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Why not indeed?
Two offences committed....in a short space of time.
Feel free to contest.
Regarding Police Officer's attitude?
That will be a subjective viewpoint on the part of the OP.
If I had been a witness to the events, doubtless I would have taken the opposite view.
Lucky for the OP this is the United Kingdom?
The argument concerning everyone committing offences at some point or other really doesn't wash.. [worlds perfect driver? So what?]
Why should anyone expect to receive 'sympathy' when flouting the Law...and getting caught?
I'm just pleased to note that enforcement hasn't entirely disappeared?
And, for good measure, it is obvious to me the OP places his own personal well-being far ahead of any intention to comply with the Laws of this land.
So please, OP, contest the issue in Court.....
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One of the things that exasperates me about this forum is the speed with which some posters seem to want to descend into invective - or, at least, heavy personal criticism. It is intimidating, indecorous and gratuitous, especially after someone asks for advice.
I've no objection to giving it straight and have no problem with opinions that go beyond the initial question. I just hate the tone that sometimes come through. The present thread is not as bad as we have sometimes had, but it's bad enough.
Examples: "...it is obvious to me the OP places his own personal well-being far ahead of any intention to comply with the Laws of this land."
"I'm just grateful you'll lose your license [sic] soon."
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I lost my cool with him a little as he was so patronising, and as I'd gone to the station to pick up a guest it was embarassing and left me feeling quite wound up and anxious
From the above quote, I concluded what I posted.
To me the OP obvioulsy felt it OK to flout the traffic regualtions?
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"From the above quote, I concluded what I posted."
From the quote your conclusion is not obvious at all. It shows the OP lost his cool; you can't conclude he therefore felt it OK to flout traffic regulations.
"I unfortunately failed to notice a 'no right turn' sign" in the OP's post suggests carelessness, nothing more.
On the other hand, "I was caught by a PC in an unmarked car taking a short-cut up a bus lane" may - or may not - suggest the OP was willing to flout regulations.
I do wish people would read more carefully and think harder about what was actually put.
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Where is the argument in this case
The OP Admits In February I was caught by a PC in an unmarked car taking a short-cut up a bus lane in order to get to a local train station thus he is guilty of that offence.
He then admits referring to the Policeman I lost my cool with him a little which is never a good idea when you are clearly guilty (or not for that matter).
He then unfortunately failed to notice a 'no right turn' sign as I turned into a road in order to get back to my workplace. Guilty again
And to make matter worrse he said to the Policeman I'd missed the sign because I felt nervous and intimidated with him driving behind me
What does the OP expect. Does he want posters to say that eveyrthing will be OK and the cahrges will be dropped.
He is guilty of 2 driving offences within minutes, loosing his cool with athe officer and giving a daft reason for missing the sign, has he never had a Police car follow him before.
It might be a good idea to take a solictor to court but the best thing to do is simply admit what you did, pay up and move on.
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From the quote your conclusion is not obvious at all. It shows the OP lost his cool; you can't conclude he therefore felt it OK to flout traffic regulations.
I won't harp on about 'reading the OP's original post', but skidpan has hilited the reason for my concusion in the first para above.....
To sum up my views, there is a list of excuses, of attempts to justify somehow, the OP's failings....
I don't' hold [professionally, let alone personally] with 'excuses for flouting the Law.
If that is deemed an unreasonable attitude, or offensive, then so be it.
I
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Alastair, if you read my first post in this thread you'll see I generally agree with what you have just put.
I ended that post, "You have my sympathy, but not much else." I think that highlights the difference between the line I took and that of some other posters.
I've said enough.
Edited by FP on 09/09/2013 at 17:38
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FP is bang on.
I've followed this forum for a few years
now and there are a few regulars who seem
to take delight at bashing new posters.
They sit on their holier than thou altars and
spout their criticism.
It's why newbies never hang around or come
back.
No-one says you have to agree with what
they have to say, but it would be better to
shut up than post meaningless drivel.
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FP and Soichiro - you're absolutely right. It's only a few people but they spoil the forum for others and as you say dissuade new members from coming back. I suspect it comes from a basic insecurity: these (always male) are mummy's boys or henpecked husbands who see the forum as an opportunity to assert their little egos. Sad,
As a moderator I'm tempted to be more ruthless than I am: on the other hand a forum is supposed to be an outlet for free speech, within reason, and I restrict myself to deleting posts which are actually insulting to another poster.
We often have people coming on here, as on this thread, who have committed some offence, ot think they may have, and need advice. Sometimes there is little that can be advised except to take the punishment on the chin, but even this can be done politely but firmly. There's nothing wrong with 'telling it as it is' in plain language - pussyfooting is no help - but there really is no need to kick a person when they're down.
Edited by Avant on 09/09/2013 at 23:02
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He then admits referring to the Policeman I lost my cool with him a little which is never a good idea when you are clearly guilty (or not for that matter).
To go off at a bit of a tangent, I can't help feeling that some PCs might be tempted to provoke some like our OP to lose their cool, knowing that if / when it came to one person's word against another's, they will be the one believed. I don't see that anyone stopped by a PC should comply unquestioningly with any order, if asking for an explanation might result in such a situation. Has anyone here any experienced that difficulty?
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A nice helpful comment that. Obviously posted by the world's most perfect driver. Why don't we just hang him while we're at it.
I assume you refer to the above post its quite correct and a honest opinion of the situation as described.Its the OP who seems to think he is perfect and never should feel the strong arm of the law.
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I suspect it comes from a basic insecurity: these (always male) are mummy's boys or henpecked husbands who see the forum as an opportunity to assert their little egos. Sad,
Please, feel free to bar me forever from this forum...if only for exercising my views?
But I do take exception from the above coming from a moderator, who really ought to refrain from such comments, posted as they are from a position of responsibility?
Especially as my Mummy has been dead these past 25 years, and I have managed to delete at least three wives from my life....and to cast aspersions on the size of my ego???? [I leave ego's to the sub-40-somethings of this world]....but before you do bar me for eternity, can someone answer my tech question on the other bit?
Once I have a reasonable answer to that one, do as you wish!
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My comments weren't aimed particularly at you, Alastair - but if you thought they were and took exception, then please read my final para above, and be careful in what you say so that (in this case) the original poster doesn't also take exception.
If you think someone is in the wrong, there's no reason not to say so, but it can be done politely and preferably with some constructive advice added. That's not too much to ask is it?
We don't bar people from the forum (they could always come back with a new E-mail address) and don't want to. We do sometimes have to delete posts which are offensive or insulting.
Edited by Avant on 10/09/2013 at 22:30
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I assume you refer to the above post its quite correct and a honest opinion of the situation as described.Its the OP who seems to think he is perfect and never should feel the strong arm of the law.
Collos25
It is correct in that the OP was caught
for two offences. But the attitude of the
reply was pathetic and self opinionated as
is yours.
Edited by Soichiro on 10/09/2013 at 22:44
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Thanks (I think!) for the replies. There are clearly people with strong opinions in this forum. There are - as is often the case - finer details that may or may not influence these events, which I have listed below:
Having checked today, it seems that there is only a right turn sign visable on the near side of the road; it is obscured on the far side. Is there any legal requirement concerning minimum standard for signage?
The officer followed me to my place of work; a building for people given treatment for substance misuse problems, and I parked in the car park for the building. My suspicion (based on the PC's attitude) is that he considered me to be a client of the premises. I'm the regional manager. The language insinuated in his statement (even little things such as suggesting I said Yeah instead of Yes - basically making me out to be thuggish in my attitude) seemed to intimate this.
Having been humiliated by this officer at the road side I did feel anxious when I was driving; I'm sorry some people didn't like that, but its true. He was driving really close to me and I felt he was deliberately intimidating me. I made a mistake and took a turn I shouldn't have made (with questionable signage, as above). I work with lots of coppers in my role; a vast majority are decent types, but a small minority are power crazy and perhaps shouldn't be in the job. One thing I cant stand is not being afforded a basic level of respect. Being ordered out of my car to be shown tyres that were actually fine - just to satisty his power trip - wasnt very palatable and I told him as such. Certainly not a good move given the circumstances, but I couldn't allow it to pass - and I felt better for keeping my dignity intact
Thanks again
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James - I am so sorry that you've had some unhelpful comments on here: they don't represent the majority, and in fact the two first posts, from FP and Dwight van Driver, give you the good straight advice that you need.
I agree that you've committed the offence and will have to take the penalties, but for the second offence you may possibly be able to use intimidation by the PC as a partial defence. You shoud certainly complaijn about his attitude if you haven't already.
Good luck!
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Many thanks Avant; I think I'll be taking this on the chin and hope that the fine isn't too hefty.. And I'll certainly be making a complaint once the offence has been dealt with.
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