159 mph cop cleared in court

[StevoRocket]

from BBC news....

159mph speeding charge Pc cleared
Pc Mark Milton
Pc Milton was travelling in the early hours
A police constable who reached 159mph on a motorway has been cleared of speeding and dangerous driving.

Pc Mark Milton, 38, from Telford, Shropshire, was recorded by the patrol car's video camera on the M54 in 2003, Ludlow Magistrates' Court heard.

District Judge Bruce Morgan acquitted him after calling the constable the "creme de la creme" of police drivers.

Pc Milton is trained in advanced driving and was "familiarising himself" with a new car, the court was told.

Society 'shocked'

The court heard the officer, who is trained in the use of firearms, was recorded travelling at 159mph on the motorway near Telford in the early hours of 5 December 2003.

Giving his verdicts, Mr Morgan said: "I can't help but see the irony that those that brought this prosecution are those very people who have purchased cars that go at this speed and paid for him (the defendant) to go to learn to drive at these speeds."

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), based in Birmingham, said it was shocked that such a speed was not regarded as dangerous by the court.

Kevin Clinton, head of road safety, said: "Police are governed by health and safety laws just the same as any other employer.

"We are pleased to learn that the judge made it clear that police forces must implement proper management procedures for their high-speed driving activities.

"We think this should include an upper limit and we don't believe 159mph can ever be justified on public roads.

"Even in emergencies we consider that driving at 100mph or more is too dangerous."

[wludavid]

... the officer, who is trained in the use of firearms...

What does this have to do with anything?

[IROC]

I also think it is funny that everyone *assumes* that the speed was "dangerous". Under certain circumstances, 159 mph on some deserted interstate out west might be no more dangerous than trying to "legally" drive 70 mph around I-285 in Atlanta.

Speeding, in and of itself, is not necessarily dangerous.

Mike

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

I think the Germans have it right...

No speed limits, however they have a much higher level of personal responsibility when driving...

[djmcmath]

Begin Rant
The point isn't safety, the point is standards. I mean, if some normal Joe like myself, or even a responsible and skilled driver like Jacky-O or Chris Streit, was caught at that kind of speed, they'd impound the car for just long enough to make the appointment with the crushing yard, and you'd still be in Federal Pound Me In The Ass Prison when the parts were a rusting hulk in a landfill somewhere.

If the police are going to hassle me (take my time on the side of the road, take my money for the citation, then tell the insurance company that I'm "unsafe," and need higher rates) for doing 70 in a deserted 4-lane 60, then it only follows that they should be similarly hassled -- or even more so, because of their position of authority -- for similar offenses.

I wouldn't complain so much if they just made it out like it is -- the officer pulls you over and says "Sir, you have been randomly selected for the highway tax, which pays my salary. Your tax today is $134, payable to Mason County in the next 90 days. Thank you." Instead, they put it in this guise of "traffic safety," which just pisses me off to no end.
End Rant.

[gaijindabe]

Professional courtesy. Happens wherever you find people of the human race. Seems to be a hard-wired trait.

[Joeaksa]

Originally posted by Jared Fenton
I think the Germans have it right...

No speed limits, however they have a much higher level of personal responsibility when driving...

One thing that I do not agree with is that if you are driving over 130 klicks (about 85 mph) in Germany these days and are involved in an accident, even if someone hits you and you are not at fault, you are assessed part of the responsibility, fine and points are taken off of your license! They feel that your speed had to have something to do with the accident and you are partially to blame.

This has happened in the last 10 years and is pure BS IMHO...

JoeA

[Jeff Higgins]

While I'm not a cop, there are several in my extended family and several hunting buddies are cops. I've lost track of the number of times I have been in a car or truck with one of them when they have gotten pulled over for speeding. All they do is flash a badge and they get away with it. Most of them drive quite fast, which is why they seem to get pulled over a lot. I would too if I had a fool-proof get out of jail free card.

[vash]

my brother is a policeman. we sorta look alike, except he is lean and healthy looking. everytime i get pulled over in elpaso, tx. they either reconize me, or by the time they look at my ID, i have it handed back and i am sent merrily on my way. i did get a ticket once, and word spread to my brother. i didnt say anything to him, but something happened and my bro said, "take it to court". the guy didnt show up, and i met some hot liv tyler, looking hispanic girl. definately a good day.

[bryanthompson]

good story, vash

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

Originally posted by Jeff Higgins
While I'm not a cop, there are several in my extended family and several hunting buddies are cops. I've lost track of the number of times I have been in a car or truck with one of them when they have gotten pulled over for speeding. All they do is flash a badge and they get away with it. Most of them drive quite fast, which is why they seem to get pulled over a lot. I would too if I had a fool-proof get out of jail free card.

I used to date a cop's daughter... Many times we were pulled over and let off. She said it was because she had "protected" plates on the car.

[FrayAdjacent911]

Originally posted by wludavid

What does this have to do with anything?

It just goes to show he is a dangerous individual! Because guns are bad, don't you know? Knowing how to use them makes you DANGEROUS!!

[ronin]

Originally posted by djmcmath
Begin Rant
The point isn't safety, the point is standards. I mean, if some normal Joe like myself, or even a responsible and skilled driver like Jacky-O or Chris Streit, was caught at that kind of speed, they'd impound the car for just long enough to make the appointment with the crushing yard, and you'd still be in Federal Pound Me In The Ass Prison when the parts were a rusting hulk in a landfill somewhere.

If the police are going to hassle me (take my time on the side of the road, take my money for the citation, then tell the insurance company that I'm "unsafe," and need higher rates) for doing 70 in a deserted 4-lane 60, then it only follows that they should be similarly hassled -- or even more so, because of their position of authority -- for similar offenses.

I wouldn't complain so much if they just made it out like it is -- the officer pulls you over and says "Sir, you have been randomly selected for the highway tax, which pays my salary. Your tax today is $134, payable to Mason County in the next 90 days. Thank you." Instead, they put it in this guise of "traffic safety," which just pisses me off to no end.
End Rant.

begin rant
what he said. same *****, same court, different officer, different day
end rant

[Willem Fick]

The fact is that any poor civilian sob in the UK, trying to do the same, would have received a driving ban, and who knows what else. It's not the speed (who doesn't from time to time?), but the travesty of justice.

[Milu]

Just because cops all over the world show each other "professional courtesy" does not make it right. (So why did this one end up in court?)

However, this is official hypocrasy as he was charged and allowed off by the court. This is just rubbing our noses in it and we then we get creamed for trivia. And of course we're supposed to respect traffic laws and the officers who enforce them?

[djmcmath]

I shouldn't post when I'm sober, but ... it occurs to me that this whole thing is an offense to the officers who serve honorably and professionally. Given the number of professional officers that frequent this board, I'm surprised none of them have posted their outrage at this injustice.

[gaijindabe]

Travesty? Outrage? Injustice?

Lions, tigers and bears! Oh my!

Knock it off fellas, most of us wish our desks went 159MPH..

[Milu]

Originally posted by gaijindabe
Travesty? Outrage? Injustice?

Lions, tigers and bears! Oh my!

Knock it off fellas, most of us wish our desks went 159MPH..

So does this mean you are happy that the gentlemen enforcing these laws are in practice exempt from them?

That these gentlemen treat us either like children or criminals when they enforce speed taxes?

[Milu]

Originally posted by djmcmath
I shouldn't post when I'm sober, but ... it occurs to me that this whole thing is an offense to the officers who serve honorably and professionally. Given the number of professional officers that frequent this board, I'm surprised none of them have posted their outrage at this injustice.

Perhaps it's "professional courtesy"?

Has any one heard of an officer complaining that he was not prosecuted for commiting a driving offence? Of course not

[RickM]

Cliff: "we sorta look alike, except he is lean and healthy looking."

Dan: "I shouldn't post when I'm sober, but ..."

Cliff: "ok, you wanna hear another story?"

gaij: "Lions, tigers and bears! Oh my!...most of us wish our desks went 159MPH.."



ROFL, Youz guys are killing me here.