Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Martin_1962 on 06 April 2007, 23:32:59
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The Police do tend to pick on certain categories of cars for different reasons, eg tatty old cars, hot hatches, BMWs ect.
I am not accusing them here, just that a hot hatch doing 80 would be more likely to be pulled than say a mid range saloon.
Tatty cars (not old) also tend to be checked due to tattyness.
BMWs and Audis tend to quite often end up in the hands of Knobs.
Since the Omega is a respectable and anonomous large saloon and was liked by the Police, do they tend to allow Omegas a little more leeway?
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I reckon so. I think there's a bit of nostalgia and respect at the same time and they know they are big safe old barges deep down :)
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Interesting thread.....
What do you base your observation on Martin?
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In my opinion ...NO
I've been stopped twice in mine in six months :-/ Must be because i only look 18 ::) ::)
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I see them go fast, I have seen them go fast near Police, I have never seen one the victim of a pull (I have seen them do the pulling).
It is almost as if they are invisible.
OK I do quite often exceed the national speed limit by a little nothing too silly but 70 on a good A road - that sort of thing, I will also do 85 on a motorway without worry if the conditions are safe to do so (on long drives I find it a safer speed as I concentrate better).
But lets say I am hacking along at 90 and see a Police car and let off some speed - there is never a hint of a pull, yet I see people pulled regularly.
There definately seems to be a bit of magic about them
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In my opinion ...NO
I've been stopped twice in mine in six months :-/ Must be because i only look 18 ::) ::)
Strange, I got stopped quite a few times with previous cars* but never with an Omega
* Quite often late at night it was breath tests ect - they were always happy, but I have been pulled for driving in Gloucester with a Worcester regged vehicle!
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It's also cos yours is silver. No good for cops playing snooker on the motorway :P
What coulour is yours Timbuk - 3 points I bet :y
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Fair do's Martin..... If the cars are invisible to that extent, it's perhaps why they were as popular with the Police as they were? Cannot really comment further as we never used them hereabouts as 'working' cars, only as gaffer runabouts.... To me, ANY car is fair game, if they stand out. If the cars merge into the background (which we strive to detect, believe me! ;) ) then its a bonus for the driver if they are being a bit naughty....
B
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It's also cos yours is silver. No good for cops playing snooker on the motorway :P
What coulour is yours Timbuk - 3 points I bet :y
Thats why mine is a 7 pointer.... :y
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I crapped myself doing 85 yesterday on the M1 when a marked range rover sped up behind me, I lifted off and pulled into the middle lane and he just carried on past me be for pulling accross and exiting at the slip road!
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It's also cos yours is silver. No good for cops playing snooker on the motorway :P
What coulour is yours Timbuk - 3 points I bet :y
Its a beautiful shade of green :y and no points
To be fair i only got pulled because of
A :- It was half past twelve thirty in the morning
B :- ANPR was showing no insurance on the car, which was in the glovebox :-? He actually said he was pulling me over from a couple of weeks ago but i lost him that time ::) When he pulled me over a couple of weeks later it didn't flag the ANPR but he just wanted to let me know i got away previously :-?
Read into that what you want
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8-)I'd like to think you're right but with 9 points(6 on totting up) being a hated truck driver i ca'nt chance it. However all convictions are hgv not meega. I sometimes drive to the yard at 3 or 4am and never get pulled. Is the force with us or are they too busy eating doughnuts? Cue Twilight Zone music............
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I crapped myself doing 85 yesterday on the M1 when a marked range rover sped up behind me, I lifted off and pulled into the middle lane and he just carried on past me be for pulling accross and exiting at the slip road!
;DI think migs are allowed to do 85, the cameras are specially callibrated for them!!!
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It's also cos yours is silver. No good for cops playing snooker on the motorway :P
What coulour is yours Timbuk - 3 points I bet :y
Its a beautiful shade of green :y and no points
Err no, green is 3 points! ;D
Red=1, Yellow=2, etc etc
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Must be because i only look 18 ::) ::)
:-?
;D
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Must be because i only look 18 ::) ::)
:-?
;D
Maybe 21 then ::)
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got a clean licence now :D
My close call was going along in a 40 zone.... at 40. Cop car went past in the opposite direction (was plod megga) i looked in my rear view mirror to see it do an emergancy spin around and come after me :o He was 1 car back in a lane to filter left, as soon as we filtered he pulled over the clapped out ford escort behind me!
Scary moment there.
Here is a question for the resident plod members, an Omega towing a professional trailer (straps, twin axle, the lot) with another Omega on the trailer, would you pull that over??
As technically it would be about 400kg over the limit of the cars official towing capacity.
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got a clean licence now :D
My close call was going along in a 40 zone.... at 40. Cop car went past in the opposite direction (was plod megga) i looked in my rear view mirror to see it do an emergancy spin around and come after me :o He was 1 car back in a lane to filter left, as soon as we filtered he pulled over the clapped out ford escort behind me!
Scary moment there.
Here is a question for the resident plod members, an Omega towing a professional trailer (straps, twin axle, the lot) with another Omega on the trailer, would you pull that over??
As technically it would be about 400kg over the limit of the cars official towing capacity.
I guess that would be a yes Tunnie, when EP went to hire a trailer to bring the MV6 back they wouldn't let him tow it with his Elite with another Meega on the back, he had to hire a tranny
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got a clean licence now :D
My close call was going along in a 40 zone.... at 40. Cop car went past in the opposite direction (was plod megga) i looked in my rear view mirror to see it do an emergancy spin around and come after me :o He was 1 car back in a lane to filter left, as soon as we filtered he pulled over the clapped out ford escort behind me!
Scary moment there.
Here is a question for the resident plod members, an Omega towing a professional trailer (straps, twin axle, the lot) with another Omega on the trailer, would you pull that over??
As technically it would be about 400kg over the limit of the cars official towing capacity.
No bother for the Daddy Range Rover though Tunnie ;D
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got a clean licence now :D
My close call was going along in a 40 zone.... at 40. Cop car went past in the opposite direction (was plod megga) i looked in my rear view mirror to see it do an emergancy spin around and come after me :o He was 1 car back in a lane to filter left, as soon as we filtered he pulled over the clapped out ford escort behind me!
Scary moment there.
Here is a question for the resident plod members, an Omega towing a professional trailer (straps, twin axle, the lot) with another Omega on the trailer, would you pull that over??
As technically it would be about 400kg over the limit of the cars official towing capacity.
I guess that would be a yes Tunnie, when EP went to hire a trailer to bring the MV6 back they wouldn't let him tow it with his Elite with another Meega on the back, he had to hire a tranny
As in the van not the other type ::)
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Clearly not. Only had my meega 2 days before it earned me 3 points. Its was 5 days with the S-type Jag!
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In my neck of the woods the police use the last of the full sized RWD sedans. The Ford Crown Victoria. A 4.6L 250HP V8 pushes 3780 pounds worth of car (believe it or not the Catera weighs more). How big is full size? If you could hollow one out you could probably fit a Cat inside the Crown Vic bodywork. They are readily available used and I must admit I considered buying one before I came to my senses. The civilian version is down 25HP and minus the heavy duty suspension, and electrical and cooling systems.
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4d/New_york_police_department_car.jpg/800px-New_york_police_department_car.jpg)
Many are operated unmarked. No lettering, badges, or lights so when you see the familiar grille in your mirrors you move over instinctively. Most of the time it's a false alarm but better safe than sorry.
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Ford-CrownVictoria.jpg/800px-Ford-CrownVictoria.jpg)
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"when you see the familiar grille in your mirrors you move over instinctively"
They are what the Volvo T5 is to most of the UK motoring public :) and before that the White Omega (Catera). If only we had those fishtail bumpers (fenders?) in Wales ;D......
I remember reading that the Ford Crown Victoria was one of the more sophisticated US Fords from the point of view of electronic integration (multiplex).
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i went in a crown vic to the airport in Miami.... soooo bouncy going up a slip road at 50mph the back end felt very unstable!
The driver was saying how he loves the crown vics compared to the chevvy's....
Seams police world wide like big RWD saloons! :D
Sorry Elvin but going to have to point this out..... 250bhp from a 4.6L!!!! :o :o :o :o :o
The 3.0 Omega pushes out 212 ish... few mods and its more like 220...
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A V6 Omega does weigh less than the under powered for enginse size Ford
Just had to convert to kg first
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My brother recently retired from being a Cop in Canada for the past diddlydump years. He told me that the Crown Vics were to be discontinued by Ford some years ago but there was such a mojor outcry by law enforcement agecys in Canada and the States that they were forced to reconsider and (as far as I know) continue to make them.
They are solid, robust, rear drive and virtually Police proof.
For Police Proof, read the situation where your 3 year old is able to drive. And push buttons. And pull levers. And open things that say 'do not open'. And play with things that you otherwise would not look twice at if it were your own car. Generally fiddle and twist anything on the car that can be fiddled or twisted. And still the relevant knobs, buttons and levers in the car keeps working......
Thats the Crown Vic, apparently..... ;)
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Everything you've all said about the Crown Vic is too true. In production since 1992, with a facelift in 1998, Ford sells these behemoths mostly to police departments and taxi fleets. Softly sprung in taxi guise and heavy duty suspension for the police. And yes, that's 250HP from 4.6 liters. 54.34HP per liter versus the Catera's 66.6HP per liter. And that's in police tune. Ford only gives us citizenz 225HP or less. Pitiful. Still, with their radio network and helicopters, the police don't need high performance autos. Just a strong chassis, a wide back seat, and a big trunk to carry the gear. It's true about the LEOs screaming bloody murder at the prospect of losing their Vics. All the carmakers have tried convincing them to switch to FWD. Some urban depts have added FWD sedans to their fleets but use the Crown Vic for highway duty.
Now the pendulum is swinging back. What's old is new again. After 20 years of forcing FWD down our throats, RWD is making a comeback as musclecars. Dodge's new Charger is a RWD sedan with a 340HP Hemi V8. It's been purchased by a few depts nationwide and I've seen one in NY State Police service. Most still aren't sold on them though. too small and expensive compared to the big Ford.
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ae/2006_Michigan_State_Police_Dodge_Charger_1.jpg)
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When I got done for speeding about 3 years ago all the Police went about was how lovely my motor was & what a great car the Omega is, still did me though :(
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I've been pulled twice...3 days apart.
First time round, I had a marked 5 series turn round and chase me....talkin' on my phone apparently....itchy neck!! He was gonna do me for it aswell, before the tougher penalty though!!
Next was up a country road, came to a cross roads and I went straight on, noticed what appeared to be a transit or similar behind me, got to the 30 sign, I slow down to 30, they start flashing their headlights....through into the 30 limit, blues on. Had me in the back of the car for a good 20 mins (marked traffic 5 Series), searched me a bit much for my liking! Apparently a lot of my car have been getting stolen, lies! Was just out and out targeting!!
The other week about 1.30am there was a marked Focus estate about 3 feet off my bumper for ages as I was doing 30, I out accelerated it from a mini roundabout then when we got to some chevrons after the roundabout he over took me at aprox. 50mph in a 30 zone, I was not impressed at all by this!! :-[
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nothin annoys me more than COPS not obeying the rules, I deliberately didnt give a van a chance to turn earlier purely because he didnt indicate, as far as i'm concerned, if they're not responding to a call and not using lights/sirens, they should stick to the limits we stick to
overtaking at 50 in a 30, i'd have taken the reg down, along with time and place of incident, and reported him/her, mentioning any possible hazards to confirm his/her stupidity
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nothin annoys me more than COPS not obeying the rules, I deliberately didnt give a van a chance to turn earlier purely because he didnt indicate, as far as i'm concerned, if they're not responding to a call and not using lights/sirens, they should stick to the limits we stick to
overtaking at 50 in a 30, i'd have taken the reg down, along with time and place of incident, and reported him/her, mentioning any possible hazards to confirm his/her stupidity
I've got the time/date/location and reg number noted down, It just got me really quite angry that time!
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I say go report them! When I'm in the car I look like I should be stopped, the car doesn't even suit me! I egg them on to pull me over by leaning with my hand over my ear, when i dont have my fone on me! however it hasn't happened yet!
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I had some numpty undertake me on the M8 yesterday whilst the rest of use drove nicely. So did I tailgate him for 5 miles?...no....I dropped back, matched his speed and "adjusted" my rear view mirror.
He must have thought I was unmarked plod as his speed dropped to exactly 70 mph and his driving suddenly improved. Couldn't reach my high vis vest, next time maybe ;D
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nothin annoys me more than COPS not obeying the rules, I deliberately didnt give a van a chance to turn earlier purely because he didnt indicate, as far as i'm concerned, if they're not responding to a call and not using lights/sirens, they should stick to the limits we stick to
overtaking at 50 in a 30, i'd have taken the reg down, along with time and place of incident, and reported him/her, mentioning any possible hazards to confirm his/her stupidity
Probable reason for excessive speed may have been he was out of do-nuts and the bakery was near closing time. ::)
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I say go report them! When I'm in the car I look like I should be stopped, the car doesn't even suit me! I egg them on to pull me over by leaning with my hand over my ear, when i dont have my fone on me! however it hasn't happened yet!
Could still get pulled for driving with only one hand on the wheel
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how do they expect me to eat my chips if i have both hands on the wheel?
They'd really have to be bullying me to try to do me for that, but I think I could talk my way out of that
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I remember one time on the way back from work, we were steaming down the A10, doing about 120ish. Police came down the slip road, level with us briefly and didnt take a second look. ::)
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Wife got pulled over once by police for talking on the phone while driving. Cop was embarrassed to find out she was a passenger in an LHD car... ;D
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Wife got pulled over once by police for talking on the phone while driving. Cop was embarrassed to find out she was a passenger in an LHD car... ;D
;D ;D ;D
Wife got her photo taken in our Mondeo, she was not up to driving the mega at the time, waved at the camera doing 70 in a 60. She still got done for her cheek though. :-[
8-)
DaveL
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Is this a good time to mention I am a Traffic cop!?
Deano
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Is this a good time to mention I am a Traffic cop!?
Deano
Suppose its as good as any other......
As one black rat said to his brother..... :y
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Is this a good time to mention I am a Traffic cop!?
Deano
The forum went silent :-X
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Its a shame I have to drive Mercs and BM's at work.... no megga's left!
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Is this a good time to mention I am a Traffic cop!?
Deano
:-X :-X :-X :-X
8-)
DaveL
..who was that masked man :question
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Dont tar us all with the same brush... I am 32 and love to chase stolen cars and nic those Tw*ts who steal em... only do speeders if they are taking the P*ss....
Not a fat old traffic cop who hides beind a wall with a speed gun!
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Dont tar us all with the same brush... I am 32 and love to chase stolen cars and nic those Tw*ts who steal em... only do speeders if they are taking the P*ss....
Not a fat old traffic cop who hides beind a wall with a speed gun!
Know full well that in all walks of life there are good and bad. There for the grace of God and all that. ;)
8-)
DaveL
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Dont tar us all with the same brush... I am 32 and love to chase stolen cars and nic those Tw*ts who steal em... only do speeders if they are taking the P*ss....
Not a fat old traffic cop who hides beind a wall with a speed gun!
Yup. Done the lurking bit, but much preferred the recent ANPR response for the last two years and it was a HOOT.... Averaged a fail to stop almost once a shift. Team was only Stripey plus 7 and a controller.... Knobbled umpteen disco's, possessions, pos with intents, HB types, stolen cars etc etc.
Crown Office have their guidelines for speeders, but so the peeps on the ground. Much preferred the chase of a good VASCAR follow and common sense is better than churning out FPT's with a hand held all day.....
:y
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Dont tar us all with the same brush... I am 32 and love to chase stolen cars and nic those Tw*ts who steal em... only do speeders if they are taking the P*ss....
Not a fat old traffic cop who hides beind a wall with a speed gun!
Yup. Done the lurking bit, but much preferred the recent ANPR response for the last two years and it was a HOOT.... Averaged a fail to stop almost once a shift. Team was only Stripey plus 7 and a controller.... Knobbled umpteen disco's, possessions, pos with intents, HB types, stolen cars etc etc.
Crown Office have their guidelines for speeders, but so the peeps on the ground. Much preferred the chase of a good VASCAR follow and common sense is better than churning out FPT's with a hand held all day.....
:y
Watch that blood pressure boy....
8-)
DaveL
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Well they seem popular with off duty Policemen as well!
Maybe that explains it!
BTW what is classed as taking the piss with speeding?
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Well they seem popular with off duty Policemen as well!
Maybe that explains it!
BTW what is classed as taking the piss with speeding?
Well... perosnally If i am doing the speed limit and get overtaken by a member of the public, I see that as taking the piss. Also if i have to do 125 to catch somebody up on the motorway then ditto!
Most forces have a 10% plus 2 mph rule within that you "probably" wont get anything other than advice.
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Well they seem popular with off duty Policemen as well!
Maybe that explains it!
BTW what is classed as taking the piss with speeding?
Also
Speeding in roadworks on the m/way, I have seen what a roadworker looks like when hit at 80mph!
Rule if your ever in Bristol (NEVER OVERTAKE A POLICE CAR - OR EXCEED THE SPEED LIMIT IN ROADWORKS WHEN A POLICE CAR IS NEAR) you will get done!
Helpfull tip for you all!
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Well they seem popular with off duty Policemen as well!
Maybe that explains it!
BTW what is classed as taking the piss with speeding?
Well... perosnally If i am doing the speed limit and get overtaken by a member of the public, I see that as taking the piss. Also if i have to do 125 to catch somebody up on the motorway then ditto!
Most forces have a 10% plus 2 mph rule within that you "probably" wont get anything other than advice.
Interesting - when I was 18 I was pulled by a policeman for overtaking him - he asked me why, I said he was doing 30 in a 40 so that is why I did.
Regularly on motorways you see Police doing high 60s with people slowly going past, quite a few years ago I saw a Police car doing 65 with a long queue doing 66 past him. I went outside lane at indicated 75 (ie very near real 70), I was in a good condition but old car, the Policeman waved!
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Well they seem popular with off duty Policemen as well!
Maybe that explains it!
BTW what is classed as taking the piss with speeding?
Also
Speeding in roadworks on the m/way, I have seen what a roadworker looks like when hit at 80mph!
Rule if your ever in Bristol (NEVER OVERTAKE A POLICE CAR - OR EXCEED THE SPEED LIMIT IN ROADWORKS WHEN A POLICE CAR IS NEAR) you will get done!
Helpfull tip for you all!
I am afraid I am more concerned about the workers than what my exact speed is, so up down up down, but no high speeds - just watch the workers and don't hit them. Driving in narrow lanes in road works again mainly concerned with what is happening outside, I may check what speed I doing but going careful is number 1 priority, but most people drive slow enough so follow the traffic.
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I am afraid I am more concerned about the workers than what my exact speed is
This is the problem with all the hysteria over speed limits these days. The average driver can concentrate either on maintaining his speed within +/- 2 MPH or on looking where he is going and reacting to hazards on the road ahead. More often than not these days the former seems to take precedence over the latter.
Kevin
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I love watching road wars and programs alike, where idiot chavs get their sierras run off the road on an empty stretch of motorway, and pretty much anyone else who breaks the laws that i purposely stick to, IE mobile phones, seatbelts.. I see a lot of idiotic driving, mainly while in the passenger seat of my brother's lexus when he's feeling cockey and I always think to myself "there's never a cop car about when you wanna see some nut get pulled over"!
I would have loved to be a traffic cop, but I really wouldnt wanna see the aftermath of a roadworker being struck at 80mph, which is one of the best excuses for me not becoming one!
On an episode last night an unmarked Meega followed a suit in a merc for dangerous tailgating in excess of 90 on the motorway and after he undertook several cars and sped off they pulled him over and frightened the life out of him virtually bringing him to tears, then basically told him they'd rather give him a roasting and let him see the error of his ways and send him off rather than send him to court and lose him his license. I may get shot down for this but personally I think there'd be less idiots on the road if people driving like that were prosecuted and penalised as they should be, without choice, otherwise they just think they'll get away with it all the time!
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I may get shot down for this but personally I think there'd be less idiots on the road if people driving like that were prosecuted and penalised as they should be, without choice, otherwise they just think they'll get away with it all the time!
If his driving was as bad as you say then I agree but traffic officers able to exercise discretion are a good thing in these days of Talivans handing out summary justice by Royal Mail.
Getting a good old fashioned roadside dressing down by a traffic officer, pointing out the errors and likely consequences of my driving would have a far more positive impact on my future driving technique than an NIP hitting the doormat followed by grudgingly putting a cheque in the post.
"there's never a cop car about when you wanna see some nut get pulled over"!
This is what occurs to me every evening when I leave work. There's always someone pulling out of an office car park, mobile phone clamped under one ear while trying to put seat belt on, etc.. If they're not 100% occupied doing all that they may even look before they pull out into the traffic! It's blatantly obvious that the car isn't under control and should't have moved from their parking space yet.
If this type of thing could be as firmly drilled into people as the "speed kills" message we'd be onto a winner.
Kevin
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I would have loved to be a traffic cop, but I really wouldnt wanna see the aftermath of a roadworker being struck at 80mph, which is one of the best excuses for me not becoming one!
I love road wars too, especially some of the Manchester special squads and those guys in Slough with the Omega. Its something i would enjoy, I got overtaken today I was doing 35 in a 30.... and someone came flying past me doing 60+ in a small village and he continued at 60 past a school.
Driving like that really gets annoys me, that and drivers who do 40mph EVERYWARE!!
Problem is i don't think you can go straight to the traffic squad, you have to do several years as a beat bobby and thats something i don't want to do. I want to drive!!!! and catch car criminals, unless the police members here can comment?
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I would have loved to be a traffic cop, but I really wouldnt wanna see the aftermath of a roadworker being struck at 80mph, which is one of the best excuses for me not becoming one!
I love road wars too, especially some of the Manchester special squads and those guys in Slough with the Omega. Its something i would enjoy, I got overtaken today I was doing 35 in a 30.... and someone came flying past me doing 60+ in a small village and he continued at 60 past a school.
Driving like that really gets annoys me, that and drivers who do 40mph EVERYWARE!!
Problem is i don't think you can go straight to the traffic squad, you have to do several years as a beat bobby and thats something i don't want to do. I want to drive!!!! and catch car criminals, unless the police members here can comment?
You are right, technically you need to do your 2 years probation before you can specialise, however most forces are unlikely to accept a lateral promotion to Traffic with less than 5 years service..
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Well they seem popular with off duty Policemen as well!
Maybe that explains it!
BTW what is classed as taking the piss with speeding?
Also
Speeding in roadworks on the m/way, I have seen what a roadworker looks like when hit at 80mph!
Rule if your ever in Bristol (NEVER OVERTAKE A POLICE CAR - OR EXCEED THE SPEED LIMIT IN ROADWORKS WHEN A POLICE CAR IS NEAR) you will get done!
Helpfull tip for you all!
Thanks for that Dean, will be going down your way in late August/ early September. Just stick the cruise control in and coast down the motorway. Will make sure it is set correctly though. :y
8-)
DaveL
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Well they seem popular with off duty Policemen as well!
Maybe that explains it!
BTW what is classed as taking the piss with speeding?
Also
Speeding in roadworks on the m/way, I have seen what a roadworker looks like when hit at 80mph!
Rule if your ever in Bristol (NEVER OVERTAKE A POLICE CAR - OR EXCEED THE SPEED LIMIT IN ROADWORKS WHEN A POLICE CAR IS NEAR) you will get done!
Helpfull tip for you all!
I best keep an eye out then the next time i have to pop to ikea as only down the road in swindon.
Or take my civic as only just manage's to do the limit and it's ment to be the sporty model.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v617/chunny01/07032007003.jpg)
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recently got followed by a local camera equipped volve estate recently, seen it zooming up in my mirror and then follow me the 6 miles along the 50mph road (with me doing around 55 ) virtually all the way home until i hit some dual carraigway where they drew alongside, had a look over thumbsup and away they went.
Was around 2 in the morning though and i had just pulled out of a nightclub car park when they first spotted me :) lol. (was a live band on that night and i take pics for the local paper :y ).
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is it compulsary to buy a Civic when you live in Wiltshire???? (Thats where they make them- for those who dont know!) :D
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Nobody in wiltshire own's 1. It's just that most people work for Honda (the factory) and you get a very good deal to lease them.
And a new car every 10 months that you aint got to worry about any bills on.
YAY.
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WOW, thats pretty good then!