Traffic Police

[Feasty]

I'm sure this has come up somewhere before on this forum but I can't find it using the search.

So these Traffic Officers on the motorways in their high vis 4x4's, are they actually police officers who have the power to chase, arrest or fine/dock points from you?

I see them around a lot but I'm sure I came across something saying they didn't have the power to enforce the law but were there more to deal with traffic accidents, debris on the road etc?
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Previous: Aprilia Habana Retro 50cc (beauty), Yamaha SR125 (fell apart), Honda XR125 (nippy little commuter), Honda SLR650 (Geewhizz), Yamaha Diversion 900S (Smoooooth) written off courtesy of a stupid escaped horse.
(7 year gap), BMW F650 (Relaxing ride). Aprilia Caponord ETV1000 (Big and bold). Yamaha FZS600 (got me in trouble too quick!).
Current: Yamaha TDM 900 (Comfy, light but big, power when needed).

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Clarkson refers to them as the Traffic Wombles.

They have no legal power. They are pretty much there to pick up wing mirrors and help people on the hard shoulder, you can nail the past them.

The orange lights as oppose to blue for the real police give them away.
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[TheDonUK]

HATO's or Wombles as ham says. They are agents of the highways agency.

In some circumstances such as a traffic census i believe they can direct traffic to pull over, they can also do those rolling roadblocks.

But i dont think they can do a traffic stop, i wouldent stop for one personally, i dont slow down like i do around traff pol.

But they probably have police radios or a way to contact the police more directly than 999, so if you are pulling wheelies past em, at least expect trouble a couple of junctions ahead...
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[Current Bikes - GSXR-750 K5 & C90-97 ] [Previous Bikes: Runner 125, YBR 125, GS500, Bandit 600, Hornet 600, ZX6R-99, C90-99, R1-99, XT600E-04, GSXR-750 K4, CRF250L '16]

[Feasty]

I thought this was the case and yet sooo many drivers slow down to 65-70 when going past them that I get paranoid I've missed something and do the same!!

As for the orange lights instead of blue ones, the new 4x4's they use these days have clear glass on the flashing lights and so you can only tell what colour they are once they're switched on! However they always have 'Traffic Officer' written down the side of the car so that'll be the bigger give away...
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Previous: Aprilia Habana Retro 50cc (beauty), Yamaha SR125 (fell apart), Honda XR125 (nippy little commuter), Honda SLR650 (Geewhizz), Yamaha Diversion 900S (Smoooooth) written off courtesy of a stupid escaped horse.
(7 year gap), BMW F650 (Relaxing ride). Aprilia Caponord ETV1000 (Big and bold). Yamaha FZS600 (got me in trouble too quick!).
Current: Yamaha TDM 900 (Comfy, light but big, power when needed).

[Wozza]

They have the power to pull you over I think. But more for things like carrying a dangerous load than speeding.

[Kickstart]

[UnknownStuntm...]

I bumped into a school 'friend' a while back. He told me he was one of these Wombles now. He didn't say he was a Womble obviously. He was very proud of his work. He told me how much training he had to do and how harrowing some of the sights he's seen are. He told me how much fun he has driving at 70mph just to piss other drivers off. He told me the Police really do work together with the Highways Agency and that it's only a matter of time before they're given the same rights as the Traffic Police.

It was the single most boring monologue I've had to listen to. So to while away the minutes I was thinking "We used to call you Pissypants Proctor at school, because you pissed your pants in Art class once. You worked in a supermarket for 13 years stacking shelves and failing to get further than 'keyholder' up the management ladder. You drive a 1 litre Vauxhall Corsa. Your girlfriend has been shagging other blokes behind your back. And some were ginger."

In summary, I think the role seems to attract a certain type of individual. One that I'd prefer not to have any power at all. So I give them all the respect due.

[AngelGrinder]

I went to an open evening a few months back at the highways agency, and spoke to some of the 'traffic officers'.

They aren't even remotely police. They are there to keep the traffic on motorways. Offer assistance to broken down vehicles, shut lanes, create rolling roadblocks etc.

They do collaborate with the police obviously, as they need to direct them to accidents.

I asked if they ever get the police involved, and he said only once have they ever asked the police to stop someone, and it was someone who squeezed past a rolling roadblock....with TBH seems quite fair!

They also control all the overhead signs and the breakdown phones you will see.

The job wasn't for me, but I don't think they need insulting as they are actually only out there to help.

(Obviously if this changes my view of them will adjust accordingly)
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[Chriss]

I do believe it is an offense not to comply with them now.

Edit: https://www.highways.gov.uk/news/pressrelease.aspx?pressreleaseid=153124

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[alone]

All I've known of them was the night my hire bike broke down.

They found me asleep on the bank beside the motorway and woke me up, bike sat beside the barrier with the lights on, rain hammering it down.

The gave me a waterproof poncho thing. Said they had to, dispite the fact I was in full waterproof bike gear. I was just upset they'd woken me up!
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Bikes; '06 Triumph Sprint ST 1050 (for sale) - '95 BMW R1100GS

[mr-inteligent]

[Wozza]

[Bikeless]

I,ve been thinking about applying for a job in their bike section,you get to ride around all day reporting debris,accidents etc on all roads.

[EUMP]

They are meant to be able to pull you over and it's offence not to, but people do and it happens there not real police to me

^ That's the orange strobe lights... not blue lol.

[Chriss]

Are they authorised to exceed the speed limit? If not they couldn't really pull you over, as you slowly creep away.
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[Skudd]

[andrew_s46]

[The Disapproving Brit]

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[Mudskipper]

[Mr Hammers]

Once, after crashing a van on the M40, the HATOs arrived, and as I had no ciggies, I asked if they had a spare. Unfortunately, none of them smoked, and one had just given up. But a few minutes later, he came back and gave me a packet of Nicorette chewing gum instead.

Which was nice.
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[T0MMY]

I got a free space blanket off them when I broke down on the Mway a while ago. I've always wanted one and this was an easier way to get one than running 26 miles dressed as a banana or something.
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ZX6R + CBR600RR

[Coxyzxr]

[stinkwheel]

Exactly how they would indicate they want you to stop is another point.

The police do it by flashing blue lights and a siren.

A flashing orange light means "Warning , slow moving vehicle" or "Abnormal load".
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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.