**offence code a700 - stopped and fined!**

[NOMONEYBUTAMERC]

YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS ! M.O.T. expired in October . Of course you got pulled. My daughter got a £60 fixed penalty on Saturday ( 8th ) as her road tax expired on new years eve. - She hadnt used her car since before xmas , and it was parked outside her flat in a quiet residential area. No excuses , pay up , someone has to pay for those nice BMW estates !

 

[Pappilo]

No the correct procedure is to pull on the hard shoulder the cop will then park his car at an angle to protect both of you and the stop should last no longer than 10 minutes without being moved to safety.

Quoting 15 miles is just stupid and argumentative no sensible person would drive that distance before stopping and if you care to read the quote correctly instead of misquoting you will find that is not what I said. If you acknowledge them they will not have a problem continuing to a place of safety

You also need to do some more Googling about Whatley instead of quoting the one sided article from that well known rag who puts down authority at every opportunity then you would see what he was really liked and why they did what they did, but never let the facts get in the way of a good story

So can this cop manouevre not be executed on double red lines?

Why is 15 miles stupid? Is it becuse you think so or because there is no where on the motorway network that is 15 miles between junctions? Just like the cop you quoted who added stopping on a zig zag to the list of offences commited. According to your theory and expereince, is it not possible for an over zealous cop to add stopping on the hard shoulder to the list of offences of someone who stops on the hard shoulder?

I read a lot about Whatley when it happened. It is just a reminder of what may happen to you if you continue to drive for 15 miles before stopping your car after you have been instructed to do so.

 

[flango]

So can this cop manouevre not be executed on double red lines?

Why is 15 miles stupid? Is it becuse you think so or because there is no where on the motorway network that is 15 miles between junctions?

No the manoeuvre can only be executed on the hard shoulder of a motorway.

No because the most tolerance you would probably get from a cop is 3 - 4 miles.

As regards the Motorway the hard shoulder is a safe stop if protected by an illuminated marked car with all strobes ablaze so no reason not to stop on a motorway Immediately unless roadworks or other conditions prevent it.

There are plenty of motorways with 15 miles between junctions, particularly in Scotland.

 

[312 Sprinter]

Based on this thread I feel like a real criminal. One of my number plates are illegal.

A few years ago, it was perfectly legal. Now it isn''t. Only because they don't have the manufacturers postcode on it. Otherwise totally legal.

I'm too mean to spend time and money replacing one set of plates with another, where the only difference is 7x3mm white characters on a yellow background.

Oddly, I'm happy to be a lawbreaker, in that respect.

I do have a life to get on with, I'm planning on selling peaked caps

You're not required to change the original number plates on the car. Providing they comply with the legislation as it was when the car was registered it is perfectly legal.

 

[Pappilo]

No because the most tolerance you would probably get from a cop is 3 - 4 miles.

As regards the Motorway the hard shoulder is a safe stop if protected by an illuminated marked car with all strobes ablaze so no reason not to stop on a motorway Immediately unless roadworks or other conditions prevent it.

I know I,ll stop immediately if asked to do so buy a cop, hard shoulder or double red lines.

One last question though, The 3-4 miles tolerance is not in the highway code, is it? and will the side of a road with double red lines not be a safe place to stop if protected by an illuminated marked car with all strobes ablaze ?

 

[flango]

I know I,ll stop immediately if asked to do so buy a cop, hard shoulder or double red lines.

One last question though, The 3-4 miles tolerance is not in the highway code, is it? and will the side of a road with double red lines not be a safe place to stop if protected by an illuminated marked car with all strobes ablaze ?

No the 3 - 4 mile is at the discretion of the officer and what is considered acceptable in most forces code of practice. However it is at the total discretion of the officer to decide when the boundaries of acceptability have been passed and the driver is starting to take the P.

A stop on double red lines would probably be OK in terms of safety with a marked car and strobes on but the driver would still be committing an offence by stopping on double reds and its not something I would personally do.

 

[st4]

I stopped on the hard shoulder, when it was safe to do so when I was tugged for a leasurely ton.

Its not difficult to stop for a police car. Look in the mirror, see lots of blue lights. Look ahead on motorway, pick a bit thats well sighted, i.e. not on a brow of a hill. Signal, pull over. Wait in car.

Same as driving in town, look in mirror, see cop, if on main route, turn off and signal in good time, find somewhere safe and quiet to stop. Remember, you are sat there for 10mins or so and have to move off, under assumably the observation of a scurtinous cop. Make it easy on yourself.

 

[Colin_b]

You're not required to change the original number plates on the car. Providing they comply with the legislation as it was when the car was registered it is perfectly legal.

I did mention I'm tight I took the plates off the old car, when I transferred the reg number to my new car, and put them on the new one. At which point I became part of the criminal fraternity.

If I get caught, fair enough, as they say if you can't do the time, don't do the crime.

 

[Beetnik]

Last time I got pulled I was followed for maybe 3 miles along a country road - single lane with passing places, farmers driving cows across the road etc - until it was safe to stop. Only then and when I turned back onto a main road with a convenient layby did the blues and twos come on and I stopped.

I was then threatened with arrest for not complying with the order of a policeman.

I wasn't but he did warn me to be very careful about what I said if I was to avoid arrest.

I did my usual in the circumstances - apologise/be charming and nice - and left with 3 points and £60 for going 29 mph over the speed limit. 'I'll concede you were slowing down at the time' said he (followed by 'so what engine has it got?').

Fair to generous result and no complaints.

I fail to understand why, when the law's been broken, people can't just put their hands up and say 'fair cop'.

 

[Beetnik]

My brother got pulled and ticketed for speeding a while back. He was in a long line of cars all doing the same speed. 'Why me?' said he. 'Cos you're the one with the posh number plate.' said the cop. (Plate was *** 2).

Moral of the story - don't do anything to draw attention to yourself.

 

[Charles Morgan]

I fail to understand why, when the law's been broken, people can't just put their hands up and say 'fair cop'.

My attitude entirely. I have been and remain, but much less, a trifle less concerned with my speed on the open road than I should be, so I only blame myself if I get nicked.

From my one and only magistrates court appearance (27 years old, Golf GTi, 108 on the M5) I learned that it is much better to put your hand up and acknowledge your sins and manifest wickedness, although the magistrate was a pompous so and so.

 

[219]

You won't get a legal plate (displaying maker's details etc.) without producing evidence of (a) your entitlement to the registration and (b) your identity.

Not in England or Wales , but that law does not apply in Scotland - although a lot of suppliers do ask for it .

 

[219]

is it not possible for an over zealous cop to add stopping on the hard shoulder to the list of offences of someone who stops on the hard shoulder?

I would say not - because all drivers are legally obliged to follow the directions of a police officer or traffic warden in uniform .

There are a great many offences to which this is a stated exception .

Similarly the OP's case where he stopped on red lines 'as directed by a police officer in uniform' .

BTW - I think the OP was lucky his car was not seized on the spot as he was driving with no MOT and not on his way to a pre-booked test .

 

[219]

Based on this thread I feel like a real criminal. One of my number plates are illegal.

A few years ago, it was perfectly legal. Now it isn''t. Only because they don't have the manufacturers postcode on it. Otherwise totally legal.

The requirement for postcodes etc only came in comparatively recently - it all depends on the date of fitting .

Pre-existing legal plates are still perfectly legal - even white and yellow pressed aluminium ones fitted to cars since the early 1960's , and of course black ones fitted to pre-1973 cars .

 

[219]

the correct procedure is to pull on the hard shoulder the cop will then park his car at an angle to protect both of you and the stop should last no longer than 10 minutes without being moved to safety.

I had this on the M8 in Glasgow city centre during the holidays : I was on my way to a fire in my little fire brigade van at about 1am when the roads were almost empty - I hadn't bothered with the blue light and had been doing 70mph along the motorway - when I came to the 50mph stretch through the city centre I carried on at 70 , passing a solitary police car in the process . Due to no blue light , they signalled me to stop which I duly did , on the hard shoulder , and they pulled into the 'fend off' position behind me - I ran back and explained to the cop that I was on my way to a job , giving the address - the cop replied 'OK' and waved me on my way - the whole stop probably took around 30 seconds .

Normally , if there is other traffic , I will slow down to the speed limit , but when conditions permit we are allowed a certain amount of discretion .

 

[fuzzer]

I had this on the M8 in Glasgow city centre during the holidays : I was on my way to a fire in my little fire brigade van at about 1am when the roads were almost empty - I hadn't bothered with the blue light and had been doing 70mph along the motorway - when I came to the 50mph stretch through the city centre I carried on at 70 , passing a solitary police car in the process . Due to no blue light , they signalled me to stop which I duly did , on the hard shoulder , and they pulled into the 'fend off' position behind me - I ran back and explained to the cop that I was on my way to a job , giving the address - the cop replied 'OK' and waved me on my way - the whole stop probably took around 30 seconds .

Normally , if there is other traffic , I will slow down to the speed limit , but when conditions permit we are allowed a certain amount of discretion .

Im suite surprised they even stopped you. The motorway is normally empty at that time of night and you were in the van.... I take it a fully liveried fire van doesnt have the same benifits as a police van when it comes to being immune from traffic laws?

 

[SilverSaloon]

Just go to Halfords and get regular or 3D pressed plates. You can also specify whether you want GB logo or not. That costs a bit more though.

Job done - end of story.

Not necessarily so. I went to Hellfrauds for 2 plates when the picasso failed its MOT as it didnt have the EU code on it, so i went to halfords and ordered 2 plates and came back in an hour or so to collect.

no EU code. i said why not and they said they didnt have the kit to do it. So i left them, which annoyed them as they had made them. I told them that there is no point in me buying their illegal plates and left

so make sure wherever you get the plates (assuming you are now going to get the plates done for your mot ) you ask them if they are "MOT passable".

 

[sc320]

Personally I think VOSA should add £5 to the MOT cost and include a reminder letter facility as they do with road tax. At the end of the day the MOT does a superficial check on major components to check your car is roadworthy, safe for you, other road users and pedestrians.

Imagine if you had been involved in a accident involving 3rd party injuries - with no insurance your personal liability would be frightening !

 

[fuzzer]

Personally I think VOSA should add £5 to the MOT cost and include a reminder letter facility as they do with road tax. At the end of the day the MOT does a superficial check on major components to check your car is roadworthy, safe for you, other road users and pedestrians.

Imagine if you had been involved in a accident involving 3rd party injuries - with no insurance your personal liability would be frightening !

the insurance would still pay out , it just wouldnt cover any claims you make.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Personally I think VOSA should add £5 to the MOT cost and include a reminder letter facility as they do with road tax. At the end of the day the MOT does a superficial check on major components to check your car is roadworthy, safe for you, other road users and pedestrians.

If VOSA did as you suggest, you would get all and sundry saying 'why should we pay to be reminded of something that we never forget?'
And I would be one of them...
If the OP was a couple of days or even a fortnight late with the MOT I would have a bit of sympathy. But he wasn't; he was three months late.
It is one date in a year that, car-wise, you need to remember, evryone gets a tax reminder.