hi all,
here is a good one for you to debate, it's a long story but I try and keep it short.
yesterday evening on the way back from the garden centre, I saw a hedgehog crossing the road, [no jokes thank you] so not wanting to spread it all over the road, swerved, [well moved over a bit] so as to miss it.
about 1/2 a mile down the road, I was aware of a blue flashing light in the mirror, so I put on the hazards and pulled over, it was a patrol car and stopped behind us, this police chappie then proceeded to give me a telling off for swerving all over the road [a gross exaggeration] and asked if I had been drinking "nope" said I, well when was the last time you had a drink, he said, "about 35 years ago" it's true but I don't think it went down too well.
well I'm going to breath test you anyway. he did and of course it was negative, so why the swerving about he asks,
I said did you not see the that poor hedgehog in the road, I moved over to miss it, suppose you would just have run over it, again I dont think this went very well.
so while I'm sitting in the back of this locked patrol car, he and his constable accomplice searched the car, and gave it a very good check over, when they came back, he stated I was committing an offence, because the tow ball is obscuring the number plate.
now this is the first time I have heard this in 40+years of towing, so added that it could not be illegal, because.
A. you could still see all the numbers and letters.
B, it is a type approved tow bar, so in specification from both the car manufacturer and EU legislation and is fitted with an Alko ball which is also type approved,
C, the numberplate is of standard size and fitted in the place the car manufacturer intended it to be.
D. the only way to reduce the height would be to fit a drop plate, but the bar is not designed for one of these fitted. plus with the ball 3in lower it would not be in specification for the EU height legislation.
yet he wasn't having any of it. it is not right he said and gave me a ticket to get it altered within the next 7 days
Now I know the police do not like a smart ass, [I'm no forelock tugger]. but he just picked the wrong guy to stop.
however I now have the problem of changing something that has been fine for over 4 years and I cannot see a way to alter it without removing the tow ball, is there some new rule I have missed about cars only being allowed removable balls or is it just that. a load of"" what do you all think.
here is a good one for you to debate, it's a long story but I try and keep it short.
yesterday evening on the way back from the garden centre, I saw a hedgehog crossing the road, [no jokes thank you] so not wanting to spread it all over the road, swerved, [well moved over a bit] so as to miss it.
about 1/2 a mile down the road, I was aware of a blue flashing light in the mirror, so I put on the hazards and pulled over, it was a patrol car and stopped behind us, this police chappie then proceeded to give me a telling off for swerving all over the road [a gross exaggeration] and asked if I had been drinking "nope" said I, well when was the last time you had a drink, he said, "about 35 years ago" it's true but I don't think it went down too well.
well I'm going to breath test you anyway. he did and of course it was negative, so why the swerving about he asks,
I said did you not see the that poor hedgehog in the road, I moved over to miss it, suppose you would just have run over it, again I dont think this went very well.
so while I'm sitting in the back of this locked patrol car, he and his constable accomplice searched the car, and gave it a very good check over, when they came back, he stated I was committing an offence, because the tow ball is obscuring the number plate.
now this is the first time I have heard this in 40+years of towing, so added that it could not be illegal, because.
A. you could still see all the numbers and letters.
B, it is a type approved tow bar, so in specification from both the car manufacturer and EU legislation and is fitted with an Alko ball which is also type approved,
C, the numberplate is of standard size and fitted in the place the car manufacturer intended it to be.
D. the only way to reduce the height would be to fit a drop plate, but the bar is not designed for one of these fitted. plus with the ball 3in lower it would not be in specification for the EU height legislation.
yet he wasn't having any of it. it is not right he said and gave me a ticket to get it altered within the next 7 days
Now I know the police do not like a smart ass, [I'm no forelock tugger]. but he just picked the wrong guy to stop.
however I now have the problem of changing something that has been fine for over 4 years and I cannot see a way to alter it without removing the tow ball, is there some new rule I have missed about cars only being allowed removable balls or is it just that. a load of"" what do you all think.