Safe Speed Forums

4. Not in Australia (Victoria at least). You can be booked for drink driving even hours later after entering your own home and then drinking if the Police have a reason for calling on you. Eg. Your car was reported as being involved in a minor collision and left the scene means they can come to your house, breathalyse you and book you for exceeding the drink driving limit even if you can prove you were drinking AFTER you got home. Sucks big time

Drink driving should be zero tolerance, even on private property. What happens to little johnny looking for his cat when you mow him down in a drunken stupor

1 Is it legal for police not to obey the speed limit without lights/siren?
2 Does a camera, fixed or mobile, require warning signs?
3 Does a Policeman with a speed gun require a warning sign?
4 Why, on entering a private residence, can you get away with drink driving?

Greeny's Meanies wrote:
1 Is it legal for police not to obey the speed limit without lights/siren?
2 Does a camera, fixed or mobile, require warning signs?
3 Does a Policeman with a speed gun require a warning sign?
4 Why, on entering a private residence, can you get away with drink driving?

1 Yes. And so it should be as long as 'observance of the speed limit on that occasion would hinder the use to which the vehicle is being put'.

2 Not in order to prosecute. But a partnership camera must be signed for costs to be recovered under the rules.

3 Nope. The cops can do what they like. However covert operations are 'not recommended' by ACPO.

4 Mostly that old defence is no longer available, and I think I'm right in saying that the police now have a power of entry to private premises without a warrant to gather evidence of drink driving. (Reasonable grounds and all that). Any BiB confirm?

PS
As for the previous statement of "what gives the police the right to speed", I'm sure you'll remember that if (heavens forbid) a burglar has you by the throat in your house. Try and use a bit of common sense.

Drink driving should be zero tolerance, even on private property. What happens to little johnny looking for his cat when you mow him down in a drunken stupor

I have zero tolerance for zero tolerance!

IMO as cameras and radar traps can do you for speeding on the spot, wouldn't it be better for trafcops to stop you when you are speeding and not chase you speeding themselves without blue lights for 1/4 mile ( or however far it is) before nicking you?

Also do you believe it's warranted to give £30 fine on first offence? eg fog lights

1 but isn't that one rule for us and one for them? how do i know when to get out of the way of a speeding cop if they don't need lights. does that also mean all the time they are on "offical police business" they can drive how they like?

2 & 3 Why need signs for cameras and not police with radar guns? same thing in my book. some thing/one that'll nick you for speeding. infact shouldn't cops have more than one sign cos they can do loads more than a camera can!

I have zero tolerance for zero tolerance!

What would you have me do GM?

Should I shine my laser on him and send him a letter telling him he's nicked at 82mph, only for him to tell me it was his Australian cousin who was driving at the time.

Or

Should I follow him and have him nicked for speeding (probably 95mph +) and aggressive tailgating. Probably other evidence of carelessness also.

Cops speeding.. well i find this intresting.. they (all cops) have to be on a grade1 call to be able to whiz through a speed camera legally (and report who was driving)

BUT as one traffic sargent told me while out in one of thier Volvo T5's.. Traffic cops don't have to abide by the speed limits at any time, they use common sense of the road conditions.. which was shown to me 100 in a 60 and 50 in a 30 at points

Dunno if that applies to Pc Plod in his or her Panda car.

EMERGENCY DRIVING AND THE LAW

Nothing below gives exemption from offences of driving recklessly,
dangerously, carelessly or without reasonable consideration for other road
users.

SPEED LIMITS
No statutory speed limit on motor vehicles shall apply to any vehicle being
used for fire brigade, ambulance or police purposes, if the observance of
that limit would be likely to hinder that use. Road Traffic Regulation Act
1984

LIGHT SIGNALS
Vehicles being used for fire brigade, ambulance or police purposes may treat a red light signal as if a "give way" sign, if observance of the red light
would be likely to hinder the use of that vehicle for that purpose.
Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 1994

KEEP LEFT / RIGHT SIGNS
A vehicle used for fire brigade, ambulance or police purposes may ignore
keep left and keep right signs but only in a manner or at a time not likely
to cause danger to anyone.

Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 1994

DOUBLE WHITE LINES
A vehicle used for fire brigade, ambulance or police purposes is exempt from the prohibition on stopping alongside a double white line system.
Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 1994

There appears to be no exemption from the offence of crossing solid white
lines

LEAVING VEHICLE UNATTENDED
No person shall leave, or cause or permit to be left, on a road a motor
vehicle which is unattended by a licensed driver unless the engine is
stopped and the parking brake is set. An exemption to this on stopping of
the engine is given to:
a) A fire brigade vehicle the engine of which is being used for any fire
brigade purpose.
c) A vehicle when it is being used for police or ambulance purposes
Regulation 107 Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations, 1986

AUDIBLE WARNING INSTRUMENTS
The prohibition on the sounding an audible warning instrument whilst
stationary or in a built up area between 11.30 pm and 7.0 am are lifted for
emergency service vehicles when being used for one of the relevant purposes and it is necessary or desirable to do so to indicate to other road users the urgency of the purpose, or to warn other road users of the presence of the vehicle on the road. Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986.

No motor vehicle shall be used on a road in such a manner as to cause any excessive noise which could have been avoided by the exercise of reasonable care on the part of the driver. Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986.

There is no exemption from this for emergency vehicles.

The above summary is believed to be correct, but no responsibility can be
taken for its interpretation. To avoid any doubt, the Regulations themselves must be studied.