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Original poster

Police took pic of my car

110 replies

WildflowerWildfire · 10/12/2021 13:22

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.

OP posts:
christmaspavlova · 10/12/2021 14:01

You'll find out in a week or two if a letter from them arrives at your house.

Pay attention to your surroundings/ road in future.

Thegreencup · 10/12/2021 14:01

They can prosecute without pulling you over.

VainAbigail · 10/12/2021 14:05

@Louisa4987

How would you prove the driver was holding their phone etc if you didn’t have a photo of them doing so?

Interested to know.

file · 10/12/2021 14:11

[quote VainAbigail]@Louisa4987

How would you prove the driver was holding their phone etc if you didn’t have a photo of them doing so?

Interested to know.[/quote]
They don't necessarily need such evidence to prosecute - not all criminal cases have perfect evidence. It helps, but if the OP contested it it would come down to word against word, OP against two police officers.

This is a link to an interesting and amusing collection of video clips taken by a keen cyclist who has provided the Met Police with hundreds of clips of people using phones whilst driving (normally waiting at lights) which has led to fines totalling approx 50k right now, and ongoing.. He busted Guy Ritchie for example, but had no idea it was Guy Ritchie at the time.

www.youtube.com/c/CyclingMikey/videos

Some of the excuses people give when they see him filming them are highly amusing, they don't laugh as much when they get their points!

Reusablebags · 10/12/2021 14:13

The evidence is the police officers saying they saw her on her phone - think about all the sources of evidence, including witness evidence, used to prosecute any crime.

ArabellaScott · 10/12/2021 14:17

@ShirleyPhallus

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

How is looking at an Apple Watch any safer than reading a text on your phone?
Original poster
WildflowerWildfire · 10/12/2021 14:19

I’ve been talking to a friend I know who works for the police and she says that they are very unlikely to issue a retrospective penalty notice l and that they would have pulled me over there and then 🤷🏻‍♀️

OP posts:
emmathedilemma · 10/12/2021 14:21

Don't get your hopes up......6 people to receive letters through the post.....www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-59587236

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 10/12/2021 14:21

@VainAbigail

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.
Does Apple CarPlay still work if the phone is on Do Not Disturb?
girlmom21 · 10/12/2021 14:24

@WildflowerWildfire

I’ve been talking to a friend I know who works for the police and she says that they are very unlikely to issue a retrospective penalty notice l and that they would have pulled me over there and then 🤷🏻‍♀️
She's not necessarily correct. I was watching one of those police shows a few weeks ago and an officer was noting down all the people rubber necking at an accident on the motorway and said they'd all receive fines in the post for driving without due care and attention.

There's more paperwork if they pull you over.

DysmalRadius · 10/12/2021 14:25

I look at my phone all the time when I'm driving as its my sat nav! Surely just looking at your phone isn't an offense, or everyone using Google maps would be up for prosecution?

girlmom21 · 10/12/2021 14:27

@DysmalRadius

I look at my phone all the time when I'm driving as its my sat nav! Surely just looking at your phone isn't an offense, or everyone using Google maps would be up for prosecution?
You surely have it mounted rather than picking it up and messing around with it though?
VainAbigail · 10/12/2021 14:27

Does Apple CarPlay still work if the phone is on Do Not Disturb?

Yes. In my car you have to use the steering wheel controls as the phone won’t do anything till it disconnects from Bluetooth.

andweallsingalong · 10/12/2021 14:27

Agree she might be wrong. In our area they're using post to deal with a lot of crimes previously dealt with in person to reduce risk of covid transmission.

NerrSnerr · 10/12/2021 14:28

@DysmalRadius it needs to be mounted (but not obstructing view).

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 10/12/2021 14:29

Thanks @VainAbigail. There probably wouldn't be any point for me as I use the CarPlay voice controls for sat nav, music etc.

Nomorepies · 10/12/2021 14:33

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ on the poster's request

sashh · 10/12/2021 14:35

[quote VainAbigail]@Louisa4987

How would you prove the driver was holding their phone etc if you didn’t have a photo of them doing so?

Interested to know.[/quote]
It's a hassle but they can get records. If they take possession of a phone they can see the time messages were received.

So PC X says he saw the OP use her phone at 2.00 pm and a test was read at 2.00pm it would be pretty unlikely PC X had made it up.

SoupDragon · 10/12/2021 14:39

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 hope he wasn't the one driving...

It could be that they'll just send a letter telling you not to be stupid in future. It is just a waiting game though.

Sausagedogsarethebest · 10/12/2021 14:40

My son in law is a policeman. If he sees someone committing an offence such as use of a mobile phone whilst driving he will take a note of the car and write up a ticket back at the nick which gets sent out in the post. They may have been taking a picture to remember the vehicle for later. I wouldn't be at all surprised if you get something through the post.

ivykaty44 · 10/12/2021 14:41

perhaps look at the Guy Richie case, if you believe something can't be prosecuted retrospectively www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/guy-ritchie-texting-driving-video-a4506366.html

many cyclists, police and others run cameras and can take still photographs

operation snap is a thing, you never know who is filming you and whether they'll send it in for you to get a fine and points

Silvershroud · 10/12/2021 14:42

@Sausagedogsarethebest

My son in law is a policeman. If he sees someone committing an offence such as use of a mobile phone whilst driving he will take a note of the car and write up a ticket back at the nick which gets sent out in the post. They may have been taking a picture to remember the vehicle for later. I wouldn't be at all surprised if you get something through the post.
This is what is likely to happen. You can fight it with a good enough lawyer like Mr Loophole. Here's a cheaper company:www.pattersonlaw.co.uk/motoring-offences/using-mobile-phone/
Billandben444 · 10/12/2021 14:43

On Police Interceptors they took photos of cars so they could send out the notices later. They saw you, too busy to pull you over so took photo and you'll get a Christmas letter from them.

SivvyPlath · 10/12/2021 14:44

@WildflowerWildfire

I’ve been talking to a friend I know who works for the police and she says that they are very unlikely to issue a retrospective penalty notice l and that they would have pulled me over there and then 🤷🏻‍♀️
So why did they bother taking a photo of your car then?
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