Police Scotland to issue formal warnings

[219]

to drivers caught 'just over speed limits' .

Various sources

Police can offer formal warnings to drivers just over the alcohol limit | UK | News | Daily Express

Police to issue formal warnings to drivers who are just over the speed limit - Daily Record

Police Scotland crackdown on speeding described as 'state surveillance gone mad' - Telegraph

Figures as low as just 2 or 3 mph over limits have been mentioned , so those who think they can rely on GPS devices which give lower readings than their speedometers had best tread very carefully ....

Edit - the title of the first link is misleading , but the article is relevant .

 

[tec]

Big Brother is alive and well in Scotland.

 

[greghm]

I do not think they have the resources to uphold this. That is just bragging.

 

[martyz]

Discretion and police officers...

 

[219]

I do not think they have the resources to uphold this. That is just bragging.

Have you never met Sir Stephen ?

 

[c_200k]

So if you get a formal warning then get another do you only get a fine?

 

[Palfrem]

McPlod are going to be very busy with errant motorists at 2-3 mph over the posted limit then aren't they.

No time for anything else I expect.

 

[c_200k]

Everything else has already been dealt with

Motorist's travelling 2-3 mph over the limit was the last biggest problem in Scotland.

After that Scotland will become sin free.

 

[cb1965]

Everything else has already been dealt with

Motorist's travelling 2-3 mph over the limit was the last biggest problem in Scotland.

After that Scotland will become sin free.

It's pathetic isn't it? On the one hand they are bleating about all the cuts and then on the other they have time to focus on this nonsense!

 

[automaniaman]

Very commendable...

 

[NDFR]

Probably down to dictator Sturgeon.

 

[st13phil]

Being unfamiliar with the niceties of Scottish Law, can someone please advise what the significance is of a Police Formal Warning?

 

[grober]

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id...ice scotland speeding formal warning&f=false

In the past if a formal warning was refused the case was then forwarded to the procurator fiscal for investigation and possible prosecution- however according to reports under the new arrangements the drivers being given a formal warning are those that would normally fall outwith the standard prosecution criteria of 10 per cent plus 2mph above the formal speed limit. Whether their right to refuse a formal warning and take their chances with the procurator fiscal [ crown prosection service equivalent] has been removed remains unclear.

 

[grober]

Police get new powers as they set sights on drivers just over speed limit | Herald Scotland

 

[Giantvanman]

I think it is quaint that some forum members actually believe that the police themselves set such a policy.

Or suggest the police would actually be pleased to have to implement this plan over an entire nation, what with there being so few other demands on their time.

But it is nice to see that members exercised clear and rational thinking and didn't jump on the bandwagon by having a childish dig.



In case my meaning has been missed, what actually happens is this; a quango or think tank or government minister or department or any other of the myriad muppets behind the scene comes up with a bright idea and tells the officer in charge, "You will do this" and leaves it to them to work out the mechanics of it. Some will pay it lip service but others, normally those looking for Brownie points (promotion or recognition), will give it their utmost attention.

And I have to say that I find it very disheartening that otherwise intelligent and clear thinking members wouldn't know that by far and above most of the 'targets and priorities and crackdowns' come from our political masters and not "the police".

 

[Jokuk]

Now, for the first time, Police Scotland has won the right to hand out hard-hitting formal police warnings which do not result in a conviction, fine or penalty points.

not sure how hard hitting that actually is...................

 

[219]

In case my meaning has been missed, what actually happens is this; a quango or think tank or government minister or department or any other of the myriad muppets behind the scene comes up with a bright idea and tells the officer in charge, "You will do this" and leaves it to them to work out the mechanics of it. Some will pay it lip service but others, normally those looking for Brownie points (promotion or recognition), will give it their utmost attention.

Hence my earlier query as to whether another member had met Sir Stephen .

Which I have , numerous times .

 

[cb1965]

I think it is quaint that some forum members actually believe that the police themselves set such a policy.

Or suggest the police would actually be pleased to have to implement this plan over an entire nation, what with there being so few other demands on their time.

But it is nice to see that members exercised clear and rational thinking and didn't jump on the bandwagon by having a childish dig.



In case my meaning has been missed, what actually happens is this; a quango or think tank or government minister or department or any other of the myriad muppets behind the scene comes up with a bright idea and tells the officer in charge, "You will do this" and leaves it to them to work out the mechanics of it. Some will pay it lip service but others, normally those looking for Brownie points (promotion or recognition), will give it their utmost attention.

And I have to say that I find it very disheartening that otherwise intelligent and clear thinking members wouldn't know that by far and above most of the 'targets and priorities and crackdowns' come from our political masters and not "the police".

Ah so they're just carrying out orders.... now where have I heard that before?

 

[Teflonso]

Issue a formal warning and it costs the price of a stamp.

A certain proportion of drivers, lets say 30%, will take this as a near miss and slow down for a while. The remainder will issue a mental "stuff it" notice but will have something already on file the next time they get caught doing 10mph+ over the limit. So maybe fines and points can be argued upward.

But try and prosecute people who are 2mph over the limit for a second or subsequent occasion and you are going to waste hours of police time on people who have the common sense to challenge accuracy of instruments, adequacy of technique, suitability of location, etc. etc. etc. They'd be lucky if one in ten resulted in a conviction.

The failure in the policy is the people who will get 3, 4, 10 formal warnings for being just over the limit and don't get an invitation to meet the beak. They will (quite rightly) conclude that it's all just bluster.

By the way, my E-Class is the first car I've ever had with a speedo that doesn't over-read. It is absolutely accurate not only against a hand held satnav but also against the only certain method, which is by counting and timing the marker posts on an empty motorway with cruise control set.


.

 

[Giantvanman]

Ah so they're just carrying out orders.... now where have I heard that before?

FFS; really?