News that 6 million motorists have forgotten about their MoT doesn't come as a surprise. It's human nature afterall. But the Government tried a few years to change the rules as part of a clampdown on this issue. Obviously they wanted to rake in a few quid by hammering people with late payments fines.
But to find that one in five of us have been late is a surprise. Especially doing it later than a month overdue.
So we like the idea of having an email reminder to get it done.
Except we will probably forget to act upon it!!
* Apologies for being away. Did I miss anything!!
* Good luck to all the security people in London this week. I think you will be needing it. It's a shame you roll out the carpet for security for a waste of space like Gordon Brown but can't do it for the people who pay your wages.
* So the Home Secretary has been found with her nose in the trough. Again. So what her hubby likes fanny flicks. He can do what he likes. Just as long as I am not paying for it!!
One in five motorists has been more than a month overdue when renewing their MoT, a survey has shown.
Tuesday 31 March 2009
Friday 6 March 2009
Motorist stopped by police for laughing
NBot only should this be beyond belief but just about everyone isn't surprised. This is what happens in a police state. The coppers just make the laws up as they go along.
To compound matters, the officer then spent 35 minutes questioning this poor man, trying to find something else to have him for. To ask an alopecia sufferer what colour his hair was is beyond the pale.
Will the force concerned apologise and 're-train' the officer? What do you think.
Anyway, the Daily Telegraph did a good job on this tale. Read it and shake your head slowly like the rest of us.
A motorist was stopped by a police officer and questioned because he was laughing at the wheel.
When Mr Saunders got out of his car, the policeman told him: 'Laughing while driving a car can be an offence.'
Gary Saunders, a company director, was using a hands-free phone when he burst out laughing at a joke told by his brother-in-law, who he was talking to.
A few moments later he noticed a traffic officer flashing his lights at him and gesticulating at him to stop his Renault.
When Mr Saunders got out of his car, the policeman told him: "Laughing while driving a car can be an offence."
The officer spent half an hour questioning his suspect before reluctantly allowing him to carry on his way.
However, he took another hour-and-a-half of Mr Saunders' time by ordering him to produce his licence and other documents at a police station.
Mr Saunders, the managing director of Spontex Workwear, of Liverpool, said the delay meant that he missed an important appointment.
"I couldn't believe it when he told me I'd been pulled over for laughing," he said.
"I was driving very safely in the Birkenhead Tunnel and took a call.
"He said something funny and I was laughing - simple as that. I never took my eyes off the road and was in full control of the car.
"I definitely wasn't speeding so I asked what the problem was and he told me I was laughing too much."
He went on: "The officer accused me of throwing my head back in a dangerous way, which I denied since it is definitely not something I do.
"It became a bit ridiculous when he wanted to know the colour of my hair as I have alopecia and there isn't a hair on my head.
"When I pointed this out he asked: 'What colour was your hair when you had some?'
"It went from ludicrous to unbelievable. He definitely had a bee in his bonnet about something and I got the brunt of it.
"In the end he reluctantly admitted that he had nothing he could accuse me of, but still required me to take my documents to the station."
Supt Kevin Hagger, of the Mersey Tunnels Police, said: "I wouldn't want to make a comment as I don't know the full details.
"There is no record of the incident in the system so it seems the gentleman was just spoken to by the officer and the matter not taken any further."
A spokesman for the Association of British Drivers said: "This is a shocking example of the police harassing innocent motorists simply because they are an easy target.
"To suggest that a driver could be prosecuted for laughing is ludicrous beyond belief. What next? Can we expect to hear of people being stopped for sneezing or coughing while they are at the wheel?"
Captain Gatso
The Motorists Friend
To compound matters, the officer then spent 35 minutes questioning this poor man, trying to find something else to have him for. To ask an alopecia sufferer what colour his hair was is beyond the pale.
Will the force concerned apologise and 're-train' the officer? What do you think.
Anyway, the Daily Telegraph did a good job on this tale. Read it and shake your head slowly like the rest of us.
A motorist was stopped by a police officer and questioned because he was laughing at the wheel.
When Mr Saunders got out of his car, the policeman told him: 'Laughing while driving a car can be an offence.'
Gary Saunders, a company director, was using a hands-free phone when he burst out laughing at a joke told by his brother-in-law, who he was talking to.
A few moments later he noticed a traffic officer flashing his lights at him and gesticulating at him to stop his Renault.
When Mr Saunders got out of his car, the policeman told him: "Laughing while driving a car can be an offence."
The officer spent half an hour questioning his suspect before reluctantly allowing him to carry on his way.
However, he took another hour-and-a-half of Mr Saunders' time by ordering him to produce his licence and other documents at a police station.
Mr Saunders, the managing director of Spontex Workwear, of Liverpool, said the delay meant that he missed an important appointment.
"I couldn't believe it when he told me I'd been pulled over for laughing," he said.
"I was driving very safely in the Birkenhead Tunnel and took a call.
"He said something funny and I was laughing - simple as that. I never took my eyes off the road and was in full control of the car.
"I definitely wasn't speeding so I asked what the problem was and he told me I was laughing too much."
He went on: "The officer accused me of throwing my head back in a dangerous way, which I denied since it is definitely not something I do.
"It became a bit ridiculous when he wanted to know the colour of my hair as I have alopecia and there isn't a hair on my head.
"When I pointed this out he asked: 'What colour was your hair when you had some?'
"It went from ludicrous to unbelievable. He definitely had a bee in his bonnet about something and I got the brunt of it.
"In the end he reluctantly admitted that he had nothing he could accuse me of, but still required me to take my documents to the station."
Supt Kevin Hagger, of the Mersey Tunnels Police, said: "I wouldn't want to make a comment as I don't know the full details.
"There is no record of the incident in the system so it seems the gentleman was just spoken to by the officer and the matter not taken any further."
A spokesman for the Association of British Drivers said: "This is a shocking example of the police harassing innocent motorists simply because they are an easy target.
"To suggest that a driver could be prosecuted for laughing is ludicrous beyond belief. What next? Can we expect to hear of people being stopped for sneezing or coughing while they are at the wheel?"
Captain Gatso
The Motorists Friend
Wednesday 4 March 2009
Strange case of the man terrified of speed cameras
It's almost beyond belief but I have an understanding of how this man feels. I have issues whenever I drive past a speed camera. Sadly, I don't think I would get a speed camera partnership to help me overcome my anger.
Anyway, good luck to Colin Gant who couldn't drive past said cameras because he had a phobia.
Let's hope he doesn't get any points now that he has been 'cured' by the speed camera partnership!
Though I would have thought the easiest solution would be to remove the speed cameras from the road.
Captain Gatso
The Motorists Friend
Anyway, good luck to Colin Gant who couldn't drive past said cameras because he had a phobia.
Let's hope he doesn't get any points now that he has been 'cured' by the speed camera partnership!
Though I would have thought the easiest solution would be to remove the speed cameras from the road.
Captain Gatso
The Motorists Friend
Tuesday 3 March 2009
Another reason for me to hate cyclists
I don't normally comment on other blogs having a pop at me but I'll just say that this fella must be feeling very proud of himself. And the BBC, typically, bends over at the first sign of trouble.
So there we have it. Cyclists are the enemies of democracy. Freedom of speech. Forget it. Freedom of expression. Don't bother.
It probably stems from the fact that I am fed up with cyclists breaking the law on such a regular basis. The rules of the road apply equally (which is one of the main thrusts of our (MAD's) argument).
Plus I think cyclists should have their cycles registered so the police know who to arrest - or as is more likely, who to post the fines to.
I just cannot be bothered with their inane witterings.
Captain Gatso
The Motorists' Friend
http://captaingatso.net
Here is the blog....
Deleted!
I complained to the director of BBC News about the BBC News website supplying a link to the website of Captain Gatso, as outlined here.
Yesterday I had a reply from a BBC news editor:
I entirely agree that it was inappropriate to link to the "Captain Gatso" website from the story on our London index.
I have had the link removed from the story and taken the opportunity not to link to that site again unless there is a specific editorial reason so to do.
So there we have it. Cyclists are the enemies of democracy. Freedom of speech. Forget it. Freedom of expression. Don't bother.
It probably stems from the fact that I am fed up with cyclists breaking the law on such a regular basis. The rules of the road apply equally (which is one of the main thrusts of our (MAD's) argument).
Plus I think cyclists should have their cycles registered so the police know who to arrest - or as is more likely, who to post the fines to.
I just cannot be bothered with their inane witterings.
Captain Gatso
The Motorists' Friend
http://captaingatso.net
Here is the blog....
Deleted!
I complained to the director of BBC News about the BBC News website supplying a link to the website of Captain Gatso, as outlined here.
Yesterday I had a reply from a BBC news editor:
I entirely agree that it was inappropriate to link to the "Captain Gatso" website from the story on our London index.
I have had the link removed from the story and taken the opportunity not to link to that site again unless there is a specific editorial reason so to do.
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