h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

You can be prosecuted in the UK if you warn other motorists of a speed trap -

http://www.hertsandessexobserver.co.uk/Nockolds-Legal-Matters/Warning-other-motorists-about-speeds-traps.htm

"This driver was convicted of 'wilfully obstructing a woman police officer in the execution of her duty' and left court £440 lighter in the pocket and with a criminal conviction.
Mr Thompson, was spotted by officers flashing his lights 'about seven times' and was seen to be warning other motorists to slow down."

it's always been the case that you can be prosecuted for warning other motorists about speed traps.

And it's correct, here in Germany you get a letter with a photo they show you the part of your car with your number place and a fairly clear picture of the driver. My guys at work get them all the time.

People laugh at me but I stick to the speed limit, and anyone who gets caught speeding: tough tits. They speed through our village all the time and there have been several really nasty accidents. The limit is 50kph but lorries routinely do 80 round the sharp bend in front of my house.

"The police would argue the public should not prevent traffic violations occurring"

WHAT???

Flashing my lights to make someone else slow down puts me at absolutely no risk whatsoever. It puts the driver I'm flashing at absolutely no risk whatsoever, and potentially substantially REDUCES the risk he poses to himself and others. But the police want him AND me to remain at risk so that they can, possibly, nick him? How fscking cynical is that? Unbelieveable. Particularly unbelieveable that the court sided with the police on this. How to win friends and influence people, plod...

"Mr Thompson probably would not have been prosecuted if the officer had not taken a dislike to his 'attitude'. "

Sadly indicative of the little-Hitler attitude sadly prevalent in a significant minority of police officers.

The lesson here is: don't speak to the police for any reason. You do not need to give them your name or address or account for your actions. See here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2010/jun/09/what-information-am-i-obliged-to-give-to-a-policeman

Just don't talk to them. Don't get smart. Don't get *anything*. Give them *nothing*.

"anyone who gets caught speeding: tough tits"

Totally with you there. It's not difficult. Speed fines are a tax on the dumb, and I fully support them. But if I flash my lights at some tit to try to get them to slow down, I do NOT expect some bloody nipple-helmet to nick me for it.

"It's called perverting the course of justice. There's no suggestion here that they couldn't remember who was driving - his wife is quite clear in her allegation that he pressurised her into taking the points for him. Of course, a loyal and contented wife would be unlikely to make such an allegation, but Huhne's wife is filing for divorce" [Hoovooloo]

This case probably didn't happen in the U.S. where there is a constitutional protection against having one's spouse testify against one in court. So, whatever I may think about the laws involved or the measures taken to enforce them, I'm still looking on as a foreigner. What concewrned me the most was the idea that falsely claiming not to have been driving could put you behind bars for the rest of your life. In and of itself, this crime does not seem to warrant that, in my humble opinion. There would likely need to be something else involved, like a resulting death, or a strong likelihood that the driver is too dangerous to the community to be allowed at large.

It took me many many years to understand why other drivers would mysterious flash their lights at me. I thought they were criticizing me for something I was doing wrong. I get it now.

The same flashing at folk to get them to slow down has recently become a crime here in Cyprus - like most laws here it seems to be forgotten, speed fines here are a money generating scheme only. Whenever the new police budget comes up for review, there are loads more police cars out checking speed, tax and insurance documents and the odd seatbelt or mobile phone infringement.

Worryingly, they never check the majority of schools at pick up time when cars have 4/5 under 5's standing up on the back seat - even though the police service with the petrol companies finance a monthly draw for free infant car seats and every child at school or nursery is issued with a booster seat when they turn 4.

This all seems very symptomatic of perhaps not so much "broken societies" but a new degree of alienation and suspicion between those given power and those for whom they consider themselves to be responsible.

England (and there are people from many other cultures here it seems) was based upon the "common law" of the people that was enforced and acted upon by the people, until the whole thing got hi-jacked by the Middle Class owners of intellectual and material capital, who captured the power of Parliament to sweep away English common law and captured too much of the Crown Establishment.

Just before that really happened Sir Robert Peel created the idea of the "Bobby", who was deliberately made a visible expression of the desire of the people for active help and support in maintaining "The King's Peace that most people wanted, for it was based on the ancient English peace of 1000 years before.

Now the world seems to be full of houses divided against themselves, and in serious danger of collapse.

agreed, Hoo. I would have thought that warning people to drive at the correct speed (flashing lights, a raised forefinger or whatever) would be desireable rather than something to fine them for.

But by now we all know that motoring fines are just a revenue stream for the government. I heard on the Today programme that motoring fines could be increased to pay money into the victim compensation fund. Madness.

Why isn't Mrs being done as well, for confessing to something she didn't do?

Just wondering ...

I have heard of students taking on people's points and fines for cash.

Mol

Paul, I assume that Huhne'll be done for "perverting the course of justice" (splendid phrase), for perjury, or for "contempt of court" (another splendid phrase), all of which carry greater penalties than speeding, especially for a law-maker (Huhne's an MP and a member of the Cabinet).

Taking points is one of those weasle-gutless things I have total contempt for. Real, spitty, irrational, think-people-who-do-it-are-scum-of-the-earth contempt. If you can't control your speed you shouldn't drive. And if you can't handle the points you shouldn't speed. End, as they say, of. There is, quite literally, no excuse. And I'm not one of those smug buggers who does 3000 miles a year at 30mph. In the last 15 years I've averaged 3 points every 100,000-150,000 miles or so, so I do get confused on roads I don't know and miss signs at complex junctions. What I don't do, is knowingly and deliberately speed.

And breathe......

Ben

.... Taking points is one .....

That should be "Getting someone to take your points is ...." Etc

Mol

They were both charged

I think his ex has been charged too.

I was smiling at Mol not at the fact they had both been charged

Thank you both Good.

Mol

"it's always been the case that you can be prosecuted for warning other motorists about speed traps."

When I worked for my dad in the cab office, I used to get messages over the radio such as 'kojak with a kodak, Esso garage'. Like they couldn't decode that. I never warn people of speed traps. If they're so stupid and ignorant they want to speed, let them get caught and get them off the roads!

Is it illegal in Germany? There are announcements on the radio as to where speed detectors are located

In Spain there are plenty of warning signs like these: http://tinyurl.com/7jhvcrr

I guess the idea is that prevention is better than cure.

However, judging by the horrendous death toll on Spanish roads, it's not working out too well just yet.

There are similar warnings in France (didn't prevent me from getting a ticket once ), but a few months ago the goverment decided it would be a good idea to take those away. Uproar followed, and I don't know what happened next