Tam the bam

Or you may get taxed £30

Driver fined for de-icing his car - Telegraph

I could understand him getting a warning, but to be fined is outrageous....

stilover

It is stupid.

We live in a "fine solves all" mentality brought on by the get as much money off the motorist as possible Labour Government.

PeteBrant

It's a known offence,so by the letter of the law he can and should be fined.

Not sure I agree with it though.

Although how much police time is cost by people phoning up police when thier car has been stolen from outside thier house?

GazTheHat

It's illegal in finland to leave your engine running over 2 mins.

I think it's a good idea.

Most cars get over the frost with mini fan heaters in their cars.

bugeyeandy

Obviously never heard that glass can be broken. Bet he's the sort that would then go on a lengthy whinge to his insurance company as to why they won't pay out when it's stolen.

Tam the bam

I honestly didn't know you could get fined for it.

This winter where I live there have been many very frosty mornings, I have left the car running to de-ice it every time

jonc

If he took the free advice, he would be £30 better off!

SJ_Skyline

I just put the car in the garage the night before - job done

Tam the bam

Garages aint for cars, they're for collecting junk in.

Scoobychick

iTrader: (1)

I just switch my ignition on and the car puts the heated front screen on for me

SJ_Skyline

You sound just like a bird!

Garages are for vehicles and power tools.

PeteBrant

Just do your self a favour and make sure it is covered under your insurance policy. They are hideously expensive to replace

I had one in a car years ago - And it got cracked, and I had to replace it. It wasnt covered under the insurance and I ended up wirting the car off!

Tam the bam

How very dare you!

I do intend on clearing the garage out to get the car in, but I'll need a hut for the bikes etc. So it'll have to wait till Summer

ChrisGrant

That makes two of us

it's nice getting into a warm car and driving away

Shark Man

If its a plush model merc. The engine will run without the keys inserted...they stay in your pocket.

Yes someone could drive away, but as soon as its out of range of the key they are screwed.

There was a big issue with these cars as they are supposed to auto-lock when you leave, and auto-unlock when you walk up to it. But they have a habit of not working as one would expect (thus the many publicised rantings by a certain Mr Clarkson...an ex Merc owner )

Varboy

This should have been added to the WTF thread.

What next?

vindaloo

It's a law. It reads like he took exception to it. No point having a go at the PC in cases like that.

The particular law was probably drafted to avoid run-aways, fires, general mayhem due to out-of-control machinery etc. At the end of the day, cars do go wrong in the most unlikely of ways. They must do, people design and build them. Ergo, hence, they're flawed in a number of ways.

J.

Lee247

This is a new one on me too. I had no idea, you could be fined.
Doesn't surprise me though. Is there anything you can't get fined for
Ahh, breathing. Better not let them know

B-B

I was instructed recently by the RAC to leave my car running on the drive for at least 25 minutes. My battery was dying he told me to do it to recharge it until I could get it replaced. I wonder what response the police would have given me? The car was locked so no one could get in it.

jods

Does this mean any car fitted with a Turbo Timer is also likely to get Stealth Taxed??

skoobidude

So whilst the car is running and possibly not ready to drive due to the frost still on the windows, a thief has eyesight which somehow sees through the obscure glass Perhaps drive the first few miles with his head out of the window - big blindspot to the front-left though.
It would be a small window of opportunity for a thief to be about when the car is suitably defrosted to break in and steal it before the owner comes back out.
Suppose it could happen as anything can these days.

If a running car get's pinched then hard luck to the owner I'd say. **** all to do with police if the running vehicle is on your property!

Tam the bam

Farting is still legal though *lifts leg and lets a ripper go* Ah that's better Fart whilst you still can as it'll be a criminal offence soon!....

Shark Man

I do have on my list of things to do before I die:

Letting rip a nice and potent brussel sprout/bean/eggy fart in the back of a patrol car whilst I'm being lectured on the merits of not straying over 70mph on a empty dry motorway at 6:00am on a Sunday morning.

Lee247

Hey, before too long, they will want you to bag it and send it to the revenue for taxability. Enjoy it while you can

sportwagonred

The whole point of this particular legislation was to prevent a vehicle being stolen back in the days when locks on cars were made from white metal and a screw driver opened most car doors even when they were locked.
Nowadays this offence is normally used when someone abandons their car to fetch a paper and leaves the engine running and lights on blinding everyone coming in the oposite direction cause "there was no cars coming the opposite way when I got out" Its been law for donkeys years and if you don't like it get it changed. In the mean time stop wimpering about some d!ckhead who can't take advice and so it costs him £30 for probably mouthing off at a cop who at the end of the day WE pay to keep our roads safe and PREVENT crime cause thats his prime directive and what he swears he will do before a Magistrate when he gets the job.

Klaatu

There's about another 3000 laws one can be fined for when approaching a car with a set of keys.

pimmo2000

iTrader: (6)

The Copper offered advice and I bet the bloke started shouting the odds .. I would have fined him too !!

gpssti4

iTrader: (6)

About 30 seconds while they issue you with a crime reference number, because they'll do f**k all else

gazza-uk

anybody been done for this using a Turbo Timer ?

DazW

iTrader: (1)

You'd be fine ...the law only applies to the 'public highway'