Re: 159mph speeding charge PC cleared

If I ever get caught for speeding I hope I come up before that judge !.

SOR wrote:

"Even in emergencies we consider that driving at 100mph or more is too
dangerous."

That would be why a local CID plod followed me at 110+ in the Supra,
then... don't think it was an emergency

Richard

--
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SOR wrote:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/s...re/4559173.stm

159mph speeding charge PC cleared

Pc Milton was travelling in the early hours

A police constable who reached 159mph on a motorway has been cleared of
speeding and dangerous driving.

Dismissing the DD charge is fine, not sure how they got round the
"absolute" (stupid and arbitrary) charge of speeding - didn't realise
the judge had the discretion to do the right thing.

"In reaching his verdict, Mr Morgan noted that two police officers who
gave evidence for the prosecution, including West Mercia Police's senior
driving instructor, had declined to classify the defendant's driving as
dangerous."

I hope he remembers and tells all his colleagues.

Giving his verdicts, Mr Morgan said: "I can't help but see the irony
that those that brought this prosecution are those very people who have
purchased cars that go at this speed and paid for him (the defendant) to
go to learn to drive at these speeds."

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), based in
Birmingham, said it was shocked that such a speed was not regarded as
dangerous by the court.

I'm shocked that anyone gives a toss what RoSPA think these days.

Kevin Clinton, head of road safety, said: "Police are governed by health
and safety laws just the same as any other employer.

Health and Safety bad, Risk Management good IMO.

"We are pleased to learn that the judge made it clear that police forces
must implement proper management procedures for their high-speed driving
activities.

One sensible observation; some "expert"

"We think this should include an upper limit and we don't believe 159mph
can ever be justified on public roads.

Works fine for the Germans, why not for us?

"Even in emergencies we consider that driving at 100mph or more is too
dangerous."

What a tosser.





A

--
Trade Oil in ¤

Alistair J Murray wrote:

Dismissing the DD charge is fine, not sure how they got round the
"absolute" (stupid and arbitrary) charge of speeding - didn't realise
the judge had the discretion to do the right thing.

Indeed - a bad decision for them, a good one for us - first time I've heard
of a speeding charge being dropped, not the first time I've heard of the
dangerous driving charge being dropped.

It's time the establishment stopped targeting speeding drivers and got on
with solving real crime.


--
"Excuse me, would you mind not farting while I'm saving the world?"

"Would you rather silent but deadly?"

"SOR" <webmaster (AT) sparesorrepair (DOT) co.uk.INVALID> wrote

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/s...re/4559173.stm


159mph speeding charge PC cleared


Pc Milton was travelling in the early hours

A police constable who reached 159mph on a motorway has been cleared of
speeding and dangerous driving.

Pc Mark Milton, 38, from Telford, Shropshire, was recorded by the patrol
car's video camera on the M54 in 2003, Ludlow Magistrates' Court heard.

District Judge Bruce Morgan acquitted him after calling the constable
the "creme de la creme" of police drivers.

Pc Milton is trained in advanced driving and was "familiarising
himself" with a new car, the court was told.

Society 'shocked'

The court heard the officer, who is trained in the use of firearms, was
recorded travelling at 159mph on the motorway near Telford in the early
hours of 5 December 2003.

Giving his verdicts, Mr Morgan said: "I can't help but see the irony
that those that brought this prosecution are those very people who have
purchased cars that go at this speed and paid for him (the defendant) to
go to learn to drive at these speeds."

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), based in
Birmingham, said it was shocked that such a speed was not regarded as
dangerous by the court.

Kevin Clinton, head of road safety, said: "Police are governed by health
and safety laws just the same as any other employer.

"We are pleased to learn that the judge made it clear that police forces
must implement proper management procedures for their high-speed driving
activities.

"We think this should include an upper limit and we don't believe 159mph
can ever be justified on public roads.

"Even in emergencies we consider that driving at 100mph or more is too
dangerous."

So if I do an advanced driving course can I drive at those speeds? That's

what it seems to be implying to me.

And he was also doing 84 in a 30. Shocking!

"Dr Zoidberg" <AlexNOOOOO!!!!!!@drzoidberg.co.uk> wrote

Alistair J Murray wrote:
SOR wrote:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/s...re/4559173.stm

159mph speeding charge PC cleared

Pc Milton was travelling in the early hours

A police constable who reached 159mph on a motorway has been cleared
of speeding and dangerous driving.

Dismissing the DD charge is fine, not sure how they got round the
"absolute" (stupid and arbitrary) charge of speeding - didn't realise
the judge had the discretion to do the right thing.

Quite simple.
The police have an exemption to certain road traffic rules where to adhere
to them would impare their ability to do their duty. Speed limits are one
such exemption , so as long as he could prove that it was necessary for
him
to do that speed then he was not acting illegally.

He managed to convince the court that doing 159 was necessary to
familiarise
himself with a new car , and as such was found not guilty.

Personally I'm not entirely convinced that it was necessary but there you
go.

It would be quite simple for an officer about to carry out such
familiarisation/testing to register the intention in advance, acquire the
correct authorisation, or at least establish that someone knows he is going
to do it. Then they wouldn't have to go to court, nor would they have to
think up bullshit excuses afterwards in order to get him off.


Steve

In article <MPG.1cf55c999439ba5d989946 (AT) no-cancel (DOT) newsreader.com>,
SOR <webmaster (AT) sparesorrepair (DOT) co.uk.INVALID> wrote:

Pc Milton is trained in advanced driving and was "familiarising
himself" with a new car, the court was told.

Society 'shocked'

The court heard the officer, who is trained in the use of firearms, was
recorded travelling at 159mph on the motorway near Telford in the early
hours of 5 December 2003.

Crikey. Wonder how he familiarises himself with a new gun?

--
*I'm pretty sure that sex is better than logic, but I can't prove it.

Dave Plowman dave (AT) davenoise (DOT) co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

In article <MPG.1cf55c999439ba5d989946 (AT) no-cancel (DOT) newsreader.com>,
SOR <webmaster (AT) sparesorrepair (DOT) co.uk.INVALID> wrote:
Pc Milton is trained in advanced driving and was "familiarising
himself" with a new car, the court was told.

Society 'shocked'

The court heard the officer, who is trained in the use of firearms,
was recorded travelling at 159mph on the motorway near Telford in
the early hours of 5 December 2003.

Crikey. Wonder how he familiarises himself with a new gun?

ROFLMAO


--
"Excuse me, would you mind not farting while I'm saving the world?"

"Would you rather silent but deadly?"

Dave Plowman (News) (dave (AT) davenoise (DOT) co.uk) gurgled happily, sounding much
like they were saying :

The court heard the officer, who is trained in the use of firearms, was
recorded travelling at 159mph on the motorway near Telford in the early
hours of 5 December 2003.

Crikey. Wonder how he familiarises himself with a new gun?

He... uses it.

"Dr Zoidberg" <AlexNOOOOO!!!!!!@drzoidberg.co.uk> wrote

He managed to convince the court that doing 159 was necessary to
familiarise himself with a new car , and as such was found not guilty.

Hmmm. I would have thought that it would be safer to 'familiarise' yourself
on a test track and not on a public road. How come other police forces don't
need to test new cars on public roads? So when the police buy new cars will
they be doing this 'familiarising' on public roads in future.

He has broken the law but has been allowed to get away with it on a very
flimsy excuse. The dude was abusing his postion without question.