They Really Dont Have Anything Better To Do....

[nick-21]

I pulled over last night on great western road to go to the spar (bout midnight) and a police van pulled in behind me. Turns out they saw me doing a u turn and wanted to tell me off for it. So they did the usual asked where i had been, going if id had a drink. I had had a pint so said yes. While i was talking to one the other guy went through the car, ash tray, under seats, boot and i got searched as well. They had to get a breath test from another unit, 2 turned up!!!! So we now have a van and 2 squad cars, so about 8-9 coppers! Did the test and passed, wasnt worried as i had only had a shandy! He looked annoyed they hadnt found anything in the car and that i had passed the breath test.

I know they have the right to stop me, but the reason they gave for stopping me was for doing a u turn, so they finished up with me, didnt give me anything at all just took my name. They left and guess what, did a u turn to go the other way!

Do they really have nothing better to do, 2 squad cars for one breath test within minutes! And then proceed to do exactly what they stopped me for when leaving! And im not a police hater, i applied for them a couple of months ago before i got my engineering job.

Maybe if they prosecuted their own for actually breaking the law (the guy speeding after an argument with his wife) they would'nt be so bored all the time

Rant over!

Edited January 21, 2009 by nick-21

[scoob fae ork]

We have that kind of problem here too mate just seems to be there way

[micra_wrc]

how strange.

are they allowed to randomly search you and the car like that?

[RA Dunk]

how strange.

are they allowed to randomly search you and the car like that?

yup, i think they do

[nick-21]

Well that was another thought, he just asked to take the keys and then went round the whole car without asking, didnt want to say anything as they would have probably just have made my life harder too, and the fact i was in the mondeo which im sure they could find 100 things to get me on i wasnt going to argue with them for the sake of him searching through some water bottles and a tool kit. [Joke] Luckily he didnt check in the spare tire well where i hide all the drugs and knives though [Joke]

[Richie Cross]

how strange.

are they allowed to randomly search you and the car like that?

You can be searched which can be voluntarily or legislative. If for example it's a legislative search for drugs,

that allows us to search you and any vehicle you might be in.

With regards to all the cars turning up....sometimes it's a case of listening to the radio and being nearby...so

just going for a nosy but just because it's one car, you never know who is in it or how many.

Doing a U turn isn't the worst but sometimes it can be because we think the car in front/behind has noticed us

and therefore might have something to hide.

As for doing it themselves...can't speak for that. I wouldn't do it BUT if I got another call on my radio that took

me that way...I would rather than go further down the road to turn. Wouldn't put the blues on unless there

was a lot of traffic about.

Nick...8-9 cops in 3 cars? Usually 6...were they crammed in!!!

[nick-21]

You can be searched which can be voluntarily or legislative. If for example it's a legislative search for drugs,

that allows us to search you and any vehicle you might be in.

With regards to all the cars turning up....sometimes it's a case of listening to the radio and being nearby...so

just going for a nosy but just because it's one car, you never know who is in it or how many.

Doing a U turn isn't the worst but sometimes it can be because we think the car in front/behind has noticed us

and therefore might have something to hide.

As for doing it themselves...can't speak for that. I wouldn't do it BUT if I got another call on my radio that took

me that way...I would rather than go further down the road to turn. Wouldn't put the blues on unless there

was a lot of traffic about.

Nick...8-9 cops in 3 cars? Usually 6...were they crammed in!!!

It was a lwb van that stopped behind me as i said in my first post and there were at least 4 in that, plus 2 cars with 2 in each...so theres my 8-9. Its the way the junction works, your meant to go slightly further down the road and go around the round about i just did a u turn as it was quiet, so its fair enough i shouldnt have done it. But what annoyed me was their attitude towards me. The guy that took my details just stuck his hand in my pocket and fished my fone out, was like WTF! All he had to do was ask for it! Then when the other one asked if he could have the keys i said yes and put my hand in my pocket to pass him them and got keep your hands out! then asked for the keys again!

I guess it was because it was late, i had on a beenie, did something i shouldnt have and admitted to have a pint. But i was pleasant to them, didnt have anything in the car i shouldnt and passed the breath test so the least they could be is pleasant back! Is it true its an on the spot £30 fine for pulling a U turn?

[mystery machine]

That does sound a bit excessive, especially as you seem to have displayed a cordial attitude toward them. They must have been having a quiet night... either that or you just have "wan a' they faces"

Funny old lot, the polis. Most of those that I've dealt with were decent enough, save for the odd one or two who seemed willing to ruin their general reputation for the sake of a wee power trip-induced staunner

[Richie Cross]

It was a lwb van that stopped behind me as i said in my first post and there were at least 4 in that, plus 2 cars with 2 in each...so theres my 8-9. Its the way the junction works, your meant to go slightly further down the road and go around the round about i just did a u turn as it was quiet, so its fair enough i shouldnt have done it. But what annoyed me was their attitude towards me. The guy that took my details just stuck his hand in my pocket and fished my fone out, was like WTF! All he had to do was ask for it! Then when the other one asked if he could have the keys i said yes and put my hand in my pocket to pass him them and got keep your hands out! then asked for the keys again!

I guess it was because it was late, i had on a beenie, did something i shouldnt have and admitted to have a pint. But i was pleasant to them, didnt have anything in the car i shouldnt and passed the breath test so the least they could be is pleasant back! Is it true its an on the spot £30 fine for pulling a U turn?

You just said it was a van in your first post, not a lwb! In the normal vans there are only 2!!

Unfortunately not everyone can be nice...a bit like most other jobs. I treat people like I'd expect

to be treated myself but when you're dealing with someone you have high risk or unknown risk.

The hands out the pockets thing is standard. There are a lot of nutters out there and you can get small blades/guns and without checking you, you might be on the run for something serious.

If you're being searched, it's always done by us....regardless of how helpful you want to be.

I'm not one to do traffic but think a U turn would be a £30 non endorsable. Don't think it would be £60/3pts.

We're not all bad

Edited January 21, 2009 by Richie Cross

[nick-21]

No your definetely not! The guys that dealt with my rta were great guys. My point was his hand was in my pocket without any warning, as it was in there he asked if i had anything sharp! Yeah just the razor blade your about to get your hands on! I'll put it downt to me looking suspect last night then and driving a ford

[scoobymark]

maybe they were lost and seen you doing the U Turn thinking you were going to macDonalds

[Bugeye29]

i got stopped for the first time in years now am back staying in my hometown the other week about 11 at nite , got to say a wasnt to chuffed which seemed to anoy them evenmore , was the usaually bad cop and even badder cop the quiet one in the back ground that just stared at me the whole time asif a was just outa jail ,anyway was told a had exceeded the speed limit off of the traffic lights which i argued then got told off the officer he had todo 35mph !!!!! to catch me thing was they never pulled me at the time they waited till ad dropped everybody off and the car was empty about 10mins later then when they seen me again thats when i got pulled ,didnt even get asked to hand in my docs just got told off for not carring any i.d. which really pissed them off they couldnt believe a never had a wallet with i.d. in it

[hosstheboss]

No your definetely not! The guys that dealt with my rta were great guys. My point was his hand was in my pocket without any warning, as it was in there he asked if i had anything sharp! Yeah just the razor blade your about to get your hands on! I'll put it downt to me looking suspect last night then and driving a ford

Thats it i'm sellin the Mondeo and buyin a Megane as a second car - don't want anyone thinkin i'm gay!!!

[scouk]

Aww crud! I recently got myself Ka

[neill54]

never knew you could get stick for not carrying id ive never had a purse sorry wallet and my mrs always has my bank cards!!

neil

[marky.t.s]

...since when did doing a u-turn become illegal? i take it there was a "no u-turn" sign,if not how was it suspicious,if there was why didnt they do you?.....as said above they must have been bored.

[paddy247]

Sounds a bit heavy handed but withine there powers. Myabe your car flagged up un there computer for what ever reason, previous owners, reports ect. Somthing gave them suspision to act like, maybe some sort of activity thats going on in the area ect, maybe you should join the masonic lodge lol

[Bugeye29]

never knew you could get stick for not carrying id ive never had a purse sorry wallet and my mrs always has my bank cards!!

neil

av never had a wallet either ,the cop said so u dont even have a wallet on u asif a was telling fibs ,a had ma bank card in ma pocket but never showed them it , was also told a was already attracting alot of attention driving a car like that as if they had already been talking about me lol, no asif a drive like an a*** about town

[coulty]

av never had a wallet either ,the cop said so u dont even have a wallet on u asif a was telling fibs ,a had ma bank card in ma pocket but never showed them it , was also told a was already attracting alot of attention driving a car like that as if they had already been talking about me lol, no asif a drive like an a*** about town

You know if the police didn't stop cars (which is in their power btw) then a lot of illegal activity would never be found. It is amazing when you stop a car and it turns into a whole different situation. Also after stopping and checking the details again its amazing what it turns up. You would be surprised how many owners of expensive cars choose not to tax/mot/insure them.

[RA Dunk]

I`ve never had a wallet either ,the cop said so YOU dont even have a wallet on YOU as if I was telling fibs ,I had mY bank card in mY pocket but never showed them it , was also told I was already attracting alot of attention driving a car like that as if they had already been talking about me lol, noT as if I drive like an a*** about town

total pain the the a**, but coulty has a point too, suppose your car had just been stolen and they decided to stop the car for a random check, i can see both sides TBH

P.S i had to de scramble your message to understand it lol

[nick-21]

Aww crud! I recently got myself Ka

I dont mind them stopping anyone, its the way they then treat you when everything works out, as if id still done something wrong. Well i like the fact i seem to have annoyed them for not being over the limit and having no drugs in the car haha

Edited January 22, 2009 by nick-21

[Robertio]

It's reassuring to know the officers are out there as my last letter from the Chief Inspector said that my expectations regarding the enquiries they make to trace the owners of vehicles (that have been broken into, damaged and attempted to be stolen) are unrealistic.

For some reason I thought that maybe they might have spoken to my neighbour, or if really adventurous contacted the organisers of TOTB as my car was still covered in competitor stickers. Alas no, they get a 3rd party to uplift the vehicle, classify it as abandoned (with broken door locks, ignition barrel, etc) just outside the registered keepers house, so no crime record. I was even advised they would have done forensics if they had known someone tried to steal the car. The owner then has to pay hundreds of pounds to get their car back, absolute genius.

It's good to know their resources are being put to good use a couple of miles along the road. Of all the crimes I, my immediate family, or friends have reported there has been a 0% conviction rate, maybe one day that will change (just have to hope the next time the criminal tries a u-turn ).

[thefastone]

Yeah, I thought that about the No U-turn sign, its only illeagal if sign posted not to do it... fair play if it was...

I also agree that Ive had some good experiences with the bobbies, where they have been helpfull, but then at least once, Ive had the whole 9 yards from them, when there was really no need... just being utter bawbags... well, actually 1 of 3 was, but the other 2 were decent enough... theres never a need for being unpleasant, no matter who else you have to seal with, I think that a lot of bobbies have to reaslise that not EVERYONE is scum, and that they are, at the end of the day, on public show, and therefore shoud be polite att all times unless the situation calls for it.

Just my 2p...

And, in reponse to Coulty's comment, I knda agree with you there about the amount of crime thats been stopped by checking cars, but then I think that really, you should have a justifyable reason to search it in the first place... I watch those programes on the TV all the time, and yeah, theres a lot of times that I think that the search is justified... but not always...

[coulty]

Yeah, I thought that about the No U-turn sign, its only illeagal if sign posted not to do it... fair play if it was...

I also agree that Ive had some good experiences with the bobbies, where they have been helpfull, but then at least once, Ive had the whole 9 yards from them, when there was really no need... just being utter bawbags... well, actually 1 of 3 was, but the other 2 were decent enough... theres never a need for being unpleasant, no matter who else you have to seal with, I think that a lot of bobbies have to reaslise that not EVERYONE is scum, and that they are, at the end of the day, on public show, and therefore shoud be polite att all times unless the situation calls for it.

Just my 2p...

And, in reponse to Coulty's comment, I knda agree with you there about the amount of crime thats been stopped by checking cars, but then I think that really, you should have a justifyable reason to search it in the first place... I watch those programes on the TV all the time, and yeah, theres a lot of times that I think that the search is justified... but not always...

At then end of the day no matter what the police do they are going to be scruntinised by the public and looked at in some negative way. The general public's perception of what policing should be and how it is actually done are world's apart. All i will say is that if a stop is needed then it will be done no matter what reason you think in your eyes is right or wrong. AND dont forget the fact that police officers are just as human as the public so yes sometimes they get it wrong. The only difference is they don't have to justifiy stopping a car to the driver just the reason why.

[thefastone]

No, like I say, Ive always had gennerally good experiences with the Bobbies, even when Ive been in the wrong, all except that one or 2 times, but all I'm saying, is that sometimes, some of them could do with being a bit more polite about their duties. And Sorry, reading back, perhaps I was making too much of a sweeping statement, but for some, its certainly true.

Manners cost nothing, no matter who you are. Police included. it makes everyones day a bit easier to take that way.