My daughter was stopped by an unmarked car. She promptly locked the doors and dialed 999. The call handler confirmed the registration belonged to BIBs and the driver patiently waited while this was happening. He praised her for her common sense and asked her, politely, to turn on her lights - the reason for stopping her!

A quick google found this...

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicester-news/man-fake-police-bmw-attempting-3702031

https://www.askthe.police.uk/Content/Q587.htm

This pretty much confirms what I have just said, but from another source.

"If a car flashing for you to pull over or stop is unmarked, unless you are certain it is the police, do not stop. Drive steadily to the nearest public place e.g. a petrol station where they are open till late, a police station or somewhere there are a lot of people, and then stop. If you are in a relatively deserted area, as a last resort, consider looking for a house that is obviously occupied and pull into the driveway. You can always apologise to the householder afterwards.

Try and signal that you have acknowledged the request to stop and indicate the action you are taking (put your flashers on or signal by pointing from the driver's window etc.). Don't drive off at great speed making the police think you are trying to get away.

Keep the doors locked until you are happy it is the police and have your mobile phone to hand just in case. You can ask to see the police officer's warrant card, which should carry their name and photograph, through the closed window.

Incidentally, if you are suspected of drink/drug driving none of these actions would invalidate an officer giving you a preliminary test, as you have only temporarily interrupted your journey and are still driving for the purposes of that law."

Please read the full article, its a horrible thought that someone could pretend to be the police.

Edited by A Driver since 1988, HGV 2006 on 29/02/2020 at 16:07

Some years ago, (before 2006 because we still had the Mondeo) I drove into the Asda filling station and an MX5 pulled in close behind me. Out of this MX5 got a uniformed police officer who introduced himself as Inspector whatever and asked me why I did not stop at the traffic roundabout in town. I simply told him the reason which was that I saw the MX5 entering the roundabout but since I was entering the roundabout at the same time and not in any way impeding this car there was no need to stop. He went off on one telling me that you should always stop before entering a roundabout to which I replied only if there are solid lines and a stop sign, as we all know the normal way is to give way to traffic already on the roundabout and filter into available space.

He was adamant that I was wrong and that you must always stop before entering so at that point I asked if he was on duty and if he was to give me a ticket and then I would argue my corner in court, it was clear there was no point discussing it with him. At this point he got back into his car and left with no apology or promise that I would hear from them later. I never did hear anything about the matter.

Over the next few months this inspector became a regular face in the local press making his opinion known of many and varied subjects but as quickly as he rose to fame it was announced he was being transferred to alternative duties elsewhere and was never heard of again locally.

I did wonder if his lack of knowledge on driving law extended to all areas of law and he was found out.

I myself was told by police officer that no one has right of way on a slip road going onto a duel carriageway.

At the end of a slip road there is a Give Way marking. If traffic on the slip road has not had/taken the opportunity to sequence itself so as to merge then it must yield to the traffic on the main carriageway.