PaulFisher

Well, five and a half months ago I was travelling home from a friends house at 11:30 at night through Rugby town centre. At some lights a bunch of lads in a white escort flashed me and pulled up behind all looking intently at the car (an Evo 6 GSR).
I continued through rugby town centre (Not hanging around, and on national speed limit roads), noticing some light behind, but not directly behind - more like 100m. I noticed this particular car following me all the way to the A5 (From the A426), then follow me west on the A5. I then became concerned I was being followed so initially slowed down to around 60mph (On a 70mph road) to see if the car would catch up from this strange 100m distance - it didn't. I then speeded up to about 90mph to see what would happen - low and behold it maintained this peculiar distance. As I then approached a section of dual-carriageway I made the mistake of accelerating off to put a car which I noticed ahead of me in between me and the car behind before the section of dual carriageway came to and end, and the road went to single lane again. The idea being that this car would then be forced to overtake this car to stay behind me (Since then the road had gone down to 1 lane again), so I would then definitely know someone was following me home, and take whatever action was necessary.

So, as I accelerated to go past the car on the dual carriageway the blue lights came on, and I realised it was a police car. They have got me on VASCAR video at (Cough) well over the speed limit of 70mph.

What I'd like you guys to help me with is instances of where you know of people who have had their EVO's stolen from their homes buy people following them home, or the so called 'Carjack' method, so I can take this into court and show the magistrates the reason why I sped off at high speed - to protect me and the car from what I thought was somebody following me.

Thanks in advance chaps,

Paul
V reg Blue EVO 6 GSR
(also posted on the MLR site)

PS. Clean license at the moment

Scooby-Doo

I think based on the news today you have every right to avoid people following you home. You could make the point David Beckham avoided a ban even though he was well in excess of the speed limit as he thought he was being followed.

Good Luck

Harry Potter

They will say "why didn't you just drive to your local police station"? If your defence works let us know

johnfelstead

most are only open 9-5 these days. I aint kidding!!

A mate of mine a long time ago was stopped in this way. He was let off, this was 15 years ago though.

Mouser

Paul,
I think a lot of people would have reacted the way you did under
the circumstances.Good luck with your case.
Mouser.

mattski2

good luck... I think the police are out of order when they do that, they where obviously waiting for you to go for it.

Perhaps mention the recent hijacks and crimes and (if you are brave) question why they felt it necessary to follow you for so long.

Matt.

Great~taste~Bloke

I had a similar thing happen to me.I was behind a Artic without trailer he was accelerating as fast as he could and maxxing out around 55mph so he was making good progress. I noiced a cars headlights about five cars behind popping his nose out to see if there was a way through. Anyway we were on a winding a road and there was a way through for me and one maybe two to be gained for his mondeo v6. So in my mirror is see this car do one car, do two oh no not three the car going the otherway passing me applies main beam! He brakes hard and tucks in luckily, kaoss in my rear view mirror! Boy racer I thought but something felt wrong and I just wasn't in any mood for this after a hard days work. So after another silly manover he catches up with me now in a 50 mph limit on an unlit highway. Two miles of clear (timed) less that one second off my @rse and winding me up we enter a street lit area. Well provocative ******* I thought! So I slowed down to 35 mph to show my displeasure and then patrol car turned off at the next junction. Just as well I wasn't in the mood.
I estimate the driver of the police car made at least three road traffic offences without any blue lights on to try and egg me on and speed kills so they try and brain wash us into believing!
Matthew

BuRR

It may have been a police driver on his advanced driving course, and as a result failed.....?

BOB.T

Good luck matey

I once had a police transit come flying up behind me like a maniac.. here we go I thought I'll have a little fun I thought He followed me down the highstreet, up the highstreet, along newmarket street, twice, up the high street.... all this with no blue lights or any attempt to make me pull over. When they did eventually stop me I got told off for making them go round the mini roundabouts, apparently it's really hard to get a longwheel base tranny round them

If they're gonna pull you they should do so straight away!

Bob

Neil Smalley

It might work, although it depends on your brief and how the magistrate views things. I would say that if you think you are being followed, a quick 999 call on the mobile is the way to go.

If it's the police, you then have evidence that you thought you were being followed(every 999 call is loggged) and so took evasive action. If it's real you then have a chance that the police will be waiting for the twonks further up the road.

SWRTWannabe

Of course the problem here is that using the mobile is also illegal and unsafe so if you are questionned as to why you didn't take this course of action, tell them you didn't feel it was safe to use it.

Did you explain all this to the police when you were pulled over. I imagine they would have recorded this in their notebooks which will probably give you more credence than if you hand't.

Good luck.

Jolly Green Monster 2

Sorry to hear this...

I have whilst on my bike a number of times had similar.. a couple of times opened the bike up... if it was Police car then they didn't stand a hope of keeping up and I hid down a side road further on. Lucky there weren't close enough to see my plate.
I think it was silly of me to do that but it is difficult to think straight sometimes.

I think best bet if you know it is a Police car is to just pull over. If they stop behind and you have done nothing what can they say? I just need to make sure I do the same....


Goodluck.

HELLOM8

You must definitely let them know the fear that overcame you in this situation.
I've heard true accounts of people avoiding points and fines using this defence (from a rosser).
Make sure you really let them know how much you feared for your life and the like, I think the result could go your way.
Cheers.
Ian.

Crispin

I had the same happen to me in Cornwall (Real Home)....

The car maintained distance whatever speed I did, but with virtually no car jacking down there (apart from the occasional tractor), I slowed to 20mph in a 60mph, because I had had enough.....

They stopped me....

If the same had happened in London where I live now, i'd never have slowed down......

HamsterWheel

I assume you told the police officer at the time the reason for your speeding ? What was his response ?
And how fast were you going ? Presumably the video shows all the actions you have described ?

MyDreamCar

Only a few weeks ago I was on my way home from work late at night, its only a 3 mile run, mostly 30 limit - which i stuck to religiously - as i approached the derestricted bit I could see a car approaching rapidly (in a 30 limit!!!) from behind, i maintained 30 right to the delimit sign - by which time he had caught me up, then i planted it in 2nd to 60 leaving him way behind, i slowed at 60 and popped in it 5th till the end of the 60 limit, where i slowed to 30 for the village needless to say he was right on my *** again, i detoured through the village which is a 30 limit, never going above 30 - especially round the real tight bends, i had just hung a right deiding to go round the block again (before taking him off down some lanes i know rather well to see if he was following) when i saw him turn the corner and realised he was a police car!! I immediately pulled over and got out and walked over to them - couple of youngsters in an Astra - they wouldnt even put the window down at first!!! - When they did i said id taken a detour cause i was worried i was being followed (I knew i hadnt been speeding) all they said was "you turned out of a side road rather quickly earlier" - that was their reason for following me! "Yeah that'll be the 4 wheel drive" I joked - do you know they didnt even look up at me! - its pathetic - they had followed me cause i have a rather smart car and they hoped they could book me - i honestly believe its just jealousy and it makes me sick - how about going after the Nova brigade who bomb through town centre every night!

Rant Over!
As someone mentioned earlier - if you are being followed (by the police!) pull over ASAP and that way you wont have time to do anything wrong!
Phil

PaulFisher

Yes, I told the police officers that I thought I had been followed by the youths in Rugby as soon as I got out the car, but they said that a) they hadn't seend the other car, and b) they had maintained a distance "Far enough behind me" for me not to be concerned.

My point is that if somebody is right up your **** its much easyer just to slow down to a crawl to let them pass - but when they are maintaining this kind of stalking 100m gap, it gave me the *******!

I'm so gutted with this, and I think I'm looking at a ban - I have a clean license at the moment aswell.

(I also had split up with my girlfriend of 4 years the night before!!, so maybe was in a bit of a 'state')

:-(

johnfelstead

well dont tell them that bit, they will see you as not in a state to make decisions when your decision was a concious one to try get away!

Moles Dad

Paul, just tell them the truth but emphasize how scared you were due to all the media reports pertaining to car jacking....best of luck and let us know how you get on.

Regards, MD.

bug-eyed wonder

Just how fast did you go?
Definately play on the recent carjacking and the best of luck to you.

SiCotty

Phil,

We have a bunch of kids in an Astra with a blue light on round by me. They make a habit of following me around town. It is funny when you double back on yourself at a roundabout

They have not stopped me yet though

Si

STi go fast

err.. why not pull over in a populated area if you think your being followed, better than doing 100mph + just in case its the police (who, belive it or not are more common than jackers)

Sue

Paul
I would be very interested to know how you get on with this one
I am up in Court on 4th April for a very similar offence...case was deferred from last week cos I hadnt received the advance disclosure documents from Witness liason
Ive already got 3 points and so I engaged a Solicitor (recommended by a few guys off the BBS)and hes going with the same defense as you
I was caught by an unmarked that followed me on the M40 m'way on a Sunday afternoon when I was driving over to my Mothers with my 4 year old in the car.
I was concerned by the manner in which I was followed,but I didnt say this to the Officer after I was stopped...I thought that this may go against me but apparantly it doesnt as the court cannot make judgement on the right to silence
Good luck to you.....its a worrying time (I can vouch for that)
Sue

PaulFisher

Chaps,

I wouldn't really want to publish here the speed they are saying the VASCAR got me at, e-mail me personally if you want the grim truth.

The other question about populated area is not relevant as that part of the A5 has no houses for miles - and nowhere to pull over.

But more importantly - I'm after some instances / names of people who you know who have had cars nicked / followed home / whatever - anybody got anything?

Paul.

CallumW

Don't know if this helps, but definately woth a look see:

http://www.pepipoo.com

http://www.pepipoo.com/Regional_differences.htm#Rights

Callum

[Edited by CallumW - 3/6/2002 11:18:53 PM]

[Edited by CallumW - 3/6/2002 11:42:03 PM]

Kingsize K2

Paul

Good Luck mate! I have been in the same situation and my advice is a good solicitor

YHM

Kingsize K2

PaulFisher

Just a quick note of interest for you I havn't mentioned yet:

I measured the distance they followed me home over to be between 7.2 and 9.4 miles.

I'm not sure what you guys think, but it compleatly freaked me out.

another question I have is "At what speed should polic cars put their blue lights on?"

Paul.

:-(

Jolly Green Monster 2

Try the following site which has lots of useful information on :

The SpeedTrap Bible

They have an advice section and stuff to do with court appearances.

Goodluck tomorrow.

JGM

state11

Necessary force etc etc when using the phone if your driving....so that answers that question asked earlier in this thread about mobile use being illegal while driving (most officers would only issue a fixed pen notice/non endorsable for this)

You could use the mitigating circumstances that you state (being followed, fear of being pursued/jacked/robbed etc etc) The only issue here will be, were you under caution when you said "I believed I was being followed" because the officer would of needed to note any comments as under PACE (police and criminal evidence act) this is construed as an interview therefore any direct speech should be noted in their pocket note book (a government document I hasten to add) and you would more than likely be asked to sign for what you say and the officers response in his note book (as this would be used on the file that's sent to the and normally consists of a imaginative comment along the lines of my dogs been rushed o hospital for a major operation etc etc)....But I would imagine that this was before caution (which from the sounds of things it was) therefore if the officer is challenged by your defence/prosecution in his/her statement they will simply say what they saw you doing and your response after caution. If it was after caution "You do not have to say anything.....etc etc" then tell your brief, as this can help your defence.

Best of luck mate, hope it goes well.

LoFi

Any news of an outcome?

Piers LoFi