EvilChap wrote:There are a few huge problems with this idea, that will be missed by both the people putting forward the legislation, and many of the people affected by it.
Picture 2 scenarios.
1: 22 year old girl is following a tractor. She's been behind it for some time, then sees her chance and overtakes. In doing this slightly clips a double white line, so techincally has committed an offense. A police person having a bad or slow day stops her, and the usual questions and checks follow. She has a license, her documents are all in order, and she is pretty upset / distrought about being stopped, and admits clipping the line, and that she knew it was wrong. Enterprising police person then as per his instructions from his superiors, or force policy, writes the ticket and gives her the points / fine on the spot, no proof, and no harm actually done.
2: 22 year old guy is following a tractor. He's been behind it for more than a few minutes, it bored, so just gives it the beans round a blind bend, the oncoming car is a police car, who sees the manouvre, but it's not recording. He turns round, on come the lights and he stops the driver of the overtaking car down the road once he has had to press on to catch up. At this point he's annoyed about the manouvre, and thinks the chap has been trying to escape him, as he got his toe down following the overtake, and has been doing a bit of speeding. The normal checks are done, false information is given, which checks out. He denies all wrong-doing, and there is no proof. A huge amount of paperwork and hassle is now needed to prosecute, and the officer will probably lose, so he just gives the chap a ticking off, and sends him on his way.
I think these are pretty realistic possibilities, and the only people that will suffer from these new laws will be those that dont deserve it. Those who have no license, no money, and shouldn't be driving will continue to ignore their fines, their car will get taken away so they'll just get another one, and continue to ignore the consequences, but the general motoring public will act as a source of good statistics and income, and help improve figures yet further with crime detections and solves going up easily and quickly with these laws. It would not make the roads safer, just more profitable for those who enforce to rules, whether ill-conceived or not.
EvilChap
I don't understand.
Scenario 1 - Wouldn't the officer either give 'advice' or issue a EFPN for crossing a solid white line?
Scenario 2 - False details checking out. What about who the car is registered to? And will the person be named on the insurance? Police can arrest if they suspect false details. Do we want people who overtake on blind bends to get off scot free? You tell me....