Driver fined for leaving engine running while defrosting...

red-max · 01-03-2008, 09:48 AM

Driver fined for leaving engine running as car defrosted outside his home:

link

The car was a Mercedes... the driver was nicked for "quitting" - leaving the vehicle unattended with the engine running and the keys in the ignition. His defence was that the car was locked, so it was "secure".

Since our BMWs can be re-started with the key not in the slot, I wonder if that would still technically be an offence?

His car was actually on the road at the time - I wonder if you can be nicked for doing this on your driveway?

I should probably point out that I never do this - though I do start the car while I scrape ice off the windows...

NFS · 01-03-2008, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red-max

Driver fined for leaving engine running as car defrosted outside his home:

link

The car was a Mercedes... the driver was nicked for "quitting" - leaving the vehicle unattended with the engine running and the keys in the ignition. His defence was that the car was locked, so it was "secure".

Since our BMWs can be re-started with the key not in the slot, I wonder if that would still technically be an offence?

His car was actually on the road at the time - I wonder if you can be nicked for doing this on your driveway?

I should probably point out that I never do this - though I do start the car while I scrape ice off the windows...

I think the owners comment that no one could steal the car because the doors and windows were locked is a little naive. I reckon most thieves could smash a window to get to the unlock button.

It's a little bit better with the e90 since there isn't a key, but it could still be nicked and written off. Don't know what the insurers would do about an engine left running WITHOUT the key

Anyway .. the offence was under the road traffic act, so it wouldn't apply on your property.

I have used the no key method to warm the car up, but I do stand at the front window and keep an eye on it just in case.

creepy coupe · 01-03-2008, 10:04 AM

I think they have been a bit hard on the bloke, I mean the alternative is he drives down the road looking through a tiny slit in the windscreen

scotw · 01-03-2008, 11:53 AM

It does sound like if the guy had been more friendly then the police would not have fined him. I also noted that his keys were in the ignition, which in our case they would not be, so I don't think we would commit the same offence.

You could break the window, but as the car is locked, would this not trigger the alarm?

matlough · 01-03-2008, 12:42 PM

[QUOTE=red-max;1900876]
Since our BMWs can be re-started with the key not in the slot....QUOTE]

Surely only if you have CA or have I missed something?

Hotcoupe · 01-03-2008, 12:45 PM

No you don't need CA to do it.
There is a time gap (30 secs, I believe) between taking the key out and being able to restart without the key in the slot.

ShereKhan · 01-03-2008, 12:46 PM

Nope it can be done on all E9x

If you start the car and drive around for a while then pull up stop and then take the key out you can start the car again without key (think there is a time limit on when you can restart again)

ChrisMWard · 01-03-2008, 12:59 PM

It's a shame the re-start feature doesn't set the alarm and the steering lock as that would be a pretty good arguement. It doesn't deadlock either but it is a very usefull feature and I have used it on both the 3 and 1 a few times this winter, much better on the three though as the heated seats warm up (if you remember to switch them on that is).

Regards

Chris

SDRX · 01-03-2008, 02:32 PM

Further evidence of a Police force hell-bent on targeting motorists, itself a creation of a anti-motorist government. Every police officer should be dedicated to lowering the number of stabbings and shootings in this country, rather than managing "road safety" issues.

networkguy · 01-03-2008, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotw

It does sound like if the guy had been more friendly then the police would not have fined him. I also noted that his keys were in the ignition, which in our case they would not be, so I don't think we would commit the same offence.

Well the offence is leaving the vehicle unattended with the engine running so key or no key, the offence is the same.

Of course as others have said, this would not apply on your drive.

ShereKhan · 01-03-2008, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisMWard

It's a shame the re-start feature doesn't set the alarm and the steering lock as that would be a pretty good arguement.

Chris

I've wondered about this - have you driven it for some distance. As I was going to plan to drive the car (on a quiet road/s) to see how far I can get without the key (just for out of curiousity sake).

ChrisMWard · 01-04-2008, 03:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShereKhan

I've wondered about this - have you driven it for some distance. As I was going to plan to drive the car (on a quiet road/s) to see how far I can get without the key (just for out of curiousity sake).

I haven't driven it without the key, just tried the security options when it wasn't in the slot. I guess it would be a bit dangerous if the steering lock did engage and you jumped back into your car and drove off forgetting to put the key back in.

Regards

Chris

ChrisMWard · 01-04-2008, 03:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by networkguy

Well the offence is leaving the vehicle unattended with the engine running so key or no key, the offence is the same.

Of course as others have said, this would not apply on your drive.

Apparently this is a bit of a grey area as the RTA still applies if the general public have access (so I have been told).

Regards

Chris

NFS · 01-04-2008, 04:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisMWard

Apparently this is a bit of a grey area as the RTA still applies if the general public have access (so I have been told).

Regards

Chris

The general public do not have access to private property without the permission of the landowner.

booforty · 01-04-2008, 05:56 AM

What is the world coming to? Have the police not got better things to do such as targetting real criminals...

ShereKhan · 01-04-2008, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisMWard

I guess it would be a bit dangerous if the steering lock did engage and you jumped back into your car and drove off forgetting to put the key back in.
Chris

That's one of the reasons I want to try it on a quiet road/s

330cdsport · 01-04-2008, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShereKhan

That's one of the reasons I want to try it on a quiet road/s

Surely there is no way the car would just shut off and lock the steering if you were driving along without the key in the slot. It will probably remain active until the car engine is stopped for 10 mins or something like that.

If it was the case, it would have happened to someone already (probably in the US) and there would have been a huge claim.

NFS · 01-04-2008, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 330cdsport

Surely there is no way the car would just shut off and lock the steering if you were driving along without the key in the slot. It will probably remain active until the car engine is stopped for 10 mins or something like that.

If it was the case, it would have happened to someone already (probably in the US) and there would have been a huge claim.

The steering lock won't engage so long as the engine is running. So a thief could drive the car until it stalled or the petrol ran out.

Z4 Beemer · 01-04-2008, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by needforspeed

The steering lock won't engage so long as the engine is running. So a thief could drive the car until it stalled or the petrol ran out.

So if the thief turned the engine off by pressing the button, it would never start again until the fob was inserted... even if they made sure the drivers door wasn't opened?

NFS · 01-04-2008, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Z4 Beemer

So if the thief turned the engine off by pressing the button, it would never start again until the fob was inserted... even if they made sure the drivers door wasn't opened?

I think they could probably restart within a few seconds as we would when we remove the key in the first place.

ShereKhan · 01-04-2008, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 330cdsport

Surely there is no way the car would just shut off and lock the steering if you were driving along without the key in the slot. It will probably remain active until the car engine is stopped for 10 mins or something like that.

If it was the case, it would have happened to someone already (probably in the US) and there would have been a huge claim.

I did think of this too - as some American would have tried it and crashed his car and claimed against BMW for not warning him not to do it

GhostsForge · 01-04-2008, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hotcoupe

No you don't need CA to do it.
There is a time gap (30 secs, I believe) between taking the key out and being able to restart without the key in the slot.

So how does this work

I drove the usual 40 miles home, stopped the car, removed the key, tried to start the car without the key - absolutely nothing

01-03-2008, 09:48 AM	#1
red-max First Lieutenant 44 Rep 379 Posts Drives: 520d M Sport Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Driver fined for leaving engine running while defrosting... Driver fined for leaving engine running as car defrosted outside his home: link The car was a Mercedes... the driver was nicked for "quitting" - leaving the vehicle unattended with the engine running and the keys in the ignition. His defence was that the car was locked, so it was "secure". Since our BMWs can be re-started with the key not in the slot, I wonder if that would still technically be an offence? His car was actually on the road at the time - I wonder if you can be nicked for doing this on your driveway? I should probably point out that I never do this - though I do start the car while I scrape ice off the windows... __________________ 2018 G30 520d M Sport with M Sport Plus - Mediterranean Blue Previously: 2015 F32 430d M Sport, 2012 F10 520d M Sport, 2009 E92 320d M Sport, 2006 E92 335d, 2004 E60 530d, 2000 E39 525d, 1997 E39 523i Last edited by red-max; 01-03-2008 at 09:49 AM.. Reason: car was on the road
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01-03-2008, 10:04 AM	#3
creepy coupe Lieutenant General 1825 Rep 13,043 Posts Drives: BMW M340I G20 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: UK iTrader: (2) Garage List 2015 BMW 435d [0.00] 2009 335i [0.00]	I think they have been a bit hard on the bloke, I mean the alternative is he drives down the road looking through a tiny slit in the windscreen
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01-03-2008, 11:53 AM	#4
scotw Lieutenant 17 Rep 468 Posts Drives: E90 320D SG Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: uk iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 E90 320D [0.00]	It does sound like if the guy had been more friendly then the police would not have fined him. I also noted that his keys were in the ignition, which in our case they would not be, so I don't think we would commit the same offence. You could break the window, but as the car is locked, would this not trigger the alarm?
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01-03-2008, 12:42 PM	#5
matlough First Lieutenant 34 Rep 393 Posts Drives: 335i Saloon Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Hampshire - UK iTrader: (0)	[QUOTE=red-max;1900876] Since our BMWs can be re-started with the key not in the slot....QUOTE] Surely only if you have CA or have I missed something? __________________ Current: AW F20 M135i :-) Past Masters: E90 335i with Evolve / Honda Accord Type R / Prelude VTI / Prelude 2.2 Vtec
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01-03-2008, 12:45 PM	#6
Hotcoupe Major General 197 Rep 6,110 Posts Drives: Don't know yet! Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: UK iTrader: (2) Garage List November 2008 335D ... [8.34] 2007 335D [0.00]	No you don't need CA to do it. There is a time gap (30 secs, I believe) between taking the key out and being able to restart without the key in the slot. __________________ ================================= Never argue with an idiot on the internet. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.
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01-03-2008, 12:46 PM	#7
ShereKhan Major 101 Rep 1,134 Posts Drives: BMW G20 330e M Sport MY20 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bristol, UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 BMW 330e [0.00]	Nope it can be done on all E9x If you start the car and drive around for a while then pull up stop and then take the key out you can start the car again without key (think there is a time limit on when you can restart again) __________________ 20 BMW G20 330e M Sport Portimão Blue/Cognac, Driver Pro, Tech,M+ lumbar, storage packs Long gone -15 Peugeot 308 2.0HDi GT AUTO Magnetic Blue, 10 BMW F10 520D SE Xirallic Imperial blue/Cinnamon Brown, 06 E90 320si - Le Mans Blue - Totally standard specification (Scrapped RIP 12/08/2010), 00 Peugeot 306 2.0 SE Cabriolet, 94 Rover 214 SEi, 91 Fiat Uno 60S Mk2
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01-03-2008, 12:59 PM	#8
ChrisMWard Captain 14 Rep 686 Posts Drives: E93 320d M Sport, E81 116d SE Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Epsom UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 120d SE [0.00] 2007 335d A M Sport [0.00] 1998 M3 Evo [0.00] 2002 330d Sport [0.00] 2004 330d Sport [0.00]	It's a shame the re-start feature doesn't set the alarm and the steering lock as that would be a pretty good arguement. It doesn't deadlock either but it is a very usefull feature and I have used it on both the 3 and 1 a few times this winter, much better on the three though as the heated seats warm up (if you remember to switch them on that is). Regards Chris __________________ Previously: 2007 335D MSport E90 Le Mans Blue, 2004 330D A Sport Silver Grey, 2002 330D A Sport Saphire Black, 2001 320D SE Touring Titanium Silver, 1998 M3 Evo Techno Violet, 1996 328i Sport Montreal Blue, 1994 325i Coupe Red, 1989 325i Sport 2 door Dolphin Grey,1986 325i SE 4 door Lachs
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01-03-2008, 02:32 PM	#9
SDRX Captain 209 Rep 741 Posts Drives: 540i M Sport 2018 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: West Midlands UK iTrader: (0)	Further evidence of a Police force hell-bent on targeting motorists, itself a creation of a anti-motorist government. Every police officer should be dedicated to lowering the number of stabbings and shootings in this country, rather than managing "road safety" issues.
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01-04-2008, 05:56 AM	#15
booforty Major General 358 Rep 8,809 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: London, UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 E92 M3 [0.00]	What is the world coming to? Have the police not got better things to do such as targetting real criminals...
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