[ShoCk_]

What could I do if police issued a ticket for no seat belt ?

I went to Tesco today and on the way back I was followed as I turned in to my road. I then pulled in to my driveway and the police pulled up as well.

One of the officers got out came up to me and said they saw me "put on my seatbelt as I approached my house" ... which is absolute nonsense I genuinely had my belt on. There is no way I would drive with my BMW beeping at me for over 2 miles. I just don't drive with my belt off.

The officer insisted I had it off then proceeded to ask for my license. I told him he could come in to my house and i'd grab it for him. He did, I showed it. He then proceeded to say that the PRESSED UK FONT LEGAL plates I have on my car are ILLEGAL.

Once I told him no they're not. I passed my MOT with them and the plates have the name of the company that made them for me printed at the bottom he then just went "hmmm" ...

Sounds to me they were being a bunch of p***ks saw a young guy in a BMW so decided to follow me with the hopes that there would be something wrong with my car.

In the end he just said in the future make sure I drive with my belt on as he clearly had no video evidence and once everything checked out they left.

My question is ... he falsely accused me. Embarassed me outside my house. If I did get a ticket how could I dispute it !?

[lens]

Originally Posted by ShoCk_

What could I do if police issued a ticket for no seat belt ?

I went to Tesco today and on the way back I was followed as I turned in to my road. I then pulled in to my driveway and the police pulled up as well.

One of the officers got out came up to me and said they saw me "put on my seatbelt as I approached my house" ... which is absolute nonsense I genuinely had my belt on. There is no way I would drive with my BMW beeping at me for over 2 miles. I just don't drive with my belt off.

The officer insisted I had it off then proceeded to ask for my license. I told him he could come in to my house and i'd grab it for him. He did, I showed it. He then proceeded to say that the PRESSED UK FONT LEGAL plates I have on my car are ILLEGAL.

Once I told him no they're not. I passed my MOT with them and the plates have the name of the company that made them for me printed at the bottom he then just went "hmmm" ...

Sounds to me they were being a bunch of p***ks saw a young guy in a BMW so decided to follow me with the hopes that there would be something wrong with my car.

In the end he just said in the future make sure I drive with my belt on as he clearly had no video evidence and once everything checked out they left.

My question is ... he falsely accused me. Embarassed me outside my house (we haven't had police come to our house in over 15 years). If I did get a ticket how could I dispute it !?

Easy, you're in your driveway. Go to court and say you just arrived home and your seatbelt was off because you just literally came home and were turning off the car.

There's no way the police has any evidence against you for seatbelt if you're in your driveway, if they have no video evidence of you driving without one, then you're fine.

[upstatedoc]

Sigh...
#bmwlife

[evdok]

Can BMW show evidence that the seat belt was fastened when you got in? IF he issued you a ticket that is.

[evdok]

Or even dash cam sound if option is on.

[Spa2k]

Anytime you think you get a bogus ticket, take it to court.

In the meantime, don't stress over it. He figured out he was wrong and left. Otherwise, he would have pushed the point and written the ticket. Tell your neighbors he stopped you because he never saw such a cool BMW before.

[infinitekidM2C]

Since this is in the UK i reckon you should bring it up with the local constable over a spot of tea.

[are0lies]

Originally Posted by infinitekid2002

Since this is in the UK i reckon you should bring it up with the local constable over a spot of tea.

Well if this is how you guys treat burglars, you should have no problem with a measly seat belt ticket.

[infinitekidM2C]

Originally Posted by are0lies

Well if this is how you guys treat burglars, you should have no problem with a measly seat belt ticket.

thanks for illustrating my post.

[Chappers 71]

Originally Posted by are0lies

Well if this is how you guys treat burglars, you should have no problem with a measly seat belt ticket.

A nice cup of tea always make things much better.
We also have tea making facility's in our tanks

[ShoCk_]

My dashcam records sound so I guess the evidence could have been if I had no seat belt on then my whole journey would have had non stop beeping because my car beeps if I don't have a belt on !

Anyway I didn't get a ticket but just a bit pee'd off I got pulled over AT MY HOUSE out of all places.

[CANGRKE70]

Originally Posted by ShoCk_

Anyway I didn't get a ticket but just a bit pee'd off I got pulled over AT MY HOUSE out of all places.

This has happened to me twice, no big deal...gives you street cred.

[Flying Ace]

Originally Posted by chaungo

Easy, you're in your driveway. Go to court and say you just arrived home and your seatbelt was off because you just literally came home and were turning off the car.

There's no way the police has any evidence against you for seatbelt if you're in your driveway, if they have no video evidence of you driving without one, then you're fine.

I'm going to guess the burden of proof, the accuser being an officer, the actual law and all that is pretty different in UK...so unless you know UK law, I'm not sure what you can help him with.


Here in the US, these types of laws are state-by-state too...so you can't even generally ask this question and get realistic help unless you work with a traffic attorney well versed in your state's law.

[Flying Ace]

Originally Posted by are0lies

Well if this is how you guys treat burglars, you should have no problem with a measly seat belt ticket.

so, in UK, burglars are treated with tea and they all talk it out and realize it's all a big misunderstanding? And is cat ownership required?

[Kev312]

Tell him he must be having early onset dementia and is seeing things because you had your belt on and that he should be out harassing real criminals.

[CTinline-six]

Originally Posted by Kev312

Tell him he must be having early onset dementia and is seeing things because you had your belt on and that he should be out harassing real criminals.

Yup, that won't escalate things at all...

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by Flying Ace

so, in UK, burglars are treated with tea and they all talk it out and realize it's all a big misunderstanding? And is cat ownership required?

They have cats which can bark!

[UncleWede]

Not sure about UK, but at least here the officer just needs to state a "reason" for pulling you over. That doesn't mean you are guilty of that, nor that he MUST write you up for that particular infraction. If he then finds that your car is illegally modified, or your plates had an issue, he MAY ticket you for those offenses, which do NOT justify a stop.

[LiquidMercury]

Originally Posted by ShoCk_

My dashcam records sound so I guess the evidence could have been if I had no seat belt on then my whole journey would have had non stop beeping because my car beeps if I don't have a belt on !

Unless...you've coded it out. But, they're prolly muppets and wouldn't know you could've done that (not saying you have).

[VeloF1]

This is what happens when you have a right hand drive cars. I recommend you move to the USA so you can better view the on-coming car rather than the edge of the road! Lol.....

[insanecoder]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

Not sure about UK, but at least here the officer just needs to state a "reason" for pulling you over. That doesn't mean you are guilty of that, nor that he MUST write you up for that particular infraction. If he then finds that your car is illegally modified, or your plates had an issue, he MAY ticket you for those offenses, which do NOT justify a stop.

Yep happens alot (to me) as well
Couple of times one could tell they were just fishing for something more serious
There are so many laws one doesnt even know which ones are broken
Last time there was nothing so got ticketed for illegal license plate frame because the plastic part covered the state of issue slightly.. yea take the day off and go to court for $50? just paid it
no more license plate frames for me..

[NEFARIOUS]

Originally Posted by ShoCk_

the plates have the name of the company that made them for me printed at the bottom

Wait... Plates are issued by private companies in the UK? I say so genuinely intrigued since we make use of prison labor and is issued by the government.