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Errant drivers caught
AN ANDOVER police dragnet yielded more than 80 motorists flouting the law - over a four-hour period on Thursday morning.
Most of those stopped (62) were for not wearing seat belts but instead of receiving a fixed penalty they were given the opportunity to attend a 20 minute presentation from Hampshire County Council's road safety unit and the fire service at the fire station.
Many were spotted using a phone when they were mobile and 16 of them were given fixed penalty notices.
A team of three special constables acted as spotters during the operation. An unmarked car was also used.
Seven of the 62 people referred to the fire station failed to attend and their cases will become court files while one person had his vehicle seized because of no insurance.
All the 47 people breath tested gave negative results.
"I am disappointed that so many people still continue to use their phones and fail to wear seat belts," said Sgt Andy Faulkner of the roads police unit at Weyhill.
"We will continue to target these offenders as part of our overall objectives and if people value their licences they must invest in handsfree technology, which isn't in itself ideal, or let it ring and the answerphone service take a message."
2:47pm Saturday 3rd May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Sam, Fareham on 9:18pm Mon 5 May 08
I was stopped in a similar crackdown while driving through the New Forest for not wearing my seatbelt.
It's so pathetic that two officers are needed and used to stop drivers who don't wear seatbelts. At the end of the day it's my fault if get injured or die from not wearing a seatbelt and that's not an injustice.
How about using those man hours to cut down on violent crime, car crime, theft and house crime - that's where the real injustice is!
I was stopped in a similar crackdown while driving through the New Forest for not wearing my seatbelt.
It's so pathetic that two officers are needed and used to stop drivers who don't wear seatbelts. At the end of the day it's my fault if get injured or die from not wearing a seatbelt and that's not an injustice.
How about using those man hours to cut down on violent crime, car crime, theft and house crime - that's where the real injustice is!
Posted by: Al on 12:45pm Tue 6 May 08
Sam, your post comes across as another "why don't they catch the real criminals" post.
Here's a thought - drivers kill more people than murderers every year.
As for the "it's my fault" comment. Have you any idea how awful it is for the emergency services when they have to, literally, scrape people like you off the ground? Not to mention the inconvienience to other road users while the road is closed etc.
Sam, your post comes across as another "why don't they catch the real criminals" post.
Here's a thought - drivers kill more people than murderers every year.
As for the "it's my fault" comment. Have you any idea how awful it is for the emergency services when they have to, literally, scrape people like you off the ground? Not to mention the inconvienience to other road users while the road is closed etc.
Posted by: Al on 12:49pm Tue 6 May 08
What's pathetic is your whining. Have you ever seen a dead body from a high speed accident? I have, and it's no fun for anyone involved.
Then ther's the road closure that causes all sorts of problems for sometimes thousands of people.
Finally, you want the 'real' criminals caught? Drivers kill more people than murderers so it sounds like the Police are doing their job well.
What's pathetic is your whining. Have you ever seen a dead body from a high speed accident? I have, and it's no fun for anyone involved.
Then ther's the road closure that causes all sorts of problems for sometimes thousands of people.
Finally, you want the 'real' criminals caught? Drivers kill more people than murderers so it sounds like the Police are doing their job well.
Posted by: Sue, Andover on 11:25am Wed 7 May 08
Sam your comments are thoughtless. Yes it's your fault if you don't wear a seatbelt but it's other drivers on the road which can be affected by your stupidity. The police are doing a great job in stoping those who are breaking the law & preventing accidents which can take innocent people's lives.
Sam your comments are thoughtless. Yes it's your fault if you don't wear a seatbelt but it's other drivers on the road which can be affected by your stupidity. The police are doing a great job in stoping those who are breaking the law & preventing accidents which can take innocent people's lives.
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