to think using phone for 2 seconds at traffic lights is hardly the crime of the century

[MitchyInge]

it was ringing and ringing and ringing, from home, and am in borrowed (poss to become permanent) vehicle so when in long queue at red light I picked up the phone to see what the emergency was (it was a 10yo in a panic about dance class)

I had about 18 missed calls from home, wouldn't you assume it was a some sort of actual crisis too?

think it was really excessive to be followed by police car with flashing lights, have every bit of car examined for defects and have my identity checked and be compelled to mend an only slightly dodgy brake light and produce my documents etc

the officer was really suspicious of the fact that the car isn't registered to me (am borrowing it with view to keeping it) and seemed surprised when it checked out that I was insured and that it had an MOT and tax - as if use of phone placed me in some highly criminal driving category? grrrrrr

want my old land rover back, was totally invisible in that

no the great train robbery was the crime of the century and that was proper famous so don't feel bad about not living up to it.
what you did was simply wrong and deserved a ticking off and inspection of your vehicle,they could have easily given you a fine and penalty points.

at bruxeur.

You are lucky to still have your phone . In Singapore they would take it off you straight away. Now THAT used to stop people doing it! I think they should do that in the UK, just take the phone for 48 hours. Not much paperwork, no fines to expensively process and a real significant deterrent. I do think phone + driving is awful.

god I don't post much on here at all, but now I remember why! FFS pofaced springs to mind - of course the OP shouldn't be phoning and driving, but the overeaction is something to behold! She was stopped at lights - she wasn't doing 70 in a built up area!

These head injuries seem to be spreading - almost a pandemic. Perhaps we should set up a hotline?

duuuuuuur, and that's why she didn't get anything more than a ticking-off. she was lucky, she shouldn't be moaning about it.

my pal got a sixty quid ticket for doing the same thing, and that was tough shit as well.

Ooh if it's a pandemic, do I then get to stay at home eating chocolate? And nursing my clearly addled head of course?

No. For you, it is the gun, and the pit.

It's the only way to be sure.

lol bruxeur.

rofl - do you want me to hand you the gun? or do you have one already loaded and cocked?

Agree OP seems to have got off lightly - I would never be so lucky, but then I am pretty good about not answering the phone (and I have an extremely sanctimonious 5 year old who would have a go at me too!)

However, I wish teh police would stop idiots like the man who "drove" round Harlesdon in NW London last Sat afternoon, constantly texting / plying with his mobile. He was soooo not concentrating

The police were trying to make it as inconvenient and unpleasant for you as possible so that you don't do it again and so that you tell other people who think twice about doing it.
Job done I think!

YABU. It is against the law to use mobile phones while driving even if yoy are stopped at traffic lights. You should have pulled over or ignored it.

If you're at a set of lights and an emergency vehicle screeches up behind the queue you have to be 100% concentrating and have full control of your car in order to move out of the way quickly. You were not in 100% control of your car, you had your phone to your ear. And you were distracted by the call possibly. That's why it's not OK to answer even when stationery if you are within the flow of traffic.

I think the 'heavey-handedness' of the police doing full vehicle check etc, is fairly routine. If you ever watch those programmes like Police Interceptors or Road Wars, they're always saying how often they pull over someone for a minor offence, then it turns out they have other offences outstanding. No tax, no MOT, no valid licence, drugs on them etc.

So it's not personal, it's just a way of checking there aren't any other outstanding offences whilst they've 'got' you, so to speak.

ok, think am over it now - it did get me thinking about police generally though, you know how they are routinely armed in many countries and put their hand towards the gun to sort of intimidate - am glad we don't have that sort of thing at least

HATE getting told off though but have left it a bit late to start growing up now?

Didn't you notice that there was a police car behind you in the rear view mirror? If not, you were distracted by the phone.

They held a special court for everyone they caught using a mobile whilst driving in a Belgian town last month - the people appearing were the ones who wouldn't suck up the original fine. They got fined more, which was great. It's endemic here - texting whilst driving; doing a three point turn one handed whilst holding mobile to the ear with the other; going down the motorways at high speed whilst on mobile, and I have seen a man steering his van with his elbows whilst using a mobile and lighting up at the same time. No wonder you can't get fully comp on cars older than 4 years old here - they all get bashed so much.

I saw him, he was on the other side of the road, he must have turned round and caught up with me further on.

Must not come back here in a week with AIBU to have forgotten to produce my documents at the police station!

Glad you're taking it on the chin now Mitchy. If it makes you feel any better, I got stopped for forgetting to have my lights on at night (heavily streetlit road), got breathalysed (sp?) and generally made to feel like a complete muppet.

I think it's fair enough.

in that 2 seconds of distraction you could have hit someone, thats why its a crime and i think the punishment for all phone use in the drivers seat should be £5000 and a 6 point endorsement. Sick of seeing people turning corners with one hand on wheel and phone glued to ear..

Yabu.

May I suggest you get bluetooth handsfree kit? I don't think they are illegal yet.

By the way, YANBU.

Mitchy, the officer saw you on the phone in the drivers seat in traffic. he/she was not to know that you had NOT answered it while still driving and would not consider driving off with it still in your hand, or that you don't do this all day every day. He/she may have been at the aftermath of accidents caused by drivers using their phones, and wanted to give you a reprimand and make you think again.

you got caught, so just have the good grace to admit you were ABSOLUTELY in the wrong - and don't EVER do it again

it is standard practice to ask if you are the owner of the vehicle....and then follow up if you are not, and check for insurance. there are 1000s of uninsured drivers out there - one of whom may hit YOU one day (while on their phone)

(an aside - DH was knocked off his bike by a car driver (Ok thank God). he was a bit at being asked for a breath test same as the driver, but accepted it as procedure)

I agree with alypaly - tougher consequences are the only way to get people to comply - they would think again if it hit them harder in the pocket.

YABU - it is a crime. Turn the phone off when you get in the car or set it to silent.