Lying copper or ignorance on my part?

[WATCHOUT!]

I was riding near Waterloo the other day, and two coppers on BMWs were behind me. I was going along on a wide road with two lanes, one of which is marked as a bus lane between 4-7 pm. I was in the right-hand lane, so I decide to signal and move to the bus lane (bear in mind this was at 3pm, so the bus lane was not in operation). I did this both because I like being further away from oncoming traffic, and because I secretly hoped the coppers would overtake me and leave me alone. I was riding at about 33 mph in a 30 zone, within the tolerance limit, so no problems there. As we get to the lights, one of the coppers gets closer to me and tells me, "You're not a bus, mate" -- I can hardly believe what he's saying so I ask him to repeat. "You can't ride in the bus lane, you know"... I tell him that the lane is marked as being reserved for public transport between 4 and 7. "It doesn't matter, you can't ride in a bus lane".

Now, I've been riding for a fair few years, but only a couple of those in London. Since I'm not from the UK, I often feel that I may be the one who's not fully acquainted with the highway code (in spite of having got my licence here). And if a copper tells you something about the law, I at least imagine he might be right.

So I tell him I didn't know, the lights change, and we're off. Now the doubt is still lingering in the back of my mind that I am right. In fact I know I am right. But still I go home and check the highway code. Sure enough, I find the following:

120: Bus and tram lanes. These are shown by road markings and signs. You MUST NOT drive or stop in a tram lane or in a bus lane during its period of operation unless the signs indicate you may do so.

The reference to 'period of operation' seems to me to be quite clear.

I didn't have anything on the bike that would mark me out as a foreigner; my bike has a UK plate; I was riding sensibly.

So, why do you think the copper told me off about something which is perfectly legal? Do you think it is possible that he doesn't know something as basic as that?

Now I wish I had told him "well, if I shouldn't have been riding in that bus lane, you'd better give me a ticket then." It would have been fun to go to court with this less-than-brilliant representative of the police force.

[Cillit-BANG]

I suspect he was too proud to admit he was in the wrong so then said the first thing that came into his head.

Coppers don't like to be proven wrong, especially in front of a fellow officer.

[stinkwheel]

Should've just held both hands in front of you as if waiting for him to apply handcuffs.

'tis what I did at the weekend when a copper tried to tell me that there was no camping where I had my tent pitched. Under Scottish law this is clearly bollocks and the 'no camping' signs they put up mean squat. He knew it too.

I could put up a sign saying "everyone must give stinkwheel a fiver" but it doesn't mean they have to do it.
https://www.bikechatforums.com/download.php?id=34879

As for the bus lanes, far as I am concerned you were perfectly correct and I bet he knew that too when you pointed it out. As Cillit says, coppers wont back down, even if they realise they are wrong.

It's like those fingerprint people in Scotland who misidentified a fingerprint at a murder scene which lead to a policewoman being jailed. They are still insisting they were right despite numerous independant expert oppinions and a high court ruling to the contrary.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[MarJay]

[doggone]

[Rookie]

Brilliant picture Stink.

He probably forgot the time rule or didn't know the time, but when you corrected him he didn't want to seem ignorant of it and just stood his ground.

[Luke_Retrofly]

Hi
Always try and do what a copper sez, even if its wrong (unless it makes you break the law), if you piss him off he'll probably try and find something to do you for, ala "licence plate slightly too small" "theres not 3mm on 60% of that tire" and so on.

Luke
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Flounced - Long overdue
Fuck you bitch I'm in the top 10 list I can do the what the fuck I want!

[stinkwheel]

[colin1]

[Vincey B]

When a bus lane is not a bus lane its just a normal lane and anyone can use it.

Times of operation vary all over London though, and as it was in Central London the cop probably assumed it was an all day or 24 hour bus lane.

If I was you I would have just ridden off down the bus lane and stopped underneath the blue sign that tells you what time its in operation and waited to see if they stopped as well.

[colin1]

i think provoking coppers even when you are in the right, may work less well in London than in Scotland
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[WATCHOUT!]

well, this certainly isn't as bad as messing up fingerprinting, but it's not pleasant to get a bollocking when you're 100% in the right. (I recall someone's signature about it being ok to either get a bollocking or a ticket but not both)!

I ride on that road twice a day, five days a week at least, so I'm very well aware of the times of operation of bus lanes. As many of you pointed out, the issue is whether you should bloody well tell them they're lying, or suck it up. Luke is right when he says that if they want to get you done for something, they will. Fuck knows how many little things could go wrong.

I hope I'll have enough restraint next time I get stopped about something like this not to insist that I'm right and they're wrong until they finally get pissed off. Must say it's the first time I have a disagreement with police bikers -- here in London they're usually a decent bunch.

[headlamp]

You dealt with it in the best way - the copper made a mistake and you didn't react 'negatively'. If he had decided to issue a ticket you could have gone to court and pleased not guilty and got off.

The traffic cops (on bikes) come from the 'burbs and don't know every bus lane in London and the regulations that apply.
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Using a mobile phone while driving a car should be made a capital offence!

[Keen]

stinkwheel, your beard is fucking awesome.

Few people understand the psychology of dealing with a Highway Traffic Cop. Your normal speeder will panic and immediately pull over to the side. This is wrong. It arouses contempt in the cop heart. Make the bastard chase you. He will follow.
- Hunter S. Thompson
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"he who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man"- Dr. Johnson

[colin1]

[sickpup]

[Keen]

[stinkwheel]

Or brake as hard as you can and see how good the coppers reaction times are? In a topgun style "Shut the throttle, hit the brakes and he'll fly right by."

Followed by (as one of my mates says) "Too close for missiles, switching to guns."

Ok, I'm getting carried away now...
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Itchy]

[sickpup]

[colin1]

so did they ever manage to pin anything on you ?
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[sickpup]

No.

[Crazy Manx Man]

Cops can suck my doodong.

[colin1]

take that back or they'll all want a go
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[Paul@125power]