An unmarked cop got me

[st4]

On the way to the annual prilgrimage I drove very fast. 100mph on the speedo most of the way from Glasgow onwards. By Brum (3 1/2 hrs later driving time) it was night time and the M5 was completely deserted and the night was clear and visibility A1.

So I continued @ 100mph on the speedo (set the cars limiter to this) and low and behold a dark blue volvo with blue lights on it appeared and was pulled over. I got an FPN for doing 96mph over a 1.875mile distance.

So, if you live near Brum, the cops have a dark blue V70 estate and it

a) doesn't have heaps of ariels dangling of it
b) hasn't got two interior mirrors
c) is pretty much unspottable and manned singly (it was a woman who was driving it).

I have to say, whilst I was travelling at a high speed, I did nothing IMHO dangerous, and really, the police should/must have higher priorities than patroling the M5 completely covertly. I know I broke the law etc, and have taken the punishment like a man, but I can still be miffed a) I got caught b) that so many other types of crime go undetected.

So lads, a ton may be fun, but its expensive fun.

 

[BaldGuy]

Feel for you St.... but your gonna get flamed by loads on here dude due to your speed....

 

[LTD]

<says nothing>

 

[AMG-Al]

What this type of policing does for public relations/crime reduction/road safety I do not know.

There must be better uses for manpower in this day and age.

AND.....

As far as i'm concerned, it's cheating !


Never mind, 96 better than 106 so no fear of

 

[jaymanek]

did it have blue lights on its bumpers?

Now some are hiding the blue lights in the rear windows by having them completely tinted so the lights arent visible until they light them up!

 

[st4]

Don't care if I get flammed. The copper even said I was doing nothing dangerous (hence the FPN and not a trip to court) and the only thing wrong as I was going "waay to much over the speed limit and this drew attention to myself". I am not a "holier than thou" type person and whilst I post vigerously against the police, I feel I need to be honest with those I speak to on hear and admit I've been done too.

Just a heads up, unmarked cars are extremely hard to spot.

I did not do anything dangerous and feel even 120mph would have been a safe speed to travel given the lightness of traffic, visibility, condition of my car, weather conditions.

I am just miffed I was caught, £60 lighter, and there are worse crimes that go unpunished.

 

[SSBB]

You done well to get a FPN. 100mph is an automatic disqualification in court. Considering the distance you confess to travelling at 100, you could have been arrested for dangerous driving, I know nothing happened but what if it did...
Not sticking up for the law, Ive been caught myself so I know how your feeling.

 

[st4]

did it have blue lights on its bumpers?

Now some are hiding the blue lights in the rear windows by having them completely tinted so the lights arent visible until they light them up!

In the grille and on the rear of the car. Could't tell if the rears were tinted as was sat upfront in the car.

Also seems strange it was a 1 police officer who was female. What if I had been a kenneth noye type or something. I did feel that "mercia" police haven't given this woman much consideration of her safety.

 

[BTB 500]

At night all you're going to see is a pair of lights - anything coming up behind you could be a Police car.

You were also treated pretty leniently IMO. 96 mph in a 70 limit is a summons (rather than an FPN) under the ACPO guidelines ... which could have got you all/any of the following:

1. £1000 fine
2. Licence endorsed - range of penalty points available
3. Disqualification
4. Compulsory re-testing

 

[st4]

You done well to get a FPN. 100mph is an automatic disqualification in court. Considering the distance you confess to travelling at 100, you could have been arrested for dangerous driving, I know nothing happened but what if it did...
Not sticking up for the law, Ive been caught myself so I know how your feeling.

I didn't tell her that, and when the lights came off I changed the trip computer screen, didn't want her seeing an average speed of over 300 miles in excess of 70mph

She told me I was doing in excess of 100mph in places. Told her cannot be true as I set the limiter at "100mph" and it was her doing 100mph to catch me :bannana:

 

[st4]

At night all you're going to see is a pair of lights - anything coming up behind you could be a Police car.

You were also treated pretty leniently IMO. 96 mph in a 70 limit is a summons (rather than an FPN) under the ACPO guidelines ... which could have got you all/any of the following:

1. £1000 fine
2. Licence endorsed - range of penalty points available
3. Disqualification
4. Compulsory re-testing

I know. She said as the conditions were fair she was letting it go as FPN

However as I have to produce documents in Scotland and the offence in England I may well have a wee trip to court (dunno if she said this to keep me suitable chasened).

 

[SSBB]

I didn't tell her that, and when the lights came off I changed the trip computer screen, didn't want her seeing an average speed of over 300 miles in excess of 70mph

She told me I was doing in excess of 100mph in places. Told her cannot be true as I set the limiter at "100mph" and it was her doing 100mph to catch me :bannana:

How do you know you werent tracked by Automatic Number Plate Cameras for the entire distance you were speeding.

 

[stumpy1]

They use 123d coupes down my way so not your usual plod mobile.

I am not flaming ST as none of us are perfect but I spend a fair amount of time on the M5 / 6 corridor and I am stunned at the high speed, reckless driving I see. Not saying ST was one of those but that's why the police are there.

 

[st4]

How do you know you werent tracked by Automatic Number Plate Cameras for the entire distance you were speeding.

Oh cr4p. If they've done this I am banned. Anyone want to buy an E220cdi. Its never been flogged ever

BTW Torquay and the meet and the effort John and his family went to were worth the ticket. However next time I will take more time getting there. 6hrs 40mins driving time from Glasgow (in rush hr) to Torquay is effing quick...

 

[Swiss Toni]

How do you know you werent tracked by Automatic Number Plate Cameras for the entire distance you were speeding.

Because ANPR cameras are not set up to compare times that a vehicle passes through them to a standard that would be acceptable to a court (but can be compared to identify that the same reg passed through 2 cameras in an impossible time, to indicate a clone plate).

 

[st4]

They use 123d coupes down my way so not your usual plod mobile.

I am not flaming ST as none of us are perfect but I spend a fair amount of time on the M5 / 6 corridor and I am stunned at the high speed, reckless driving I see. Not saying ST was one of those but that's why the police are there.

Always thought the M40 was wild. Dare say you are right but at the time of night the road was dead etc. I found most fustrating is middle lane hoggers and I doubt that most folk on the Mways actually know what each lane is for and that lane 1 is where they should be unless passing someone. I was in lane 1 when doing 100 as nowt else was there (I thought the cop car was another like minded motorist)

 

[SSBB]

I know. She said as the conditions were fair she was letting it go as FPN

However as I have to produce documents in Scotland and the offence in England I may well have a wee trip to court (dunno if she said this to keep me suitable chasened).

How does that work then? If your offence was in England and you were stopped in England, It should have nothing to do with the scottish courts. Also, a FPN is a 'Provisional' offer by the police, as long as you accept it and pay the fine, the matters finished, there will be no court appearance.

 

[st4]

How does that work then? If your offence was in England and you were stopped in England, It should have nothing to do with the scottish courts. Also, a FPN is a 'Provisional' offer by the police, as long as you accept it and pay the fine, the matters finished, there will be no court appearance.

Dunno, something to do with where I surrender my licence. Probably cobblers to ensure I didn't rip down the remained of the 5 at 96mph. Which I could have done as it was dead. Would have had an average speed above 90mph for the trip if that had been.

 

[oldcro]

Oh cr4p. If they've done this I am banned. Anyone want to buy an E220cdi. Its never been flogged ever

BTW Torquay and the meet and the effort John and his family went to were worth the ticket. However next time I will take more time getting there. 6hrs 40mins driving time from Glasgow (in rush hr) to Torquay is effing quick...

Well done Steve, you beat Google Maps time by 1 hour and 1 minute. Glad it did not spoil your trip to the GTG.

 

[Donbronski]

Whats an FPN?