Safe Speed Forums

Just to give Merseyside Police something worthwhile to do it was announced on the news today that they are on the look out for people who light up a cigarette whilst driving and are starting a persecution campaign for it, sorry prosecution campaign.

Thought thieves, muggers, murderers and burglars would have been a higher priority or even sorting the yobbish youths out who have no respect for anyone or anything.

Oh well, if only I could emigrate.

Where to?

USA? Hit and kill a pedestrain there and you're looking at life in prison.

Europe? Cyclists pretty much automatically get the benefit of the doubt in any car on cycle action.

Norway? Caught speeding there and they take a percentage of your salary.

Venice? Caught speeding in your boat and you are asked to drive it to the pound yourself and leave it there for two weeks.

Australia? Don't expect the police to give you any leeway, big on no nonsense there they are.

Whats this have to do with smoking?

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Oct 11 Birmingham Half Marathon. I am running for the British Heart Foundation.
http://www.justgiving.com/Rob-Taylor

eyeopener was saying he'd like to emigrate because police are cracking down on drivers smoking in their vehicle.

The grass is always greener....

I don’t think it is just to do with smoking!!! I think it is the way this government keeps on trying to tell us how to live our lives, usually by using arbitrary numbers: Some examples eat 5 pieces of fruit and no more than 6g of salt a day, drink no more than 3 units of alcohol a day, etc. Those who do work and attempt to become productive members of society are taxed as much as humanly possible and subject to draconian law s where they have to prove their innocence. However if you choose not to you are always given “just one last chance”. It would also appear that when it comes to spending tax payers money there appears to no limit to how much is wasted. I think this is why many qualified people leave (or want to) the UK. I include my self in this number.

OH yes I forgot about the relentless and unnecessary need they have to spy on or daily lives.

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Oct 11 Birmingham Half Marathon. I am running for the British Heart Foundation.
http://www.justgiving.com/Rob-Taylor

So your addiction to nicotine is worth more to you than you think your friend's job is worth!

Yeah. You are a real friend.

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www.thatsnews.org.uk / www.thatsnews.blogspot.com / http://thatsmotoring.blogspot.com/

Hmmm..... And when exactly did it become a crime to light a cigarette while driving, work vehicles excepted now?

It's bad enough that we have draconian laws which should not exist in a free society, but I find it very worrying when the police start trying to enforce laws which don't exist.

This is the one major drawback with the moblie phone law, i.e. it makes people think that if its not specifically illegal then its OK to do it whilst driving. Obviously its not a 'crime' per se to lightup whilst driving, but if you are seen to be doing it and are not at the same time in proper control of your vehicle then you can be cited for DWDCA can you not?

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Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical, liberal minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.

Yes, but the key word there is "and."

Surely the police announcement should be that they will be looking out for people who are driving without due care and attention, not just that they will be looking out for people lighting a cigarette?

Well said!

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Save a cow - eat a vegetarian

And that's law is it? Eating 5 pieces of fruit?

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www.thatsnews.org.uk / www.thatsnews.blogspot.com / http://thatsmotoring.blogspot.com/

Did I say it was?

Having said that in the present climate, don't be surprised if it is….soon.

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Oct 11 Birmingham Half Marathon. I am running for the British Heart Foundation.
http://www.justgiving.com/Rob-Taylor

This has drifted off topic a bit though.

This thread started because someone thought he should be allowed to put his friend's job at risk, as he is such a nicotine junkie that he believes he should be a allowed to be a Martini smoker.

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www.thatsnews.org.uk / www.thatsnews.blogspot.com / http://thatsmotoring.blogspot.com/

No it didn't. Nothing of the sort. Read the first post again; or the thread title, for that matter.

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Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

It started because the OP put his mate in an invidious position but STILL thinks he acted wrongly by 'policing' him in the way that he did.

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Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical, liberal minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.

First off,,
I'm very much offended by the people here that suggest I have to ask a long term friend permission to smoke in his car,,house or where ever.
How many people here after at least 10 years of proper friendship keep asking permission from their friends to do whatever..(except shag his wife).

I have known this man for many years and we have shared cars,,bikes even tents on rallies...I think we know each other well enough after all these years.

Yes of course he can be fined,,,but people,,its HIS car,,OK,,,he puts it down to the firm for tax reasons,,but he's bought it with his hard earned efforts.

What ticks me off here,,is that a few people DARED to presume that my friend is a "NON SMOKER" and took the easy way out to lambbaste a newcomer and make him look like a selfish,,ignorant,,uncaring arsehole.

The POINT was simple.
OUR NEAREST FRIENDS ARE ASKED TO POLICE EACH OTHER ON MATTERS OF TRIVIA!!
Murder,,rape,,robbery,,yes grass them up,,,but smoking a cigarette in private??

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Nil Iligitum Carborundum

So what do you believe prompted him to say what he did in the way he did then?
Have you, for example, previously smoked in his car since the law changed?

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Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical, liberal minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.

You're absolutely right and I apologise on behalf of the community.

I have no idea why people made ugly false assumptions, based on your original post. It seemed perfectly clear to me.

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Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

you weren't in private.. you were in a company vehicle.

not totally sure on the details with a company car only used by the individual, i thought that was ok.

if the car belongs to thew company for "tax reasons" then i guess he either has to pay whetever tax he's avoiding or put up with it!

One thing that would put everything into perspective is whether bikerrod was getting a lift from his mate while his mate was working.

I'm not 100% on this law but if a vehicle is a company car being used on a personal journey then surely the law cannot apply? If it was a business journey then obviously he was correct in asking you not to light up.

I do agree that government policies are going to encourage people to spy on each other. Smoking bans, bin taxes, etc.

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Prepare to be Judged