Was it because I was driving an Aston?
Discussion
Ok and no excuses. Dual carriage way and a car was in the outside lane bang on the speed limit. In a mile or so the near side lane was due to turn into a slip road and there was a car in the outside lane bang on the limit. Up until that point I was enjoying a safe but spirited drive making good progress.
Traffic was light and i undertook this car and moved back into the outside lane. Now image my surprise when his blue lights came on beneath his front grill. Mortified by my lack of ob skills in not spotting this unmarked car I raised my hand admitting i'd been caught driving like a numpty. I signalled to come off at the next exit expecting to quite rightly eat humble pie when the copper just drove past without so much as a glance.
Now either this guy was too busy, could't be arsed or whatever but a part of me likes to think it was the Aston!
I doubt it would have the same outcome if I was driving a souped up Saxon or something German.
Either that or I'm a lucky git
Traffic was light and i undertook this car and moved back into the outside lane. Now image my surprise when his blue lights came on beneath his front grill. Mortified by my lack of ob skills in not spotting this unmarked car I raised my hand admitting i'd been caught driving like a numpty. I signalled to come off at the next exit expecting to quite rightly eat humble pie when the copper just drove past without so much as a glance.
Now either this guy was too busy, could't be arsed or whatever but a part of me likes to think it was the Aston!
I doubt it would have the same outcome if I was driving a souped up Saxon or something German.
Either that or I'm a lucky git
He probably knew that you would happily be about to tell him what he was doing wrong by staying in the outside lane and therefore was able to make you feel bad and less likely to do it again without having to bother with the confrontation.
I got treated appallingly by a pair of policemen recently, 100% due to driving an Aston Martin and I now thoroughly despise all of them; power-hungry bullies and nothing else.
I got treated appallingly by a pair of policemen recently, 100% due to driving an Aston Martin and I now thoroughly despise all of them; power-hungry bullies and nothing else.
I had a similar experience when I visited a friend and he asked to go for a quick ride in the car. We were going "some" mph down a quiet dual carriage way and as we went round a long left bend, there was a copper with a speed gun. He would have heard me a mile off, but he pointed the gun and then did nothing. I can only think it was because of the car.
I later found out the limit was only 50mph as well, so I was extremely lucky!
I later found out the limit was only 50mph as well, so I was extremely lucky!
I got a bit of a b
king by the police recently when they closed the road I lived on due to there being an accident a few miles futher on than my house. He were reluctant to let me return home despite it being about half a mile away and I could see it from where we were. Didn't pass the accident site or anything. There were about 3 cars queueing, but were all being re-directed, so I overtook them and was on the wrong side of the road next to his roadblock.
Eventually after several minutes of arguing he moved some cones to let me through at which point I nailed the throttle, and proceded to fly up the road. Followed by a visit from the police. Nothing came of it though. I think the Aston made it worse, I'm sure he was just jealous.
king by the police recently when they closed the road I lived on due to there being an accident a few miles futher on than my house. He were reluctant to let me return home despite it being about half a mile away and I could see it from where we were. Didn't pass the accident site or anything. There were about 3 cars queueing, but were all being re-directed, so I overtook them and was on the wrong side of the road next to his roadblock. Eventually after several minutes of arguing he moved some cones to let me through at which point I nailed the throttle, and proceded to fly up the road. Followed by a visit from the police. Nothing came of it though. I think the Aston made it worse, I'm sure he was just jealous.
Shmee said:
I got treated appallingly by a pair of policemen recently, 100% due to driving an Aston Martin and I now thoroughly despise all of them; power-hungry bullies and nothing else.
Curious reaction. You are tarring every copper with the same brush after having a bad experience with two of them? Now that you no longer trust the police, I assume if you're burgled or mugged you won't be calling them?Hope you took their numbers and made a complaint to their Super, very easy and clear path to make a complaint that will be listened to - there are always bad apples and they need sorting out, 100% with you on that one.
RemainAllHoof said:
Being polite to police officers usually helps things.
I find that. A couple of times I have been caught red-handed arsing about. Very sorry, won't happen again, genuinely contrite and off you go. Illegal number plate, no numbver plate, always been let off as have been polite.Yes they're jealous that a chap their own age has an expensive car, I usually get into a discussion about cheap opwnership, expensive running costs and fuel and they almost take pity
A few years back I was on the M1 in my V8. Bone dry day, great visibility, light traffic. I was making progress in the "fast" lane. All of a sudden I see blue lights - a police 5 series is blatting along towards me at about 120mph.
I pulled over to the middle lane, applied brakes and waited for the finger pointing to the hard shoulder. Cop pulls along side. Stays there. I look over. Passenger points at me then waves his hand downwards and says "slow down". I nod, cop floors it.
I think as long as you are not being an utter dick or engaging in back chat most cops have better things to do. I am not saying this is right, just the way it appears to me.
I pulled over to the middle lane, applied brakes and waited for the finger pointing to the hard shoulder. Cop pulls along side. Stays there. I look over. Passenger points at me then waves his hand downwards and says "slow down". I nod, cop floors it.
I think as long as you are not being an utter dick or engaging in back chat most cops have better things to do. I am not saying this is right, just the way it appears to me.
I'll standby to get flamed here but I thought that "Undertaking" isn't actually illegal...
Surely if the unmarked Police car was in the outside lane and not overtaking anything then it was him that was in the wrong for not "keeping to the left lane unless overtaking."
I standby to be corrected!
Surely if the unmarked Police car was in the outside lane and not overtaking anything then it was him that was in the wrong for not "keeping to the left lane unless overtaking."
I standby to be corrected!
yeti said:
Curious reaction. You are tarring every copper with the same brush after having a bad experience with two of them? Now that you no longer trust the police, I assume if you're burgled or mugged you won't be calling them?
Hope you took their numbers and made a complaint to their Super, very easy and clear path to make a complaint that will be listened to - there are always bad apples and they need sorting out, 100% with you on that one.
No, the week before a policeman came running over to me when I was standing on a pavement straddling my bicycle and gave me a shout and threatened to take me to court for cycling on the pavement. He didn't understand the difference between standing still and moving; one is illegal but the other isn't. For background, I had pulled over and walked onto the pavement as I went past a friend and was then standing over the bike so it didn't fall over while I showed him a video on my camera.Hope you took their numbers and made a complaint to their Super, very easy and clear path to make a complaint that will be listened to - there are always bad apples and they need sorting out, 100% with you on that one.
The recent incident was where the police clearly had an out of date database (massively out of date) because it showed my number plate on my previous car (that had changed 7 months earlier). They insisted the V5C and certificate of authorisation for the plate that I had were invalid and threatened me with points as well as confiscation of the car. The DVLA later begged to differ when I followed it up with them of course but you try telling a policeman he's wrong - they won't believe you. My big mistake was feeling so bullied and stressed that I did not take down their details or a complaint would have been made.
Please do introduce me to a policeman that isn't totally driven by power and a need for superiority and control, I genuinely hope they exist and next time won't be one of the bad ones but for the time being my limited experience has not been overly positive. I think there's a good chance that the ones you report to in an office are far more friendly than those out on the street looking for people doing wrong.
Edited by Shmee on Monday 15th August 16:43
I was pulled just before Christmas last year. I dragged my OH to Bluewater where he proceeded to 'sample' wine in John Lewis all afternoon while I had to shop.
I was nearing home at, I admit, a brisk pace, when.. ooooo, aaaah, Xmas lights in the grill behind.
I pulled over with instructions in my ear from OH, "SAY NOTHING"
What do I do? I promptly got out of the car, fluttered my eye lashes and said, "oh I'm really sorry, was I speeding?" This accompanied by a huge facepalm from hubby.
The two plainclothes guys said yes I probably was but they were just cruising the area checking on nice cars as there had been a lot of stolen vehicles recently reported locally.
One went to check while the other remained chatting about the car.
After everything had been verified, they departed and said re speeding, keep it down a bit, and went on their way.
My husband was incensed as he was convinced if it had been him driving, (sober I should add) the outcome would have been different.
Lucky lady I guess, but still proves they aren't all jobsworths. I know their remit was different but I daresay they could have called uniformed police if they had wanted to teach me a lesson.
Di
I was nearing home at, I admit, a brisk pace, when.. ooooo, aaaah, Xmas lights in the grill behind.
I pulled over with instructions in my ear from OH, "SAY NOTHING"
What do I do? I promptly got out of the car, fluttered my eye lashes and said, "oh I'm really sorry, was I speeding?" This accompanied by a huge facepalm from hubby.
The two plainclothes guys said yes I probably was but they were just cruising the area checking on nice cars as there had been a lot of stolen vehicles recently reported locally.
One went to check while the other remained chatting about the car.
After everything had been verified, they departed and said re speeding, keep it down a bit, and went on their way.
My husband was incensed as he was convinced if it had been him driving, (sober I should add) the outcome would have been different.
Lucky lady I guess, but still proves they aren't all jobsworths. I know their remit was different but I daresay they could have called uniformed police if they had wanted to teach me a lesson.
Di
michael gould said:
If I was a police officer making 35k a year and some young chapie in an Aston Martin was being a little arrogant think I might be tempted to be difficult
I think that might of been why the police officer was a dick with me. I was in a rush, he was in a bad mood because he got dragged into work on a Sunday morning. Even though he couldn't technically charge me with anything, he still went though every bit of paperwork - insurance, tax etc.George H said:
I think that might of been why the police officer was a dick with me. I was in a rush, he was in a bad mood because he got dragged into work on a Sunday morning. Even though he couldn't technically charge me with anything, he still went though every bit of paperwork - insurance, tax etc.
Not because you floored it away from the block then...??!!!I think it was probably you're driving like a dick that caused it! And you could have been reported for driving without due care and attention! Think yourself lucky this time!
Richales said:
I'll standby to get flamed here but I thought that "Undertaking" isn't actually illegal...
Surely if the unmarked Police car was in the outside lane and not overtaking anything then it was him that was in the wrong for not "keeping to the left lane unless overtaking."
I standby to be corrected!
I agree with you. Unless there has been a change n legislation to make undertaking a specific offence then the main one they consider is careless/inconsiderate driving contrary to section 3 Road Traffic Act 1988. They would have to prove either carelessness or that somebody was inconvenienced by the undertaking. In the circumstances I agree that staying in the outside lane was equally inconsiderate so it would have Ben difficult for them to prove on the facts given,Surely if the unmarked Police car was in the outside lane and not overtaking anything then it was him that was in the wrong for not "keeping to the left lane unless overtaking."
I standby to be corrected!
Gassing Station | Aston Martin | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff