The police

[BrownBarge]

Big fan of the police and what they do etc... However since owing my vrs since febuary ive been pulled over twice while coming home from work in the morning, both times the officer says its for a routine vehicle check but have absolute terrible attitudes about them, there not traffic officers either. This morning while turning into my estate they were travelling in the other direction but stopped and followed me in and pulled me on my street, i produced my photocard licence but thats not good enough wheres the paper part, next up seat belt, yep i took it off to get out the car to talk to you officer, then his partner gets out the van, you insured, where do you live, you look like youve been on drugs.. Im getting the drugs dog down here.. WTF!!!

The last time i was pulled it was the exact same thing, im seriously considering making a complaint this time, i did as they asked by producing my licence, i answered there questions and i only gave them some back chat after they started on there power trip.

I realise this may cause some disturbance on the forum but in a way i feel like ive been singled out on both occassions as im 26 but look younger and im driving a lukewarm hatchback

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[Ootohere]

Your car Registration Number might have a 'Drugs Marker' on it.

Or the previous owner was 'known'.

george

[BrownBarge]

The previous owner lived almost 500miles away from me, i probably look like ive been on the drugs after a 10hr night shift, im sure that explains there bad attitude aswell however they are in a sector that requires them to be professional at all times.

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[Dr Zoidberg]

I realise this may cause some disturbance on the forum but in a way i feel like ive been singled out on both occassions as im 26 but look younger and im driving a lukewarm hatchback

You quite probably have, though it's nothing personal.

If the police are looking to find people who have committed offences they are much more likely to do so stopping someone young in a VRS at night than they would a middle aged man in a Ford Focus in the evening. It doesn't justify treating you badly, so if you are stopped, stay calm and polite and if they are out of order in the way they speak to you then make a complaint. If you've started gobbing off back at them then it will go nowhere.

Other things that may be relevent - how is your driving? Are you really sure that you aren't attracting attention?

You don't know the history of the car - that may be why it's being pulled over all the time.

[Ootohere]

'Previous owner 500 miles from Rochdale!'

If that was up north and a Scottish person, then they are often well dodgy.

Best put your phone on 'record' next time you are stopped, and be on your best behaviour.

If it is a recurring problem, make a request in writing to the Chief Constable and the Deputy Chief regarding your vehicle,

or the Officers actions or behaviour towards you.

george

[Brian69]

Hmmm - 500 miles from Rochdale - either you bought it in the Orkneys or somewhere on the Continent then.

[Harry1212]

The previous owner lived almost 500miles away from me, i probably look like ive been on the drugs after a 10hr night shift, im sure that explains there bad attitude aswell however they are in a sector that requires them to be professional at all times.

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A drugs marker would show up nationwide, but if they didn't mention it, you don't have one on the car

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[mdon]

Big fan of the police and what they do etc... However since owing my vrs since febuary ive been pulled over twice while coming home from work in the morning, both times the officer says its for a routine vehicle check but have absolute terrible attitudes about them, there not traffic officers either. This morning while turning into my estate they were travelling in the other direction but stopped and followed me in and pulled me on my street, i produced my photocard licence but thats not good enough wheres the paper part, next up seat belt, yep i took it off to get out the car to talk to you officer, then his partner gets out the van, you insured, where do you live, you look like youve been on drugs.. Im getting the drugs dog down here.. WTF!!!

The last time i was pulled it was the exact same thing, im seriously considering making a complaint this time, i did as they asked by producing my licence, i answered there questions and i only gave them some back chat after they started on there power trip.

I realise this may cause some disturbance on the forum but in a way i feel like ive been singled out on both occassions as im 26 but look younger and im driving a lukewarm hatchback

Sent from my iPhone 4s

It's nothing personal, I've been stopped and only the other day had a panda car turn around and follow me for several miles before stopping me both times on my way to work at 5am and I am a police officer, so they do it to their own. But just the same, I'll stop anyone I see driving around in the early hours especially on a weekend. It's the only way we find crime (and not just vehicle crime) without it being reported. When you jumped out of your car they probably got a negative perception from you as most people stay sat in the unless they are going to kick off. My advice is just to remain pleasant from the off and you'll probably find they'll be nicer to you as a officers mind/suspicions are generally made up in the first 7 seconds.

Either that or they were proper arses! There are lots of them about.

[Sippo]

If you feel a police officer is being rude or unprofessional, make a note of their number and pop into the police station or contact the IPCC.

[Ootohere]

re post #7,

?? Since when do Police tell you or are required to tell you there are 'markers' on a vehicle or Registered Keeper when doing 'random stops',

or 'moving violations', Christmas drink crack downs' etc.?

(or information/tip offs received, "Just a safety matter sir, you seem to have a faulty rear light,

and a check of your documents, do you mind if we look in your boot?)

Lots of TV Police programmes showing lots of things, but even when its supposed to be 'Reality' it is not.

george

[Harry1212]

re post #7,

?? Since when do Police tell you or are required to tell you there are 'markers' on a vehicle or Registered Keeper when doing 'random stops',

or 'moving violations', Christmas drink crack downs' etc.?

(or information/tip offs received, "Just a safety matter sir, you seem to have a faulty rear light,

and a check of your documents, do you mind if we look in your boot?)

Lots of TV Police programmes showing lots of things, but even when its supposed to be 'Reality' it is not.

george

My old car had a drugs marker on it when I first got it and I got stopped 2-3 times a week, the first thing they used to say was "we've stopped you because your vehicle is showing a drugs marker on our system", this was by traffic units every time so mite be different with normal units as they don't have ANPR

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[Ootohere]

Would all mk1 vRS in Birmingham not get a 'drugs marker' as a matter of course.?

All cars with blacked out windows, 20" rims, etc

then a different marker for Hi-ace vans and Toyota Corollas.

george

[Auric Goldfinger]

Last time I got stopped we had a chat for about 10 minutes and then he gave me a bill for £60. :(

And I got to sit in a Volvo

[D15VRS]

My son was stopped the other day by the ANPR. Pulled him up and said that the car was on the watch list, but could provide no reason as to why when asked. Anybody have experience with this?

[Aspman]

I've never been stopped but I'd be pretty ****ed if it was happening more than once especially if they had an attitude.

I would definitely be noting numbers of the car and the officers, times and locations. I don't think there is any such thing as a 'routine vehicle check' and I'd be wanting proper reasons for them having stopped the car.

No, the police do not need any reason to stop any person driving, attempting to drive or in charge of a motor vehicle on a road for a routine check. The police can then require that you provide your name, date of birth, driving licence and insurance details. Failure to comply with any of these requirements is an offence.

The police cannot stop a vehicle just to carry out a random breath test. They have to have a reasonable suspicion that the person has consumed alcohol or drugs. Once the vehicle has been stopped for, perhaps, a routine check, this can be ascertained through the smell of alcohol, slurred speech or glazed eyes. Failure to comply with a request to carry out breath test is an offence and the penalty is the same as if you had been convicted of being over the limit.

The police can, however, breathalyse a person without a reasonable suspicion that the person has consumed alcohol/drugs, if they have committed a traffic offence whilst the vehicle is in motion (e.g. driving carelessly, having defective lights, failing to comply with a traffic sign [obviously not a parking sign] or using a mobile phone).

If you're going to complain I'd put a letter via your MP as well and local Crime Commissioner if you have one.

Edited 24 June, 2013 by Aspman

[Thecko]

Either that or they were proper arses! There are lots of them about.

Me and my brother got stopped in a Mk4 Ford Escort he used to own once (he was 22, me 18). I still reckon it was because he was annoyed that the cops were following him and he decided to turn down a side road, and that if he'd carried on along the main road they would have given up eventually.

Anyway, I was pretty appalled at the time that the cops pulled us for "a routine check", had him open the boot, they pulled everything out and left it lying on the pavement, then they looked inside every storage cubby in the car, and even looked closely at every individual cigarette in both packets in the car before eventually giving up and buggering off (leaving me and my brother to re-load all the stuff back in to his boot).

Clearly they were hoping to catch us with something trivial like a single joint.

[Guest BigJase88]

I had an ASBO on my old focus st for excessive engine noise!

Erm no officer its standard and thats what a 5 cylinder 2.5 turbo sounds like!

Gave me an asbo anyways and you cant even fight it!

[BrownBarge]

Wow so many replies, as for the manner of my driving i was literally slowing to turn left in my estate, its a very sharp blind left so my speed was below 10mph, just as im about to turn i see the police van, didnt think nothing of it, as i slow for a speed bump after ive turned about 5seconds later its right behind me. I stayed sat in the car engine running until he came to my window just like last time i must of asked him 5/6 times why ive been stopped and that was giving him attitude, it was only when his partner got out the van was i told its a "routine stop" he did his check on me & the car, insurance etc... Then picked on me, when i told him i didnt know when i last had alcohol he thought i was been clever... But i dont know i drink about 4times a year, subject turned to drugs and so on.... Its just proper wound me up, there attitude stunk and i cant flaming sleep now.

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[BrownBarge]

Also my previous owner living 500 miles away was abit off.. Its 433 miles postcode to postcode and yep was in scotland but it had a private plate on up there

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[sparks03]

As others have said if there is anything held against the car's registration it will show up on the police national computer. A private reg is recorded against the vehicle but the original registration will be connected to it too I should imagine, can't see one record being deleted when the plate can be transferred so easily to another vehicle.

There are other factors to consider though, especially as this seems to be on the rise

http://www.staffordshirenewsletter.co.uk/News/Car-stolen-after-keys-taken-from-Stone-home-06022013.htm

A friend of mine has been broken into three times in the five months he's owned his new Ford Focus ST (twice during the night). The unfortunate reality of the modern car is that its easier to attack the owner/ steal the keys.

Also to have properly produced your driving license you need to show both parts, paper and photocard.

However it doesn't excuse incivility like you say there should be a level of professionalism considering their line of work!

[Jon_woo]

As a police officer i tend to pay notice to cars driving around estates late at night or in the early hours.

It would be well worth speaking to your local station about clearing any markers on your car if there are any relating to up north, for example if i run through a car on the intelligence systems at 5 in the morning and its linked to crime 500 miles away then i would be speaking to the driver.

As for the attitude of the officers your perfectly in your rights to make a complaint but i wouldn't go straight for MP's or crime commissioners, i would be noting down the officers collar numbers and writing to the duty inspector if they attitudes were that bad.

I have pulled many cars and never had a complaint, i always explain exactly why they have been pulled over and thank them for stopping and apologies for taking up a few minutes of their time.

[BrownBarge]

If theres a marker on my car surely a normal panda van doesnt have anpr? As neither times ive been pulled have been by traffic officers and i doubt they can radio threw to control and get details in about 10seconds?

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[sparks03]

If theres a marker on my car surely a normal panda van doesnt have anpr? As neither times ive been pulled have been by traffic officers and i doubt they can radio threw to control and get details in about 10seconds?

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Surely they wouldn't have to pull someone over to check a registration- couldn't that be done whilst still on the move?

[Gwilo]

It's rochdale. I was pulled, tailed more than once to my home and 'observed' for much longer than was strictly necessary on more than one occasion by GMP's finest. But when I rang to report a racially motivated violent attack, they couldn't be bothered to attend.

GMP, despite having some fine officers, also have some serious surly, obstructive cops too. Looks like some of the latter might have taken a dislike to you having a better car than them and have decided you fit the profile of a troublemaker.

Watch your back. And at subsequent stops, pull up, turn your engine off, but stay in the car. Stay calm, note the officers number and ask why you've been pulled? It would be good to note dates and times of each, and who pulled you, then with each instance, I'd be simply writing to the duty officer with the details and state how many times, what reasons were given and what the out comes where on each stop and then enquire as to what GMP's policy is about stops?

Whereabouts in Rochdale are you being pulled? I'd be interested, simply as I was never pulled in certain areas of Rochdale, despite those areas been known to be hotspots for certain activities.....

[Jon_woo]

They can ask for the reg to be run though the intelligence systems whilst on the move, they should only really PNC it if your committing moving traffic offenses or they have pulled you over.

I would suggest they saw your car in the early hours and either there are markers on the intel system from the previous owner or they completed all the PNC checks whilst checking out your license etc at the side of the road