Thursday, December 31, 2009

In Praise Of Northamptonshire Police

The last time I mentioned them it was to criticise their response after a previous experience. So it is only fair to praise them now that I've had a more positive experience.

For reasons that aren't very interesting I had to register a car in my name today. Registering it is a necessary first step before taxing it, so I drove to the DVLA centre in Northampton. I was therefore driving an untaxed car but I figured the chances of being caught out this one time were minimal. So I was horrified when blue lights started flashing on the black BMW behind me and it was clear that I was being pulled over.

I had clearly broken the law and I was convinced that at a minimum I would have points on my licence and would probably have a motoring conviction too. If the officer had been interested in making his numbers look impressive he could easily have booked me. However once I explained what I was doing and showed him the completed DVLA form on my front seat he said he didn't want to book someone who was trying to do the right thing in getting the vehicle legal and after checking my details let me off with just a verbal warning.

This will probably surprise people given the reputation of Northamptonshire Police with respect to motorists, but I found them reasonable, flexible and far from the quota obsessed jobsworths I had feared. So I'm extremely grateful to the officer in question and my lesson has been learned.

13 comments:

JuliaM said...

Good for him, and that earns them more goodwill from the public, doesn't it?

James Higham said...

Maybe that was because you were reasonable and flexible too.

Hogdayafternoon said...

Nothing quite like getting a conversation off to the right start. If either or both parties fail the attitude test then either or both parties usually get what they deserve. Glad it worked for you.

Mark Wadsworth said...

Yeah, but did you actually tax it in the end, or do you now just drive round with the completed documents in the glove box just in case you get stopped?

Ross said...

Julia- yes, when law abiding, or in my case only law breaking, people aren't worried about interacting with the police it is a good thing for all concerned.

James, Hogday- There is a lot to that. Had I come out demanding my ights I would have probably made matters worse.

Mark- That thought has occurred to me.... but no I mustn't be tempted.

Mark Wadsworth said...

Ross, I note that you don't post using your real name.

In case your local constabulary stumble across this blog and fancy nicking you on the rebound, I'd like to inform them that you are actually Mr David J Hawkins, of No 158 Ardington Road, NN1 5LT, mobile 07939 555 894.

banned said...

Well done that Officer indeed. Things might also have been different had plastic plod been given powers to pull over and examine motorists.
It really is very handy having a proper DVLC Centre close by, ours runs very well and is much more satisfactory than sending your stuff off to an anonymous postcode in Swansea.

Happy New Year to you.

D. Hawkins. said...

I've just had the police kick my door down and take my car, happy now Mark?

Anonymous said...

This information is true

Matthew said...

Presumably the car wasn't insured either?

Ross said...

Rather amazingly it was, although I hadn't realised that until he looked up my details and told me that I was insured.

Talk about luck!

Matthew said...

Ah OK - so you're insured to drive any car? I did wonder though whether that would be valid on an unregistered/untaxed car.

Ross said...

I wondered that too until the police officer told me I was covered.