Safe Speed Forums

In a locked thread


What you're beginning to witness, Cotswold, is the breakdown of respect for the law.

I would say the vast majority of us who post on this board are desparately worried about this breakdown in respect for the law. Not talking about it and or sweeping it under the carpet hoping it will go away won't actually cure the problem.

I have vociferously voiced my anguish and anger at the abuse of the law which legitamises theft on the highway, I have also called for more BiB - and I can't condone recklessly breaking the law.

But respect and recklessness works two ways.

I would respectfully suggest you act on your discomfort and bring it to the heads of the departments responsible for the abuse of our speed laws... The last thing I want to see is something similar to what happened when 'they' wouldn't voluntarily change the poll tax.

Please channel your discomfort in a productive way: Tell the people that can do something about this that otherwise law-abiding middle-aged men are openly discussing what you've read about... And ask them to reconsider their actions.

At the end of the day, Cotswold, we aren't all bad people.


Please tell your bisses about this underswell

I fear that's true.

I know that it has altered my thinking on the subject. Under normal circumstances I'm angered and upset on seeing the results of vandalism and grafiti, and would certainly take steps to ensure the arrest of anyone I encountered in the act... Except if it's to a speed camera, at which I tend to just pull a wry smile and think "good on yer..". This is distinctly irrational behaviour on my part. "Gatsocide" is, after all, criminal damage to a very valuable piece of public property and should as such be upsetting... But, somehow, it feels more like a "citizen's arrest" of a "highway robber" that's been preying on millions of my fellow, generally law-abiding, motorists.

_________________
"Politicians are the same the world over... We build bridges where there aren't any rivers." - Nikita Kruschev

I agree totally - the use of speed cameras and application of silly laws has led to the discrediting of the entire criminal justice system. Especially when "normal" people seem to get hammered for everything, yet the scrotes and chavs get off due to knowing the law, unscrupulous solicitors, and the general pointlessness of some sentances, for example giving driving bans to people who didn't bother getting a licence in the first place!

Can you imagine what it will be like when we get asked to enforce road charging fines or checking identity cards !!

It's something the police federation are acutely aware of, and voice regularly. Trouble is, as long as you have half-wits like Brunstrom in the job who's attitude is "who cares what the public think, the law is absolute" the crucial policing by consent relationship will continue to be undermined.

_________________
Never point a speedmeter at a civil or military aircraft, vessel or armoured vehicle. Many military aircraft, vehicles or vessels have target acquisition detectors, some of which initiate automatic counter measures.
Association of Chief Police Officers

Sorry, I was purely thinking technically, so maybe "perverting the course of a laser beam" is more like it

What do the public see of the police?

We have the helicopter flying around at all times of the day and night. It's quite noisy.
We see police brutality videos on TV.
We see and hear of police pulling people over for "exceding the speed limit", something most people (including the police) do all the time and can't see anything wrong with it.
A few days ago 2 police cars were driving behing be, (outside lane of 2 lane dual caridgeway) both way too close to each other and me (especially around the roundabout) then after I moved over one pulled in to the inside lane where there was almost, but not quite a safe gap and turned off of the road. The other then turned off at the very last moment from lane 2!
And we have the s.cam partnerships, who hide along the side of road in their talivans firing "laser radiation" into the face of everyone driving down the road.

I can't think of anything good I have heard about the police recently.

Now I'm not saying they don't do any good, but people don't get to see it.

I believe it would be good PR to enable, allow and maybe even encourage people to listen to the main police radio control channels like they do in some other countries I've been to. It gives you a good insight of what goes on and the good things they do! I'm sure there's other ways but that's just one thought I've had for a while.

I'm sure I could make this message sound better, but there's a storm coming so I'll post it as-is while we still have internet access

--

Andrew.