FOAK - NIP query from transport police

SWMBO and I were somewhat surprised to receive a NIP from the
Transport Police regarding 'Failure to observe a traffic sign' at a
level crossing. She has to advise who was driving. However the truth
is we are not sure as we can't place any such 'failure' at all. So
what is this likely to be about, and how do we (respectfully!) say
'We don't know - was it a man or a woman'?

I am particularly pi$$ed off as I have literally only just passed my
LGV C+E test (hurrah!) and observation is a crucial part of all this.
(It is also why I haven't been round UKRM for the last three months.)
Neither of us have ever incurred points before in 30-40 years
driving/riding - which may sound boring, but I would really like to
keep it that way!

Cheers

Chris D

 

Simple, you write back and ask for the photographic evidence. The form
should have something about this in fact?

 

Interesting there is no mention of this. The SAE supplied for return
of the form (to the transport police in Derby) has a different
address from the one on the letter (normal police in Beeston, Notts).
To whom do I make the request?

In fact the whole thing seems a bit dodgy. They give a specific time
of the 'offence' but do not mention which direction the vehicle (our
van) was travelling, nor what sign is supposed to have been ignored.

I have photographed and measured the site today and there are a
number of, er, safety issues since the thing was rebuilt about a year
ago - which are frankly very dangerous for pedestrians and the
hundreds of horsey girls that seem to use the roads around here. I
guess now wouldn't be a good time to point these out, although they
might have some relevance?

Chris D

 

Are these the amoral cunts who have perfectly legitimate laws to enforce?


Given that this appears to be a level crossing, I have very little
sympathy. The timings on crossings are tight and impacts above 40mph are
very likely to derail the train and harm the traincrew and passengers.

 

He wasn't and my ire wasn't directed at him. More Des with his the gov't
are the man.

BTP are a bunch of cunts anyway: "Too shit for the Met".

 

Not being allowed to pile a car into a train is a pretty legitimate law
in my book.

 

With whom?

As things are, we don't even know what alleged offence has been
contravened, nor in what way!

As for tight timings, the amber displays for just two seconds before
the reds start and the barriers come down. It is then two minutes
overall before a train arrives. In one direction the lights and
barriers are 25m (I measured it!) from the tracks. A vehicle
travelling slowly (20 mph? - it is bumpy and on a bend after all)
over the crossing could therefore find itself 'locked in' on the
rails and never even see amber - and as for pedestrians or horses...!
Well it is 42m between the sets of barriers - enough for a couple of
artics or so?

....but we don't even know if its lights. It says 'sign' in the
letter. Is a traffic light a sign in this context? There is bu**er
all else to contravene - although, as a teenager 38 years ago, since
receiving a wagging finger warning from a police officer, personlly I
have religiously avoided the double white lines on the approaches.
SWMBO just doesn't do 'illegal', ok?

Chris D

 

Look you thick twat, you are a driver, therefore you are a legitimate
source of taxation unto the seventh generation. If you don't fucking
like it then try fucking voting.


Welcome back by the way.

 

People who deliberately jump LC lights - not that I'm saying you did -
and for the record I'm a train driver and have seen the results of others
misfortune and shit myself with some pretty close calls.

The photo should prove it one way or another. As others have said this
the first point of call. Bear in mind BTP are, on the whole, idiots.
Did I mention I have a low opinion of them?

Depends what type of crossing - sounds like it's full barriers which are
controlled by a signalbox and the signal for the train isn't cleared
until the signalman has checked the crossing is clear (CCTV).

If it's half barrier the timings can be as little as 20 seconds between
barriers start and train arrival. As the exits aren't blocked you have
an escape but get stuck and it's all over.

Yes. The penalty camera should be linked to the red - in the same way as
they are on traffic lights.

 

No.

 

Trouble is, if you reply to the faux-yid, many sensible folk won't
realise it, as he won't appear in the thread of those sensible enough
to have kf'd him. So it only causes confusion.

--
_______
..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
\`\ | /`/ DS#8 BOTAFOT#3 SbS#2 UKRMMA#13 DFV#8 SKA#2 IBB#10
`\\ | //'
`\|/`
`

 

I used to have an acquaintance [1] who was in BTP. Your assessment is
spot on. As I recall his career was: went to Uni, dropped out, joined
the RN, dropped out. joined the Met, dropped/kicked out, joined
BTP....then I mercifully lost touch with him.

[1] One of those ones that joins a group and latches onto various
people in turn until they individually get fed up with him and tell
him to sod off.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_man

 

Ask for pic evidence.
Plead that without such evidence can they prove your plate had not been
cloned?

 

Damn. Only fourth generation...[1]

Thanks

Chris D
[1] "don't vote, it only encourages them" - 1970s slogan written by
....?

 

Then you have *my* sympathy. I did consider train driving as an
alternative to trucking, but decided there were too many twats on
crossings, kids with air rifles, bricks off bridges, Land Rovers on
the track, numpty rail track contractors etc.
At least with a truck you have the means to swerve [1]

Accepted - still don't know which address to contact though - or
should we just fill in the form with both our names and ask them to
supply photo to confirm identity?

It is now double half-barriers - and yes there is cctv from about 50
feet directly above.

This was the previous format

Understood ta.
However there is no visible penalty camera - just the cctv.

Chris D
[1] regardless of how impossible or inadvisable this might be!

 

The transport police, or the regular police who sent the letter?

Chris D

 

Good point. Noted, ta.

Chris D

 

I suggest to whoever sent you the NIP

 

I had a pretty pointless debate on usenet once with one of the chaps[1]
who runs the motorway signs about their definition of "sign".

ISTR that something can be a "sign" rather than a "message" even though
it looks like text - for instance the "Fog" sign that you see sometimes
on motorways. So a confusing definition is all too possible in your
case.

Nick

[1] He also had no answer for or indeed and opinion about the time delay
problem in "Congestion Ahead" messages (Congestion is 5 miles ahead but
has vanished by the time you get there). Which was baffling.