I just got pulled over for doing 32 in a 30

[dialdrunkforyou]

I’m shaking as I write this. I just drove out to walk the dogs and on my way back a police car pulled me over. I was doing 32 in a 30 and he said I was “lucky” that he’s not choosing to prosecute me over this.

AIBU or is this total overkill? It’s a dry sunny day, the roads are relatively quiet and I wasn’t driving erratically.

But a traffic cop pulling someone over for going 32 in a 30 isn't taking a first response officer away from a burglary or an assault. They're two completely different jobs.

You got caught speeding and were pulled up for it.
No drama here as far as I can tell, other than your shaking tbh.
I’ve definitely driven over the speed limit before, no one here is pointing the finger and demanding op be locked up with the key thrown away, I think it’s more their refusal to accept that they were speeding and they were somehow being wronged.

It must vary between counties. We used to do Speedwatch in our village and were told by the police, that trained us and calibrated our gun, not to bother recording anything under 35mph as the police wouldn’t bother to pursue it.

The police are exempt from following the speed limit.

You aren't innocent, you were exceeding the speed limit. I went on a speed awareness course last year (37 in a 30 zone), the difference in stopping distance between 30 and 32 is far longer than you would imagine.

Traffic cop gave you fair warning, thank your lucky stars he didn't fine you as, frankly, your attitude stinks. The police do get a bit firm when people obviously don't take warnings seriously.

This thread is an example of the batshittery of Mumsnetters. Accidentally going 2MPH over the speed limit and they're acting like OP was rat racing through a housing estate in a souped up Honda Civic.

You'd have got done at 33.

And you'd probably have been offered the speed awareness course which explains why the speed limit is 30 not 32- which you won't forget once you've been.

But if you drive a lot, every now and then you're going to go over because it's a mundane task and it's hard to main concentration. You accept the slap on the wrist and learn the lesson. Not complain about it! He was right to pull you over, and you should be grateful you were only doing 32. You'll be more careful for a little while. It's embarrassing for a while, but you really were in the wrong.

The only think I would never do again is get into their car- marked or unmarked....

I thought the reason that there is an “informal” presumption that you are allowed to be 10% over is because otherwise those are being prosecuted for speeding can raise the question of when the equipment was last calibrated for accuracy and, if that date is not recent, can escape conviction. 32 in a 30mph limit is not usually prosecuted because it is too easily challenged.

When responding to emergencies.

Ridiculous imo. What a jobsworth.

Traffic cops tend no to get involved much with catching murderers and rapists.

And if the OP is scared of male police officers, she did a very silly thing by knowingly driving over the speed limit.

No, they're just saying she should own up to her mistake, be glad she wasn't fined and not blame the police as though it was their fault.

That’s happened to me before. They told me they’re not going to do anything because today, they’re fining people who are doing over 40.
It’s probably a process.
I just said thanks and drive off. Don’t worry about it but just keep to the speed limit.

Mine shows under too.

He saw a lone woman and thought he'd put the shits up her. The Police are very good at that. His power trip probably gave him a hard on. Anyway, much easier box to tick than tackling the drug dealers and their snarling pit bulls in town.

No, when doing their jobs. You were going over the limit so he was entitled to do the same in order to catch you and stop you.

There seem to be double standards, although maybe you are too immature to grasp my point. The police don’t seem to rigidly enforce speed limits on the motorway but they do in town. The messaging this sends is that the speed limit is flexible on the motorway but not in town which is confusing and opens them up to legal challenge.

Yes indeed.

It's all bloody 20 mph zones around us, right pain to go anywhere!

I don't think traffic cops generally deal with drug dealers and illegal dogs

This is really black and white.

32mph in a 30mph zone is speeding. You can’t argue this 🤷🏽‍♀️

Yes over the top by the policeman in my view. But, factually you were speeding.

So all the hardliners on here would say the traffic cop in this instance should be fired for not doing their job!

It’s not hard to understand that you are more likely to run over a pedestrian when speeding through a town than on a motorway. Both are dangerous, but it of course makes sense to deter people from speeding in residential areas where children could be running around.

There are multiple posts referring to dangerous driving and killing someone. 32MPH is not dangerous driving in the conditions as described.

I don't think she is "blaming" the police as such. She's asking if pulling someone over for doing 32 in a 30 is overkill. Arguably yes. Though I do question why the exchange would leave someone shaking.

Always remember that 30 is the LIMIT, not a target. As the instructor on my speed awareness course said 'it's 30 for a reason'. (I was doing 34 in a 30 limit). The course was quite an eyeopener as to the risk to other people.