Traffic Cops Speeding

pdw8

pdw8

pdw8

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Kent/London
I was driving up the M6 earlier today and was overtaken by a traffic car who must have been cruising at about 90-95mph. It had no lights or sirens on and was not involved in any kind of stealth pursuit so was the driver driving illegally? I was told by a Police officer friend that any emergency service can only exceed the speed limit on "blues and twos" and must be on a 999 call or trying to pull a car over.
Anyway, I pulled out behind the Police car and followed him for about a mile doing 90mph myself. I know its a bit lame but I have a lot of history with traffic cops going back many years and my attitude was if he then pulled me over then I would report the traffic officer myself and see him/her in court. Obviosly I was breaking the speed limit myself but am I right about the Police officer as well?
 
I was on the M6 on Sunday and the same thing happened to me - I was cruising at 80ish and a lightish blue Volvo tanked up behind me. I was moving over anyway so he went on by and proceeded to tailgate Paradigm for a while until he could move over and let him past. Once he had got out the way he just put his foot down and vanished into the horizon.

I wonder if it is the same guy you saw?
 
Ive seen a cop back home turn his lights and sirens on at a red light, drive accross the crossroads, and then turn them off again. It was late at night and the lights are on a timer not sensors, so he obviously just couldnt be arsed to wait, but still...
 
pdw8 said:
I was told by a Police officer friend that any emergency service can only exceed the speed limit on "blues and twos" and must be on a 999 call or trying to pull a car over.

Anyway, I pulled out behind the Police car and followed him for about a mile doing 90mph myself. I know its a bit lame but I have a lot of history with traffic cops going back many years and my attitude was if he then pulled me over then I would report the traffic officer myself and see him/her in court. Obviosly I was breaking the speed limit myself but am I right about the Police officer as well?
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Your police officer mate got it wrong, there is no speed limit in place if it effects them performing their duty. That's why matey plod testing his vectra wasn't done for speeding.
 
who cares though?
it doesn't affect you in any way. they have jobs to do, and the quicker they go, the more ground they cover thus being able to do more things.

it's not really a big deal is it?
because if you were a policeman, you'd pootle along at 70mph and hold up the traffic wouldn't you?
 
mjt said:
because if you were a policeman, you'd pootle along at 70mph and hold up the traffic wouldn't you?
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Well thats what they usually do, poodle along about 65mph.

Anyway, I'm not trying to start a Police bashing thread, it seems my question has been answered.
 
Skeeter said:
Ive seen a cop back home turn his lights and sirens on at a red light, drive accross the crossroads, and then turn them off again. It was late at night and the lights are on a timer not sensors, so he obviously just couldnt be arsed to wait, but still...
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Doesn't mean they weren't on their way to something.
 
I've watched enough Nightwatch to know that they can drive as fast as they like no matter what they are being called to. I've seen them doing 150mph just driving to some brawling drunks in the street!
 
One cruised past me at what must have been 120+ a couple of nights ago on the motorway. Didn't seem to be going to anything in particular... when I caught up with him at the next junction he was sitting at a red light.
 
Skeeter said:
Ive seen a cop back home turn his lights and sirens on at a red light, drive accross the crossroads, and then turn them off again. It was late at night and the lights are on a timer not sensors, so he obviously just couldnt be arsed to wait, but still...
Click to expand...

IIRC they are meant to just use the sirens for warning, they don't need to have them on all the time, so can just turn them on when approaching potential hazards to let people know they are there (and generally there are more people needing a warning during the day).
At night I would be more surprised if they ran with the sirens on any more than they absolutely must, as they get complaints from people asking "why was that police car running around with it's siren on all night?" (and then they get complaints about not using them...).

Much the same way they don't legally have to have the lights/siren on when exceeding the speed limit (although force guidelines may require it, the law that covers them doesn't).
 
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