Taxi Drivers

[Steve_Perry]

Usually I'm the first to condemn this group of drivers but last night I had the strangest thing happen...

I was driving back home (approx 10:30pm) after nipping out for some food and as I was pulling off from a set of traffic lights a local taxi driver travelling in the opposite direction was frantically flashing his lights as he approached me. He could have only been signalling to me as I was the only one travelling in my direction on that stretch of road.

My first thoughts were, "do I have my fog lights or main beam on?, nope", "do I know the taxi driver in question? nope".

I decided to keep my eyes extra peeled as I progressed down the road and sure enough as I approached a traffic calming roundabout there was a Police Volvo S80 Estate lying in wait at the entrance to a local school, all his lights off and watching the traffic pass by.

It's not that I would have been speeding or doing anything silly on this stretch of road anyway but I thought "well done that taxi driver". As far as he was concerned I was a complete stranger, and taxis in my neck of the woods are either black or white, heh certainly not green.

S.

 

[samuelellis]

i liek taxi drivers as my neighbor is a taxi driver so the local taxi ranks know all our motors & flash us if thereis a copper in hiding someware

same with hgv drivers as my dad is a hgv driver so literally every driver that works at his depot or visits the depot knows our cars so we alwasy get flashed out of junctions & wanred about coppers

its good beign connected

 

[Aletank]

A common regular occurance in the biker world especiallly on all the common bike routes, North Wales etc

 

[Motard]

Very common here in France also.
Don't forget though, in the south you are always safe when it is raining! Wouldn't want to get wet would we?

Bob

 

[kikkthecat]

Just a word of warning...
I did exactly the same thing last year to warn drivers of a speed trap that had been set up in hiding 25 yards from where the limit changed from 40 to 30, I was pulled over by an unmarked police car and given a caution. I dont think there was any law they could have used to prosecute me, but I was left in no doubt that "spoiling their fun" was frowned upon.
I'd still do it again though

 

[fuzzer]

Originally posted by kikkthecat
Just a word of warning...
I did exactly the same thing last year to warn drivers of a speed trap that had been set up in hiding 25 yards from where the limit changed from 40 to 30, I was pulled over by an unmarked police car and given a caution. I dont think there was any law they could have used to prosecute me, but I was left in no doubt that "spoiling their fun" was frowned upon.
I'd still do it again though

I think perverting the course of justice is the one youre more than likely to get for that ...

 

[mbz 6]

Last summer school holidays saw a police camera van and 200 yrds up the road 2 young lads with a big sign saying
Police speed trap ahead
Not all yoofs are bad

 

[Shude]

Originally posted by fuzzer
I think perverting the course of justice is the one youre more than likely to get for that ...

That's only applicable if a crime has been committed, in this case it hasn't yet. Stopping someone from committing a crime is never perverting the course of justice .

That ranks right up there with that story about the guy trying to stop people parking on a street because of the local wheel-clamping company. The company is sueing him for "loss of earnings".

 

[Mercedes Lady]

Why can't our Force do what its paid to do and go out and catch crooks for a change. Have any of you seen the thread on MBOC site regarding forged bankers draft posted by Tony Musgrave?

Basically Tony is selling his LHD SL500 and got a call from a foreign sounding gentleman wanting to buy his car. He said he would get his "driver" to inspect, then said he would pick up car and give Tony bankers draft. He would come by public transport as he needed to drive car away. To cut a long story short this bankers draft turned out to be forged/stolen and, if Tony accepted it, he would have lost his money as well as the car. He called Police and they are just not interested at all cos they just want to bump up their revenue instead. The scarry thought is though that this con man is out there trying it on with others and the Police don't seem to care!

 

[jaymanek]

Yeh same thing happens all the time. Just list a car for sale on any of these free internet places, youll get an email from one of these fools within about a day guaranteed....

 

[leicesterboy15]

This also happens with Cheques. A mate of mine sold his car to a guy who said he didn't want to carry cash so he will put the funds into his account then come and pick the car up. The guy turns up and my friend checked his account and the money was there, so he let the car go.

It turned out that the guy had deposited a cheque and not cash into the account and a stolen one at that. So although the funds appeared, they hadn't cleared yet, when it tried to clear, the cheque obviously bounced and was flagged up as stolen.

The police didn't want to know, saying something like because the v5 was signed over to him, theres nothing they can do!! How is that ever right? Common sense is not common anymore, thats what I say.

 

[Dieselman]

I can't believe anyone would accept a cheque and not wait for it to clear before handing over the car.

These crooks are out there and you have to be aware.

 

[vito113]

… they can get you

I dont think there was any law they could have used to prosecute me, but I was left in no doubt that "spoiling their fun" was frowned upon.

I asked a friendly Occifer of the Law and he reckoned the charge would be "obstructing the Police in the course of their duty".

 

[andy_k]

since when can flashing your headlights be classed as an offence or "obstructing the police etc"?

1, As we all know the flashing of headlights and the sounding of a horn only serve one purpose and that is to announce your presence to other motorists. should they misconstrue your gesture and assume that there is some hazard or similar further up the road and slow down that is not your fault and therefore you can in no way be held responsible.

2, You are not obstructing the police you are assisting them The purpose of a speed trap is not only to catch speeding motorists but to act as a visual deterrant to others. If someone misunderstood your gesture and slowed down you are effectively slowing the traffic which was the original intention of the Police.

3, The police are not allowed (well not technically) to stop you for flashing your headlights as it's not an offence.

All of those points have been raised in court as a defence to prosecutions for "warning" other road users, in each case the charge was obstructing the police in the course of their duty and in each case the charges were thrown out - sometimes it pays to know a solicitor with a sense of humour

If the Police stop you your first question should always be "why have you stopped me?" and their reply is absolutely critical. There's no such thing as "routine". They have to give you a clear and concise reason why they stopped you. If it's not a genuine reason such as a moving offence, inspection of documents etc then it's unlikely any prosecution can be made to stick

Andy

 

[vito113]

…in an ideal world

since when can flashing your headlights be classed as an offence or "obstructing the police etc"?.

Very true, but as we all know, speed cameras/traps etc. are sod all to do with 'stopping' you speeding, if they wanted you to slow down they'd put a big blue flashing light on top of GATSO's!!!! It's all to do with catching you and raking in the fines. Why else do 'Safety' Camera Partnerships refer to 'Revenue Streams'.

But as my friendly Occifer pointed out, if they pull you over they can usually find something to get you on if they put their minds to it!

 

[christopherwk]

Taxi drivers usually know from each other anyway, when one spots a mobile speed trap they often radio control who tell the other drivers.

 

[219]

3, The police are not allowed (well not technically) to stop you for flashing your headlights as it's not an offence.

All of those points have been raised in court as a defence to prosecutions for "warning" other road users, in each case the charge was obstructing the police in the course of their duty and in each case the charges were thrown out - sometimes it pays to know a solicitor with a sense of humour

If the Police stop you your first question should always be "why have you stopped me?" and their reply is absolutely critical. There's no such thing as "routine". They have to give you a clear and concise reason why they stopped you. If it's not a genuine reason such as a moving offence, inspection of documents etc then it's unlikely any prosecution can be made to stick

Andy

The police don't need , and don't have to give you , ANY reason for stopping you .

This was made clear to us on our recent visit to the Road Policing Unit in Glasgow , when someone asked that question - a Police Officer can walk out to the road and stop any car he wants , anytime he wants .

 

[BTB 500]

A common regular occurance in the biker world especiallly on all the common bike routes, North Wales etc

We were driving alongside a big sports bike on the M3 on Sunday and the rider gave a "1 finger salute" to each and every camera gantry (50 mph SPECS zone) as we went past

 

[Dryce]

Usually I'm the first to condemn this group of drivers but last night I had the strangest thing happen...

This sort of warning used to be very common in the days before speed cameras. If you were flashed for no apparent reason by oncoming drivers there would likely as not be men in blue with old fashioned speed traps or radar gun someway down the road.

Seems to be quite rare for oncoming drivers to give warnings these days even if the speed trap ahead is manned and obvious.

 

[Doodle]

a Police Officer can walk out to the road and stop any car he wants , anytime he wants .

Just don't misinterpret his raised hand gesture and give him a Hi-5 as you go past