Well, she did break the law.........


FINED FOR ASKING COP DIRECTIONS

A LONE woman driver who got lost on a motorway was fined £30 for stopping on the hard shoulder to ask a traffic cop directions.

Rachael Farthing was driving at night when she became confused by road signs and decided to pull over next to a parked police car and seek advice.

But she was amazed when the officer demanded her licence and then booked her. After issuing her with a £30 fixed penalty notice, he gave her directions and sent the mum-of-one on her way.

Rachael, 44, said: "I was lost, I was on my own, it was dark and I was a real damsel in distress.

"I'm furious and feel this policeman acted completely unreasonably.

"Whatever happened to the helpful British bobby?"



The police have defended the cop's actions, saying it is illegal to stop on the hard shoulder except in an emergency.

But the RAC slammed the decision to fine Rachael.

A spokesman said: "The action taken by police was over the top and unnecessary. It would have been fairer to give her a firm warning."

Rachael was on her way from her home in Leicester to Birmingham when the incident happened on the M6

I'll presume the officer wasn't stopped for an "emergency."

But still, technically correct.  But a PR SNAFU.

That will teach her. At least they didn't follow her home and shoot her dog.






Someone has to say it.

Does the law clearly state what is an emergency worthy of stopping on the shoulder?

The bobby was probably watching porn on his laptop and didn't like being interupted.

Quoted: That will teach her. At least they didn't follow her home and shoot her dog beat her dog to death with a nightstick. Someone has to say it.

It's England.  Most officers don't have guns.


And you're welcome.  

Does not surprise me....here, everything to do with motoring is judged strictly 'By The Book'.  

This from the country where subjects have no right to self defense.

Good!  Not that I have anything against the lady, or wish her harm in any way.  But, only when the "average Joe/Josephine" learns first hand what is happening can something be done.  Otherwise, it's always someone else, and the PR spin can always make that someone else seem like a vicious criminal.  Welcome to reality.

Quoted: Good!  Not that I have anything against the lady, or wish her harm in any way.  But, only when the "average Joe/Josephine" learns first hand what is happening can something be done.  Otherwise, it's always someone else, and the PR spin can always make that someone else seem like a vicious criminal.  Welcome to reality.

Reality is that tin foil hat types lean towards hyperbole to make their points. The fact is, this was a fine for a traffic violation. Nobody framed her for murder. She didn't get the chair. A traffic cop made a bad call. It's as simple as that.

NEVER invite the Man into your life.


Bad things can happen.

Quoted: Does the law clearly state what is an emergency worthy of stopping on the shoulder? The bobby was probably watching porn on his laptop and didn't like being interupted.

While on my daily 6am jogs during college, I knew where 3-4 cop cars could be found on any given day.  All of them playing Minesweeper or Solitaire on their touch-screen computers.

Kharn

Do you know how many morons stop in the middle of the road  and ask directions while you're on a traffic stop?  How about the morons that walk up to you while you have your gun out pointed at someone laying on the ground and ask you "is everything all right officer?'


Instead of fining her perhaps he should have just given her a "sign".

I usually hold my tounge when speaking with these clueless oxygen thiefs but every know and then I let them know their station in life.

I was on a military tour bus on the M6 once,  I'd rather have been running convoys.  At least I would have been able to shoot the maniacs.

Brits COMMUTE this nightmare daily.  In cars made out of popsicle sticks and chewing gum wrappers.

Why this woman is still alive is a testament to dumb luck favoring the stupid.

Quoted: Do you know how many morons stop in the middle of the road  and ask directions while you're on a traffic stop?  How about the morons that walk up to you while you have your gun out pointed at someone laying on the ground and ask you "is everything all right officer?'

This is very true. I understand that someone might want to "help", but unless I am actually rolling around on the ground with someone,don't approach. I have no idea if you are a helpful citizen or a tailgunner for the car being stopped.

The directions request  during a traffic stop is also disturbing. I understand you are lost;at least wait til I am done with the car I have stopped. You've just interjected yourself into an unknown risk car stop.

Quoted: That will teach her. At least they didn't follow her home and shoot her dog. Someone has to say it.

Didn't know you could have dogs there?  Thought they were banned?

Quoted: Quoted: Good!  Not that I have anything against the lady, or wish her harm in any way.  But, only when the "average Joe/Josephine" learns first hand what is happening can something be done.  Otherwise, it's always someone else, and the PR spin can always make that someone else seem like a vicious criminal.  Welcome to reality. Reality is that tin foil hat types lean towards hyperbole to make their points. The fact is, this was a fine for a traffic violation. Nobody framed her for murder. She didn't get the chair. A traffic cop made a bad call. It's as simple as that.

Not really tinfoil involved there.  It is an illustration of attitude, and extensions of that into more serious manufactured crimes is just a series of small steps.  Thre are good cops out there who exercise sense and risk their lives - thank you!  But, there are an unfortunate number of arrogant punks and bullies who got themselves into uniform to exercise authority.  

That it was a violation of a "regulation" probably is not in doubt (I don't know the law there, but will assume the facts as stated in the first post).  Punks enjoy large numbers of nonsensical regulations.  Some order is required, but this is not one of those cases.  Sure she did stop, but it was not to park to take a photo or have a phone conversation.  This "officer" simply jumped on the chance.  It is quite clear, again assuming the facts as given.

Should she have done what she did?  Perhaps not.  But, maybe now - my point - she knows the attitude of police.  Possibly a "police worshiper" before, taking in the image that all are "blue knights" will tarnish somewhat.  Maybe she, and each other person who is mistreated will realize, when they see horror articles in the paper or on the "telly" that the "perp" is not necessaarily that, but posssibly a victim.  The good cops get painted with that brush created by the bullies and are placed in danger by it.  But they often are facilitators by covering for the jerks, as "brothers in blue."  In order not to be overwhelmed by the negative types, the good have to recognize and not tolerate such behavior.

As far as some of the later comments by other posters that some idiots will stop in the middle of the road, you are right, I am sure.  But that was not presented in the first post on this case.  She stopped on the shoulder for safety.  

Someone obstructing traffic to ask for directions is still obstructing traffic.

Fire the cop.  Of all the jobs that require common sense, policing would be near the top of the list.  Any cop who shows such an utter lack of common sense should be fired before he can cause a real problem.

Quoted: Someone obstructing traffic to ask for directions is still obstructing traffic.

She was obstructing traffic how?  She pulled over to the far right and stopped, presumably out of the way of traffic and asked the cop for directions.  

And yes, only Special Forces cops in Britain are allowed to carry guns IIRC.  

Quoted: Quoted: Someone obstructing traffic to ask for directions is still obstructing traffic. She was obstructing traffic how?  She pulled over to the far right and stopped, presumably out of the way of traffic and asked the cop for directions.   And yes, only Special Forces cops in Britain are allowed to carry guns IIRC.

Unless they've done some major road improvements over the years, the shoulder on the M6 is about 18" wide.   British highways do not equal American highways.  In Ireland you pass each other and hope the other guy does not have big door handles.

No, they're not banned in general. Unless it an EBD or DLD (Evil black dog or deadly looking dog). If your dog looks evil then it must be banned here.

Ban something, it's the english way.

Quoted: Someone obstructing traffic to ask for directions is still obstructing traffic.

How is stopping on the shoulder behind a police vehicle already stopped obstructing traffic?

I'd rather a woman ask directions from the police on the shoulder of the highway than pull off at an exit in a bad neighborhood looking for a gas station to ask directions because she is totally lost.

I've parked on the shoulder in a non-emergency and had a cops come up to me.  It was in the days before cell phones, and I had my brother from out of town following in the car behind me.  Eventually on the interstate there was a huge backup, and we got seperated, but last I saw he was somewhere behind me.  So, once clear of the traffic problem, I went forward maybe a mile and pulled over in a visible area of the shoulder to wait for him to catch up.  In the 10 minutes I waited, I had two seperate police cars stop behind me.  Each time the officer simply came up and asked if I needed assistance, and when I explained the situation, they went on their way.  No tickets, warnings, or even intimidating looks.  The idea behind a law is supposed to be important.  It is to prevent people from using the shoulder as a parking lot, or having a cookout in the median(which I actually saw people doing once on 95 in South Carolina), etc.  Interrupting a traffic stop I could see being a problem, but if an officer is just parked, what's the big deal asking directions?

Quoted: ---snip--- Interrupting a traffic stop I could see being a problem, but if an officer is just parked, what's the big deal asking directions?

Again-good point.  But I really don't see a problem in parking on teh shoulder...officers here(and in other states) park on expressways all the time.  If he's watching the roadway, then it's no big deal, but if he's on a car stop or a traffic accident than don't come up to them.  

Quoted: I'll presume the officer wasn't stopped for an "emergency." But still, technically correct.  But a PR SNAFU.

Pulled over for a spot of tea and a donut scone, don't you know.

Quoted: She was on the M6? She's lucky to be alive let alone get off with a ticket! Now imagine bumper to bumper little piss ant cars all going 90 mph+ in six lanes and you have the M6. Tj

+1

Doesn't sound too out of line if she pulled off at a retarded spot, actually.  However, I'm glad NYPD doesn't do the same.  Only English speakers I can count on for directions.  

Quoted: Rachael Farthing was driving at night when she became confused by road signs and decided to pull over next to a parked police car and seek advice.

Didn't read anything about here pulling pulling behind the cop... I get the impression she is stopped beside the cop in traffic, just waiting to be rear-ended...

She must have sounded french.

Quoted: Quoted: Rachael Farthing was driving at night when she became confused by road signs and decided to pull over next to a parked police car and seek advice. Didn't read anything about here pulling pulling behind the cop... I get the impression she is stopped beside the cop in traffic, just waiting to be rear-ended...

Bingo.

That's the way it seemed to me.

It appears from the text that the cop car was on the shoulder and she stopped next to the car, which would be obstructing traffic, and on some roadways could lead to deadly accidents. Thus the ticket seems to have been deserved.

You guys know there's a lot of context that can be taken from the word "next" right?

You could say she was parked behind or in front of him.

We don't know that though.