Seat Belt Law

[snowdragon]

First sorry if this is in the wrong place but do not know what to do.

I was driving my firms van on Friday and was in a tight street and had to reverse round a corner, noe my understanding is you are allowed to remove your seat belt while doing this? Well just as I had un-clipped the belt when a motorcycle policeman turned up and said I was breaking the law. I told him why I had do what I had but he was having none of it and said it was a £100 fine and I would be hearing from the police in due course, now this copper did not give his name/number or contact DVLA which I thought was the norm, he he gave me was blue paper with nothing about a fine, his name ect. I have tried to find out about the fine but is seems it is £60 but can be as much as £500? If anyone has any idea on how I stand re this I will be very grateful

[havinastella]

https://www.gov.uk/seat-belts-law/when-you-dont-need-to-wear-a-seat-belt

 

 

Other reasons for exemption

 

There are a number of other specific situations in which drivers or passengers may be exempt from belting up.

 

 

• If the driver is reversing, he/she does not need to wear a belt. This also applies if you are supervising a learner driver who is reversing.
  
• If you are riding in a vehicle that is being used for police or fire and rescue services. This includes individuals who are being carried in lawful custody.
  
• If you are a licensed taxi driver, and your vehicle is either carrying passengers or is available for hire at that moment.
  
• You are collecting or making deliveries in a goods vehicle. This only applies if the distance between each stop is 50 metres or less (for example, a dustcart).
  
• You are riding in a vehicle as part of a procession organised by or on behalf of the crown.
  
• You are riding in a trade vehicle to identify or fix a mechanical fault.
  

Edited September 15, 2013 by citizenB
added link

[snowdragon]

I was reversing round a corner in a van, the police man just appeared!

[havinastella]

So you wait until you receive the summons and have your day in Court.

[snowdragon]

but should the policeman not given me his name and number, the blue paper he gave me says nothing .I said yu are allowed to remove your seat-belt while doing a reverse but he did not want to know, all he said it is not enforcable and no points go on your licence

[citizenB]

Bobcat, I have relocated you in General Motoring Issues

[citizenB]

You didn't pay the Policeman any money did you ?

[Kiki1]

You didn't pay the Policeman any money did you ?

 

Or reverse over the motorcycle ?

[citizenB]

Or reverse over the motorcycle ?

 

[snowdragon]

No to either lol

[snowdragon]

If anyone else has had this happen to them then what was the outcome please? I have no points on my Licence, also the fine when I looked it up was not £100 but £60?

[citizenB]

If anyone else has had this happen to them then what was the outcome please? I have no points on my Licence, also the fine when I looked it up was not £100 but £60?

 

 

I think a lot of the fines were increased to £100.00 just recently Bobcat.

[snowdragon]

oh thanks Citizen, just trying to find out if the policeman should have given me his name and number, he would not listen to me saying you are allowed to remove a seat belt while reversing, they do it in driving tests!

[citizenB]

oh thanks Citizen, just trying to find out if the policeman should have given me his name and number, he would not listen to me saying you are allowed to remove a seat belt while reversing, they do it in driving tests!

 

Well as you can see from the link in post # 2. He is misinformed. I would have thought that he should have provided you with his name and number.

[snowdragon]

thanks citizen, I was driving a company van at the time, not sure what to do now or what happens, all he gave me was a blue sheet of paper saying Traffic Offence report

[citizenB]

thanks citizen, I was driving a company van at the time, not sure what to do now or what happens, all he gave me was a blue sheet of paper saying Traffic Offence report

 

Does it give the place that he works out of ?

[snowdragon]

it just says Cambridgeshire Police

[snowdragon]

I am going to speak to the manager at work see what they say as no idea what else to do

[Kiki1]

it just says Cambridgeshire Police

 

That might be the corect address, as if it is anything like our county, there may be only one police station that is open.

[snowdragon]

thanks Kiki, all it is, is a blue paper saying Traffic Offence Report, no time,date,name etc on it.It says do not do anything until you receive communication either by letter or e-mail( have a job as was not asked for it )

[Nimrod205]

but should the policeman not given me his name and number, the blue paper he gave me says nothing .I said yu are allowed to remove your seat-belt while doing a reverse but he did not want to know, all he said it is not enforcable and no points go on your licence

 

I think you misheard what he said. Seatbelt offences are non "endorsable". I.e. NO points.

[snowdragon]

sorry I mistyped Nimrod,, but was hoping for a reply to that last bit about the policeman. I have been stopped before and normally they say who they are and run a DVLA check on you but he did nothing and I am not sure what to do ,I have been told there are a few bogus folk around pretending to be the law and even had official papers, lol

[TD27]

The officer does not have to provide you with his details.

 

The TOR is a way of cutting down on the many types of tickets books that have grown in the police over the years with the government and police looking for faster and easier ways to deal with matters and reduce paperwork.

 

Typically you will be contacted by the forces central ticket office within 2-3 weeks. However, there's nothing to stop you contacting them earlier if you wish to. Just have your registration number and the date of the alleged offence to hand.

 

In our force the ticket office decides the sanction based on driving history, basic circumstances of the offence and any aggravating factors. The outcome could be, Driver improvement course, fine or summons to court.

 

Can't speak for Cambridgeshire.

 

In relation to the matter itself, the only thing I would say is think about what the officer actually saw. Did he see you reversing? Did you unclip the belt early whilst still in forward motion prior to reversing? Or did he see you moving off after having reversed, with the belt not on?

 

If he's a motorcycle cop, he's a traffic officer and they do this all day long, every day. Hence, he will know the law, so there has to be something he's seen to convince him.

 

Hope that helps a bit.

[snowdragon]

Right I was stationary as was just about to reverse round the corner,next thin I know the policeman pulled up in front of me,and of course the belt was not on as was just about to reverse, he did not see me remove the belt, funny thing is a work college has also been done today for same thing and by sounds of it by the same policeman!

[Guest]

some general googly info re TOR

http://www.derbyshire.police.uk/Documents/About-Us/Freedom-of-Information/Policies/FixedPenaltyNoticesandVDRSGuidance.pdf

Edited September 19, 2013 by Ford