police letter

Typhoon2000

lisyloo said:

TonyMMM said:

Driver training courses were offered for mobile phone use offences in the past, but no longer. The fixed penalty is £200 and 6 points.

You have the option of defending the allegation in court if you wish - what constitutes "use" is usually the legal point that can be argued ... losing would still be 6points, but with an income related fine and costs/charges ( which will be much higher than the £200 fixed penalty).

Just done a quick google and says if the engine is running you cannot touch your phone.
Free professional advice may be available if the OP is insured.

Speculation but I'm guessing the policy on courses changed after the letter was sent out.

Then was the engine switched of at the lights ( auto start stop or manually out of habit)?

lisyloo

[Deleted User] said:

I lisyloo said:

TonyMMM said:

Driver training courses were offered for mobile phone use offences in the past, but no longer. The fixed penalty is £200 and 6 points.

You have the option of defending the allegation in court if you wish - what constitutes "use" is usually the legal point that can be argued ... losing would still be 6points, but with an income related fine and costs/charges ( which will be much higher than the £200 fixed penalty).

Just done a quick google and says if the engine is running you cannot touch your phone.
Free professional advice may be available if the OP is insured.

Speculation but I'm guessing the policy on courses changed after the letter was sent out.

Google isn’t necessarily your friend - that info is not correct.

The policy on courses changed many months ago.

Yep. I would be calling my legal insurance (which I always make sure I have) for professional advice.
never sure why it’s so hard for people to spend 10 mins checking their insurance policy ??

maisie_cat

lisyloo said:

TonyMMM said:

Driver training courses were offered for mobile phone use offences in the past, but no longer. The fixed penalty is £200 and 6 points.

You have the option of defending the allegation in court if you wish - what constitutes "use" is usually the legal point that can be argued ... losing would still be 6points, but with an income related fine and costs/charges ( which will be much higher than the £200 fixed penalty).

Just done a quick google and says if the engine is running you cannot touch your phone.
Free professional advice may be available if the OP is insured.

Speculation but I'm guessing the policy on courses changed after the letter was sent out.

How would a photo "prove" that the engine was running if the vehicle was stationary? My car engine turns itself off when stopped, in neutral and handbrake on and if I'm stuck in traffic I often turn it off myself. I don't actually use my phone driving but makes me wonder.

Belenus

[Deleted User] said:

lisyloo said:

TonyMMM said:

Driver training courses were offered for mobile phone use offences in the past, but no longer. The fixed penalty is £200 and 6 points.

You have the option of defending the allegation in court if you wish - what constitutes "use" is usually the legal point that can be argued ... losing would still be 6points, but with an income related fine and costs/charges ( which will be much higher than the £200 fixed penalty).

Just done a quick google and says if the engine is running you cannot touch your phone.
Free professional advice may be available if the OP is insured.

Speculation but I'm guessing the policy on courses changed after the letter was sent out.

Google isn’t necessarily your friend - that info is not correct.

The policy on courses changed many months ago.

Is there a National Policy or does it vary by Police Authority/Force?

Aretnap

maisie_cat said:

lisyloo said:

TonyMMM said:

Driver training courses were offered for mobile phone use offences in the past, but no longer. The fixed penalty is £200 and 6 points.

You have the option of defending the allegation in court if you wish - what constitutes "use" is usually the legal point that can be argued ... losing would still be 6points, but with an income related fine and costs/charges ( which will be much higher than the £200 fixed penalty).

Just done a quick google and says if the engine is running you cannot touch your phone.
Free professional advice may be available if the OP is insured.

Speculation but I'm guessing the policy on courses changed after the letter was sent out.

How would a photo "prove" that the engine was running if the vehicle was stationary? My car engine turns itself off when stopped, in neutral and handbrake on and if I'm stuck in traffic I often turn it off myself. I don't actually use my phone driving but makes me wonder.

There's no need to prove whether the engine is running. Someone stopped at traffic lights is still driving for the purposes of road traffic law. It makes no difference whether the engine is running out not.

sheramber

The OP hasn't denied that he was using his phone.

diystarter7

maisie_cat said:

lisyloo said:

TonyMMM said:

Driver training courses were offered for mobile phone use offences in the past, but no longer. The fixed penalty is £200 and 6 points.

You have the option of defending the allegation in court if you wish - what constitutes "use" is usually the legal point that can be argued ... losing would still be 6points, but with an income related fine and costs/charges ( which will be much higher than the £200 fixed penalty).

Just done a quick google and says if the engine is running you cannot touch your phone.
Free professional advice may be available if the OP is insured.

Speculation but I'm guessing the policy on courses changed after the letter was sent out.

How would a photo "prove" that the engine was running if the vehicle was stationary? My car engine turns itself off when stopped, in neutral and handbrake on and if I'm stuck in traffic I often turn it off myself. I don't actually use my phone driving but makes me wonder.

No need to provie anyhting.

The rules are and a quote from the RAC

The law still applies if a driver is stopped at traffic lights, queuing in traffic, supervising a learner driver, or using a car that has a start/stop engine when you're not moving.

https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/legal/mobile-phone-laws/

lisyloo

maisie_cat said:

lisyloo said:

TonyMMM said:

Driver training courses were offered for mobile phone use offences in the past, but no longer. The fixed penalty is £200 and 6 points.

You have the option of defending the allegation in court if you wish - what constitutes "use" is usually the legal point that can be argued ... losing would still be 6points, but with an income related fine and costs/charges ( which will be much higher than the £200 fixed penalty).

Just done a quick google and says if the engine is running you cannot touch your phone.
Free professional advice may be available if the OP is insured.

Speculation but I'm guessing the policy on courses changed after the letter was sent out.

How would a photo "prove" that the engine was running if the vehicle was stationary? My car engine turns itself off when stopped, in neutral and handbrake on and if I'm stuck in traffic I often turn it off myself. I don't actually use my phone driving but makes me wonder.

A photo would not. A video might.
You may be able to see the evidence beforehand.
Personally I like to have legal cover (not for getting away with bad behaviour but for getting correct up to date information).
For a small cost per year (sometimes free on house insurance), it's very worthwhile IMO.

lemondrops69

From Government website

It’s illegal to hold and use a phone, sat nav, tablet, or any device that can send or receive data, while driving or riding a motorcycle.

This means you must not use a device in your hand for any reason, whether online or offline.

For example, you must not text, make calls, take photos or videos, or browse the web.

The law still applies to you if you’re:

• stopped at traffic lights
• queuing in traffic
• supervising a learner driver
• driving a car that turns off the engine when you stop moving
• holding and using a device that’s offline or in flight mode

Exceptions

You can use a device held in your hand if:

• you need to call 999 or 112 in an emergency and it’s unsafe or impractical to stop
• you’re safely parked
• you’re making a contactless payment in a vehicle that is not moving, for example at a drive-through restaurant
• you’re using the device to park your vehicle remotely

You can still use a CB radio if you're driving as they are still permitted, good buddy 

Petriix

There's no excuse for interacting with a hand-held phone while in the driver's seat (unless safely parked). It's fine to use your phone if it's mounted, as long as you're not distracted. I've got no idea why everyone doesn't simply mount their phone to the dash. The vent mounted magnetic holders are great.