Highway Agency Patrols

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Tue 13 Jul 2010 23:23
Highway Agency Patrols - pullgees

Have these officers the power to clock you for speeding? When I see one ahead I check my speedo and ensure I'm within the speed limit but I've seen many motorist taking absolutely no notice of them.So I wondered if they can directly book you or whether they just inform the nearest police patrol if they see a speeder.

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Tue 13 Jul 2010 23:37
Highway Agency Patrols - Lee1

Officially no, not as such. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highways_Agency_Traffic_Officers#Traffic_Management_Act_2004

However, as with any member of the public, if they observed something worthy of reporting to police, probably they would relay a message.

Any law enforcement apparatus or vehicle used to investigate a driver's speed must have a regularly calibrated speed measuring instrument, by the way.

However, these officers do have powers such as to stop you and direct you etc, read the link above for details. It is an offence to not comply with their lawful activities or lawful requests. I assume that they have got what is sometimes referred to as accredited person status, but just as with PCSOs they are not constables and do not have the wider powers of [police] constables. Unlike police constables, they have absolutely no powers off-duty or if out of their marked vehicle or recognisable uniform.

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Wed 14 Jul 2010 09:41
Highway Agency Patrols - gordonbennet
It would probably be sensible not to go past a HA motor doing 70 like it's parked up, i imagine a radioed report of excessive speeding could result in you being followed by an unmarked police traffic car in due course.

As with most things don't take the mickey.
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Wed 14 Jul 2010 13:45
Highway Agency Patrols - Lee1

I agree with gordonbennet 100%

Speeding is a mug's game and in my case being especially tight-fisted I'm not spending 20% extra on petrol to race to the next traffic jam.

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Wed 14 Jul 2010 13:55
Highway Agency Patrols - Glaikit Wee Scunner {P}

I've passed one of their patrols but I reckoned the convoy I was in was doing 72 mph according to my Road Angel.

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Wed 14 Jul 2010 14:02
Highway Agency Patrols - broadgates5

TRUST me as someone who works with these people they have NO power to enforce any traffic laws, speeding or otherwise. They have NO power to stop you for any offences, but do have power to stop and direct traffic, ie to stop you driving down a road if it has been closed off and direct you on another route.

They are governed by the same road rules as everyone and can not exceed the 70 mph limit at all.

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Wed 14 Jul 2010 14:09
Highway Agency Patrols - gordonbennet

TRUST me as someone who works with these people they have NO power to enforce any traffic laws, speeding or otherwise.

No but they have radios and their opinion will be valued if they witnessed someone hurtling past them at well over the limit and could be bothered to click the mike.

Go past them normally with the other traffic as you would noramlly they'll not bat an eyelid, blitz them at 100mph and you just might find a grye/blue Octavia/Golf/S60/XF/ anything you can think of following for a short time.

Why antagonize or risk it for no good reason.

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Wed 14 Jul 2010 14:18
Highway Agency Patrols - broadgates5

This wont happen, they are not classed as "professional" witnesses with regard to speed, and can not exceed 70 mph themselves.

You are right in respect of keeping your eyes open in general and one should not be exceeding the speed limit anyway.Although the limit is 70 you will have to be going considerably more to attract an unmaked unit to look at you. however if you overtake a marked police car at over 70 you will be getting a tug

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Wed 14 Jul 2010 15:14
Highway Agency Patrols - Dwight Van Driver

A technical muse........

A and B are on patrol in their Hato vehicle travelling at an indicated speed on their speedo of 70 mph.

Whoosh........... they are overtaken by C travelling in the 100 mph range. They give chase and after a mile catch up to C and start to pace him at a constant distance for a further mile and who continues speeding at 100 mph and this speed constantly registered on the speedo of the Hato vehicle.

B makes copious notes of all that is ongoing and also records the Registration number/description of the driver of the offending vehicle..

They disengage and report immediately to the Police who take their vehicle and after tests with a stopwatch over a measured mile find that the Hato vehicles speedometer is correct. Witnesses statements are obtained form A and B.

NOIP/172 forms sent to Reg Keeper in required time and it comes back with C naming himself at the driver.

.....so what is to stop a prosecution taking place of C on the evidence of the Hato Officers?

Muse off.........

dvd

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Wed 14 Jul 2010 15:40
Highway Agency Patrols - broadgates5

I say again They can not exceed any limits themselves and there vehicles are limited to 70mph. They have NO enforcement powers in ANY WAY!

They are there to collect debris, shut roads/ direct traffic after a RTC and await breakdowns after the police and other services have left. It is as simple as that!

If you want to believe anything else or keep putting differing silly "what ifs" then do so. So the answer to the original question is No they have no power to follow or stop any motor vehicle for traffic offences, however as previously stated they have power to stop traffic from proceeding down a closed road/ lane and direct to an alternative route

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Wed 14 Jul 2010 16:02
Highway Agency Patrols - Dwight Van Driver

B5

I am well aware that protocols of Hato will preclude any action by them in relation to reporting offences of speeding but that does not entirely mean they would be impotent in this respect as witnesses for a case build - hence the technical muse.

As to exceeding the speed limit then there is the argument that that their vehicle was being used for Police purposes and exempt.

dvd

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Wed 14 Jul 2010 16:09
Highway Agency Patrols - broadgates5

With all due respect and not wishing to be rude you are talking complete and utter rubbish. They are nothing to do with the police!

To use anything for "police use" you first and foremost have to have the powers of a constable. They are not sworn officers they work for the Highways Agency and have been introduced in order to FREE up police patrols in order that we are not stuck at collision sites or with road closures etc,etc.

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Wed 14 Jul 2010 17:58
Highway Agency Patrols - Collos25

In reality they generally make things worse doing everything by the book using every safety rule they can think off to justify their jobs.I know a couple of guys who work in the Yorkshire area its the best job they have ever had.

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Wed 14 Jul 2010 18:10
Highway Agency Patrols - pullgees

Okay well that's cleared that up and explains why so many drivers overtake them exceeding the speed limit.. If a whole line of vehicles is overtaking the HA at about 80mph (common speed on motorways), are they going to radio it to the police? Doubtful.

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Thu 15 Jul 2010 08:26
Highway Agency Patrols - Dwight Van Driver

B5

Look at section 87 Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984...........

It refers to the USE of the vehicle not the status of the driver. Likewise for Fire and Ambulance purposes.

dvd

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Thu 15 Jul 2010 12:00
Highway Agency Patrols - woodster
I think it's perfectly sporting and quite gentlemanly to pass these HATO's as quickly as possible.

On a more serious note - there are plenty of ex-coppers in those vehicles now and they well know that they can't call in a traffic car at will. Speeders on the motorway are ten a penny and whilst it's theoretically possible to use their evidence to support a prosecution, practically, it's nigh on impossible.

HATO baiting, how juvenile....!!
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Thu 15 Jul 2010 22:25
Highway Agency Patrols - Roly93

Crikey its bad enough these jobsworths can bring the motorway network to a halt if someone has.dropped an empty beercan on the highway, let alone do you for speeding !

I think they all have the security guard mentality and would love real power, I bet some of them would like someday to be able to carry a sidearm !

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Fri 16 Jul 2010 00:04
Highway Agency Patrols - Sofa Spud

QUOTE:...""I think they all have the security guard mentality and would love real power, I bet some of them would like someday to be able to carry a sidearm !""

On the other hand they're the ones who have to risk their lives picking up bits of debris off the motorway. It's not a job for softies.

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Fri 16 Jul 2010 13:58
Highway Agency Patrols - nortones2

My wife pulled over to the hard shoulder on the M6 yesterday. She'd heard an odd noise, but wasn't then aware that the wheel was loose. HATO were helpful in checking she had breakdown cover and that the situation was being remedied. Brittania rescue also were prompt to respond, and checked all was well every few minutes. Apparently a number of passing vehicles honked, so one can only guess the lechers were at large. It's as well the HATO are around, despite the negative vibes from some on here. No thanks to the garage who failed to torque the wheel-nuts up properly:( They will hear from SWMBO shortly!

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Fri 16 Jul 2010 16:27
Highway Agency Patrols - woodster
No, you can't blame anyone for doing the job. But to dress them up with the words: 'Traffic officer' on the rear of the vehicle suggest a policing function, which again, is fine. But when you take account of how many there are, the cost of them and their vehicles, and their limited function, then why not change them for policemen?
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Fri 16 Jul 2010 22:34
Highway Agency Patrols - nortones2

What is the cost of them? How many? Implications for their primary role if they are placed in the police "pool" and switchable to non-traffic work?

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Sat 17 Jul 2010 12:27
Highway Agency Patrols - broadgates5

The cost is immence. Value for money,NO!

As for the Police "pool" there seems to be the misconception that they are linked to the police, They are NOT.

They are employed by the Highways Agency same as the griting lorry drivers, etc, etc that gritt the motorway network. It is unfortunate that they have similar markings to police, Ambulance etc, but they are black and yellow the Police are blue etc. The wording " Traffic Officer" is a con to imply they are perhaps there for other purposes or indeed have powers more than they have.

If you look closely the word " Highways Agency" is about 1inch high while " Traffic Officer" is about 12 inches. Why???

Little man syndrome comes to mind!

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Sat 17 Jul 2010 17:06
Highway Agency Patrols - mazdaboy

I have to say that when we had a serious motorway accident last year they were very efficient, taking a lot of the traffic management away from the police who could then get on with all the other aspects of the incident. As a result the motorway was open faster, even with the air ambulance adding to the delays.

The 'officer' element and vehicle marking schemes are clearly designed to add to the limited authority they have. I don't have a problem with that and I haven't yet heard of them acting outside of their core role.

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Tue 20 Jul 2010 06:57
Highway Agency Patrols - pda

I think the question is really 'would you be happy for your wife and children to be stood ( or sat) on the hard shoulder of a motorway, in the dark after a breakdown?'

Hato's or wombles as we call them, arrive very quickly, never leave a female alone on the hard shoulder and do a very good job for lorry drivers.

In the event of a puncture they are able to cone off a nearside lane to allow a tyre fitter to work safely on an offside tyre. They manage traffic at accidents and do it efficiently with safety in mind.

I've always found them polite and helpful despite being on a very low wage.

Pat

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