Police "Winter Vehicle Checks"

[DansSlk]

Just wait till they start aticking probes up your exhaust for emmissions.
Happened hear 2 years ago.
Some members will say , oh the police are great and are doing a great job, and it gets rubbish cars off the streets, but a bulb can fail on any car, even a brand new one, and not all have warning lights to tell you of a failure.
i am sure he bulb will be cheaper in asda/tesco

I agree bulbs and such can go at any time and your not always warned but i don't seem any harm at all in police making people aware of this and having somebody available (wherever they come from) with a selection of bulbs to fit.

As long a your given time to fix it yourself should you so desire because not everybody will want some one size fits all chappy poking around under the hood and rightly so.

 

[raymont]

Slightly off topic but related.

Around here there are some BMW 1 series police cars that drive around with whole door graphics saying that they were suppied by and are sponsored by the local BMW dealer. I find these commercial links with the police rather worrying. The police should be seen to be free from any commercial influence.

 

[MBManInKen]

I'm all for the police being more actively engaged in this kind of issue and for the idea of a specific campaign.

However, in the long term interest of being seen to be fully objective and neutral and to avoid even the impression of coercion, it would really have been better not to get involved in such a partnership with a major retailer.

Personally, I also carry spare bulbs (nice original Mercedes accessory ), but should one of the xenons go, I'm not even supposed to fix that myself at the roadside.

 

[MBManInKen]

The police should be seen to be free from any commercial influence.

I fully agree.

 

[glojo]

Slightly off topic but related.

Around here there are some BMW 1 series police cars that drive around with whole door graphics saying that they were suppied by and are sponsored by the local BMW dealer. I find these commercial links with the police rather worrying. The police should be seen to be free from any commercial influence.

When I enquired about this blatant sponsorship I was told the following:

Usually these vehicles are not first response vehicles, be that regular patrol or traffic. They are usually offered to departments like community support or other non response department and are all additional to operational requirements.

My own thoughts are probably in line with your own. It portrays the wrong impression and that is wrong. If big business wants to get involved then they should not be allowed to get free advertising. The car already displays its name rank and number.

Pammy, Pammy, Pammy,
Just remember what the French done to their collaborators

John

 

[raymont]

Agree these checks do pick up minor faults such as failed bulbs and being given a short time to rectify is reasonable enough. They will also pick up uninsured, drunk etc. and I assume these are dealt with more forcefully.

However they seem to be ‘one off’ publicity exercises and as such are no substitute for a proper police presence on our roads.

It’s easy to understand why some people will get annoyed when picked up by an expensive one off operation for a minor infringement when they witness, often on a daily basis, incompetent and sometimes dangerous driving about which nothing is done.

 

[Muppetz]

Right - direct from the horses mouths!! People who are stopped and found to have a fault/defect or something in need of attention are being offered a VDRS as an alternative to a fixed penalty notice(£30) if that's what they prefer or the services of Halfords. Halfords are charging the shelf price for the bulbs and no labour charge.

I hate to repeat myself, and your source may have had a different experience to my source, but as I have already said this was not the case when my staff member was stopped - he was told "have it repaired here by halfords and we will not take the matter any further" - leaving "taking it further" to the imagination.

Had the phrasing been "we can give you a VDRS, requiring you to have the repair completed and approoved within 14 days or you can have Halfords fit a bulb for you here and now" then that would have been absolutely fine.

Can you see the distinction between those two ways of approaching the situation ?

It is that difference, and only that, which I take issue with in this stop check situation.

 

[glojo]

I hate to repeat myself, and your source may have had a different experience to my source, but as I have already said this was not the case when my staff member was stopped - he was told "have it repaired here by halfords and we will not take the matter any further" - leaving "taking it further" to the imagination.

Had the phrasing been "we can give you a VDRS, requiring you to have the repair completed and approoved within 14 days or you can have Halfords fit a bulb for you here and now" then that would have been absolutely fine.

Can you see the distinction between those two ways of approaching the situation ?

It is that difference, and only that, which I take issue with in this stop check situation.

I think the very relevant word is 'Imagination'.

I am NOT inferring your member of staff imagined the conversation.... I fully accept that took place. I don't accept though and neither does my imagination accept that there would have been ANYTHING untoward happen.

If your driver had said, "Poke Halfords where the sun doesn't shine!" Then I would imagine this person would have been dealt with accordingly

If your member of staff had said, "Thank you for pointing that out, it must have just happened and I have a spare lamp in the glovebox!" Then my imagination tells me that this would also have been the end of this saga.

Some folks have issues with our police and will always try to citicise, find fault or ridicule, others tend to accept that there will p[erhaps be a bad apple in any barrel, and one day we bite into a maggot

I wasn't present at this incident, and from what I gather, no one on this forum was, but we have all read the reports where motorists were quite happy about this road-side check and none of them felt they were bullied or cajuled into having to make an expensive, or uneccessary repair? Far be it for me to gossip, but in some countries the officer might well have smashed the light with their baton and then reported the driver?

Are you complaining that your member of staff was not reported by the police? I get the impression you are really debating the way the words have been used by the police officer and with the very greatest of respect to your driver; we are relying on an EXACT recital of the precise wording and in fairness to both sides...... Is that ossible? Is it really possible for anyone to repeat a converstaion word, for word?

When I read your first post I was completely on your side, but the more I read about this, then the more I am convinced the police are really doing us all a favour.

We are committing an offence and I fully accept we might not know about it, but that is not an excuse. We are committing an offence and the police are doing something a speed camera cannot do. The olice are using that thing we call discretion and are we really complaining about this, or should we have a black and white approach?

I accept what your saying about how the issue was managed but in the grand scheme of things, life is far too short to worry about the exact wording of a request that saw your driver not get reported for having a defective light??

Have a nice day and watch out for these very strong winds
Yours sincerely
John

 

[pammy]

Thanks John - all I did was relay what was told to me. I can't say what was actually said to the gentleman in question and am not prepared to judge what did or didn't happen. All I can say is the theory behind the exercise and the way it is supposed to work correcting some of the beliefs about Halfords overcharging etc etc.

The newspaper extract clearly showed the exercise being positively received which can only be a good thing.

We all have our views on what our Police Forces should/should not be doing and I'm not going to try and debate this issue.

My own personal experiences with the Police have only ever been positive. I have always found them to be honest and helpful and to have treated me with respect.

If my car is defective in anyway, making it unsafe, then I have no problem having the fault pointed out to me - especially if it's one that I might not be aware of. Too often people drive around knowing they have bulbs out etc but consider it to be a low priority - which in the overall scheme of things it might be - but how many times do we as road users complain when we see cars with faulty lights as you can't always be sure what's going on with it? Anything that raises the profile and encourages people to be more responsible with their cars can only be a good thing. imho

 

[glojo]

Thanks John - all I did was relay what was told to me. I can't say what was actually said to the gentleman in question and am not prepared to judge what did or didn't happen.

I fully endorse everything your cuddly black rat told you and agree with think the idea is good but perhaps the police should have used the AA or RAC?? Although that is just a suggestion to perhaps remove any hint of being in bed witha commercial enterprise (I suppose that might also describe both the AA and RAC?? )

My post was a tease and very much tongue in cheek??

Regards
John

 

[pammy]

I fully endorse everything your cuddly black rat told you ...........

How do you know he's cuddly Is there something I should know?

..........think the idea is good but perhaps the police should have used the AA or RAC?? Although that is just a suggestion to perhaps remove any hint of being in bed witha commercial enterprise (I suppose that might also describe both the AA and RAC?? )

My post was a tease and very much tongue in cheek??

Regards
John

To be fair - comment was made that maybe more than one commercial supplier should have been present but what we don't know is who may have been approached to be involved but declined the invitation

 

[Subyland]

It would be interesting to ask under the Freedom of Information Act more about this "partnership" and what it involves exactly ???

 

[glojo]

It would be interesting to ask under the Freedom of Information Act more about this "partnership" and what it involves exactly ???

To be fair and perhaps apply a bit of common sense... If this operation went ahead it needed a source to supply or fit the replacement lamps?? How comes no one is commending the police for using discretion. I would be very grateful if someone pointed out I had a defective light? (I would also be angry with myself for not noticing) It is our responsibility to ensure our vehicles are fully legal to be driven on the highway, and I wonder how many of the vehicles stopped by the police had lamps that had only just broke?

John

 

[Dieselman]

Given that we should ensure we have no defective lighting at all times, and only vehicles with defects are being stopped I think it's a good idea.

Maybe we should adopt the idea of always carrying a spare set of bulbs for emergency use.

Something I've noticed is that cars with a headlamp out often seem to have the same side lamp out as well. They appear to be motorbikes until close.

I suspect the side lamps only get fixed for the MOT so when the headlamp goes then it's total black out.

At 60mph down a country lane close might just be a bit too intimate..

As it appears that there is no premium charged for the fitting of a bulb, it's hard to see how there can be a critisism.

Would I be happy to let somone change a blown bulb for free on a cold dark night. You betcha..

 

[poppypiesdad]

The police usually have there own workshops i know strathclyde and fife do

What would be wrong with a mechanic comming from the workshops with bulbs etc and charging the members of the public for the bulbs (cost price) and a donation or contribution to a charity of some discripion
Thus eliminating all commercial aspect from the equation

And i have known for people to call the AA or RAC to change a bulb so could the stopped motorist not do this

My two pennies worth

popps

 

[BlackC55]

although some bulbs are now expensive that is expensive... the most expensive headlamp bulb we sell is £8.99.

Thats cheap.

My most expensive is £100.


Can I buy your Zenon bulbs for £8.99 please.

 

[crockers]

If your driver had said, "Poke Halfords where the sun doesn't shine!" Then I would imagine this person would have been dealt with accordingly

What they would have "poked" him where the sun doesnt shine? ....Didnt know the police were so obliging....

Is this part of the Halfords job application requirements....

 

[Spin_bowler]

What they would have "poked" him where the sun doesnt shine? ....Didnt know the police were so obliging....

Is this part of the Halfords job application requirements....

Only if you want to man the tradesmen's entrance

 

[gl boy]

Last night I had a call from one of my staff at about 7.30pm, he had been stopped by the Police in Harrogate on one of the main roads for a "Winter Vehicle Check".

Apparently there were plenty of Police there (3 or 4 cars) and they were stopping as many vehicles as possible, and checking them over for faults (and presumably the usual insurance/tax/licence/drunken etc).

All of which seems very good to me - however.....

He was found to have a headlamp bulb (side lamp one i think) out (Citroen Berlingo Van) and was told that it needed to be replaced..... As luck would have it they had Halfrauds on site with them at the side of the road and he was told that if he paid Halfrauds to replace it there and then "they would not take it any further"...... (£15)

Now I'm all for these checks etc, but this just had a smack of daylight robbery about it !

I thought that in these situations the police would give a 7 day notice informing the driver to have the defect repaired and then require them to return the notice stamped by a local garage. (I'm sure I had one of these in my younger days).


Any thoughts on the idea of having Halfrauds sat there with the Police and being strongarmed into using their services ?

were the police on commision?? disgusting behaviour