M6 Preston, Unmarked Police

[Flyer]

Just a heads-up for anyone using the M6 around the Preston area; been up that way today and saw an unmarked, silver MB C-class estate pull someone over. He did have the blues in the grill and lights in the rear window/boot, but apart from that, no give-aways.

Keep 'em peeled

 

[Thmsshaun]

If speed cameras have to be marked and visible how can it be legal for the police to use un marked vehicles for pulling people over?

Obviously I understand the need for undercover police but to pic on the motorist?

 

[BearFace]

If speed cameras have to be marked and visible how can it be legal for the police to use un marked vehicles for pulling people over?

Obviously I understand the need for undercover police but to pic on the motorist?

Actually, I don't think it's a legal (in the literal sense) requirement for speed cameras to be marked. I understood that it was part of an agreement by the safety camera partnerships following some pressure from motoring organizations and the public, to have them painted yellow. As I say, this is my understanding, so prepare for someone more knowledgeable to prove me wrong...

 

[Shude]

Just a heads-up for anyone using the M6 around the Preston area; been up that way today and saw an unmarked, silver MB C-class estate pull someone over. He did have the blues in the grill and lights in the rear window/boot, but apart from that, no give-aways.

The Preston M6 junction (Tickled Trout) is where the Traffic Police HQ is, so it's a real hotspot for marked and unmarked cars.

I saw a black volvo S60/S80 saloon on the hard shoulder that had pulled some chav-mobile near Bolton West (Rivington?) services on the M61.

 

[robert.saunders]

If speed cameras have to be marked and visible how can it be legal for the police to use un marked vehicles for pulling people over?

Obviously I understand the need for undercover police but to pic on the motorist?

Police only have to identify themselves when they perform a "stop". This can be from flashing of headlights and indicating you to pull over (a flashing indicator or simply pointing) to the obvious "blues n twos". Many unmarked cars also have the wording Police and/or Stop displayed to you via text signs on the visors or from LED signs that can face forwards or to the rear.

Besides, if you drive within the speed limits there is rarely reason to be stopped!

 

[Flyer]

Besides, if you drive within the speed limits there is rarely reason to be stopped!

Warning! Brainwash alert!*

How about tailgaters? Drivers half-asleep (or even full-)? Drink/drug-influenced drivers? Not paying attention to the road/other drivers/weather? MLMs? OLMs? Mechanical failures? Electrical failures?

This is a major problem. Drivers do feel that, if they keep to the speed limit, they are safe drivers and hence the police willl not stop them. That is patently ridiculous, but that is the message being propogated by this government and idiot savants like Gruppenfurher Brunstrom.








* just kidding, you could just be 'avin' a larf, in which case full apologies are offered

 

[Thmsshaun]

Besides, if you drive within the speed limits there is rarely reason to be stopped!

That is true.

But I agree with Flyers reply. The problems on our motorways are not speeding motorists IMO.
People pulling out without indication is a good one tail gaiters middle god dam lane hoggers. Even outside lane hoggers. Why is the concept of lane discipline so hard to grasp. Oh because no one does anything about it. Start putting the threat of driving without due care and attention (Which is what it is) and I am sure things would change.

 

[robert.saunders]

Warning! Brainwash alert!*

* just kidding, you could just be 'avin' a larf, in which case full apologies are offered

I certainly was avin a larf

 

[Swiss Toni]

If speed cameras have to be marked and visible how can it be legal for the police to use un marked vehicles for pulling people over?

Obviously I understand the need for undercover police but to pic on the motorist?

People pulling out without indication is a good one tail gaiters middle god dam lane hoggers. Even outside lane hoggers. Why is the concept of lane discipline so hard to grasp. Oh because no one does anything about it. Start putting the threat of driving without due care and attention (Which is what it is) and I am sure things would change.

Answers the question?!

 

[mickl]

Actually, I don't think it's a legal (in the literal sense) requirement for speed cameras to be marked. I understood that it was part of an agreement by the safety camera partnerships following some pressure from motoring organizations and the public, to have them painted yellow. As I say, this is my understanding, so prepare for someone more knowledgeable to prove me wrong...

a proportion of the revenue from marked cameras goes to the police force. money from the unmarked ones go straight to the govt coffers.

 

[Maff]

a proportion of the revenue from marked cameras goes to the police force. money from the unmarked ones go straight to the govt coffers.

yep, was just about to post the same...

 

[petef]

I think unmarked cars pulling over motorists needs reviewing...its just a matter of time before some psycho will put a couple of blue lights on their car, some two tones and pull over some unsuspecting femail...or male for that matter.... There are companys on the internet ( british ) that can supply you with evry type of blue flashing light you can think of ...including the strobe grill lights..and two tones...worrying to say the least. I have told my wife that if she is ever tried to be stopped by an unmarked car to ring 999 or drive to the nearest police station...yes , a bit drastic but rather safe than sorry in these mad violent times..

 

[BTB 500]

I guess it depends a bit on the circumstances. On a busy motorway in broad daylight being pulled over by an unmarked car should be OK. Quiet back roads etc. would be rather more dodgy!

I'd be suspicious of a 'police' car with only one person in it though.

 

[Shude]

I believe you are obliged to pull over "when it is safe to do so" and if you feel that it's not safe, for example if you are alone, at night on a dark country road or something then you are quite within your rights to drive to somewhere safer, like a petrol station forecourt or somewhere else well lit and CCTV monitored.

You should give acknowledgement to the unmarked car though, such as a wave or something so they don't think you're trying to escape.

 

[RichardM]

You could always sit locked in the car with the doors locked and the window up until you are happy with their id etc.

 

[prprandall51]

I believe you are obliged to pull over "when it is safe to do so" and if you feel that it's not safe, for example if you are alone, at night on a dark country road or something then you are quite within your rights to drive to somewhere safer.....

Ha, ha! Reminds me of when I was a lad and I undertook someone I had been following patiently for ages. I cleverly did this right in front of a jam sandwich.

As it was a dual carriageway, I felt it was unsafe to stop and so I proceeded to the next exit (with blue lights following). The copper was furious - whilst looking for a safe stopping point I had apparently crossed the border between Surrey and Kent and as a result the copper said the paperwork would be too complex to bother with. Whereas, if I had stopped whilst still in Surrey..

Apparently, I had committed a crime in Surrey but I had been aprehended in Kent.

So, the safest place to stop is always in the next county.

 

[996jimbo]

You could always sit locked in the car with the doors locked and the window up until you are happy with their id etc.

Or stop taking the Daily Mail quite so seriously!

 

[sneijder]

The Police in Preston down at J31 M6 Tickled Trout also boast a 211 E class estate, also in silver.