159mph speeding charge Pc cleared

[autopilot]

Just wondering what peoples thoughts were on this story. I must admit I am sitting on the fence with this one, but can clearly see both sides.

A police constable who reached 159mph on a motorway has been cleared of speeding and dangerous driving.

Pc Mark Milton, 38, from Telford, Shropshire, was recorded by the patrol car's video camera on the M54 in 2003, Ludlow Magistrates' Court heard.

District Judge Bruce Morgan acquitted him after calling the constable the "creme de la creme" of police drivers.

Pc Milton is trained in advanced driving and was "familiarising himself" with a new car, the court was told.

BBC News - Wednesday, 18 May, 2005

I have to admit, I see the judges point of view that West Mercia police (my local force), who brought the charges forward, are the real people at fault here and need better polices.

But if you applied this logic to firearms, would it be ok to take a gun out and take a few practice shots in public? Some would say this is just a dangerous and irresponsble.

So is this yet another case of the police getting away with it simply because they are the police?

And does this not prove they are above the law? I mean, there was no emergency to attend. I am of the understanding that unless of a proper orgainsed training activity or call out, they can't brake the speed limits.

What if things had gone wrong that night and someone had been killed? Would he have got off scott free?

But then I also see that these people need to be ready to drive at these speeds in an emergency and need practice.

Thoughts?

[Allen]

http://forums.hexus.net/showthread.php?t=45617

[Tifosi]

That's over twice the national speed limit, and let's face it when it comes to an actual accident there is no way he will manage 160mph on a motorway with traffic.

TBH although it was the early hours of the morning I guess its less punishable but it really shouldn't happen. Plus I don't think the quality of British roads is good enough to warrant 160 safely.

If he needs to practice they should do so on a closed circuit like Millbrook and even there the fourth lane has a 200mph speed limit and it's banked.

Alternatively he should visit the Autobahn

[Grey M@a]

Yet another case of the bent coppers looking after their own. Thhis is the third time a copper has got off with it since Jan this year. This is beyond a joke, all of those out there with points for doing 5mph over the limit then you have fools likes this doing just shy of 160mph, its a disgrace. Personally I feel if we are done for a few miles an hour over so should coppers, once they are off duty they aren't a copper so why don't they apply to the laws.

Its a sorry state this country is getting into. Next time I get caught speeding I will say "i am familiarising myself with the car" if they kick up a fuss I will point them to that case. Whats next, murderers getting away with it as they were testing their knife, a pedophile getting away with it because they were getting to know the child. Absolute nonesense, that copper needs his license stripped even if he needs it for work or not. I am sorry, its not one law for us and another for them, which we all know is in practice as the coppers will look after their own.

[Oakey]

Yet another case of the bent coppers looking after their own. Thhis is the third time a copper has got off with it since Jan this year. This is beyond a joke, all of those out there with points for doing 5mph over the limit then you have fools likes this doing just shy of 160mph, its a disgrace. Personally I feel if we are done for a few miles an hour over so should coppers, once they are off duty they aren't a copper so why don't they apply to the laws.

Its a sorry state this country is getting into. Next time I get caught speeding I will say "i am familiarising myself with the car" if they kick up a fuss I will point them to that case. Whats next, murderers getting away with it as they were testing their knife, a pedophile getting away with it because they were getting to know the child. Absolute nonesense, that copper needs his license stripped even if he needs it for work or not. I am sorry, its not one law for us and another for them, which we all know is in practice as the coppers will look after their own.

Exactly! Just because he's a police officer specialised in high pursuit driving doesn't give him an excuse to "familiarise himself with his car" when he sees fit. And just to prove this excuse isn't accaptable for those who aren't police officers;

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/3257523.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/motorsport/767712.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3020617.stm

(Okay those last two were in France but the same excuse didn't hold up then and they're F1 drivers)

[Skii]

Frankly I'm too bloody angry to write anything half coherent.

Bent corrupt b*****ds.

[Grey M@a]

Over the last 2 years we've seen 12 members of society in high positions of the police, government etc get away with speeding I am tempted tog et a petition together and write a letter to the minister of transport to lodge my complaints. If I get three points for being a few MPH over the limit, he is 60mph over the limit of the banned marker and 90mph over the speed limit.

[autopilot]

And does anyone rememer a year or so ago when that ambulance driver was done for speeding - when he was delivering a heart from one hospital to another for a live saving transplant. Makes me sick!

[muddyfox470]

Wow news local to me

Go shropshire !!!

My opinion on this topic (i don't have one!)
What was he really doing going that fast, any particular reasoning behind that?!
(I heard it on the news thats about it!)

Ian

[Grey M@a]

Read the story, his reason was "to familirise himself with the car"

[Oakey]

If he wants to familiarise himself with the car, he should have taken it on a trackday like any of us would have to. Public roads aren't the personal playground of the police.

[iranu]

If he wants to familiarise himself with the car, he should have taken it on a trackday like any of us would have to. Public roads aren't the personal playground of the police.

Too right. The next time I'm caught doing 100mph my defence will be: I am the creme de la creme of the public and I was familiarising myself with my car.

Watch as I'm marched off to the cells faster than well.....160mph.

No wonder we are losing respect for authority in this country.

[Zak33]

it got worse

he did 84 in a 30mph limit

and 130 on a 60 mph limited A road.

When people such as Johnny Herbert and Nigel Mansell get points on THEIR licences AT THE PEAK OF THEIR MOTORSPORT CAREERS for doing less speed.....how on EARTH can some copper be better drivers then them?

How many Old Bill can compete with F1 drivers?

Sickened, and bleedin angry about this.....mad even

[tillyoubreakit]

You guys need to come to germany then. One of our school bus drivers ignored a warning sign in the bus and draged a kid along the side of the bus for 5km because his backpack was stuck in the door while closing. After he stopped, the kid got out and fell, and the busdriver backedup over his head and killed him right there. The driver got a 300€ fine and 3weeks license suspension.

I got caught doing 94 in a 45 zone and got a 600€ fine, 4 month suspension plus driving school and 4 points.

-T

[Theo]

While I am dead against speeding of any sort (except emergency services IN emergencies), this could be a positive result for idiots who like to drive faster than the speed limit. All you have to do is take an advanced driving course and you've got the right to drive at 160MPH. If they try to take your license, all you have to do is appeal and use this case as a reference, no?

[Skii]

I'd like to know what kind of emergency justifies 85 in a 30.

What good is responding to an emergency if you are putting lives at risk on the way there ?