Just got pulled over by the Babylon!

[Nodz]

That's wrong, it is impounded but if not collected then it is crushed.

Basically it's there to give to people at maccy d's and cruises with music to loud and general acting or driving anti sociably and is a marker for the car. But it seems if an officer is in a panda car and the speedo isn't calibrated they can give a section 59 instead, used for the wrong reasons IMO, and other things they deem to be anti social and where they are basically judge and jury you have no say in it.

Humberside side police site about them
http://www.humberside.police.uk/traveling-safely/crime-reduction/s59-police-reform-act-anti-social-driving-offences

Bit more in depth info from fast car
http://www.fastcar.co.uk/2010/07/15/what-is-a-section-59

[Nodz]

Beaten to it by zerolag

[Veee-dubber]

Thats that settled then :)

[RedRobin]

^^^^
Thanks, guys - It saved me from reading a long document about it 

[zerolag]

Sounds about right!!

Never had one myself, but im pretty confident in saying that the Section 59's go on the car not you as a driver... still got the same motor? cos if not your safe.... Bit of a stitch up for 2nd hand buyers mind you as its a 2 strike rule lol!

Goes on both car and driver for the term. 
So if your driving someone else's car and a copper is having an off day they can have it impounded there and then, leaving you at the side of the road.  It is the only law I've heard of that you don't have the opportunity to defend yourself and needs no supporting evidence, it's clearly open to abuse from the type of Police described by the OP.

[zerolag]

Read this post by an ex-copper on the Bike Forums re: Section 59's, makes you wonder clicky

[RedRobin]

.
Fundamentallly Sec 59 is all about your standard of driving and, anyway, you should be able to write a letter giving your side of the story if you disagree and if necessary get a specialist solicitor to fight your corner.

The Sec 59 notice may be issued without reference to any subsequent testing in court etc but I think you still have a civil right to appeal to an appropriate authority such as a Chief Constable by writing a letter.

In the case mentioned of overtaking a vehicle only going at 25mph (in presumably either a 30 or 40mph limit zone), you are not supposed to overtake another moving vehicle at all in such speed restricted zones as I understand it - You should treat it as the same as a double white line central road marking. Just because a couple of other vehicles in front of you overtook doesn't make it right. You have to be patient when driving.

[Mk5 GTian]

TBF bud, regardless of how much of a **** the 'copper' may or not have been it beats getting points, a fine, loosing your license etc etc etc... & im speaking from expirience here lol.

I woulda took all the abuse in the world if I was given the chance lol!

 

From the OP's original post it does not seem he was actually breaking any law other than overtaking  a dawdler?

I barely needed to touch the speed limit, he was going so slowly. Upon reflection, had it of been a traffic officer he would probably have pulled the dawdler on suspicion of drink driving rather than pursue me.

[RedRobin]

From the OP's original post it does not seem he was actually breaking any law other than overtaking  a dawdler?

I barely needed to touch the speed limit, he was going so slowly.

....I think you should check this out: As far as I know, you are NOT allowed to overtake a moving vehicle while in a 30 or 40 mph speed restricted zone, REGARDLESS of you not exceeding that speed limit.

Either way, that's the rule I follow and I think it's safer from all points of view because I understand why it's a safer practice in built-up areas. Just be patient when driving - There's plenty of opportunity to have fun on the open road after you have left the 30/40 zone.

[Mk5 GTian]

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

If a bloke is doing 20 in a 40, with a long stretch of road in front of me, with no traffic coming in the opposite direction, I'm overtaking!!!

Any sensible traffic officer would prefer that than you sitting up their arse, boiling over with frustration, and then taking that stress and anxiety into the rest of your journey. I've got a mate who's best mate is a traffic officer, and he is very understanding of the danger that these dawdlers can cause through their obstructive driving.

[RedRobin]

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

If a bloke is doing 20 in a 40, with a long stretch of road in front of me, with no traffic coming in the opposite direction, I'm overtaking!!!

Any sensible traffic officer would prefer that than you sitting up their arse, boiling over with frustration, and then taking that stress and anxiety into the rest of your journey. I've got a mate who's best mate is a traffic officer, and he is very understanding of the danger that these dawdlers can cause through their obstructive driving.

....I don't disagree with you! I was just pointing out what I understand the law to be, so please check it out for yourself before next time deciding you are going to ignore the law because you think it's safe. And if I'm wrong about that detail of the law, I would like to be told.

It's not just whether there's something coming in the opposite direction is it? There are often lots of blind side road junctions in a 30/40 zone - I know from bitter experience because many years ago I was in a TVR which got written off in such circumstances and I was very lucky not have both my legs broken.

If you are ever "boiling over with frustration" that tells me that you are not always driving as safely as you can be or should be - Sorry, mate!

[Mk5 GTian]

I shall check this out, but I was taught that overtaking was permissable when the central  single white line was a broken one, providing that it was safe to do so. The road in question has marshland either side. It has no side roads or hidden entrances. I therefore deemed it safe (and at the time, legal) to pass.

When talking of "boiling over with frustration" I was referring to the motoring public in general, I see examples of it every day. I, however drive like Mother Teresa at all times!

[garrardrj]

From the OP's original post it does not seem he was actually breaking any law other than overtaking  a dawdler?

I barely needed to touch the speed limit, he was going so slowly.

....I think you should check this out: As far as I know, you are NOT allowed to overtake a moving vehicle while in a 30 or 40 mph speed restricted zone, REGARDLESS of you not exceeding that speed limit.

Either way, that's the rule I follow and I think it's safer from all points of view because I understand why it's a safer practice in built-up areas. Just be patient when driving - There's plenty of opportunity to have fun on the open road after you have left the 30/40 zone.

Not True

[Mk5 GTian]

From the OP's original post it does not seem he was actually breaking any law other than overtaking  a dawdler?

I barely needed to touch the speed limit, he was going so slowly.

....I think you should check this out: As far as I know, you are NOT allowed to overtake a moving vehicle while in a 30 or 40 mph speed restricted zone, REGARDLESS of you not exceeding that speed limit.

Either way, that's the rule I follow and I think it's safer from all points of view because I understand why it's a safer practice in built-up areas. Just be patient when driving - There's plenty of opportunity to have fun on the open road after you have left the 30/40 zone.

Not True

Can you expand on that Garrardrj?

[b16vrg]

Pretty sure you can overtake in a 30/40, just gotta be safe to do so. Round my way its all tractors, horse riders and cyclists so you never get anywhere quick!!