Tuesday 22nd May 2001

Speeding or Burglary

Which are you more likely to get away with?

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[Nightmare]

and this is a surprise how exactly? I know the ABD are doing good things, but highlighting something as obvious as this is hardly likely to do the cause of the motorist any good. (IMHO) Burglaries are much more difficult to sort out than speeding offences, though frankly far less likely to kill someone (whatever we may all think about speed limits) so I dont blame the police/courts/whoever for doing what they''ve done. Were we running things, we''d all be doing it too...... ready for angry reaction! Night

[john robson]

Get real chaps, if you are going to put up age old comparisons like 'catch some real criminals', and start comparing burglaries with speeders you will shoot yourselves in the foot. For anyone in authority to take notice you need to come up with credibile arguments. Road traffic enforcement is a totally separate issue from crime, it just so happens the the Police are responsible for dealing with both (and many others). Being a Traffic Officer is to some degree a specialised job, the training is somewhat different to a detectives training. We are all trained to the same basic level but then subject to the requirements of other aspects of the job we learn and develop skills in other areas. If, as I gather a few are not happy with speed enforcement then come up with realistic arguments based on facts, not gripes and whinges and requotes of stories that have been doing the rounds for years. I do agree that some speed enforcement is not fair or justified, I do try to be fair and realistic when I enforce speed, but that is my approach. Now that the politicians are getting more involved that choice is being taken away and more guidelines etc are being imposed. Bottom line be more realistic you will get more support

[thub]

If the responsibility for setting speed limits were taken out of the hands of un-trained councils, and placed back into the hands of the police, could we expect 'fair' limits to be imposed, set to common standards across the country? Impose quotas if you must, but at least give the motorist a sporting chance by having similar speed limits for similar road conditions. How about using the speeding income to initiate a country-wide assessment and equalisation of limits?

[richb]

quote:Get real chaps, if you are going to put up age old comparisons like 'catch some real criminals', and start comparing burglaries with speeders you will shoot yourselves in the foot. ...... If, as I gather a few are not happy with speed enforcement then come up with realistic arguments

John, your problem as a traffic officer is that the police always use the excuse of being under-staffed to counter the public’s complaint concerning the lack of police interest in burglary, muggings and rape. If you seriously want to “reduce crime and fear in the community” then why not focus attention on the areas that the public require you to? As for your comment that "a few are not happy " I suggest it you who needs to get realistic. Overwhelming public opinion is that the police should target crime, not the motorist, and above all earn some respect by not cow-towing to the government with their anti-car policies. Rich...

[nmilton]

Hear hear Richb !!!

[bosshog]

>I suggest it you who needs to get >realistic Lets be fair here - Its not John who is making the decisions, its the government, he's doing his job (and he sounds like he's trying to do it fairly). Don't shoot the messenger! Though I do agree with RichB. Edited by bosshog on Wednesday 23 May 12:36

[AndrewD]

Talking of using rational arguments, what about "sorry I was speeding occifer, but my shopping was in great danger so I was in a rush to get home - it's damn hot in the boot". Hey, it worked for Jack Straw's driver didn't it?

[richb]

quote:Lets be fair here - Its not John who is making the decisions, its the government, he's doing his job (and he sounds like he's trying to do it fairly). Don't shoot the messenger!

I would never shoot the messenger if I genuinely believed he would deliver a reply. That is why it is imperative to dissuade John that it is just a few who feel unhappy with speed enforcement. Rich...

[GreenV8S]

Don't complain to John, tell your local MP. That is what he is there for. Peter Humphries (and a green V8S)

quote:[quote]Lets be fair here - Its not John who is making the decisions, its the government, he's doing his job (and he sounds like he's trying to do it fairly). Don't shoot the messenger!

I would never shoot the messenger if I genuinely believed he would deliver a reply. That is why it is imperative to dissuade John that it is just a few who feel unhappy with speed enforcement. Rich...

[richb]

Yep, been there / done that. I wrote to Theresa May a few months ago and copied the DTEE. I requested she put my opinions to the appropriate minister and I received a written reply. Have you put your two-penny worth in yet Pete?

[nmilton]

And why stop at your MP ?? I wrote to my MP about the proposed new road traffic penalties document that was flying around a few months ago and was pleasantly surprised by the response, i.e. they were aware of the problems and were going to argue against any new legislation. However, I think a well directed letter to those in Government (my MP isn't !!) would also be worth a shot. I'm writing such a letter at the moment as I'm fed up with them all playing politics instead of getting their fingers out of their arses and doing something that the electorate want them to do.

[GreenV8S]

Yes. I was quite surprised by the response, I think this may be why the green/anticapitalist minority get so much attention. I asked my MP to oppose the proposed new traffic penalty scheme, and I got a couple of letters back from him and from Lord Witty. Nice to get a response, but I wasn't at all impressed by the content. One of my comments was that speed limits indicate the maximum speed it is likely to be safe to drive at in typical conditions. Lord Witty's response was that it is never safe to drive faster than the posted speed limit. (This was in the context of causing danger rather than legality.) I don't understand how on earth he arrived at that conclusion, it seems to defy common sense unless you assume speed limits are set to the highest speed that could ever concievably be safe under any circumstances - which they clearly aren't. Will be re-opening the debate after the election. Cheers, Peter Humphries (and a green V8S)

quote:Yep, been there / done that. I wrote to Theresa May a few months ago and copied the DTEE. I requested she put my opinions to the appropriate minister and I received a written reply. Have you put your two-penny worth in yet Pete?

[Jason F]

His Lordship possibly works on the principle that he will spill his Champers if the chauffer goes more than 30mph I think I`ll pop a letter in the post to my MP and get me tuppence worth too.. Or perhaps straight to Tony 'Grin' Blair Edited by Jason F on Thursday 24th May 14:08