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[JamesV6CDX]

  I do answer the phone and tell the caller to hang on as I pull over

This question doesn't relate to Skruntie specifically, but -

Purely out of interest - what views would people take, of a cop issuing an endorsable fixed penalty ticket (£60 and 3 points) if they saw a motorist doing what is described above?

Would you consider it harsh, or a fair cop?

but what would you do when you see a copper texting at the wheel?

Have you actually seen that?  :-?

Yes! It was at the traffic lights  ..... but still illegal  :-?

Are you sure it wasn't a handheld airwave? (The new ones with short arials can look a bit like a phone)

To answer your question though - if he was using a phone at the wheel (lights or otherwise) he should recieve 3 points and a fine like anyone else - and if he's committing the offence in uniform and / or marked car, should have a disciplinary on top for bringing the service into disrepute!

[Andy B]

  I do answer the phone and tell the caller to hang on as I pull over

This question doesn't relate to Skruntie specifically, but -

Purely out of interest - what views would people take, of a cop issuing an endorsable fixed penalty ticket (£60 and 3 points) if they saw a motorist doing what is described above?

Would you consider it harsh, or a fair cop?

but what would you do when you see a copper texting at the wheel?

Have you actually seen that?  :-?

Yes! It was at the traffic lights  ..... but still illegal  :-?

Are you sure it wasn't a handheld airwave? (The new ones with short arials can look a bit like a phone)

To answer your question though - if he was using a phone at the wheel (lights or otherwise) he should recieve 3 points and a fine like anyone else - and if he's committing the offence in uniform and / or marked car, should have a disciplinary on top for bringing the service into disrepute!

Definately a phone! And he was in uniform in a marked car ...
''all animals are equal but some are more equal than others'' 

[JamesV6CDX]

  I do answer the phone and tell the caller to hang on as I pull over

This question doesn't relate to Skruntie specifically, but -

Purely out of interest - what views would people take, of a cop issuing an endorsable fixed penalty ticket (£60 and 3 points) if they saw a motorist doing what is described above?

Would you consider it harsh, or a fair cop?

but what would you do when you see a copper texting at the wheel?

Have you actually seen that?  :-?

Yes! It was at the traffic lights  ..... but still illegal  :-?

Are you sure it wasn't a handheld airwave? (The new ones with short arials can look a bit like a phone)

To answer your question though - if he was using a phone at the wheel (lights or otherwise) he should recieve 3 points and a fine like anyone else - and if he's committing the offence in uniform and / or marked car, should have a disciplinary on top for bringing the service into disrepute!

Definately a phone! And he was in uniform in a marked car ...

Inexcusable....

Just to add - I don't pretend for one minute to be whiter than white,

But to use a peronal phone, while driving on duty, is an outrage, considering he has probably issued tickets to other people for the same offence....

[jereboam]

Personally, I don't have too much of problem in principle with using a mobile for a conversation when driving, but then I drive an automatic and I reckon that 95% of the time I can control my car perfectly well with one hand.  I doubt if the distraction level is significantly greater than having your passengers arguing amongst themselves and with you.  A crap navigator can cause even more distraction.

Thats the problem

You're right of course.  I actually believe that I can control my car with one hand for 99.9% of the time, but it would have sounded arrogant to say so.  The point is basically that you can never know when that 0.1% occasion is going to occur, and that's why I don't use my mobile at the wheel.

But here's another issue:

• I have an appontment in 10 minutes;
• I am 10 minutes away from my destination;
• I am stuck in traffic, which hasn't moved for 5 minutes and shows no sign of clearing;

Can I use my mobile to let someone know the situation?

[STMO999]

Personally, I don't have too much of problem in principle with using a mobile for a conversation when driving, but then I drive an automatic and I reckon that 95% of the time I can control my car perfectly well with one hand.  I doubt if the distraction level is significantly greater than having your passengers arguing amongst themselves and with you.  A crap navigator can cause even more distraction.

Thats the problem

You're right of course.  I actually believe that I can control my car with one hand for 99.9% of the time, but it would have sounded arrogant to say so.  The point is basically that you can never know when that 0.1% occasion is going to occur, and that's why I don't use my mobile at the wheel.

But here's another issue:

• I have an appontment in 10 minutes;
• I am 10 minutes away from my destination;
• I am stuck in traffic, which hasn't moved for 5 minutes and shows no sign of clearing;

Can I use my mobile to let someone know the situation?

I would. But I know I shouldn't.

[albitz]

I also dont have a problem with talking on the phone while driving an auto but I think texting while driving should be a hanging offence.

[KillerWatt]

Are you sure it wasn't a handheld airwave? (The new ones with short arials can look a bit like a phone)

It doesn't matter what they are called, the old bill radios use the cellular network (ergo, it's a cellular radio....which is what a mobile phone is).

All that old cobblers about them being "specially trained" to hold a conversation on a hand held radio device is just that.....it's cobblers.

[STMO999]

Are you sure it wasn't a handheld airwave? (The new ones with short arials can look a bit like a phone)

It doesn't matter what they are called, the old bill radios use the cellular network (ergo, it's a cellular radio....which is what a mobile phone is).

All that old cobblers about them being "specially trained" to hold a conversation on a hand held radio device is just that.....it's cobblers.

Yes. When we were moaning about basterd drivers we forgot coppers. At least the binman wont mow you down at 90mph on a pedestrian crossing.

[KillerWatt]

Are you sure it wasn't a handheld airwave? (The new ones with short arials can look a bit like a phone)

It doesn't matter what they are called, the old bill radios use the cellular network (ergo, it's a cellular radio....which is what a mobile phone is).

All that old cobblers about them being "specially trained" to hold a conversation on a hand held radio device is just that.....it's cobblers.

Yes. When we were moaning about basterd drivers we forgot coppers. At least the binman wont mow you down at 90mph on a pedestrian crossing.

Even if they were likely to do that, I would expect them to have the decency to have sirens wailing and blue lights flashing while they chase that PERFECTLY LEGAL driver.

[Dishevelled Den]

Are you sure it wasn't a handheld airwave? (The new ones with short arials can look a bit like a phone)

It doesn't matter what they are called, the old bill radios use the cellular network (ergo, it's a cellular radio....which is what a mobile phone is).

All that old cobblers about them being "specially trained" to hold a conversation on a hand held radio device is just that.....it's cobblers.

...am inclined to agree with you K.  That's why certain Departments had dedicated drivers - C8 and so on - to do nothing else but drive.

When I was being driven I ensured that the driver did precisely that and only that.

Irrespective of the demands placed on current officers, there is no excuse whatsoever for the driver to be doing anything else but driving and if they are, then they should be prosecuted and disciplined.

That sentiment includes single officer vehicles where an always-on voice link or other telemetry does not exist.  In fact the very confusion over this matter suggests to me that amongst other things, police vehicles should by operated by a two person crew at least.