Have you been stopped by police at night ?

[KathyWoolfe]

I've been stopped twice, once at night and once during the day.

I was driving home one night after visiting friends (no alcohol involved) and I had just pulled onto a dual carriageway when the police in their car behind me started their sirens and lights etc, so I stopped. I sat in the car and waited while the passenger cop came up and said to accompany him to his vehicle. I duly did and was ensconced in the back seat when they asked for my licence etc. which I gave them. Then they explained that they had actually queried the vehicle before they stopped me and were just establishing my identity to make sure I was the owner. End of story.

The second time I was stopped, I was bringing my car back from the garage after having a replacement part (gearbox I think) fitted when I passed through a police checkpoint established in the road. This police sergeant leans forward (the car was still moving) and peers into the car and I lean forward to look back to try and see what was happening. This police sergeant must have jumped into his panda car and raced after me as he stopped me just a couple of minutes later and took a longer look inside the car after I had explained where I'd just been.

Even though they were all polite and courteous and I had not broken any rules or regulations I was still extremely shaky afterwards and for a couple of days after.

[KathyWoolfe]

I once asked a prossie if she'd ever been picked up by the fuzz and she said no, but I have been swung round by the tits.


IGMC.

[PAH]

Last time I was stopped was for having a mis-spaced number plate and it being flagged up on a motorway copper's ANPR system. She said I was lucky that the ANPR could recognise the number (so why stop me ffs, must have been a zero-tolerance day) otherwise I'd have been done for trying to disguise my vehicle's identity. So I was let off as long as I sent off a form stamped by a local garage proving I'd had legal plates fitted.

I find it interesting how over the years drink driving has rightly gained the status it has. Is it down to us being more civilised or just the amount of publicity and advertisement it gets? I certainly won't get in a car with someone driving that's had more than a shandy nowadays, though I quite clearly remember my dad regularly parking his car in the hedge outside our home after having a skinful when I was a lad. He never drinks at all now if he knows he's got to drive before midday the next day.

[darmstadt]

When I lived in the UK I must have been stopped hundreds (literally) of times (anyone remember SUS?) A couple of incidents:

Got stopped at 5 in the morning coming home from work in a Ford Capri 3.0GXL. When stopped they did the boot search which had 2 wheels and tyres in it and a couple of car stereos and the back seat had a couple more wheels in it. All mine. Just got a 5 day wonder. Got stopped at least twice a week while doing that night shift job.

Car conked out on the M25 on the way to night shift in Cockfosters in the rain. Luckily there was a tunnel which I could roll into and wait for it to dry out. Unluckily there was a plod Range Rover a couple of hundred yards in front of me which slowly reversed back. This was a Mk1 Escort 1300 with a V6 3.0l engine in it. They looked at the engine and made a few comments on how fast it would be then pointed out that I had no bumpers, then pointed out I had no tax. I pointed out I was still building it and had just registered it. They looked in the boot which was still a purple colour while the rest of the car was red. After a quick DVLC check I was informed that the car was actually registered as a Talbot Horizon! Hmmmm, got a producer only.

[Moscow Mule]

Was followed by the Surrey police helicopter when I was riding my push-bike home about 3am one morning.

Not sure what they were looking for, but my parents weren't to happy about the night sun illuminating the back of the house as I put my bike in the shed.

[TheFaQQer]

I drove home a few times after having a few drinks. I would never drive If I am not positive I am in control , but this surely is not what the law says. From where I come from , night checks for alcohol are standard , but then you can bribe there...

I don't think anyone would get behind the wheel without thinking "I'm positive I'm in control of the car".

And you're right - the law says that anyone who drives with a blood alcohol limit above the limit deserves a ban at the very minimum.

I really, seriously hope that you crash (without involving any other vehicles or people) and maim yourself. Maybe at that stage, you'll realize just how much control you are in when you drive after drinking.

[TheFaQQer]

I once asked a prossie if she'd ever been picked up by the fuzz and she said no, but I have been swung round by the tits.


IGMC.

And they say the old ones are the best.

[PAH]

Was followed by the Surrey police helicopter when I was riding my push-bike home about 3am one morning.

Not sure what they were looking for, but my parents weren't to happy about the night sun illuminating the back of the house as I put my bike in the shed.

I saw that on Police, Camera, Action. They were recreating the nativity play.

[Churchill]

I saw that on Police, Camera, Action. They were recreating the nativity play.

Yeah they just couldn't find a virgin in surrey.

[PAH]

Yeah they just couldn't find a virgin in surrey.

They found a bike though.