I received this after leaving a popular cafe in the middle of nowhere were bikers and car enthusiasts like to meet (enthusiasts, not boy racers).
There was a officer on a motorbike there, having a general bit of banter. Everyone knew he was there. Our convoy is leaving and we did it in a spirited fashion. Spirited, not stupid, we know who's watching.
5 minutes later I can see the blues and two's, im singled out for some reason. Mr Policeman certainly changed his tune. I think the excitement of chasing me down had gone straight to his head.
Twenty minutes of arguing and him trying to belittle me and me not having any of it, he decides to change his mind from "dangerous driving". He thumbles through his little book to try and find something to do me for. He took a while. After asking why he is struggling to find something to charge me with I get the excuse of "oh, its a new book, its all changed". I ask why he hasn't familiarised him self with it before trying to do his duties but i didn't get a proper answer.
So, ive got "driver not in proper control". Apparently I skidded the wheels when i left the car park. I did, nothing fancy, we all knew he was there. Aparently because the wheels slipped i wasnt in proper control. I was. I made them slip.
Looking into this:
104 of the Road Vehicles Regs 1986
QUOTE
Driver's control
104. No person shall drive or cause or permit any other person to drive, a motor vehicle on a road if he is in such a position that he cannot have proper control of the vehicle or have a full view of the road and traffic ahead.
104. No person shall drive or cause or permit any other person to drive, a motor vehicle on a road if he is in such a position that he cannot have proper control of the vehicle or have a full view of the road and traffic ahead.
41D of the Road Traffic Act 1988
QUOTE
A person who contravenes or fails to comply with a construction and use requirement—
(a)as to not driving a motor vehicle in a position which does not give proper control or a full view of the road and traffic ahead, or not causing or permitting the driving of a motor vehicle by another person in such a position, or
(b)as to not driving or supervising the driving of a motor vehicle while using a hand-held mobile telephone or other hand-held interactive communication device, or not causing or permitting the driving of a motor vehicle by another person using such a telephone or other device,is guilty of an offence.]
(a)as to not driving a motor vehicle in a position which does not give proper control or a full view of the road and traffic ahead, or not causing or permitting the driving of a motor vehicle by another person in such a position, or
(b)as to not driving or supervising the driving of a motor vehicle while using a hand-held mobile telephone or other hand-held interactive communication device, or not causing or permitting the driving of a motor vehicle by another person using such a telephone or other device,is guilty of an offence.]
The only way i can see to wriggle out of this one is the definition of "proper control". I don't think its enough to risk taking to court, loosing, facing a bigger penalty and never being able to get insurance again.
Opinions?