Put the article away! You're horse-whipped!
Horse and hound: The police and locals are clueless!
You have not just arrived home from dropping the children off at school and are weeping with relief that you have not murdered anyone on your commute when the phone rings.
“You have to read this article!” shrieks your friend, a retired doctor and passionate campaigner for road safety.
“It’s a stitch-up and it needs to be corrected before it does any more harm.”
The article you are directed to is not in the medical press but in the local rag and is headlined: “Speeding driver had no regard for police warning.”
The article continues: “A speeding driver who was caught on camera hurtling through Little Snoring last month could face a ban after being caught by the police again for the same offence last week.”
“The motorist is alleged to have been driving at 60mph in a 30mph zone on the A148 last month and was given a producer. They were caught doing the same thing again last week and failed to stop for police. Officers gave chase and a stinger device was deployed bringing their car to a halt on the A11.”
It concludes by saying that the motorist answered no comment when interviewed and has been bailed to appear at Norwich Magistrates’ Court on a date to be fixed.
“The thing is,” you say to your friend, “I know who this is and it isn’t a speeding driver. It’s a horse rider who was out exercising on her horse in the countryside and crossed the A11 at the same time that an unmarked police car happened to pass.”
“The police stopped and a conversation began. The horse was apparently fresh and keen that morning and when the rider gave her a little encouragement she set off at a canter. The copper, sitting in his car, formed the opinion that she was going too quickly and reported her. She was amazed and upset, and said so to the officer who warned her of the consequences. I spoke to her this morning and she has now received a conditional offer of a fixed penalty for speeding.”
“I have to say I can’t believe that the local police are taking this any further. It’s been blown out of all proportion and is a complete misuse of police time and resources. The woman is an experienced and careful rider and the horse is well mannered and accustomed to traffic. I cannot believe that they think this is a proportionate response to a horse cantering across a road.”
“I agree,” says the doc, “This is ludicrous. I am going to call Martin.”
Martin is the local MP and a nice chap whom we have known since he was elected a couple of years ago. He is also a local farmer and understands the issues. We arranged for him to meet the rider and her horse and take a drive with her along the A11 so he can see exactly what happened.
“You’ve got to laugh,” said Martin afterwards. “I can’t believe the police would do this. The girl was riding on the verge and only went onto the road to cross. I have spoken to the officer in charge locally who seemed embarrassed. He has agreed to drop the case and I have written to the Police and Crime Commissioner to express my concern about the disproportionate response from his officers.”
“Well done Martin,” we told him, “you’re a star. You have saved this woman from what would have been a really unfair conviction and a lot of expense.”
“There you go,” he said, “Another crisis averted. Glad I could help. You know the motto: No such thing as a small problem if it’s yours.”