Chasing Police cars - no longer a hobby of mine

[Carl Avant]

Yeah, the court upheld the 2 Police statements
Back in June, out in my Atom, it seemed a good idea to catch up and track a Police car on a blue light run
They arrived at the scene of an accident and I just carried on past (slowed right down at that point)
2 weeks later, letter.
Got a solicitor.
Weymouth Court 2 weeks ago.
(Pretty complex case)
Convicted of "excessive" speed, even though the Police car did not have a taco or even a calibrated speedometer, nor were the officers pursuit or driver trained other than the standard 4 week course or have any idea of the ACPO speed guidelines.
Basically, they said they were doing "X" speed (they looked at their speedometer once, behind once and in their mirror once) and therefore so was I, even though the distance between myself and the Police car changed over the one mile distance.
Also, until the hearing I had a clean licence, wasn't happy.
Maybe if it had happened in my estate car they Police wouldn't have pursued, but there was "Ariel Atom" all over the statements

[simons2]

Suppose it's better than being done for ambulance chasing

[saltinot]

Long time Carl. Sorry to hear about your case. Glad you're still around and hope to see you again soon. I am hoping to be around your area in June.

[Carl Avant]

Long time Carl. Sorry to hear about your case. Glad you're still around and hope to see you again soon. I am hoping to be around your area in June.

Sure ... drop me a line ... hope your build is nearing completion

[Ross]

Sorry - couldn't resist!

I got into a bit of a race with an undercover F150 (in the US), I sprinted off but my buddy in another car was pulled and got a massive fine for reckless driving, street racing, driving 'well in excess of 100mph'. No evidence other than the cops word, but he really had it in for him for insisting he didn't know who I was

Point is - yeah it was a pretty dumb idea but it's still irritating when to see someone get nailed on over-inflated charges with no evidence, clearly wanted to make an example of you and sadly the judge agreed. A stern talking and threat of court if it happens again would have been enough for an otherwise upstanding gentleman, surely?

Should've taken the hearse, would have thought you were there for the accident victim...

Out of interest can they give you anything more than 3 points for 'excessive speed'?

[Error404]

D'oh! sounds like an innocent mistake

Hope they were not too harsh and the punishment fit the "crime".

[Carl Avant]

Should've taken the hearse, would have thought you were there for the accident victim...

Out of interest can they give you anything more than 3 points for 'excessive speed'?

I know, but the hearse was garaged for the summer, the atom was too much fun

Yes they can ... and they properly did

[darkhorse1210]

What I hate about the rozzers is that they convict based on what mood they're in. TOSSERS.

Pull the prick in the saxo who's doing 90 with no brake lights instead ��

[Carl Avant]

Yep.

Clean licence and 14 years NCB ... the copper was just a beat cop in a panda car doing a ton towards an accident and should have been focussing on the job ahead, oh well.

[darkhorse1210]

Indeed

[Bowie69]

Can't do the time, don't do the crime -you got caught fair and square. It's a shame for you, but maybe next time you won't go chasing police cars that are on blue lights -then the reason for the punishment has served it's purpose.

Also, the 'Rozzers' don't do the convicting.

[Carl Avant]

Can't do the time, don't do the crime -you got caught fair and square. It's a shame for you, but maybe next time you won't go chasing police cars that are on blue lights -then the reason for the punishment has served it's purpose.

Also, the 'Rozzers' don't do the convicting.

The problem is the Atom, with me anyway ... so easy to become a menace. Destroys motorbikes, any car ... I just got told off for pushing the envelope. Life is too short not to have fun.
Last July I also escaped an unmarked Subaru.
This summer I'm installing one of these

http://www.target-blu-eye.co.uk

On the plus side, my RS2 is not having miles put on it

[Ian_C]

The annoying thing is if you'd turned off before they stopped, they might not have clocked your plate? Depends if your plate if a sticker, or an actual plate on a mount like atomhire.co.uks old car...

Only pic I can find on internet now they are defunct

https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/67920865_295x166.jpg

[Quattronaut]

Typical case of risked it, got caught and then cry out

I like chasing around, too. indeed I do. But does it have to be a police car under blue lights? Really? That MUST go wrong. You gave the order- you were served as ordered. So keep smiling...having fun above the law on the street hundreds of times without any consequence, now one time catched. Lucky deal ´til now

Be glad, that you do not live in Austria. There the cops are allowed to GUESS your speed free handed, and their guess is evidental in court. That would be much more money and a license loss.

[mrt105]

Typical case of risked it, got caught and then cry out

I like chasing around, too. indeed I do. But does it have to be a police car under blue lights? Really? That MUST go wrong. You gave the order- you were served as ordered. So keep smiling...having fun above the law on the street hundreds of times without any consequence, now one time catched. Lucky deal ´til now

Be glad, that you do not live in Austria. There the cops are allowed to GUESS your speed free handed, and their guess is evidental in court. That would be much more money and a license loss.

I agree, we all like to gun it occasionally on an open road.
But to chase a police car with its blues on?
Then admit your speed and moan about the conviction on an open forum and state you evaded an unmarked car last summer too.
Smart move.

Take it on the chin and maybe learn a fairly obvious lesson?!