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Original poster

Pulled over by the police with blue lights flashing because I BEEPED at them!

780 replies

BeepedAtPoliceCar · 30/08/2026 22:26

Long but I've tried to make it easy to read!

Tonight, I dropped DS at work and on the way back had just started moving off from a large roundabout to go straight across it. It was 7pm and the road is an A road, not a residential area.

I had noticed a police car coming down from the opposite side of the roundabout (no lights flashing) and assumed it was going straight across as it had no indicators but it turned right towards me so I had to stop.

As I moved onto the roundabout after it passed me. I beeped. A short tap to say where the hell are you going. I had also had to stop. I was moving when I beeped. This is important.

I assumed it was going to take the same exit as me but it It then continued round the roundabout again. Still no indication. So I did another short beep. The direction he was going in was to our local police station about 2 minutes down the road.

Yes it was in frustration as there are many idiots who don't indicate in my area and I've had many near misses. It's pretty shit the police are driving like that as well and it was also a hazard to other road users.

Maybe the driver wasn't aware his indicators weren't working?

Anyway I drive on but see in the my rear mirror a police car speeding up the road behind me, lights flashing, in the bus lane. The speed limit is 40 and I was doing that so he must have been doing 60 at least as he caught up with me in seconds.

I immediately knew he was coming after me.

The car came alongside me and the driver wound his window down, as did I, and shouted at me to pull over now, pull over now. He looked apoplectic with rage!

I pulled over in front of him in the bus lane and he drove behind me, bumper to bumper. I have never been stopped by the police before and got out of my car to go to speak to him (oops lucky it wasn't in the US!).

He's screaming get back in your car now, get back in your car now!

So I get back in and luckily had the presence of mind to start videoing on my phone as he came over. I asked for him name and badge number which he fired off so fast I couldn't catch it. He refused to repeat it. Refused to tell me which police station he was stationed at. He said I had contravened the highway code for beeping inappropriately and would be getting a penalty ticket.

I admit I was a bit argumentative (not rude) and said he only stopped me because he was pissed off I beeped at him and the police should know better.

He then said they were looking for a 'criminal' and were on police business so didn't have to indicate (no lights except when they came for me!) and they also didn't know where they were going. He also said he didn't need to indicate unless he was exiting the roundabout.

I asked him why if he was looking for a criminal, he decided to go after someone who beeped at him for not indicating.

He said I was stationery when I beeped so that is a road traffic contravention. I was moving so I asked him why he was lying. He then stated he'd need to do drug and alcohol tests.

I asked if he was joking and what basis did he have to suspect I was driving under the influence. He said because my behaviour - beeping at him - was 'bizarre' and I was driving dangerously, then asked if I was refusing? So I had to do them. They were clear obviously.

I said I would be making a complaint as I believed he was abusing his power because he was pissed off I beeped at him and 'how dare he bully members of the public'.

He then said MOVE NOW because I was in an active lane (bus lane where he forced me to stop) and if I didn't move now I'd get another ticket for failing to comply with an instruction from a police officer. I said 'who do you think you're talking to'.

I was very WTF and asked him to repeat the law I had broken and told him to give me the ticket so I could challenge it in court, so he said he did and I would get it in the post.

Two tickets - £130 and 3 points.

I then drove off. He didn't come behind me so I can only assume he went back round the next roundabout in the direction of the police station and the looking for a criminal was rubbish. In fact he said it so sarcastically, I think he meant looking for someone to book!

I have video of most of the interaction and he comes across very bullish and rude, especially when he was shouting at me to 'move now'. Literally no more than a minute until I did but he still said he had given me a ticket.

I did tell him I was putting the video on TikTok and would be making a complaint.
Quite shocked about this, and on reading about challenging the tickets in court, it seems that you can end up with a criminal conviction if you lose!

The lie about me being stationery when I beeped (which I have on video) should be easily disproven by their dashcam. Would they have to give me this if I challenge it?

Sadly I don't have my own. I ordered one ages ago, kept forgetting to set it up and it was on top of the bookcase at home!

WIBU?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
mulberrymilk · 31/08/2026 08:12

I've never been pulled over in over 30 years of driving.

So, not a teenager. But threatens to put the cop on TikTok. Very mature.

mulberrymilk · 31/08/2026 08:14

GardenCovent · 31/08/2026 08:08

I get the op is coming across as being a bit attention seeking, TikTok, really? but why shouldn’t she beep at the police if she feels it was appropriate.
It is quite worrying the way people feel that the police can’t be questioned about their behaviour or actions.

Show quote history

but why shouldn’t she beep at the police if she feels it was appropriate...

Because it's against the motherfucking law!

stripycats · 31/08/2026 08:14

But OP has made sure to let us know she has a posh accent (even though she's terribly embarrassed by it) so maybe that cancels out the TikTok use.

Pumpkinmagic · 31/08/2026 08:15

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mybeautifulemeraldparure · 31/08/2026 08:15

GardenCovent · 31/08/2026 08:08

I get the op is coming across as being a bit attention seeking, TikTok, really? but why shouldn’t she beep at the police if she feels it was appropriate.
It is quite worrying the way people feel that the police can’t be questioned about their behaviour or actions.

Show quote history

... because it wasn't appropriate. No-one is saying that the police are above criticism, just perhaps not in this case.

TheEdgyMoose · 31/08/2026 08:16

Genevieva · 31/08/2026 07:54

It’s a non-enforceable offence, so it’s not a situation that results in points. Misuse of a horn breaches the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 and Rule 112 of the Highway Code.

Very serious driving offences that involve tailgating and can also involve beeping can warrant fines if 3 to 9 points and up to £1,000 fine.

Nowhere can I find 2 points and £130 as a protocol.

Show quote history

I don't think OP has stated exactly what the tickets were for. I suspect it was careless or inconsiderate driving rather than simple misuse of a horn.

lulujuju · 31/08/2026 08:17

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Bethany83 · 31/08/2026 08:22

Whether you were right or wrong to beep at them, all that happened after is not great. I wish you luck O.P and please do keep us updated. My nephew was pulled over and dragged, literally dragged out of his seat, proper man handled because they thought he was driving a stolen car (he wasn't) but point is whether they thought he was, that's fine but why the man handling of a young man, it was unnecessary. SOME police officers do abuse their power, of course not all and it is a very hard job and I am thankful to those who do it.

Acommonreader · 31/08/2026 08:24

BeOchreDog · 30/08/2026 22:29

What on earth would possess you to beep at a police car once, let alone twice!

This! What an earth were you thinking.

Couldyounot · 31/08/2026 08:28

Yeah, pick a quarrel with the dibble, great idea.

Cla7 · 31/08/2026 08:41

You’re not supposed to beep at other drivers, police or not, unless you warn them of a danger. Them driving like idiots is no justified reason to use the horn. This is the bit you seem not to understand.

Genevieva · 31/08/2026 08:46

TheEdgyMoose · 31/08/2026 08:16

I don't think OP has stated exactly what the tickets were for. I suspect it was careless or inconsiderate driving rather than simple misuse of a horn.

Show quote history

You may be right.

Genevieva · 31/08/2026 08:48

Bethany83 · 31/08/2026 08:22

Whether you were right or wrong to beep at them, all that happened after is not great. I wish you luck O.P and please do keep us updated. My nephew was pulled over and dragged, literally dragged out of his seat, proper man handled because they thought he was driving a stolen car (he wasn't) but point is whether they thought he was, that's fine but why the man handling of a young man, it was unnecessary. SOME police officers do abuse their power, of course not all and it is a very hard job and I am thankful to those who do it.

I find this really disturbing. It’s more like American policing and fits completely against the Peelite principles that underpin our police. Policing by the people for the people means knowing when to achieve cooperation through polite conversation and when to resort to physically handling someone in that way.

Harpsichord23 · 31/08/2026 08:50

OP - do you genuinely think you have done nothing wrong?
if the same thing happened again, would you beep at a police car?

TheignT · 31/08/2026 08:50

mulberrymilk · 31/08/2026 08:14

but why shouldn’t she beep at the police if she feels it was appropriate...

Because it's against the motherfucking law!

Show quote history

But the OP doesn't think that law applies to her.

TheignT · 31/08/2026 08:53

Genevieva · 31/08/2026 08:48

I find this really disturbing. It’s more like American policing and fits completely against the Peelite principles that underpin our police. Policing by the people for the people means knowing when to achieve cooperation through polite conversation and when to resort to physically handling someone in that way.

Show quote history

Well the police officer knows how the OP reacted to being stopped for breaking the law. Personally I'm all in favour of stopping the horn honkers so more power to his elbow. She should have acknowledged she was in the wrong and he'd have sent her on her way.

ViciousCurrentBun · 31/08/2026 08:54

Do you sound your horn at everyone who doesn’t indicate? Because if I did it would be far too frequent

Genevieva · 31/08/2026 08:55

TheignT · 31/08/2026 08:53

Well the police officer knows how the OP reacted to being stopped for breaking the law. Personally I'm all in favour of stopping the horn honkers so more power to his elbow. She should have acknowledged she was in the wrong and he'd have sent her on her way.

Show quote history

I was reply about the PP’s nephew.

MargaretMeldrew · 31/08/2026 08:57

BeepedAtPoliceCar · 30/08/2026 23:59

Yep, warning the police car there were other road users on the road and as per the Highway Code, he should indicate where he was going.

Show quote history

So you were warning the police car about everyone else on the road, not yourself? All you have to do is ensure that you get from A to B safely. You are not responsible for chastising others for driving that doesn’t directly affect you. You are pissed off about people not using their indicators properly on a particular section of road and have decided it is your duty to admonish them, including the police, even when the rule breaking isn’t affecting you personally in the moment. And when posters here point out that what you did was in contravention of the Highway Code, you continue to defend yourself. The policeman sounds very unpleasant, but this altercation would never have happened if you hadn’t broken the Highway Code you hold so dear. Now you will have a fine and points just because you feel compelled to police a section of road. What an absolute waste of everyone’s time.

SulkingInTheCatio · 31/08/2026 08:59

TheEdgyMoose · 31/08/2026 08:16

I don't think OP has stated exactly what the tickets were for. I suspect it was careless or inconsiderate driving rather than simple misuse of a horn.

Show quote history

It sounded to me like one was using the horn and the next for not obeying the instructions of a police officer when he’d told her to leave (the bus lane).

Balloonhearts · 31/08/2026 08:59

Tbf, no lights or sirens means you treat them as any other road user. She had no reason to give way to them, they shouldn't have cut her off. That was dangerous driving.

rainbowstardrops · 31/08/2026 09:02

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🤣🤣🤣

SulkingInTheCatio · 31/08/2026 09:02

Balloonhearts · 31/08/2026 08:59

Tbf, no lights or sirens means you treat them as any other road user. She had no reason to give way to them, they shouldn't have cut her off. That was dangerous driving.

He had lights flashing, it’s in the thread title. Anyone who pulls onto a roundabout where there is a police car with flashing lights on the assumption it’s going straight on is a bit crackers imho.

mybeautifulemeraldparure · 31/08/2026 09:04

MargaretMeldrew · 31/08/2026 08:57

So you were warning the police car about everyone else on the road, not yourself? All you have to do is ensure that you get from A to B safely. You are not responsible for chastising others for driving that doesn’t directly affect you. You are pissed off about people not using their indicators properly on a particular section of road and have decided it is your duty to admonish them, including the police, even when the rule breaking isn’t affecting you personally in the moment. And when posters here point out that what you did was in contravention of the Highway Code, you continue to defend yourself. The policeman sounds very unpleasant, but this altercation would never have happened if you hadn’t broken the Highway Code you hold so dear. Now you will have a fine and points just because you feel compelled to police a section of road. What an absolute waste of everyone’s time.

Show quote history

Absolutely this ⬆️

MotherofPufflings · 31/08/2026 09:04

SulkingInTheCatio · 31/08/2026 09:02

He had lights flashing, it’s in the thread title. Anyone who pulls onto a roundabout where there is a police car with flashing lights on the assumption it’s going straight on is a bit crackers imho.

Show quote history

From the op

"I had noticed a police car coming down from the opposite side of the roundabout (no lights flashing) and assumed it was going straight across as it had no indicators but it turned right towards me so I had to stop."