Mmmmm........

Simply can't add anything to that...other than one law for them and string up the rest of us.

One might harbour a grain of solace from the fact that such incidents will be on a declining curve from now on. The police simply can't get away with such forms of open corruption with the degree of publicity these events bring. The ever more stringent control of driving speed by technology and penalty simply reminds the public that life isn't bløødy fair.
The poor driver couldn't even claim he was only following orders. Typical that "other ranks" get it in the neck while the officers are promoted out of harm's way. May one hope that the senior officer put his hand in his pocket to pay the driver's fine?

wasn't a member of the house of lords (could have been an MP) caught doing just over 100mph on a motorway and was let off with a fine when most other people would have got a ban?

Are police allowed to use thier sirens and break traffic laws when they are late for meetings?

Wouldn't worry too much about the safety aspects. It's only a matter of time before they have dedicated traffic lanes for party officials, just like every other self respecting communist state.

Willy.

It is only a matter of time given Livingstone's plans for the Olympics.

As long as it was for something important like a meeting then that was OK.!

Howard

Talking of that wanker Livingstone

Drivers face £5,000 penalty for using Olympic VIP lanes
Dipesh Gadher, Transport Correspondent


MOTORISTS who dare to stray into VIP lanes reserved for athletes and officials at the 2012 London Olympics face penalties of up to £5,000 under special powers sanctioned by the government.

As many as 55,000 members of the “Olympic family”, including ministers, media and corporate sponsors, will be able to sweep past other traffic in scenes reminiscent of Moscow’s politburo-only Zil lanes.

The lanes, linking sports venues across the capital, are likely to operate between 6.30am and midnight. They will be policed by cameras and enforcement officers.

Ordinary drivers will be herded into the remaining lanes, prompting fears of gridlock — and those who try to break out will be hit with severe penalties.

According to the London Olympics Bill, which passed its committee stage in the Commons last week, motorists who enter the VIP lanes, or infringe the new Olympic Route Network (ORN) in any other way, face a maximum penalty of £5,000 and a criminal record. This is five times the maximum penalty for most offences under the Road Traffic Offenders Act, such as failing to stop at a red light.

Although motorists will initially be issued with a fixed penalty notice of a lower value — to be set by a new Olympic Delivery Authority — the bill allows them to be prosecuted if they refuse or fail to pay and fined up to £5,000.

By contrast, straying into a bus lane in London is currently a civil offence with a maximum fine of £150, which can be recovered by bailiffs.

“One would expect draconian sanctions like this for serious road safety breaches rather than technical breaches of regulations,” said Paul Watters, head of roads policy at the AA Motoring Trust. “Why should a simple mistake cost someone up to £5,000?”

The dedicated lanes, part of the 150-mile ORN, will give priority to competitors and bigwigs such as Tessa Jowell, the culture secretary.

They will be transported daily in 2,500 buses and cars fitted with technology capable of turning traffic lights green on their approach. About 12,000 corporate sponsors and their guests will also be allowed to use the lanes.

A spokesman for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, said: “The last thing we are after is people’s money — we simply want to get everyone to their venues on time.”stone: