ref: http://buypower.vauxhall.co.uk/showroom/search/technicalSpecifications.jhtml?driveCode=AB08&driveCodePack=EE5B&description=Club+1.2i+16v&brand=Corsa)
(older model ref: www.carchase.co.uk/guides/display.php3?idtag=vau-corsay-01-yyyyyy and www.carcomparison.co.uk)
John Robson: please don't take this the wrong way. I realise there are nice coppers around - I met 2 when my mate left the road at some speed on his bike. They were very understanding, and dealt fairly with everything. Top marks, and I told 'em as much. Think they were surprised that I thanked them for helping my mate.
However: would you say that the reason you stop motorists is to protect themselves, or to simply enforce the law?
Reason I ask, is that although the laws are in theory there to protect us all, they do sorta fall to the lowest common denominator.
eg, speed limits are set to cater for doddering old men in metro's, on snow covered roads.
Doesn't seem like any account is made of the fact that modern cars & tyres are fantastic now, and that just sometimes, roads are dry, and visibility is very high.
Do you enforce the blatently stupid speed limits as well as the logical ones?
Do you agree with me that some limits are just plain absurd?
cheers.
However: would you say that the reason you stop motorists is to protect themselves, or to simply enforce the law?
Reason I ask, is that although the laws are in theory there to protect us all, they do sorta fall to the lowest common denominator.
eg, speed limits are set to cater for doddering old men in metro's, on snow covered roads.
Doesn't seem like any account is made of the fact that modern cars & tyres are fantastic now, and that just sometimes, roads are dry, and visibility is very high.
Do you enforce the blatently stupid speed limits as well as the logical ones?
Do you agree with me that some limits are just plain absurd?
cheers.
quote:
Just a point re other patrols 'turning up' etc if the cop thought it was stolen or thought a persuit situation might develop he would be giving a comentary back to the control room, others would be then involved to try and stop you. Much as we would all like to be catching burglars, some of us have the job of peventing nutters killing themselves and others by driving beyond their capabilities.
Good point - I didn't think of that at the time of writing my reply.
Regarding catching burglars - I suggest waiting by the local pikey encampment for them to get back with their loot. That's what it's like in Bucks anyway.
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