10 Minutes in the back of the police van

[Bigmuz7]

Sitting 7 foot up in the cab of the 30 tonner, some eagle eyed young constable spotted me with my phone in hand today and gave me a pull and I had to explain myself In fact I was switching on the bluetooth so the stereo/gps/head unit could pick it up for hands free operation. He accused me of using it, which I denied, and was easy to disprove, the phone never left my lap, to which he said any use of it at all is an infringement of the law. So after giving me some he confirmed he was letting me off .. I asked him for guidance on how different it was that, pressing the touch screen on the phone a couple of times, was illegal, but touching the touch screen on the stereo/gps head unit wasnt ? to which I got a somewhat confused reply and thought it best, I alight forthwith from the constables van, and proceed in an orderly fashion back to my cab Whats the position ? seems to be if you touch the damn thing, its game over .. I can control it from the headunit anyway so there isnt any need .. apart from switch on the blue tooth ofcourse

[chewy]

I've honestly given up with one of my local forces.

Its like they can use radios whilst driving as its only short brief conversations, they also don't have to indicate at junctions, can run you off the road without having lights or siren on and cut you up..... useless!

[jyasaki]

Most California law enforcement officers use: handheld mic for the radio, non-hands-free cellphone (though complaints seem to have that declining), and a touch-screen computer (15 inch monitor, linked to some LE information network ) on the lower dash; usually all while driving.

Civilian drivers are allowed to: eat, apply makeup, style hair, change clothes, read newspapers, etc., but having a phone to your ear is illegal. Go figure.

[Note: I do not condone doing any of the above while driving; just seen it all being done.]

jky

[willk]

You lads should move here - the coppers don't give a rat's @ss what you do, so long as you don't bother them. The place just kinda runs itself by consensus.

[jwalker]

Originally Posted by jyasaki

Civilian drivers are allowed to: eat, apply makeup, style hair, change clothes, read newspapers, etc., but having a phone to your ear is illegal. Go figure.

Wot, if I moved there I could put me makeup on... cool...

[Polwart]

Muz - my understanding is:

(1) there is a specifc set of regulations forbiding the use of hand held mobile telephone. Even if you are not distracted by it - you are breaking the law. 3 points and £60 quid is standard - but for an LGV driver at court you could be fined £2500 - if you want to argue with them! The offence is using the device not calling from it. Changing settings in your lap is no different from texting on your knee.
(2) turning on the head unit is an offence if they cause you to drive without due care and attention - but its not sepecifically banned.

May not be logical but thats the way it is.

[Erin]

It comes down to whether the device is attached to the vehicle AFAIK. That is why CB radios and older car phones with handsets attached by coily wires were legal. They were in effect attached/mounted to the vehicle. Anything portable which takes your attentiopn from the road is a no-no. Liekwise a GPS/sat nav fixed to your windscreen is ok.

[willk]

... and yet wives are permitted

[biffer]

ummm! ACAB

[chewy]

Originally Posted by Polwart

Muz - my understanding is:

(1) there is a specifc set of regulations forbiding the use of hand held mobile telephone. Even if you are not distracted by it - you are breaking the law. 3 points and £60 quid is standard - but for an LGV driver at court you could be fined £2500 - if you want to argue with them! The offence is using the device not calling from it. Changing settings in your lap is no different from texting on your knee.
(2) turning on the head unit is an offence if they cause you to drive without due care and attention - but its not sepecifically banned.

May not be logical but thats the way it is.

Unless you using your iphone as a dictaphone then its ok.