Pete Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 Our local paper is following this as it happened here... http://www.shropshirestar.com/show_article.php?aID=41845 The Director of Public Prosecutions was today challenging a court’s refusal to convict a Shropshire police constable of speeding and dangerous driving, after he reached 159mph on a motorway. Constable Mark Milton, 38, from Telford, was recorded by the patrol car’s video camera on the M54 in the early hours of December 5, 2003. But District Judge Bruce Morgan acquitted him at Ludlow Magistrates’ Court after describing the constable as the “creme de la creme” of police drivers. Today judges at London’s High Court, are being asked to set aside Judge Morgan’s decision. The Ludlow district judge heard that Constable Milton was trained in advanced driving skills and was “familiarising” himself with a new car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobbeh Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 “creme de la creme” - Makes you sick to the back teeth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Terry S Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 Funny how selective they are, years back they did Alain Prost ( I think it was) for something similar, and he could steer a bit... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imi Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 And what about those rally drivers that got stopped between the stages of the british rally...... I hope they get this guy.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted January 31, 2006 Author Share Posted January 31, 2006 As much as it grieves me to say it....but it was very early hours with no traffic on the road. I would consider it as safe speed on that road in my Supra if I'd been caught. Rally drivers were speeding on normal roads in normal hours? I don't know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 throw the book at him! if that would have been any of us we would be looking at time for that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supragal Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 It's ok, it's a police car and he's a Class One driver, that means his car is made out of foam and causes zero damage if it collides with something/someone. Just disintegrates into a puff of smoke I guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chilli Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 arn't the police supposed to set an example for all of us after all, how can they expect the general public to abide by the law if they can't do it themselves... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoboblio Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 *sticks neck out* The guy is a properly trained policeman. Ok so it may not have been particularly wise for him to reach those speeds on a public road, but ffs why take it further? There are many many people here who have reached this speed without any formal training, and in a car which may or may not have been safe for that speed (and in many cases racing against someone else). Furthermore these people would probably turn round and claim that it's ok and safe when they do it. The argument that "any of use would have been locked up for that" doesn't mean anything to me I'm afraid.... how many times have you put yourself in the line of danger to help protect ordinary people on the street that you've never met? This guy has obviously done it time and time again and there are people here who want him banned or locked up. Personally I say give the guy a break. If you think that all policeman must be perfect examples of law abiding citizens 100% of the time then you don't live in the real world! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supragal Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 I just think that they should punish him in some way, not saying lock him up or whatever but something. Case law in the making. Next time someone does this they need ot be very careful about how their punishment measures against what this guy gets. being a trained driver is all well and good, doesn't stop a tyre blowing out, an animal running out etc etc being a good driver doesn't mean you are invincible or can control or react to every situation, some thigns are out of anyones control. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoboblio Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 I think that they should make him recite the 11th commandment - "Thou shalt not get caught" I agree that they need to show everyone that 159mph can be dangerous even if you are a trained policeman etc etc.... but I don't see how having already appeared infront of a judge, someone else with a grudge has had to dig it up all over again to try and score brownie points from the "speed kills" crowd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imi Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 Like the way the judge said....he was testing out the capabilities of the car....hmm..since when has that been allowed on public roads. At the very least, they should come up with a better excuse / reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobbeh Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 being a trained driver is all well and good, doesn't stop a tyre blowing out, an animal running out etc etc being a good driver doesn't mean you are invincible or can control or react to every situation, some thigns are out of anyones control. Precisely! This was the exact same argument they got me on despite my complaints about the harrassment. What if someone was crossing the road, what if you had a blowout, what if a frigging meteor fell out of the sky, you cant win. They are only interested in the speed figure, and this guy got off simply because he was a cop. His driving skill is irrelavant at those speeds. Its not even as if he was driving in anything other than a straight line! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 *sticks neck out* The guy is a properly trained policeman. Ok so it may not have been particularly wise for him to reach those speeds on a public road, but ffs why take it further? There are many many people here who have reached this speed without any formal training, and in a car which may or may not have been safe for that speed (and in many cases racing against someone else). Furthermore these people would probably turn round and claim that it's ok and safe when they do it. The argument that "any of use would have been locked up for that" doesn't mean anything to me I'm afraid.... how many times have you put yourself in the line of danger to help protect ordinary people on the street that you've never met? This guy has obviously done it time and time again and there are people here who want him banned or locked up. Personally I say give the guy a break. If you think that all policeman must be perfect examples of law abiding citizens 100% of the time then you don't live in the real world! when they are on duty they should be setting an example,if they want to test the cars ability then rent a test track like the bobbys do where I live,they use an old abandoned air field,that guy has no excuse to do those sort of speeds on the public road-even in a chase I doubt he would be advised by his superiors to do that sort of speed-thats what police helicopters are for ,its 160mph ! thats a lot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outatime Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 "The Ludlow district judge heard that Constable Milton was trained in advanced driving skills and was “familiarising” himself with a new car." So he was caught doing 159mph in a car he wasn't familiar with? I'd love to know how the court justified him doing 83mph in a 30 zone, advanced driver or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supragal Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 I'd love to know how the court justified him doing 83mph in a 30 zone, advanced driver or not. Really? I thought it was just 159 on a Mway. 83 in a 30 is inexcusable. He was off duty too. Risky enough doing in excess of 30 in a 30 with the blues on, let alone like he did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 Really? I thought it was just 159 on a Mway. 83 in a 30 is inexcusable. He was off duty too. Risky enough doing in excess of 30 in a 30 with the blues on, let alone like he did. for me ,if he was off duty he should face the same punishment as a normal civilian as thats what he is when he is not working. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outatime Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 I read he was caught by camera gear in his own car. He went out on a jolly, not signing any paperwork and didn't realise the onboard camera was operational as it was a new car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted January 31, 2006 Author Share Posted January 31, 2006 Reminds me of the other night. It was very wet and I was behaving myself (for a change) down the dual carriage way. A police Volvo came off the slip road and joined the road, I over took him gingerly at about 70 then pulled in. He pulls out, floors it and goes like a nutter (90/100) past me and the other traffic. No blues or anything. In the wet. In rush hour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supragal Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 I read he was caught by camera gear in his own car. He went out on a jolly, not signing any paperwork and didn't realise the onboard camera was operational as it was a new car. he had a younger officer in the car didn't he? I can just imagine it. Showing off. Of course I don't know that, just looks that way Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Class One Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 Well personally I think he hasn't got a leg to stand on. ACPO recently reiterated guidelines about what Police Officers can use their exemptions for and road testing or familiarisation doesn't come into it. He can't possibly justify the speeds he did to familiarise himself with the car, and tbh it only takes a few minutes or so for one to get used to steering braking balance and handling characteristics or a car they haven't driven before and you don't need to got wazzing around at breakneck speeds in order to do so. I have very little if any sympathy for him, he took the piss and got caught. he should know as a Class One advanced driver that its about arriving alive, not arriving first.(I expect he wasn't well liked at his traffic garage and when he "fumbled the ball" they pounced. Funny how there seems to be little support from his colleagues or indeed the federation on this one. Advanced driving is as much about attitude as ability, and it seems that his attitude is all wrong. Doesn;t matter how much training you've had if it goes wrong the outcome is the same. HOWEVER, on a token note, I expect there are some here who have "explored the envelope of performance" of their cars, and if caught doing so would, more than likely look for a defence or offer some mitigation if it went to court. And I remember this one ran and ran last year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesmark Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 it should carry what we get, throw the book at him even possible sent away like we woudl get Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blert596 Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 As much as it grieves me to say it....but it was very early hours with no traffic on the road. I would consider it as safe speed on that road in my Supra if I'd been caught. Rally drivers were speeding on normal roads in normal hours? I don't know. And I got pulled for doing 81mph on the M6. 3 lanes and not another car in sight. *sticks neck out* The guy is a properly trained policeman. Ok so it may not have been particularly wise for him to reach those speeds on a public road, but ffs why take it further? There are many many people here who have reached this speed without any formal training, and in a car which may or may not have been safe for that speed (and in many cases racing against someone else). Furthermore these people would probably turn round and claim that it's ok and safe when they do it. The argument that "any of use would have been locked up for that" doesn't mean anything to me I'm afraid.... how many times have you put yourself in the line of danger to help protect ordinary people on the street that you've never met? This guy has obviously done it time and time again and there are people here who want him banned or locked up. Personally I say give the guy a break. If you think that all policeman must be perfect examples of law abiding citizens 100% of the time then you don't live in the real world! Well, Ive served in the Falklands, The Gulf and Bosnia. Am I exempt my 3 points for my 81mph. He broke the speed limit. End of. Or are we advocating all people who have driving skills are immune to the law of the land. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesmark Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 burn him at the steak Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chilli Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 I think his training (or lack of) it is irrelavent, the law is the law, the speed limit is the speed limit and that should apply to all of use equally. The speed limit doesn't change because you are an expert, a copper, a racing driver etc Ok so if they want to be leanient because of the particular circumstances (time of day, risk to others) then fine, but that has to apply equally to everyone, no special treatment because of who you are or who you know ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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