neilwillis Posted January 25, 2005 Posted January 25, 2005 Sarah McCaffery loses her case after 10 court appearances... £10,000 pounds to pursue the most absurd prosecution I have heard of to date. A police helicopter was involved, after police officer sw a woman with her right hand to her face while negotiating a right hand bend, and he stopped her assuming she was on a mobile phone. It turns out she was eating an apple, but he slapped a £30.00 on the spot fine on her, which she - as anyone would - refused to pay. The upshot was that the magistrates eventually upheld the police fine, and justice (ahem) was done! Can anyone see any point in that? Quote
zoso Posted January 25, 2005 Posted January 25, 2005 Failing to maintaing control of a motor vehicle - maximum fine £30... ( i think thats the name of the law... ) she was negociating a turn whilst eating? sounds like a pretty stupid thing to do to me... Althought, the need for a helicopter, and £10,000 court case (was the 10k the court case?) is totally retarded... Quote
Bronco Jr Posted January 25, 2005 Posted January 25, 2005 If you want a further example about how "unfair" the law is, read on... Driving to Harrogate from Norfolk one friday night I get stuck behind a police car around Newark, on the A1. Police car is doing 50 or so in the fast lane, nothing in the inside lane at the time. This really pi$$es me off so decide to run up along side the police car, on the inside. Get along side and b******* me, there a WPC driving with one hand and reading an A to Z with the other.... So I blow the horn, look of frustration on her face and she puts the map down. Call the filth, hands free of course, and ask if someone should be ready a map whilst driving on the motorway, "Absolutly not they say, thats how accidents happen" Did you get the reg number they ask, yes says I, I'm still behind it. So I read out the reg, then say, its easy to spot the car, its got a big stripe down the side and blue lights on the roof.... "oh...." is the response, we'll get on to it.. That evening, safely at home, I get a call from her sargent, the conversation goes along the lines of "...when your a ploice officer sometimes you've got to do things you wouldnt normally. The officer was answering a call and checking the location" ah says I, so why didnt she have the blues on, and why did she continue doing 50 for some miles after I "caught" her. To cut a long convo short, they did nothing, there were no charges brought and if I wanted to take it further I had to write to the Chief Constable One rule for them, one for us Still, its up my sleeve if I ever get pulled Quote
Bazzer Posted January 25, 2005 Posted January 25, 2005 she was negociating a turn whilst eating? sounds like a pretty stupid thing to do to me... Could you not do that safely then ? I reckon I could Bazzer Quote
GWatson Posted January 25, 2005 Posted January 25, 2005 Although I agree that this case is way over the top, I think any form of distraction like eating an apple should be a breach of the law, whether is eating a pack of crisps, taking a drink of water or the one that really annoys me is smoking They all have the potential to cause as distraction and therefore an accident.... your hands should be on the "controls" at all times.. G Quote
Matt Seabrook Posted January 25, 2005 Posted January 25, 2005 she was negociating a turn whilst eating? sounds like a pretty stupid thing to do to me... Agreed. If she only had one hand on the wheel and had to avoid a hazard could she have? I think most of us have done this sort of thing at some time or another but that does not make it right. Quote
Bazzer Posted January 25, 2005 Posted January 25, 2005 But lets face it eating an apple whilst going round a bend at a sensible speed if not actualy very dangerous. In fact if you felt that is was a difficult task I don't think I would want to get in a car with you Probably far less dangerous than your average 7 driver out on a blat corning with spirit with both hands on the controls Bazzer Quote
GWatson Posted January 25, 2005 Posted January 25, 2005 Yeah I'm guilty of eating crisps while driving, but it's still a stupid thing to do. It's not the eating of the apple that's a problem. I know this is extreme, but for example, a potential accident may occur if say a bit of the apple fell of, or some of the juice ran off onto your suit trousers and you were away into a big meeting, you would naturally be distracted when trying to sort out the mess you've just made. You know what I mean. :-) Or you drop your fag... Don't even get me started on the females doing there makeup while driving, surely no one is going to try to condone that?? G Quote
DavidR Posted January 25, 2005 Posted January 25, 2005 The most distracting things that causes dangerous driving, IMHO, are, children arguing in the back of a car , or the mother on the school run with a fractious baby in the back needing attention. If the police and courts are serious about risk and danger then they should ban anyone under 11 from being in a car without a supervising adult passenger. I bet the police are not interested in danger at all in these circumstances cos it would be too contentious and just say "it's one of those things where a common sense approach is needed". /rant over David Quote
Bazzer Posted January 25, 2005 Posted January 25, 2005 I think the challenge now has to be taking Craners flat with visor flipped up eating an apple. Now that would be impressive Bazzer Quote
Bazzer Posted January 25, 2005 Posted January 25, 2005 say a bit of the apple fell of, or some of the juice ran off onto your suit trousers and you were away into a big meeting, you would naturally be distracted when trying to sort out the mess you've just made. You know what I mean. :-) Or you drop your fag... I would agree if it had been a juicy pear I would have banged her up myself Bazzer Quote
Pembroke Pat Posted January 25, 2005 Posted January 25, 2005 I was shocked the other day to see a woman doing her make up while driving along in the middle lane of the motorway..... Nearly made me drop my razor!!!!! Quote
Jan Coombes Posted January 25, 2005 Posted January 25, 2005 Here's a law that could pass in this F*(ked dictatorship of a country we live in. How about a fine that related to heath and driving Eating some thing healthy warning / £10 fine Crips & Sweets £30 Fast food £60 Smoking £70 I hate the goverment, get me in power, I'll sort it all out. Quote
markg Posted January 25, 2005 Posted January 25, 2005 i used to know a young lady that liked to administer a bj whilst i was driving! but both hands remained firmly in control of the wheel Quote
adhawkins Posted January 25, 2005 Posted January 25, 2005 i used to know a young lady that liked to administer a bj whilst i was driving! Got her number? Andy Quote
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