Snow Rescues

[Silent1]

So as we've got some 15-20cm of "travel chaos" on the way I thought I'd start a thread.

If anyone in north herts/south cambs needs urgent transport or rescuing when it snows email me at oli@<myusername>.net and I'll provide you with my mobile number.

Obviously this will cost me diesel but I'll do it free of charge as I'm out of work at the minute so it's not like I'm busy!

If anyone else has a suitable 4x4 and are happy to help add your details to this thread.

crossposted to the H.B.B&C forum

[Simpo Two]

Interesting idea - write 'Pull you out for a tenner' on the side of your 4x4 and cruise the icy streets looking for stuck cars

[Robert060379]

Provided of course you are a licened and insured recovery agent. The good samaritan defence only works for first aid. I was helping people on an icey car park when the Police stopped me and said it was against the law for me to offer that kind of service. I didn't take any mony from anyone (had an empty wallet to prove it) if I had I'd have been wearing cuffs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aM6f-Wxhjk

Enjoy.

[Poledriver]

Robert060379 said:

Provided of course you are a licened and insured recovery agent. The good samaritan defence only works for first aid. I was helping people on an icey car park when the Police stopped me and said it was against the law for me to offer that kind of service. I didn't take any mony from anyone (had an empty wallet to prove it) if I had I'd have been wearing cuffs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aM6f-Wxhjk

Enjoy.

What the hell is this world coming to? Would the authorities prefer it if people abandoned their cars and suffered a dangerous walk home rather than let a good Samaritan tow them out of trouble?

[Simpo Two]

Robert060379 said:

Provided of course you are a licened and insured recovery agent. The good samaritan defence only works for first aid. I was helping people on an icey car park when the Police stopped me and said it was against the law for me to offer that kind of service. I didn't take any mony from anyone (had an empty wallet to prove it) if I had I'd have been wearing cuffs.

I agree that offering it as a blatant service is not really in the Dunkirk Spirit, and you should also pay tax on the earnings, but what 'law' says you can't help pull a car out of a drift? From what you say it's OK to administer first aid, but I'd suggest that untrained first aid is potentially far more harmful that untrained 'pulling a car out of snow'.

And you say that had you had any cash in your wallet you'd have been arrested? I think something is a bit wrong in interpetation here.

One for the SPL forum?

[Thurbs]

Simpo Two said:

Robert060379 said:

Provided of course you are a licened and insured recovery agent. The good samaritan defence only works for first aid. I was helping people on an icey car park when the Police stopped me and said it was against the law for me to offer that kind of service. I didn't take any mony from anyone (had an empty wallet to prove it) if I had I'd have been wearing cuffs.

I agree that offering it as a blatant service is not really in the Dunkirk Spirit, and you should also pay tax on the earnings, but what 'law' says you can't help pull a car out of a drift? From what you say it's OK to administer first aid, but I'd suggest that untrained first aid is potentially far more harmful that untrained 'pulling a car out of snow'.

And you say that had you had any cash in your wallet you'd have been arrested? I think something is a bit wrong in interpetation here.

One for the SPL forum?

For once in my life I agree with you.

[Silent1]

You must have been unlucky, last time it snowed I towed a car out of a ditch after the police tried and broke their tow rope. It wasn't emergency assistance then and the police even encouraged me to pull people out!

[AC Motors]

Simpo Two said:

Interesting idea - write 'Pull you out for a tenner' on the side of your 4x4 and cruise the icy streets looking for stuck cars

Make sure you don't put 'off' instead of 'out' or you may get some funny looks!

[Naughty Magpie]

Thurbs said:

Simpo Two said:

Robert060379 said:

Provided of course you are a licened and insured recovery agent. The good samaritan defence only works for first aid. I was helping people on an icey car park when the Police stopped me and said it was against the law for me to offer that kind of service. I didn't take any mony from anyone (had an empty wallet to prove it) if I had I'd have been wearing cuffs.

I agree that offering it as a blatant service is not really in the Dunkirk Spirit, and you should also pay tax on the earnings, but what 'law' says you can't help pull a car out of a drift? From what you say it's OK to administer first aid, but I'd suggest that untrained first aid is potentially far more harmful that untrained 'pulling a car out of snow'.

And you say that had you had any cash in your wallet you'd have been arrested? I think something is a bit wrong in interpetation here.

One for the SPL forum?

For once in my life I agree with you.

I don't really think you'd get into any trouble for doing this, to be perfectly honest. I was pulling about 20 cars out of a troublesome road in Tamworth with my L200 in Feb 2009 and the police were whole heartedly encouraging it & had no problem whatsoever with us taking a fiver or so from each car. It was quite a big job getting these daft buggers out & hooray for 4x4s!

So no I don't think it's all that much of a problem?? I'd be VERY happy to see some help if I was stuck in a car down a country lane.

[Robert060379]

Naughty Magpie said:

Thurbs said:

Simpo Two said:

Robert060379 said:

Provided of course you are a licened and insured recovery agent. The good samaritan defence only works for first aid. I was helping people on an icey car park when the Police stopped me and said it was against the law for me to offer that kind of service. I didn't take any mony from anyone (had an empty wallet to prove it) if I had I'd have been wearing cuffs.

I agree that offering it as a blatant service is not really in the Dunkirk Spirit, and you should also pay tax on the earnings, but what 'law' says you can't help pull a car out of a drift? From what you say it's OK to administer first aid, but I'd suggest that untrained first aid is potentially far more harmful that untrained 'pulling a car out of snow'.

And you say that had you had any cash in your wallet you'd have been arrested? I think something is a bit wrong in interpetation here.

One for the SPL forum?

For once in my life I agree with you.

I don't really think you'd get into any trouble for doing this, to be perfectly honest. I was pulling about 20 cars out of a troublesome road in Tamworth with my L200 in Feb 2009 and the police were whole heartedly encouraging it & had no problem whatsoever with us taking a fiver or so from each car. It was quite a big job getting these daft buggers out & hooray for 4x4s!

So no I don't think it's all that much of a problem?? I'd be VERY happy to see some help if I was stuck in a car down a country lane.

I think the Police were upset because I was using my little Subaru Justy and their big Volvo was stuck as well. If I were taking money for assistance then it would have been unlawful. This is why the "Tenner for a tow" idea is flawed I was just pointing that out. I was not charging anyone so it wasn't a problem. Should anyone have volenteered a contribution to help cover fuel costs then it would be fine as well. It was Northamptonshire constabluary so you know their a bunch of they can be anyway. The officers even refused me when I offered to help them because they had already radio'd for a Police "authorised" recovery.

Probably just having a bad day.

Edited by Robert060379 on Wednesday 6th January 18:35

[Simpo Two]

Robert060379 said:

I think the Police were upset because I was using my little Subaru Justy and their big Volvo was stuck as well. If I were taking money for assistance then it would have been unlawful.

Well it's not illegal to do work in return for money, but I suppose technically your insurance company might judge you were using the car for 'hire or reward' or 'business'. But for them to find out there'd have to be a claim, and two cars colliding in snow is not unusual!

I think the fact that Plod was stuck and you weren't was the real problem.

[Robert060379]

Why do you need to make sure you're insured?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnFwu0xsy0s

[GTIR]

Robert060379 said:

I think the Police were upset because I was using my little Subaru Justy and their big Volvo was stuck as well. If I were taking money for assistance then it would have been unlawful.

Subaru Justy!

Great cars.
Smallest 4x4 in the world. Ever!



Apart from my Subaru Vivio 4x4.


Great vid by the way. tts.

[Robert060379]

GTIR said:

Robert060379 said:

I think the Police were upset because I was using my little Subaru Justy and their big Volvo was stuck as well. If I were taking money for assistance then it would have been unlawful.

Subaru Justy!

Great cars.
Smallest 4x4 in the world. Ever!



Apart from my Subaru Vivio 4x4.


Great vid by the way. tts.

Tw@s? Nah Septics. I think it was a viral advert for car insurance or the dangers of buying an import.

The Subaru Vivio is the smallest 4wd in the world with a 660cc turbo or n/a three pot they based the Smart car around and the same shell as the Diahatsu Domino and Nippa. The Nipps 850 is a straight swap as well.

The 1.2 three pot my car has means it car run as a 1.0 four pot class car. The Justy is the only car that could compete with my old Fiat Panda 4x4 in trials events; now they are making silly money so I got the Justy instead.

Edited by Robert060379 on Thursday 7th January 01:29

[GTIR]

Robert060379 said:

Tw@s? Nah Septics. I think it was a viral advert for car insurance or the dangers of buying an import.

The Subaru Vivio is the smallest 4wd in the world with a 660cc turbo or n/a three pot they based the Smart car around and the same shell as the Diahatsu Domino and Nippa. The Nipps 850 is a straight swap as well.

The 1.2 three pot my car has means it car run as a 1.0 four pot class car. The Justy is the only car that could compete with my old Fiat Panda 4x4 in trials events; now they are making silly money so I got the Justy instead.

The Vivio is supercharged not turbo, although I don't think mine is but I have not really looked also I don't think they ever had a three pot? The justy is getting silly prices now, especially due to this bloody snow! I did have a Justy van regret it now.

[Robert060379]

Mine was a turbo (import) I was going to replace it with a bike engine but sold the car instead.

Edited by Robert060379 on Thursday 7th January 23:43