RLJing cyclist outsmarts copper

[Howard]

Totally agree!! Shameful behaviour.

Agree - publishing the sorry encounter online is taking it a bit too far. Wish the copper approached him with less of a confrontational attitude though - if you are going to fine cyclists for running red lights perhaps a jovial/educational attitude would go down a bit better than the passive-aggressive/confrontational stance shown here.

 

[Clandy]

Agree - publishing the sorry encounter online is taking it a bit too far. Wish the copper approached him with less of a confrontational attitude though - if you are going to fine cyclists for running red lights perhaps a jovial/educational attitude would go down a bit better than the passive-aggressive/confrontational stance shown here.

The copper opened with the same approach as usual. 'Do you know why I stopped you, Sir?' I don't see that as confrontational at all. If anything he was remarkably restrained and polite in the face of outright arrogance.

I am reminded of the character 'Colin' at 4:51 here:
View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dWABt9J--8

 

[blubb]

He may be a jerk, but to be fair he was asking for something which was his right to do so.

The cop seemed kinda unhappy and was probably having a bad day, but his behaviour in the end should not be tolerated.

 

[Cubist]

Unfortunately the cop shows himself in a bad light too. He was fazed by the camera, and lost his confidence when the arrogant self-gratification artist kept on badgering him to quote act and section. The cop had a power of arrest under these circumstances, and "Danny" commits several offences. It is indeed a shame the cop bottled it, 'cos peanuts like Danny don't listen to sense even when it's being patiently explained by a custody officer, thereby extending their time in custody!

For the record, when the cyclist refused to accept the ticket, the cop should have reported him for summons, at which point he is obliged to provide sufficient details about himself to allow the service of a summons. As he also appeared not to be prepared to provide those details, the cop can arrest him in order to verify his identity/address or secure his attendance at a court.


Can't project how I would have reacted in the circumstances, but show that piece of film to a magistrate and behave like that in court and you aren't likely to make many friends.

 

[Howard]

The copper opened with the same approach as usual.

Yes - which is IMHO the wrong approach when pulling over RLJ cyclists. I don't RLJ, and I think people who do are a bit silly and provide ample opportunity for those who don't like cyclists to attack them, but taking the same approach with them as you would with, say a shop lifter you've just busted, is just not going to get them on your side.

And let's face it, if as a cop you don't know the law 100% and you know there's a good chance the person could talk their way out of it being a bit more pleasant offers you two things - i) it may help get them on your side, and ii) offers you a way out with your dignity intact if they happen to know more than you, as in this case.

'Do you know why I stopped you, Sir?' I don't see that as confrontational at all. If anything he was remarkably restrained and polite in the face of outright arrogance.

In the video I saw what he opens with is clipped - I'm just going along with the initial slide, which omits the 'sir' and the way the cop saunters over to the chap and the look in his eye. He may say 'Sir' but his body language says 'I'm going to ruin your day'.

I'm not offering an apology for Danny - I'm saying the cop could have handled things better and how they act in the first few moments will strongly influence how the situation pans out.

 

[Cubist]

What is "reported him for summons" and how should the policeman have gone about this ?

I'm guessing not accepting a fixed penalty means that it needs to go to court, therefor the policeman is going to need identity, if the policeman is unsatisfied in anyway that the identity may be false, the polis can arrest him and take him to a police station.?


I'm amazed the cyclist is so proud of his video he is showing it to the world, anyone normal would be too embarrassed.

To report him for summons the Cop simply needs to tell him he will reported for summons, and as you rightly guess, obtain sufficient details to establish his identity. The cop then writes up a short file including his statement of evidence, a record of the conversation he had with the cyclist, and submits the file to his process department. They will then, in conjunction with the local magistrates court issue a summons which is posted to the offender's address.

Normally during the reporting stage the cop would point out the offence committed and ask the cyclist questions, having duly cautioned him.

 

[Nigeyy]

Errr.... no you don't!

Some times I wish we had American style police officers, who would just lock this guy up. Oh, and maybe taze him alot.

 

[Cubist]

Errr.... no you don't!

Indeed. Let's just be grateful we live in the sort of world where Danny and his ilk, irritating though they are, can at least question the way justice is done in this country.

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

Officer doesn't react well to the camera, granted, but the cyclist was a total ar5e. Yes, perhaps the cop should know more about the laws he's likely to be enforcing whilst cycling on his beat (although it could realistically be anything that he encounters) but he could/should have radioed through to get the exact wording if the cyclist was pressing for this... and then do him for wasting Police time.

As someone said, no "normal" person would be airing this and be proud of it.

Bad form from the cop at the end though for lunging.

 

[HLaB]

I saw this vid a few days ago, and I think I posted 'LOL, I think the Policeman was very patient given the circumstances' within seconds somebody got back to me 'what circumstances' then some other stuff Lol, I thought having to deal the video maker was circumstances enough; he was a pr@t IMO but it made for a funny vid

 

[downfader]

They cyclist didnt have to be suck a c*ck, tbh. He appeared to be using distraction psychology (even if he doesnt realise it) to fluster the officer. As soon as he was questioned about the "wording" the officer could have radio'd in and got the desk guy/girl to read it out over the radio. If he did run the light he deserves to be fined, and indeed educated on the safety risks he is putting himself in (at cost to himself).

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

Firstly; having been on the receiving end of "know it all I AM the law" policing I am fully supportive of always questioning and being sure, and not simply obeying someone purely because of the uniform they wear.

Secondly however; the guy is an attention-seeking show-off. and like idiot cyclists give all of us a bad name, people who think that they are cleverer than they are, give those of us who do legitimately stand up for our freedoms a bad name.

 

[BSRU]

The cyclist is a pretentious knob, he ran a red light, which he decided not to show in the video, then used his lawyer training to get out of it. I would not expect any copper to know word for word every law.

 

[theFire]

The cyclist is a pretentious knob, he ran a red light, which he decided not to show in the video, then used his lawyer training to get out of it. I would not expect any copper to know word for word every law.

+1

 

[lcjohnny]

Yep this cyclist is an embarassment
the copper should have arrested him for obstructing a police officer
and then fined him for jumping the light
Jon