Safe Speed Forums

http://www.rochdaleobserver.co.uk/news/ ... 10526.html

Police stop ‘too careful’ driver

BUSINESSMAN John Walkden was astonished to find himself stopped by police while driving through Whitworth.

But that was nothing compared to the shock he felt when told the reason why. He was, the officer simply said, driving too carefully!

Mr Walkden had been carrying out business in Bacup last Saturday and was heading for the M62 when he was pulled over in Market Street.

He knew he hadn’t had a drink and had been careful to observe the speed limit.

Mr Walkden said: “I was being so careful to stick to the speed limit because of all the speed cameras on that road."

“I had seen a car behind me and thought it was a taxi. Then the lights started flashing and I realised it was a police car."

“When I asked why I had been stopped I was told it was because I had been driving so correctly. She even thanked me for being so careful."

“I’ve been burgled recently and my business has been broken into, so this made me feel very indignant."

“The officer asked me my name, if I owned the car and if I had any proof of identity. Then she asked me if I had been drinking and I said I had drunk a cup of tea about 20 minutes before.”

The officer breathalysed Mr Walkden, of Bolton, and after the test proved negative, she let him drive away.

He said: “I’ve been to Bacup police station to complain and they were quite apologetic, explaining it was someone new in the job.”

Inspector David Sheppard said: “The police have the power to stop any vehicle and this was a routine stop. We’ve had a lot of cars stolen in the area recently and some drivers of stolen cars stick to the speed limit to avoid detection."

“I’m sure the majority of car drivers would welcome the action we’ve taken.”

Well I wouldn't welcome having my time wasted by being tugged for driving sensibly, safely and entirely legally. And going on about stolen cars, c'mon! Is there a BAFTA award for lamest excuse of the year? If they stopped the car because they thought it was stolen then they'd have said so. What the statement says is that they're allowed to stop cars on the flimsiest of suspiscions, and they're damn well going to do so on the off-chance of catching people out for something.

We've always known they're allowed to stop any car that takes their fancy. Although these days, they wouldn't dare pull anyone who wasn't white..

_________________
-mike[F]
Caught in the rush of the crowd, lost in a wall of sound..

well said. perhaps we should all paint ourselves black

Maybe not in Bacup, but I assure you it's a different story in Bradford.