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[Pitchfork]

I guess that the real answer is quite simple. If you get a knock at the door from a policeman telling you that it is an offence to leave the engine running when the vehicle is unattended, then just smile sweetly, thank him for the advice and go and turn the engine off. That way everybody is happy. Once he's gone, go and turn it back on again and go on your merry way.

If you want to antagonise the officer then get on your high horse and start an argument with him. That way he will do his job and enforce the laws that he's paid to do.

Simple really.  

I agree!
Common sense not to antagonise a Policeman
My son-in-law is a reasonable beat-copper, but if argued with will play it by the book, despite the paper-work that it generates
So if you're passing through Alton please remember this!

[markrl]

It will be interesting to see what will happen should this chap contest his ticket at the Magistrates Court. The word unattended is open to interpretation when a good solicitor gets on the case. I can only assume he returned back indoors while the car remained running in the street. This really is all down to the circumstances and detail of the incident and the view of the Magistrate(s) on the day.    

[Markjay]

so there's this mod which you can fit to your car which allows the engine to be started for half an hour or so to warm it up, it cuts out automatically when you press a pedal, to avoid theft

considered a luxury by the owners, it automatically makes you a criminal as seen by the cops

who is it harming??

also useful if you are concerned about being assassinated...  

[edwardmickey]

It will be interesting to see what will happen should this chap contest his ticket at the Magistrates Court. The word unattended is open to interpretation when a good solicitor gets on the case. I can only assume he returned back indoors while the car remained running in the street. This really is all down to the circumstances and detail of the incident and the view of the Magistrate(s) on the day.    

The offence of 'quitting' means having the engine running without having a suitably qualified driver present inside the car so it seems to me that the offence is complete.

If people don't like the law, then they should lobby their MP to get it changed.  I have to enforce laws that I don't agree with; that's what I'm paid for.

This bloke obviously tried to make the copper's job difficult, so the copper played the trump card and stuck him on.  This bloke had a higher trump card when he went to the press; who really cares?  It's £30, pay up and learn your lesson.

Haven't the press got something better to report?

[Markjay]

'..inside the car?' so if you lift the bonnet with the engine running to listen for odd noise it is an offense? I must have broken the law hndreds of times in my Astra Mk1 (many many years ago), the car had dual Webers conversion and I must have spent more time in front of it trying to blance the carbs then I did in the driver's seat...

[Nickbat]

It will be interesting to see what will happen should this chap contest his ticket at the Magistrates Court. The word unattended is open to interpretation when a good solicitor gets on the case. I can only assume he returned back indoors while the car remained running in the street. This really is all down to the circumstances and detail of the incident and the view of the Magistrate(s) on the day.    

The offence of 'quitting' means having the engine running without having a suitably qualified driver present inside the car so it seems to me that the offence is complete.

If people don't like the law, then they should lobby their MP to get it changed.  I have to enforce laws that I don't agree with; that's what I'm paid for.

This bloke obviously tried to make the copper's job difficult, so the copper played the trump card and stuck him on.  This bloke had a higher trump card when he went to the press; who really cares?  It's £30, pay up and learn your lesson.

Haven't the press got something better to report?

I agree totally. You can see by the way this tw*t readily agreed to a press photo, all dressed up in scarf, gloves and woolly hat - with no frost in sight. And who called up the Daily Mail in the first place? Bet he did. No, I'm sorry, although I am the first to complain about stupid laws and the nanny state, this guy obviously wound up the copper who was only doing his piece as part of a campaign to discourage drivers leaving their cars running. If I'd been the officer, I'd have crawled all over his car just to check it and make sure he was late for work. I wouldn't want to have a pint with him, that's for sure.    

[Paulus]

This is recockulous. What harm is he doing? If it gets nicked, it's his fault. He's not inconveniencing anyone else.