Once upon a time IIRC VOSA used the police to stop moving vehicles, whether this was because they did not have the authority or because the public at large did not recognise them, I cannot be sure.
However on the M20 early Sunday morning an VOSA marked vehicle with Red roof stobe, pulled infront of a lorry at 56 mph and slowed down to make the lorry exit at the next exit. What happened next was not apparent as I disappeared into the distance.
So do VOSA now have the power to stop a moving vehicle, is it a new power, or just a change in custom and practice?
p
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vosa have had this power for nearly 2 years now
but as michael caine would say "not a lot of people know this"
they originally only had battenburg ford galaxies but now they can stop you in any old type of vosa vehicle
they actually have more powers over vehicles than the police
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The Police Reform Act 2002 allows Chief Constables to accredit VOSA staff with the power to stop goods and passenger vehicles. The Power to Stop scheme has already been launched in 22 Police Authorities around the country, and, subject to Chief Officers? agreement, the remaining Police forces in Great Britain are expected to accredit VOSA in the coming months. (This information from 2004)
VOSA officers will operate using distinctly liveried Ford Galaxies with yellow & black battenburg side markings, yellow & orange chevrons at the rear and a roof bar with amber lights & variable matrix signing. All VOSA accredited staff have received Police training in how to safely stop vehicles.
As as I am aware this is now Nationwide.
dvd
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Quite correct dvd but my information came from working in the field rather than a cut and paste from the vosa website :-)
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I am sure that many people don't know this. What if one does not stop?
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One could possibly be charged with failing to stop when instructed to do so by a traffic officer.
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But they are not "traffic officers", are they? Are they not simply individuals with "power to stop"?
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Their correct title is 'Traffic Officers'. The ones that seize insured cars are 'Roads Policing Officers'. ;-)
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Well a Vosa car can try and stop me, but as he is a: not in a uniform that one would associate with a policeman, and b in a car that displays blue lights, I will not stop.
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You will find that they are in uniform.
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.......and if you don't stop then your sitting on a fine and 3 points (S 35 RTOA 1988 = S 6.Traffic Management Act 2004.
dvd
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You will find that they are in uniform.
with a number and warrant card?
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that seize insured cars
err, "uninsured" cars??
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Not according to some ;-].
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I think they're more interested in HGV's that private cars. In the past, only a police officer could stop or direct a HGV into a checking area. These sort of checks go on every day all over the place. Enabling VOSA to stop or direct a vehicle makes things easier for all concerned.
I know hundreds of lorry drivers who have been pulled in for a check, but not one private motorist! So don't worry!
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I know hundreds of lorry drivers who have been pulled in for a check but not one private motorist! So don't worry!
Don't come to West Wales then. Caravanners are a favourite target at the checkpoint on the A40 just this side of Narberth.
Personally I do wish they'd pull a few more cars in, if only for a lighting check. Might reduce the number of "one-eyed Jacks" on the road, which is a particular bane of mine.
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Are they policemen, or not?
Please do not attempt to wriggle by saying "They police the roads" or similar such obfuscation.
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Presumably the same rules apply as with the police. Namely, if you're not sure who they are you can request they follow you to a police station?
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No they are not sworn Constables.
However the law enacted by Parliament can empower certain groups or bodies with certain powers eg PCSOs, HM Customs and Revenue, Benefits Agency, Parking Wardens, Planning Officers, Environmental Health and the list goes on. Powers to stop vehicles (previously the preserve of a 'Constable in uniform') have been granted to VOSA., purely to make such bodies independent of the Police and save Police time.
And as for a rule that says you do not have to stop or are uncertain as to whether they are a Police Officer and can request that they follow you to a Police station, that is not a rule. It is an option that has developed over the years to alleviate the public's fears due to the occasional rogue cop.
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