“Well maintained” Mercedes pulled over.

[TrueSpirit]

It looks like it just left the showroom and drove through some dirt I'd pay to get the exterior fixed and take it to 1m miles. If dude wants to get rid of it, I'd take it off him and see how far that engine can go !!!
The engine has to have been well maintained to reach 700k miles ...

 

[BTB 500]

Indeed, the official line is that the police can stop you for any reason. The reason can simply be to check your driving license, insurance, and MOT. Stop and search is a whole different ball game.

I've been stopped a couple of times by the police "just checking". The first time was about 60 years ago on a motorbike for a random check - absolutely nothing wrong. The second time was about 20 years ago in MK around midnight - I suspect by a bored bobby who just wanted a chat. Again, a random check.

I have no problem with being stopped for random checks. Anything that may make my life safer has to be a good thing.

In the late '70s / early '80s I was in my late teens then early 20s and often out in the early hours having been the 'designated driver'. I never had anything but soft drinks and I knew my car(s) were OK (I quite often had nearly new pool cars from work) so never had any worries about being stopped, which happened fairly frequently.

I remember being pulled over on Kingston Bridge once because I was "following a suspicious route" (I was driving home to Hampton Court)

Never breathalysed, never had any hassle, just a cursory look at the tyres and tax disc and I was on my way.

 

[ToeKnee]

I was stopped and breathalysed approx 30 times in 1987! I ran a nightclub and was often pulled over whilst driving at 4am, after saying I ran a nightclub when asked why I was on the road at that time, the breathalyser couldn't come out quick enough! Never drank whilst I was working though so all negative

 

[Bellow]

Google says that they do need a reason....but they have the power to stop any vehicle for any reason and at any time. So that's effectively any reason that they can think up! I got stopped a breathalysed before Xmas....he was a nice guy and he'd stopped me because I was doing 33 in a 30....in an area with no houses where they know that 90% will be over the speed limit. He said that he could not have stopped me without a reason....speeding in my case.....so unless they suspected a drunk driver (information received) or the car did something wrong or the car had a obvious defect they could not stop you. Luckily they were not prosecuting speeders under 36mph!!! So a little chat and I was on my way! Obviously I was not drinking.....I asked how many they get at 8 in the morning and he said very few....much more at nights obviously......but the bloke in a Jag before me in the stopped queue, had already had a drink with his breakfast!!....like you do.....but was under the limit

Did the cop intimate that he could have tested for other substances? Why choose to check for alcohol when they have so many tests now for different substances?

 

[StMarks]

I was stopped and breathalysed approx 30 times in 1987! I ran a nightclub and was often pulled over whilst driving at 4am, after saying I ran a nightclub when asked why I was on the road at that time, the breathalyser couldn't come out quick enough! Never drank whilst I was working though so all negative

Credit to you.!
They have drugs wipes these days though.

 

[ALFAitalia]

Did the cop intimate that he could have tested for other substances? Why choose to check for alcohol when they have so many tests now for different substances?

No......and because it was Christmas and they were after those that had overdone it the night before.!

 

[Bellow]

No......and because it was Christmas and they were after those that had overdone it the night before.!

You - or anyone - could have been high as a kite on coke the night before with it still in your system when stopped. But that wasn't checked. I'm just curious as to what prompts a police officer to start checking for substances other than alcohol.

FWI I've been stopped and breathalysed for alcohol at Xmas just as you were (the 'reason' - an overtaking manoeuvre considered unsafe - my ****, if so, I'd have been charged with careless or dangerous driving) but that was before they had all the other testing kit.

 

[Pontoneer]

It’s been decades since I was in the Police , but if memory serves they don’t need a reason to stop a vehicle . But looking at that absolute “sh&tter” there’s going to be something wrong with it .

Correct - no reason required , and no need to give any reason .

Road Traffic Act 1988

www.legislation.gov.uk

 

[Pontoneer]

Google says that they do need a reason....but they have the power to stop any vehicle for any reason and at any time. So that's effectively any reason that they can think up! I got stopped a breathalysed before Xmas....he was a nice guy and he'd stopped me because I was doing 33 in a 30....in an area with no houses where they know that 90% will be over the speed limit. He said that he could not have stopped me without a reason....speeding in my case.....so unless they suspected a drunk driver (information received) or the car did something wrong or the car had a obvious defect they could not stop you. Luckily they were not prosecuting speeders under 36mph!!! So a little chat and I was on my way! Obviously I was not drinking.....I asked how many they get at 8 in the morning and he said very few....much more at nights obviously......but the bloke in a Jag before me in the stopped queue, had already had a drink with his breakfast!!....like you do.....but was under the limit

A constable in uniform can stop any vehicle being driven on the road at any time , no reason is required , nor needs to be given .

Here is the legislation .

Road Traffic Act 1988

www.legislation.gov.uk

 

[oldguy57]

Just on the subject of being stopped by the Police, there seems to have been a surge of stealth vehicles being used by the Police in my area. All sorts, but the the one that catches most out is a silver MB van with black go faster stripes down the bonnet and the van sides. None have the Police Stop light, only small blue flashing lights in the rear window. All have tinted windows so you can't spot a uniform as they fly by. Cupra estate, dressed like a "dealers" car also catches some. I suspect that they are repurposing seized vehicles.

 

[Petrol Pete]

Around our way a 16 plate 'boggo' black Vauxhall Astra undercover police car has appeared . it is of course no longer undercover due to unsocial media. No doubt it will be moved to a different area soon.

 

[Mickyh7]

Looks like it's got a really bad map, or a Chinese chip fitted, looking at all of that soot on the tailgate.
I'll wager it was pouring smoke out, under acceleration?
Screaming for a pull!

 

[Scott_F]

I'm reminded of the time I was pulled over one night many years ago in my old banger and the copper ambled over, walked around my car and then gestured to me to open the window:

"Would you mind stepping out of the vehicle please, Sir".

I got out and he ushered me to the front of the car and pointed to one of the headlights that wasn't working. I knew the car well and was familiar with its dodgy electrics so I gave the light a quick kick and on it came.

The copper gave me a long, hard look and walked me to the back of the car where he pointed to a duff rear light. Without even batting an eyelid I gave it a firm kick and that came on too.

"Very good, Sir" he said. "Now why don't you give your windscreen a kick and see if you can make your tax disc appear".

 

[BTB 500]

All have tinted windows so you can't spot a uniform as they fly by.

They must be legal tints (25% maximum on the windscreen, 30% maximum on the front side windows), so you should be able to see the high-vis jackets they helpfully wear

the one that catches most out is a silver MB van with black go faster stripes down the bonnet and the van sides.

The stripes are pretty common with 'Sport' trim on the Vito ... a factory option or maybe even standard:



The Police have used Vitos a fair bit so an unmarked one shouldn't be that surprising.

IIRC at least one force was using an HGV tractor unit on motorways though because the high viewpoint made it easy to see (and video) seatbelt or mobile phone offences!

 

[SpikyMikey]

Around our way a 16 plate 'boggo' black Vauxhall Astra undercover police car has appeared . it is of course no longer undercover due to unsocial media. No doubt it will be moved to a different area soon.

Black or white Hyundai i30s in our neck of the woods.

 

[oldguy57]

They must be legal tints (25% maximum on the windscreen, 30% maximum on the front side windows), so you should be able to see the high-vis jackets they helpfully wear



The stripes are pretty common with 'Sport' trim on the Vito ... a factory option or maybe even standard:

View attachment 174567

The Police have used Vitos a fair bit so an unmarked one shouldn't be that surprising.

IIRC at least one force was using an HGV tractor unit on motorways though because the high viewpoint made it easy to see (and video) seatbelt or mobile phone offences!

Nope you can't see through the driver/ passenger windows. The tint doesn't look legal to me. The Vito thing hasn't been used in my neck of the woods before so that's probably the reason it catches so many out.

 

[abecketts]

I wonder what the highest mileage mercedes in the UK is? A w123 or w124?

 

[BTB 500]

Nope you can't see through the driver/ passenger windows. The tint doesn't look legal to me. The Vito thing hasn't been used in my neck of the woods before so that's probably the reason it catches so many out.

IMHO there's no way traffic Police would be allowed to use a vehicle with illegal window tints (or anything else that's even remotely dodgy) on public roads. There would be all sorts of liability issues if it was ever involved in an accident ...

 

[StMarks]

I wonder what the highest mileage mercedes in the UK is? A w123 or w124?

Or a Vito perhaps (Taxi version) ?

 

[ALFAitalia]

A 190 E made it to 3.3 million!....all on it's original engine and gearbox!!! Information sourced from this very forum...so it must be true..... that said I can't find anything online to back that up.

Thread 'Highest Mileage ?' Highest Mileage ? | General Discussion