Can Police disobey traffic signs at all times?

wazza

I know that when an emergency vehicle is answering a call they can disobey traffic laws/signs. They can go up the one-way street in the opposite direction, do U-turns when not allowed or ignore no-entry signs etc.

Can the police, if not answering an emergency call, disobey traffic laws?

There is a local magistrate court located on the main road. There is a one-way side street next to it. Just as you enter the side street there is a car park on the right for the court. Numerous times i have seen police cars emerge from the car park, go along the one-way street the wrong way to join the main road. There are not on call, no lights flashing etc etc, no passengers. Are they allowed to do this?

Outpost

If what you're asking is are the police allowed to charge through red lights, speed cameras and so on when they're just cruising around on patrol and not on an emergency call then no.

When the blues and twos are going en route to an emergency then it's a different ball game.

That said of course, there will always be certain officers who want to play fast and loose with the rules, just as there are certain people in all walks of life who do the same thing. Good and bad in every job, the police service is no different just because of what they do.

People are still people.

bigjl

The blues and twos are only audible and visual warning devises. The Police don't need to have them on to perform maneuveres that would be illegal for normal.drivers. If however they were to do so and had an accident whilst performing said maneuvere then they are in deep dodo.

I don't know how the Police word it legally but in the Ambulance Service we claim exemptions from the rta, these are done so on the basis that by not claiming the exemption may be detrimental to the patient.

Again, we don't need the lights and sirens on to claim an exemption but it is advisable.

For example if you had a patient on board and they had a head injury you could break the speed limit and get flashed by a camera, as you were not displaying blue lights a NIP would be sent through and you woukd fill it in saying what exemption you were claiming and why. If you had on the blues then NIP's are not normally sent out unless.your speed was excessive and then it is sent out more to allow your Trust to tell you to wind your neck in. Not sure about the Plod but Ambos can only be done for things like Reckless or Dangerous driving, not speeding etc.

bigjl

Forgot to add, Ambulances can only go up a one way street the wrong way with Police direction, and unless it wasn't clear enough the Police don't need to have the blues and twos on to pull such maneuveres that have upset the OP.

vikingaero

How would you know that the Police aren't on a call or just their donut break? As BigJL says they don't always use blue lights and sirens and often turn them off before arriving at a scene so that the miscreants don't hear/see them.

dzug1

I think the real answer is that the law says the must not but sometimes they do. After all who's going to nick them if nothing goes wrong as a result?

Scooby_Doo.

bigjl wrote: »

The blues and twos are only audible and visual warning devises. The Police don't need to have them on to perform maneuveres that would be illegal for normal.drivers. If however they were to do so and had an accident whilst performing said maneuvere then they are in deep dodo.

I don't know how the Police word it legally but in the Ambulance Service we claim exemptions from the rta, these are done so on the basis that by not claiming the exemption may be detrimental to the patient.

Again, we don't need the lights and sirens on to claim an exemption but it is advisable.

For example if you had a patient on board and they had a head injury you could break the speed limit and get flashed by a camera, as you were not displaying blue lights a NIP would be sent through and you woukd fill it in saying what exemption you were claiming and why. If you had on the blues then NIP's are not normally sent out unless.your speed was excessive and then it is sent out more to allow your Trust to tell you to wind your neck in. Not sure about the Plod but Ambos can only be done for things like Reckless or Dangerous driving, not speeding etc.

Reckless driving was replaced by dangerous driving some years ago so no one can be done for it.;)

Not knowing you could have a ticket for no insurance either, you don't know much about the RTA do you?:D

hartcjhart

I think OP has an obsession with red lights etc

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3217938

Scooby_Doo.

vikingaero wrote: »

How would you know that the Police aren't on a call or just their donut break? As BigJL says they don't always use blue lights and sirens and often turn them off before arriving at a scene so that the miscreants don't hear/see them.

May as well leave them on as the rev the nuts of the diesel cars and can be heard comming from streets away.

redbull5

No they cant

bigjl

Scooby_Doo. wrote: »

Reckless driving was replaced by dangerous driving some years ago so no one can be done for it.;)

Not knowing you could have a ticket for no insurance either, you don't know much about the RTA do you?:D

You really are a pedant.

It won't be long before the user name you are using now is also banned.

You will soon be running out public libraries to rejoin from.

Nice to see that you continue to post abusive rubbish aimed at those that are in a position to know more about certain things.

Funnily.enough i am:) not a Policeman and currently the Government and CPS doesn't ask for my permission regarding what they call offences, as such there is no