Can't see this one having been brought up yet, so I'll start. Looking at John's column in the paper today, one of his correspondents raised the issue of some Plod being less than enthusiastic about picking up on untaxed cars at his local supermarket car park.
Hmm, Her Majesty's Constabulary need a lesson in basic police work. Some years ago, an enterprising young constable on Merseyside aquired an enviable record in nicking undesirables.
His technique? He'd waffle down to the local Tesco in his panda and take note of all the untaxed vehicles and those parked in the Disabled bays with no disabled sticker. He'd then go back to the panda and call in the Registration numbers. This would usually net him the odd outstanding warrant and often someone his colleagues would like a word with :-)
His reasoning was that anyone who was that unconcerned about complying with society's rules was quite likely responsible for something else as well. He was frequently proved right.
The boys in blue need to get away from their current misconception that flash photography is a substitute for policing......
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I saw the letter in the paper. Seems that the letter writer had gone round the car park, gethered a list of those without tax discs then insisted that the nearby bobby booked the car owners.
The plod seemed less than enthusiastic in carrying out this task - perhaps he was on another, more important, mission looking for speeding shopping trollies?
Admirable though the letterwriter's actions were - can't see that he would have been that popular!
Our local Waitrose is next to the county police HQ. Hmmmmmmmm!
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Every thing looks so simple to the uninitiated...
If the so called car park provided by the supermarket is repairable at their expense then Plod cannot report Excise offences as it is not a road under Vehicles (Excise) Acts,
But if it is repairable at public expense then he can.
And incidentaly Excise is not a "police" offence it is a "revenue " offence like Income Tax. Plod merely brings transgressions to the notice of DVLA who are the authority for prosecution.
DVD
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These days the DVLA are hot on the heels of non-taxers by way of instant fines. Of course the car may not be registered and therefore the DVLA can not issue a fine, but then neither can plod do much else-what use is it he reporting the vehicle to DVLA?
The best he could do would be to hang around the car park and wait for the driver to return. Some may say not the best use of police time overall.
Far better to have APNR team around the major roads-plat flashed up, plod on hand to catch driver at the wheel. Brilliant.
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"His reasoning was that anyone who was that unconcerned about complying with society's rules was quite likely responsible for something else as well. He was frequently proved right."
Which is why they are investing heavily in ANPR far more efficient than a bobby in a car waiting for dead certs from the local supermarket. DVD is right (As usual). Teecee could consider becoming a volunteer Police Officer and doing it himself I suppose.
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Automatic Number Plate Recognition. (I hope)
Did I win the race to answer this - first time I've known an answer!
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Pugugly-couldn't agree more. Become a Special, man the camera and get cathing those baddies! Wonderful system, some places even have it on CCTV systems so it alerts staff when a known vehicle enters a city etc!
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His reasoning was that anyone who was that unconcerned about complying with society's rules was quite likely responsible for something else as well. He was frequently proved right."
The officer in an episode of Trafic Cops, had similar ideas.
He'd take a tour of the car park, at the local prison - remember the entertaining film footage?
A car full of wrong do ers, couldn't move fast enough, to avoid this attentive Policeman!
VB
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