Police took pic of my car

[WildflowerWildfire]

Posting here for traffic (no pun intended).

So I was waiting at some traffic lights earlier on today, and I had a notification on my Apple Watch from my DCs school. I quickly picked up my phone to see what it was, and the police pulled up in the lane next to me. I quickly put it back down, but half a mile down the road after the traffic lights, I saw (in my wing mirror) the policeman taking a pic of what looked like my car.

I know I did wrong, but is this photo evidence enough to give me a fine and points? Would the photo not need to be taken at the time I was holding my phone?

I’m panicking 😩. Help please.

They would have pulled you over at the time.

He probably wasnt taking a photo of your car.

Stop looking at your phone when in charge of a vehicle.

Photos of a crime taking place aren’t necessarily needed to prosecute a crime.

You just have really been studying said wing mirror to be certain he was taking a photo of your car!

If they had any inclination that you’d been using your phone at the wheel they’d have pulled you over there and then. Not taken a photo and let you keep driving.

They are clamping down I think. Nothing we say will change whatever the outcome may be. Just don't use your phone in future whilst driving.

Stop looking at your phone when in charge of a vehicle

Yeh and this too.

I think he would have pulled you over there and then. I’m pretty sure they don’t need photo evidence for mobile phone offences.

I too think they would have pulled you over. They have 14 days to issue a NIP (to generate it, can take a few days longer to get to you but must be dated within 14 days) so wait and see if you get one to know for sure.

Please don’t ever do this again. I was horrifically rear ended and suffered a severe back injury because the van driver behind me was looking at his phone and failed to notice I was stopping to give way at a junction.

Don’t have your phone in the front of the car with you if it tempts you - put it in your bag in the back, or somewhere else out of reach.

I will definitely not pick it up again. It’s usually tucked away in my bag but I admit I was stupid today .

So you think he would have definitely pulled me over there and then?

@WildflowerWildfire

I will definitely not pick it up again. It’s usually tucked away in my bag but I admit I was stupid today .

So you think he would have definitely pulled me over there and then?

Yes

Isn’t the point of an Apple Watch that you can read texts when not with your phone?

Please don’t look at your phone, for the many reasons given above

I’ve heard of police taking photo of people using mobile phones at the wheel but this is usually I think on motorways and busy roads.

But if you’d already put the phone down before you saw them further on taking what you thought was a photo, then doubt that could be used against you. As they would need to photograph you with the phone physically in your hand.

If it was an issue they have pulled you over immediately!

I don't think definitely pulled over, we have letters at work where offences have taken place in our courtesy vehicle asking who the driver was.

I read an article recently about people filming a crash site. The police took their details without stopping them (presumably by taking photos), and said that they would be getting letters in due course. I'm afraid it does sound possible that you might hear from them.

www.getreading.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/seven-drivers-caught-filming-crash-22408970

Probably already photographed you on your phone, then taking photos of the vehicle.

They definitely didn’t photograph me using the phone, I saw them pull up and immediately put it down. They wouldn’t have had a chance to take a photo.

@RonObvious that’s slightly more serious than what I did. Thinking rationally, I think they would have made me pull over as they definitely had the opportunity to.

I was pulled over for using my phone when phones first came into use. They hadn’t legislated against it at the time but the copper chased me town and gave me a well deserved bollocking. I would love to put your mind at rest and say you’ve got away with it but you’re going to have to wait 14 days to see if something comes through the post abd vow not to touch it again when you’re driving.

Op activate Do Not Disturb When Driving on your phone if you’ve got Bluetooth in your car. It pretty much locks the phone so it can’t be used when your driving.

They don't need a photo of you doing it, if they saw you they can look to prosecute. They were probably taking a photo so they can look up your details later. They don't need to stop you there and then, they can send you a notice of intended prosecution in the post or visit you at home at a later date to give you a ticket. I'm a police officer and if I'm busy on my way to something else I'd make a note of the details and deal with you at a later date for something like that.

Oh great. Well it was my own fault so I guess it’s a waiting game to see if anything comes through in the next week or two.

@Louisa4987 would you instantly impose 6 points if you saw that?

A family member recent got 6 points for using their phone when driving, they weren't pulled over, it came through the post.

If they were heading somewhere and didn't really have the time to pull you over then yes, that is what they do. Take note of the reg and send a letter out.

SIL told me she got 6 points for texting whilst pulled up at traffic lights. She hadn't realised until she drove off that there was a police car next to her. They didn't pull her over.

However, this is obviously anecdotal so...