Will I get a ticket?

Markb06

Before anyone has a go yes I was in the wrong.

I was speeding through the tunnels in Brum and a car was following me. Turned out it was a police car. Was not a traffic or patrol car. Just a silver Peugeot with a lone officer.

I slowed down to turn off and the car then pulled next to me sounded the horn and made a slow down gesture with her hand.

I then went down my turning and the officer carried on the same way they was originally going.

Will I get a ticket?

Joe_Horner

Almost certainly not, and well done for admitting your fault - that seems pretty rare nowadays

Strider590

By your description it wasn't a traffic car, as such wasn't equipped with calibrated speed detection equipment and the officer clearly knew it.

Stephen_Leak

And the "slow down "gesture was just that. Good old-fashioned policing. That also seems pretty rare these days.

OP, you got very lucky. Some lessons cannot be taught.

Lum

When it's an "officer seen" offence, as opposed to a camera offence, you have to be pulled over and given a NIP (notice of intended prosecution) by the officer. This can be either verbal or written.

Waving a hand at you doesn't count, so you'll be fine.

cyclonebri1

Good thing you didn't give a "gesture" back, :o, that would have dropped you in it:A.

Lesson learnt?

sarahg1969

Strider590 wrote: »

By your description it wasn't a traffic car, as such wasn't equipped with calibrated speed detection equipment and the officer clearly knew it.

Depending on the type of road, calibrated equipment may not be necessary. If the OP were on a motorway (and I don't know where the tunnels are in Birmingham), the opinion of one officer alone would be enough to prosecute. Elsewhere, either another witness or calibrated equipment would be required in addition.

However, as the OP was not stopped at the time, it's unlikely he has anything to worry about.

adouglasmhor

I was on holiday in Ireland many years ago and after driving on some pretty appalling A roads I hit the M7 Naas Bypass a 4 lane motorway built with European money. I put the foot down (in my Fiat Uno Fire) and got up to about 90mph. At the 1st on ramp I shot past a Guarda traffic car. They turned on the blue flashing lights, I slowed right down they flashed their headlights and drove past me as the cop in the passenger seat gave me a slow down wave. My BIL then took the chance to tell me the signage was in KPH not MPH on motorways in Ireland.

Strider590

sarahg1969 wrote: »

Depending on the type of road, calibrated equipment may not be necessary. If the OP were on a motorway (and I don't know where the tunnels are in Birmingham), the opinion of one officer alone would be enough to prosecute. Elsewhere, either another witness or calibrated equipment would be required in addition.

However, as the OP was not stopped at the time, it's unlikely he has anything to worry about.

No, thankfully "opinion" isn't enough to prosecute for speeding offences.
If it's a ROSPA trained Police driver, they MIGHT get you to court with a "careless" or "dangerous" driving, but it'd just get thrown out.

Many a time i've driven through my parents village in the Westfield at a mere 25mph (due to speed bumps) and had folk shouting and waving at me to slow down. JUST because the car makes a lot of noise (especially at low speed on hot days with the occasional flame "popping" from the exhaust), they assume I must be driving over the speed limit........

So if opinions could prosecute, i'd have no licence by now.

sarahg1969

The opinion evidence of one police officer is sufficient on special roads. Whether or not the courts decide to accept that the opinion is correct is a different matter.

C_Mababejive

I think you;ll be fine. Take that as a near miss warning. Drive in the next gear down which will help to control your speed.