We always welcome a Letter to the Editor to share with our readers. This one sent to us last week by Josh Harris of Wootton, after he was pulled over by police in their joint operation with the Department for Work and Pension. Ed
I was pulled over in one of these Police ‘Spot Checks’ where they seem to be checking anything and everything about you.
I am registered disabled with quite severe arthritis even though I am only 22 years of age, I also drive a high performance sports car – I have worked for years to pay for it myself as well as insure, maintain and tax it as well as pay crazy amounts to the taxman on fuel duty!
I believe I was pulled over today because of the type of car I drive and the fact I am a younger driver, in no way is this random.
Forced to stand for 45 minutes
I was made to stand out in the cold and wet weather for almost 45 minutes while they did many checks on both myself and my car, questioning things including where I was going and for what reason – why should anyone have to disclose this information?
I was then told my tyre tread was below the legal limit, even though the car passed an MOT three weeks before.
Had the tyres tested
I called their bluff, as I had someone working in a garage within view of where I was pulled over bring a tread measure gauge over, where it was confirmed they were actually on and over in other places the legal limit and not under!
To add to this, tyres had already been purchased and were awaiting fitting on the weekend due to colder weather coming in. I’d been advised that they would probably be over the limit for the MOT this time next year – the car was in no way dangerous as the police were making out!
Thinking on my feet
The outcome of me thinking on my cold, damp feet is that they not only couldn’t get their extortionist recovery company to impound my car but also they couldn’t fine me.
I don’t feel how I was ‘randomly’ pulled over is in anyway right as well as the personal questions asked.
I had to stand out in the cold damp weather and was repeatedly expected to bend down to look at some tyres which turned out to be perfectly legal.
It was not how I was wanting to spend my afternoon!
Image: Steve Garner32 under CC BY 2.0
