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news
Cyclist and policeman (CC licensed image by stumayhew:Flickr)Hampshire police threaten to fine cyclists for wearing a helmet
Hampshire Police has apologised for a leaflet sent out by one of its neighbourhood policing teams which featured an inaccurate list of ‘endorsable’ cycling offences. One of the ‘offences’ listed was “Cycle helmets used correctly”.
Failing to wear a cycle helmet is not an offence – and using one correctly most certainly isn’t.
Other supposed offences associated with a ‘minimum’ £50 fine included ‘No cycle lights fitted’ and ‘Cycle lights not illuminated’ – there is no requirement for lights to be fitted during the day; and also ‘Cycle carrying more than one person’ – which would be bad news to those on tandems.
@HantsPolice @beztweets When did it become an offence to not use a cycle helmet - it isn't. Oh & get documents proof read b4 publishing pic.twitter.com/LVfZEoTfbZ
— Paul Hudson (@usedtobefaster) February 15, 2017
In a statement, Hampshire Police said:
“We would like to apologise for any confusion caused by incorrect information contained in a leaflet handed out by a school in Totton.
“We have looked into this and it would appear that a final version was issued without final approval by Hampshire Constabulary.”
The force also published the correct information about cycling offences which could result in a fixed penalty notice of £50. These are not endorsable offences in that points are not applied to a driver’s licence.
- Contravening traffic sign / road markings
- Cyclist failing to stop when directed by uniformed PC / Traffic Warden
- A standard pedal cycle carrying more than one person
- Cycling on footway
Lights not illuminated (when riding between sunset and sunrise)
Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.
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40 comments
I thought an Endorsable Offence carried points on your licence (for offences such as speeding etc.), as opposed to a Non-endorsable Fixed Penalty Notice. Does this mean that cyclists will now have to carry a valid licence, Tax & Insurance if they wish to use the road? What about a number plate? Will I have to purchase a tandem to take my son out for a Sunday ride , as he is under 18 & has not passed his test? Are we required to have dual controls? Do I need to carry a spare tyre? Just checked niether of my tryes have sufficient depth of tread (they are as bald as me!!).
I went to the school in question. Not sure why they thought it was a good idea to forward something written by a 2 year old to the entire school community.
It was just as bad 21 years ago.
Had to teach myself the art of not randomly putting apostrophes after every word ending with an "s".
So maybe they're not discriminating against cyclists at all then: they're just shit all-round.
That's a relief.
Broken Britain, innit? Glad I'm out of it.
How about issuing a fine to whoever wrote and approved this drivel?
They apologised and fixed it, which is a better than average performance for a police service or most public bodies, if you ask me.
Still curious as to who wrote the thing to begin with, and how they came to get the job. As they don't appear to know anything very much about cycling, the law, or the English language. Why didn't the cops give such a task to someone with some knowledge in at least a two of those areas? (All three might be too much to ask for)
Before those pesky immigrant Norman hordes arrived from Calais Southampton was called Hamwic
To be fair to Hants Police they did react pretty quickly when the error of their ways was pointed out to them - instigated in part by Hants Police Cycling Club. They're also seeking out target areas for OpClosePass by engaging with local cyclists on Twitter. Positive signs...
Worthy of Trump.
'poor interaction with other road users/members of local community' So they'll be fining themselves then.
Utterly crass and unlikely to lead to better relations between the police and cyclists.
Hampshire Constabulary again falling over themselves in the rush to punish cyclists for doing nothing wrong. How is the close pass initiative going? Any evidence of any effort whatsoever?
Saw this headline and was going to have a go at the road.cc hack for missing out the word "not" (with not in the headline it would be embarassing enough for plod), but...
Really? PSML
Oh, and apologies to Alex for thinking you had ballsed up the headline!
Fake laws to go with the fake news
I try not to interact with other road users' members, poorly or otherwise.
Based on that photo, maybe the law* about bag shoulder straps dangling within munching distance of a wheel's spokes is being explained.
* sod's (sods ? sods' ?)
Yes, that WTF long dangling strap could cause problems, especially if snagged or grabbed by something off the bicycle; more dubious stuff I spotted include:
* The steeply tilted mounting of the side bag may be unbalanced and not as secure as a horizontal mounting.
* The back light will be obscured at some angles by the high tilted bag top.
* The thick cable lock draped over the back of the frame, below the seat stem, may hamper pedalling or interfere with the back brake.
* The front chain ring has no guard and I see no cycle clips on the wide dress trousers, so not just chain grime on trouser legs, but risk of caught trouser legs with potential crash risk.
* The dress shoes, which may not have much or any sole grip to grip the pedals, and may also become damaged by cycling in them; both more so in rain.
* The already tilted front basket load maybe a hazard for steering and cables.
We have to obey traffic wardens now?
Not sure my the copper in the top photo is bollocking the cyclist. There's a guy in the background imitating a Naval Seal.
In my picture he is in the basket. But It can't be that causing the lecture as it is the only thing not on the list.
A crime against grocers'
Don't forget the grocer's either.
You've totally neglected the grocers!!!
I would say it's unbelievable, but it's Hampshire Police...
Truly idiotic.
Didn't anyone else notice that it also lists "due care and attention..." as an endorseable offence?
with the standard amount of typos and errors on this site, and the fact they said 'hants police' in the titlle (which I didnt know was the twitter handle for hamps police) I honestly thought they had just screwed up again. and a cyclist had been find for not wearing a helmet in hantshire...
Hampshire is often abbreviated in written form to "Hants". The abbreviated form is derived from the Old English Hantum plus Scir (meaning a district governed from the settlement now known as Southampton) and the Anglo-Saxons called it Hamtunschire.At the time of the Domesday book when this leaflet was likely written it was compressed to Hantescire.
Even this sentence is ambiguous:
"“We would like to apologise for any confusion caused by incorrect information contained in a leaflet handed out by a school in Totton..."
Was the leaflet handed out by the Hampshire Constabulary or by the school? Or by the Constabulary by the school? And why is that bloke in the photo trying to eat an apple without using his hands?
Big Magritte fan. Saving up for a bowler.
The whole leaflet is badly written and full of inaccuracies. Whoever wrote it doesn't just need training in the law, but in the use of the English language.
I'm pretty sure that I cycle with "no inconsiderate and dangerous bike manoeuvres".
Probably just my middle age related rebellion against authority. I blame non violent video games.
Unless specifically adapted to do so, such as adding a child seat.
So does this mean when a dumb ass driver creates a dangerous situation, it is against the law for me to ignore the situation and carry on riding.
Instead I must interact with them completely, tell them how much of a dumb ass they are, and that they don't deserve the right to be behind the wheel of a killing machine, then I must also get the attention of an innocent member of the local community and interact with them to make sure they saw the dumb ass actions of the driver.
"Issued without final approval"? But who made it? Who is being retrained so that they all understand the law when producing similar materials?
Hmm. 'Ignorance is no defence' springs to mind.
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