I normally dismiss stories like this as sensationalism, but the guy was interviewed on BBC Breakfast this morning. I felt sorry for him. Softly spoken, perfectly respectable seeming chap, who seems to have been picked on. He is refusing to pay the fine, and says the indications are that it will end up going to court.
Assuming the officer in question had even felt the need to reprimand this driver, surely a quiet word at the side of the road would have been sufficient. In my dealings with traffic police I have always found them reasonable and "human", even when I have unequivocally been in the wrong, but the officer in this case has done a great deal of damage to the public's perception of the police.
It also makes me angry that we keep being told how the justice system is overloaded and can't process real criminals effectively, yet they are wasting everyone's time and money prosecuting what seems like a perfectly reasonable, law abiding chap for doing something which, let's face it, every motorist in this country has done at some time.
I don't want to sound like a Daily Mail reader, but sometimes this country baffles me.
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Yes, I saw the chap on BBC Breakfast this morning. He certainly didn't strike me as the sort of bloke who has an 'attitude' problem - though I wouldn't blame him if he has one now!
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I don't want to sound like a Daily Mail reader but sometimes this country baffles me.
I think "the lunatics are in charge of the asylum" summarises the state of the country at the moment....
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...I don't want to sound like a Daily Mail reader...
The Daily Mail sells about 2.2m copies a day, and the publisher will tell you many of those are read by more than one person, giving a 'readership' of 3m or more.
That's a lot of people, and the law of averages tells you they are not all what some like to characterise as typical Daily Mail readers.
Many are perfectly reasonable people who want a well-produced newspaper with plenty in it to read.
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>>The government advice is catch it, bin it, kill it.
Kids seem to pick it, lick it, roll it flick it. ;>)
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>> Kids seem to pick it lick it roll it flick it. ;>)
It's not just the kids, bt :-)
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I always thought that a bit of snip was compulsory for those stuck in traffic jams.
Ted
Edited by Pugugly on 31/01/2010 at 11:01
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What about sneezing while driving, that's more dangerous than blowing your nose while driving, and yet you can't stop yourself from sneezing for long.
Edited by Sofa Spud on 29/01/2010 at 10:53
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Indeed so, Ted. Nothing passes the time better than mining for purest green (with apologies to the person who originally posted that - it really amused me!)
This whole story is totally ridiculous and is typical of the 'sledgehammer to crack a nut' approach that the authorities seem to use these days. The response from the police is completely out of proportion to the alleged offence and as other posters have rightly said, the police officer who took the decision to issue this gentleman with an NIP has done the police service no favours whatsoever.
Rattle - you are quite right to say that you feel that every time you get in your car you feel criminalised. These days, it is getting harder to keep your attention on the actual act of driving your car as you're too busy wondering where the next ticket or NIP will be coming from.
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Nothing passes the time better than mining for purest green (with apologies to the person who originally posted that - it really amused me!)
'T was I, however I can not claim the full credit. It's adapted from a Blackadder episode. The mere thought of that programme makes me grin wildly, and I've watched most of the series more times than I've had hot dinners. It never, never gets boring.
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'T was I however I can not claim the full credit. It's adapted from a Blackadder episode.
I *thought* it sounded familiar. Blackadder - what a programme!
"Well, Captain I've got to admire your balls!"
"Perhaps later..."
Brilliant!
Erm, motoring. [Scratches head] Did Blackadder have a car? No? Oh... Sorry.
I'd also like to see Westpig et al make a comment on this case, just to get the 'other side'. It really does defy common sense and I can't begin to imagine why the police officer concerned thought that issuing the NIP was a good move.
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I'd also like to see Westpig et al make a comment on this case just to get the 'other side'.
I suspect they are in despair of their colleague, and are wisely keeping a low profile on this one.
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I'd also like to see Westpig et al make a comment on this case just to get the 'other side'. It really does defy common sense and I can't begin to imagine why the police officer concerned thought that issuing the NIP was a good move.
100% agree....and so would most of my colleagues. This sort of thing does untold damage and ruins the hard earnt respect achieved by others.
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Would be interesting to get the viewpoint of servicing police here?
Assuming the story is correct, what does this officer's peers and bosses do here? If he is strictly correct in what he has done, do his bosses need to back him even though they know what way the PR is going?
If it has been passed to Procurator Fiscal is it now out of the police's hands?
No doubt there are many people on here who, like me. are in customer facing environments and sometimes will get the "I'm not happy with this, I'm taking it further " approach. Very rarely do they reach the National Media!!
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""I'm not happy with this, I'm taking it further".. if I had a pound etc....
My favourite has always been "I am going to get in touch with Jeremy Clarkson". My instinctive response, alas thus far only in my head, has been "Well if you want someone to mis-report, spin, dumb down and twist what you've said then that is a great idea"... not a fan and do not understand why some people think he is some sort of guru. It is due almost entirely to him that TG is now possibly the most painfully contrived programme on TV. It makes we wince!
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I was listening to a London radio station this morning and it was reported that this same Policeman witnessed somebody coming out of a shop (I think about a month ago) and the shopper dropped a £10 note from their pocket and the Policeman ticketed the shopper for littering.
It was suggested that someone in authority at the officers Police Station might like to have a quite word with him. LOL
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It's agood job our nasally challenged friend didn't pull his hanky out of his pocket and bring a sweet paper with it, that might have fallen in the road when he got out to speak Mr Woodentop.
2 years in the dungeons at Edinburgh Castle for you ,Sir !!
Ted
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There has to be more to the story than this.
What attracted the police officers eyes in the first place?
It's difficult to imagine a traffic officer driving along looking about (even if on the hunt for violations) then spotting this and thinking "aha!".
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It's difficult to imagine a traffic officer driving along looking about (even if on the hunt for violations) then spotting this and thinking "aha!".
>>
I dont think this guy is a traffic trained policman, they have common sense, which is why they should replace scameras.
I really, really, hope no one gives this guy a gun!
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Thanks for pointing that out - snipped from ted's post - having checked an authoritative source,
Dave well thumbed Viz magazine, I have to agree that I'm sure that ted didn't intend us to take that particular meaning of the phrase ! PU
Edited by Pugugly on 31/01/2010 at 11:04
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No indeed, Pug. I'd totally forgotten about the alternative meaning...not moving in those circles for a very long time........City Centre beat, etc.
Ted
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Oh City Centre Beat eh ? ;-)
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Many are perfectly reasonable people who want a well-produced newspaper with plenty in it to read.
I'm sure they are. My father-in-law is a reasonable person who has taken the Daily Mail every day for years.
I've glanced through it on occasion, and it seems to me that apart from painting the worst kind of glass half empty view of Britain, everything is the fault of some combination of immigrants, Europe, homosexuals, working women or muslims. If whatever the target of their "exposure" isn't robbing you of your freedom, it is giving you cancer.
I am no liberal, and am not a fan of this government by any stretch, but I can't read more than two articles in the Mail without becoming depressed, angry, or both! ;-) In my defence, having the misfortune to pick up the Guardian also sets off similar emotions, but obviously for the opposite reasons.
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On my way into work this morning I scratched my nose once, and I also sneezed a couple of times.
And I confess, I lifted myself up slightly in the seat to erm, expel some surplus gas.
Does this make me a hardened criminal? I was lucky plod wasn't there to catch me!
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"Does this make me a hardened criminal?"
only if there was follow through........
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DP - can you check your mail ?
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I feel vindicated again for being Mr grumpy on the "Good things about driving in the UK" thread.
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