Mr Loophole plumbing the depths

[thirdcrank]

For somebody who seems to have no truck with reg plates generally, it seems ironic to be rooting for them for cyclists.

[Tangled Metal]

It seems interesting that comment was made above of him defending motorists. I always thought everyone should be allowed representation in a free and fair system. The fact he finds cause to get offences thrown out for motorists isn't his fault its often the fault of prosecution or the police officers involved causing the loophole to be in play. Everyone needs a job and being good at your job even self promotion is something that's often needed to get on in life. I can't begrudge him that.

Don't get me wrong I dislike the success he's had in his career because of the results. A motorist has escaped consequences afterall. However it's the mistakes that allowed for him to be successful. If you remove them through better systems or laws then we're all better off.

As to the idea this is purely about promoting his business well I was certain that he's no longer working but has retired. Perhaps that's why he's had time to promote this petition. No need to promote yourself for a career that's in the past if I'm right about retirement.

If we get to wear tabard then so should pedestrians and indeed anyone outside of their own house in case they personally need identifying. Or motorists having personal number plates they use according to who is driving or similar. I mean it wasn't me driving when that speed camera went off if it didn't get a recognisable photo of me right? My number plate means me driving or I get the same penalty for driving on someone else's plate. Cuts a loophole there right?

I could see personal identification going right through society. You'd be able to identify any ne'erdowells.

[SupermanVsSnowman]

..perhaps if Mr Loophole wishes to make the roads safer he should stop defending motorists who have been caught breaking the law..

The law is pedantic tho. I actually had enforcement notices dropped through my letterbox threatening repossession and ever increasing costs, court etc. This was for a previous occupant and his crime? He parked somewhere. **** sake. It's a bit extreme to send out bailiffs because some numpty parked on a yellow line once. Why can't the council just leave it drop? Like the police often seem to do regarding certain matters involving near death experiences on 2 wheels.

Mr Loophole is definitely another type of hole too, I am not saying otherwise. But the law focuses too much on how fast someone is moving (or not in the above case) rather than the manner in how someone is driving. I never really cared if someone flew past me at 120mph on a motorway, what I really cared about is them tailgating me or otherwise putting me in danger. There are many situations where speeding is dangerous, and there are plenty where it isn't.

That being said ownership of a driving license should be similar to that of a firearms license. As far as I know, police won't let you have a gun license if you have a history of violence. But if you have a history of dealing drugs, you can still acquire a driving license.

[Tangled Metal]

Doesn't speed correlate to greater risks? Risks to the speeder and/or others. It's OK to say 120mh doesn't matter but dangerous driving does when that speed is dangerous driving on UK roads.

Just think of traffic levels on UK motorways and the distance travelled by a car doing 120mph in the time it takes to react alone. I've seen 53m discussed over on PH that's before any braking has started. I think that was an over estimation as I've seen average human reaction times quoted online at 0.25 seconds. Which equates to just over 13m. I think it's between those two figures and then you add stopping distance which is likely to be over 90m in a good, well maintained car with decent brakes. Not a good thing when you encounter a slower car pulling out on you in less distance.

BTW there's a very long thread started by a guy stopped doing 120mph on PH forum from 2015. He was very honest and responsible in that he accepts his actions deserve penalties. However irresponsible in that he was doing 120mph and he's discussing how to best limit the sentence. Understandable but symptomatic of drivers when pinged by the police. They want to get off lightly. It's why Mr loophole had work getting people off lightly.

[reohn2]

TM
Good post,spot on!

[Tangled Metal]

TM
Good post,spot on!

Oh no! Not you agreeing with what I post again!

Speed is a hazard possibly as much as tailgating. I can't see how you could think it's OK to go at 50mph over the speed limit.

I used to work with an old guy who once owned an e type jag. After getting it he decided to open it up on a then new and modern road with long, straights. He overtook a plain looking car which then started to match his speed. He opened up the gas and so did the other car. Eventually flashing lights came on the other car and he got pulled over after doing 100mph. The coppers laughed and joked with him. Even checked his car over looking under the bonnet.

He then got a little telling off and sent on his way. The coppers told him this was their first outing on a new, high speed police car and they'd been wondering how it was at speed so decided to have some fun with the e type! Coppers in the fast cars can be as dodgy as any other motorists and often their car nuts too apparently.

[simonhill]

That nice Mr Loophole probes the law to find glitches and bugs and then uses them to get people off. This is not to get the naughty people off per se, but as a public service.

Presumably he then lobbies the lawmakers to change the law.

Also as he is such a public spirited chap, no doubt he defends rich and poor alike.

What's not to like.

............or have I got it wrong.

[reohn2]

TM
Good post,spot on!

Oh no! Not you agreeing with what I post again!

Stranger things have happened

Speed is a hazard possibly as much as tailgating. I can't see how you could think it's OK to go at 50mph over the speed limit

.
I don't.

[fastpedaller]

In the kit car club forum I'm a member of, one driver was caught doing 130mph on a motorway, and got IIRC a 30 day ban. He posted on the forum how unfortunate he was, and (I can only guess) he expected sympathy! No No No, he got 2 barrels off everyone who bothered to reply, with everyone saying he should have a more lengthy ban. No doubt, he then pondering over why everyone had treated him 'so harshly'.

[Bonefishblues]

In the kit car club forum I'm a member of, one driver was caught doing 130mph on a motorway, and got IIRC a 30 day ban. He posted on the forum how unfortunate he was, and (I can only guess) he expected sympathy! No No No, he got 2 barrels off everyone who bothered to reply, with everyone saying he should have a more lengthy ban. No doubt, he then pondering over why everyone had treated him 'so harshly'.

That happens on every car forum - along the lines of don't do the crime if you aren't...

[Tangled Metal]

That's the view of the 120mph guy on pistonheads. He fully accepted it but still the talk was along the lines of get yourself a good, specialist n lawyer and he might get off lightly with a 6 point penalty and a hefty fine. However most thought a ban was coming.

IMHO in an ideal world a good lawyer would not affect the result. 120mph gets a set result of x months ban, points and a fine. Not 6 points no ban if rich but x months if poor.

[cycle tramp]

..perhaps if Mr Loophole wishes to make the roads safer he should stop defending motorists who have been caught breaking the law..

The law is pedantic tho. I actually had enforcement notices dropped through my letterbox threatening repossession and ever increasing costs, court etc. This was for a previous occupant and his crime? He parked somewhere. **** sake. It's a bit extreme to send out bailiffs because some numpty parked on a yellow line once. Why can't the council just leave it drop?

As an ex council worker, should we have? Seems rather unfair to those who have paid a parking fine and moved on with their lives, and what sort of behavior would we have been encouraging had we had 'let it drop'...
Besides which these 'yellow lines' aren't marked on the road for fun. They are there to ensure a safe flow of traffic - further to which the person may have actually parked on zig zag lines either by crossings or schools which exist to try and ensure clear lines if sight...
..if a road user is prepared to place their own convenience above the safety of other road users then why shouldn't we go after them with everything we have?

[SupermanVsSnowman]

..perhaps if Mr Loophole wishes to make the roads safer he should stop defending motorists who have been caught breaking the law..

The law is pedantic tho. I actually had enforcement notices dropped through my letterbox threatening repossession and ever increasing costs, court etc. This was for a previous occupant and his crime? He parked somewhere. **** sake. It's a bit extreme to send out bailiffs because some numpty parked on a yellow line once. Why can't the council just leave it drop?

As an ex council worker, should we have? Seems rather unfair to those who have paid a parking fine and moved on with their lives, and what sort of behavior would we have been encouraging had we had 'let it drop'...
Besides which these 'yellow lines' aren't marked on the road for fun. They are there to ensure a safe flow of traffic - further to which the person may have actually parked on zig zag lines either by crossings or schools which exist to try and ensure clear lines if sight...
..if a road user is prepared to place their own convenience above the safety of other road users then why shouldn't we go after them with everything we have?

You have a point. On one hand I still think bailiffs are going a bit far for an unpaid parking ticket. (what you describe sounds more like obstruction offences, danger to the public etc) On the other, the more I think about it the more of a prat it seems this person is. If this person hasn't updated their necessary details (license, electoral register) then just what exactly is he or she trying to hide? These are among the first things you do when you move home.

[ChrisP100]

...how quickly can we raise 10,000 signatures to ask parliament to discuss protecting cyclists from any further red tape in order to encourage more people to cycle

Or perhaps to ask parliament to legislate that all car parking, including on road, must include 1 bike rack per 5 car spaces?

My local supermarket has about 250 car parking spaces and a single bike rack which accommodates around 10 bikes. There is no space for cargo bikes. I'm convinced that if they installed better cycling infrastructure it would get used.

[hemo]

Most people and planners will have no idea of what a cargo bike is !!