A Concerned Copper
Discussion
Tuesday morning, on my way down the M11 to work. On the worthy steed (VFR750). As I get to the roadworks that have become a permanent fixture at Stansted, there is PC Plod in his Volvo Jam Sandwich. So 40mph exactly through the roadworks, then when the hazard ends, and I'm still side by side with the officer, I rip open the throttle and dash up to ..... 70mph. Exactly 70, not an mph more, nor less. Then I move over to the middle lane as the lawman comes along-side me. Still at 70 mph. Suddenly, the assistant officer waves me ove to the hard shoulder, I look at him questioningly, surely not me officer? I move over to the inside lane (the mobile phone lane). Again the co-pilot waves at me to pull over. Then they stick on the disco so I pull onto the hard shoulder. So now I'm not doing 70. I sit quietly on the bike, counting to 10, watching my side mirrors for the approaching death by articulated truck.
PC: Is this your bike Sir?
Me: (biting cutting Becker style comment) Yes
PC: Do you know what speed you were doing? (He is looking around the bike intently)
Me: 40mph in the roadworks and 70mph on the motorway
PC: Is your speedo working?
Me: Yes, that's how I knew what speed I was doing
PC: I thought there might have been a problem with your speedometer sir, as you were doing EXACTLY 70 mph, and I couldn't see the needle moving. (He looks at the speedo)
(BTW They had cruised alongside me for a mile or so in the roadworks)
Me: !!!!!! Well it won't now, we're stationary!!
PC: Well, as long as it's ok...
(Assistant Plod has now joined him, traffic is ripping past, trucks are buffeting me on the bike, and they are having to hang on to their Hi viz vests)
Me: (Completely confused) Err, yes, it is...
PC: Ok sir, errrr... Drive safely (then tells me how to get off the hard shoulder safely after being stopped pointlessly for a little chat)
Go figure .....
PC: Is this your bike Sir?
Me: (biting cutting Becker style comment) Yes
PC: Do you know what speed you were doing? (He is looking around the bike intently)
Me: 40mph in the roadworks and 70mph on the motorway
PC: Is your speedo working?
Me: Yes, that's how I knew what speed I was doing
PC: I thought there might have been a problem with your speedometer sir, as you were doing EXACTLY 70 mph, and I couldn't see the needle moving. (He looks at the speedo)
(BTW They had cruised alongside me for a mile or so in the roadworks)
Me: !!!!!! Well it won't now, we're stationary!!
PC: Well, as long as it's ok...
(Assistant Plod has now joined him, traffic is ripping past, trucks are buffeting me on the bike, and they are having to hang on to their Hi viz vests)
Me: (Completely confused) Err, yes, it is...
PC: Ok sir, errrr... Drive safely (then tells me how to get off the hard shoulder safely after being stopped pointlessly for a little chat)
Go figure .....
quote:
...any vehicle being driven on the road is quite legitimately stopable!
I always thought there had to be "reasonable grounds" for stopping someone. I think they're going to have to try pretty hard to claim that as you passed them they thought that the speedo wasn't working correctly.
quote:
I always thought there had to be "reasonable grounds" for stopping someone.
Subject to interpretation - this means anyone, anytime.
In the US "probable cause" is the same.....
Him: "You were stopped, sir, because it is 2:00am and your are in a district with go-go bars. I can tell you haven't been drinking so you can go on your way."
Me: "Right you are, Officer. No problem."
Him: "You're not from around here, are you?"
Of course if he could see my speedo, well enough to not see a needle bobbing up and down, then he wasn't really watching the road was he?
Bad plod driving. Still, better to be stopped for complying with the speed limit, and not hearing the words 'did you realise you touched 150 going through that traffic.'
Hey ho, if it happens again I'll get worried.
Bad plod driving. Still, better to be stopped for complying with the speed limit, and not hearing the words 'did you realise you touched 150 going through that traffic.'
Hey ho, if it happens again I'll get worried.
By keeping *exactly* to the limit it showed;-
a) a dangerous intent to avoid prosecution, therefore perverting the course of revenue generation
b) a total disregard of the biker stereotype, so must have something to hide
You're obviously a hardened criminal for sticking so rigidly to the speed limit. Only criminals don't speed, as we all know the only way people get caught these days for any crime is through speeding..
Carl
a) a dangerous intent to avoid prosecution, therefore perverting the course of revenue generation
b) a total disregard of the biker stereotype, so must have something to hide
You're obviously a hardened criminal for sticking so rigidly to the speed limit. Only criminals don't speed, as we all know the only way people get caught these days for any crime is through speeding..
Carl
quote:
By keeping *exactly* to the limit it showed;-
a) a dangerous intent to avoid prosecution, therefore perverting the course of revenue generation
b) a total disregard of the biker stereotype, so must have something to hide
You're obviously a hardened criminal for sticking so rigidly to the speed limit. Only criminals don't speed, as we all know the only way people get caught these days for any crime is through speeding..
Carl
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