Three Towns Forum
The Local => Three Towns Policing Issues => Topic started by: Michael on January 14, 2013, 09:03:21 pm
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Not often you find me on the Police section of the TTF. However, what's the view of any readers.
The Old Colwyn junction on to the A55 facing west. In the dark, around 6 p.m. I drive up past a marked police car waiting on the hard shoulder. They are often there. At a guess watching for speeding motorists driving west. You dont have to be clever in guessing that. They have got a camera in their hands.
I am now on the A55, a fair amount of traffic heading west all in the nearside lane, all doing 50 m.p.h.
Before I left the A55 at the first Colwyn Bay junction, only around 200 yards away, this police car passed in the fast lane. AND HE WAS MOVING. In excess of 70 m.p.h. No blue lights.
I don't suppose it was particularly dangerous, there was nothing in the outside lane. But, it was dark and it was wet.
So --- it is assumed that it is dangerous to drive at over 50 m.p.h. Is is right that to catch a fast driver, its O.K. for them to go however fast they feel like? Mike
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Mike, he was probably chasing to catch up a speeding driver and would not switch on his two's and blue's until he was quite close to the car, and after he had followed it at a regular distance in order to prove the offence. If he had put his warnings on too early the offending driver would have possibly slowed down and proof of the speeding would not be possible.
Alternatively if they had a "gun" it nay have been a ANPR device which had signalled a licence or insurance offence etc.
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Yes, Yorkie, that is what he was doing, there is no doubt about that. But, my last sentence. What are your feelings about them doing that i.e. driving at excess of 70 mph, dark and wet road, to catch a car doing I don't know, I didnt see it, but probably around 55 to 60?
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All are specially trained for such duties and would not drive at high speed if it were dangerous to do so.
I thought you had an Advanced Driver's qualification Mike?
^*^0
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Yes I have. But that does not mean that I have studied Police practice in training for special duties. This is the whole point of my question.
Are they driving at high speed when it MAY BE dangerous to do so? And in this case they were driving in excess of 70 mph, at my guess, in a 50 mph area and, seeing as there were no blue lights, presumably after a comparatively minor offence of someone speeding in front of him.
And I only asked for forum readers opinions. Well, I've got yours. Silence from everyone else.
Oh, and in passing I'll give you my opinion in general. Virtually every driver in police uniform thinks that they possess special skills in driving. And the vast majority hav'ent. Twice over the years I have been stopped by police in a car, given a lecture about my driving, when I've stood up for myself they finished with "I'll let you off this time" --- and I had done nothing wrong' on the second occasion the police were in the wrong. It should have been me letting HIM off.
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We all have experiences relating to the Police and we all know that some of them take their powers a bit too seriously, but can I now pose other questions?
You said, "Before I left the A55 at the first Colwyn Bay junction, only around 200 yards away, this police car passed in the fast lane. AND HE WAS MOVING. In excess of 70 m.p.h. No blue lights. I don't suppose it was particularly dangerous, there was nothing in the outside lane. But, it was dark and it was wet."
and also you said, "Are they driving at high speed when it MAY BE dangerous to do so? And in this case they were driving in excess of 70 mph, at my guess, in a 50 mph area ".
In answer to the first part I believe that they do not want to injure themselves or be involved in an accident and so most will drive accordingly, you say the road was clear. Next, how qualified are you to judge the speed of another vehicle where you admit it was dark, it was raining and you were obviously concentrating on your own driving? The car could have been doing 90 let alone 70+.
The same comments about the Police could also be levelled at the Paramedic Car, Ambulances, Fire Engines, the Coastguard, Blood Deliveries etc. all who are concerned with the preservation and saving of life. We have to appreciate such services (that we could well need ourselves), and therefore accept that whatever they are doing is in the interests of the public, and society in general.
My last offence (in 2005) was doing 95 on the A55 when I was caught by an unmarked Police car. My own fault completely but the officer who dealt with me could not have been more polite. He had to travel at over 100 to apprehend me. I paid my £60 and got my first 3 points ever.
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Yorkie, I must take my hat off to you.I felt quite ashamed of myself starting this thread after reading your reply Mike
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I saw the speed camera van perched on the bridge between the RSPB and Tesco in the Junction yesterday looking down on the A55. That's the first time I've ever seen them there and no doubt lots of people will be receiving unwelcome mail in the next 13 days ;).
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I saw the speed camera van perched on the bridge between the RSPB and Tesco in the Junction yesterday looking down on the A55. That's the first time I've ever seen them there and no doubt lots of people will be receiving unwelcome mail in the next 13 days ;).
I wonder if they'll catch and fine the idiots that go 30mph between Tesco and Black Cat on the A55, more of a danger than speeding.
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I was informed last night by a usually reliable source that there were several police camera vans positioned on numerous bridges on the A55 yesterday, ( allegedly 3 were spotted between Menai Bridge and Junction yesterday), but they were primarily being used for the Numberplate Recognition System, which tells them instantly if a vehicle is stolen or untaxed/uninsured etc and then they can be stopped further down the road.
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I was informed last night by a usually reliable source that there were several police camera vans positioned on numerous bridges on the A55 yesterday, ( allegedly 3 were spotted between Menai Bridge and Junction yesterday), but they were primarily being used for the Numberplate Recognition System, which tells them instantly if a vehicle is stolen or untaxed/uninsured etc and then they can be stopped further down the road.
There's a Europe wide anti-speeding campaign going on this week so I suspect the police presence on the A55 has something to do with this. The A55 is part of Euroroute E22 which runs from Holyhead to Ishim in Russia (a much traveled route I'd imagine) so it would make sense it would be part of the Europe wide speed campaign.
This is taken from the NWP website -
"Motorists who risk live by speeding will be targeted by North Wales Police as part of a week-long campaign.
The crackdown on speeding motorists is set to take place throughout Europe next week as part of the European-wide initiative to crack down on speeding motorists - starting on Monday, August 19th until Sunday August 25th.
The TISPOL (European Traffic Police Network) campaign will see all police forces across Europe tackling speeding by conducting random speed checks.
North Wales Police Roads Policing Officers along with Go Safe will be combining their efforts to deter and detect motorists who choose to ignore the speed limits. Drivers who are caught speeding will be issued with anything from a Fixed Penalty Ticket to a summons to attend court."
http://www.north-wales.police.uk/news__appeals/latest_news/tispol_speed_awareness.aspx (http://www.north-wales.police.uk/news__appeals/latest_news/tispol_speed_awareness.aspx)
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ACAB
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I was informed last night by a usually reliable source that there were several police camera vans positioned on numerous bridges on the A55 yesterday, ( allegedly 3 were spotted between Menai Bridge and Junction yesterday), but they were primarily being used for the Numberplate Recognition System, which tells them instantly if a vehicle is stolen or untaxed/uninsured etc and then they can be stopped further down the road.
There's a Europe wide anti-speeding campaign going on this week so I suspect the police presence on the A55 has something to do with this. The A55 is part of Euroroute E22 which runs from Holyhead to Ishim in Russia (a much traveled route I'd imagine) so it would make sense it would be part of the Europe wide speed campaign.
This is taken from the NWP website -
"Motorists who risk live by speeding will be targeted by North Wales Police as part of a week-long campaign.
The crackdown on speeding motorists is set to take place throughout Europe next week as part of the European-wide initiative to crack down on speeding motorists - starting on Monday, August 19th until Sunday August 25th.
The TISPOL (European Traffic Police Network) campaign will see all police forces across Europe tackling speeding by conducting random speed checks.
North Wales Police Roads Policing Officers along with Go Safe will be combining their efforts to deter and detect motorists who choose to ignore the speed limits. Drivers who are caught speeding will be issued with anything from a Fixed Penalty Ticket to a summons to attend court."
http://www.north-wales.police.uk/news__appeals/latest_news/tispol_speed_awareness.aspx (http://www.north-wales.police.uk/news__appeals/latest_news/tispol_speed_awareness.aspx)
I found the statement from NWP Police interesting. They seem to be saying that speeding is dangerous; but the reality is that it is surely the standard of driving that dictates whether it is or not. You see just as many idiots driving dangerously at 40mph as you do at 80mph.
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Quite agree..... Speeding per se is not neccesarilly dangerous. In fact the I.A.M. and RoSPA advocate using the fastest safe speed in their Advanced Driving Course. Going too slow can result in a failed test! :D
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I also agree, it's driving skill and ability that counts, looking ahead on the road anticipating various potential hazards, not staring at a speedometer!
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There is far too much emphasis on speed by way of numbers, instead of speed by way of driving standards - probably because it's easy to measure if a car is doing 35mph ion a 30mph zone, not so easy to judge if a car being driven at 25mph is dangerous.
It is against the law to drive at 35mph along the stretch if road between Penrhyn Bay (roundabout with Glanwydden Lane) and Coleg Llandrillo but 99% of the time perfectly safe to do so - but there is a good chance you will get penalised by the camera van parked near the College.
It is perfectly within the law to drive at 25mph down Mostyn Street on a busy Saturday afternoon, with pedestrians crossing the road with little regard to traffic. But is it safe to do so?
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No-- you'd end up with a zimmer decorating the bonnet of your car ! ;D
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There was a very large agricultural vehicle with following warning escort trundling slowly down the A55 towards Bangor on Friday afternoon. The tail back it created was a few miles long. I doubt many tickets were issued until that all cleared !
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On the question of Safety, I was amazed today when I saw a cyclist in front of me let go of the handle bar with his right hand. He then put this arm out at right angles to his body, apparently to inform other road users that he was about to turn right.
Personally I think this is very dangerous as the cyclist could lose control by only having one hand on the handlebars. Perhaps it is time for cyclists to be penalised for riding in such a dangerous way without consideration for others. It is time for a Law to be introduced to prevent further misuse of the cycle and for the Police and Parking Attendants to issue Fixed Penalty Notices and ensure the cycles were confiscated.
Cycles could easily be equipped with turn indicators operated from a handle bar switch and powered by a battery charged from a solar cell. Advance orders for the de-luxe model, priced at £2,347.00 can be placed with Yorkie's Cycle Indicators Inc, c/o Three Towns Forum, Llandudno.
_))* *cycle* _))*
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Another rather spurious post.
As incite-full as most of your other posts.
Thanks Yorkie.
I'm sure you'll say "Humour bypass".
I disagree, no, no bypass needed, by me.
Another case of "I know better", from you...as per usual.
Just because people differently to you, does not mean that they are wrong.
Sad.
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Loosen up man! Did you never laugh at Monty Python?
_))*
Check some of your own posts
Local News & Discussion / Re: What's Llandudno Like Right Now?
« on: May 29, 2014
First of many? possibly........if you are stupid enough to send your kids on "dangerous rocks", then hey, expect to get hurt.
For the safety of all, lets ban everybody from going.....up Snowden, just in case they fall off and hurt themselves....or in the sea...or in cars, or from getting out of bed every morning in case of accidents.
All this moaning about the beach is getting tiresome.
Quit bitching and accept flood defenses.