Yesterday driving along the M8 when a VOSA Ford Galaxy joined from Junction 5, put on flashing orange lights and pulled alongside a lorry, assume he must have been making eye contact with driver, then pulled in front of him and illuminated "Follow Me" signage. They both went off further along at the Harthill Services.
Now I have seen VOSA in action before, either parked up in Glasgow or at a motorway junction. But the difference being, anytime I have seen them in action before they always had marked police working beside them? In Glasgow the police pull the vehicles into a layby that the VOSA are in, or on motorways quite often see Police motorcyclists escorting vehicles up to the VOSA area.
But have never seen VOSA vehicle doing a stop - is this something they have always done or is this new powers? What do they check for? Is it only commercial type vehicles they target?
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VOSA were given the power to stop vehicles some years ago and frequently do.
The 'follow me' signs would mean the lorry would be subject to a full mechanical, weight and drivers hours check.
Not sure if they can do this to a car but would assume they can.
Pat
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They've been stopping commercial vehicles like this ever since they got the original Ford Galaxy's on fleet, probably 10 years now.
They usually take the lorries to where they have established a temporary inspection site, such as an MSA or layby on other roads or to an established site where they will usually have a weighbridge.
At the checkpoint they will check weigh the vehicle if appropriate, give the vehicle a thorough examination, and check the drivers licencing and driving records which will go back about a month, whether by carried tachograph records or increasingly by the drivers digi card which electronically records everything the driver does.
I would like to see them being given stop and examination powers for all vehicles, their mechanics would soon sort out annoying illegal things the old bill sometimes don't have time or the individual expertise to pursue.
I personally have never had a problem with VOSA, but then i treat them with due respect don't run bent and try to make sure everything is correct and up to the mark, small minority of drivers seem to have an attitude problem with them and maybe the odd one thinks they can pull a fast one cos they are cleverer, big mistake.
VOSA are not draconian, if you've made a genuine error they will advise rather than nick, if its genuine, they also exercise common sense.
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Yes they have the power to stop (since 2003 I think) and the power to issue FPN's (fixed penalty notices).
edit
stolen from wiki
Under the Police Reform Act 2002, section 41 and Schedule 5,[4] Chief Constables could grant powers (under a Community Safety Accreditation Scheme) to VOSA officers to stop vehicles, for checks on vehicle and driver compliance without the need for police support (later expanded to stop any vehicle, although mainly goods and passenger carrying vehicles). At that time, only police officers had the power to stop vehicles and therefore had to be present. The powers were piloted in 2003 and brought more widely into force in 2004.[5]
Following a consultation in July 2010,[6] the law was overhauled in 2011 to grant VOSA officers the power to stop vehicles without relying on police approval through Community Safety Accreditation Schemes as above. This also allowed VOSA officers to stop vehicles in Scotland, as well as in England and Wales as previously. The amendment, which was made by the Road Vehicles (Powers to Stop) Regulations 2011, allows "stopping officers" approved by the Department for Transport to stop vehicles for certain reasons.[7]
To be appointed as a stopping officer, a person must:[7]
be a suitable person to exercise the powers of a stopping officer,
be capable of effectively exercising their powers, and
have received adequate training for the exercise of their powers.
Officers must be in uniform to stop vehicles.[7] Impersonating or obstructing stopping officers is an offence.[7]
However, for me as a car driver, No blue light means "sod off I aint stopping for you" According to the highway code they are not authorised persons to give signals.
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>> However, for me as a car driver, No blue light means "sod off I aint
>> stopping for you" According to the highway code they are not authorised persons to give
>> signals.
>>
Oh goody!
I am already salivating at the prospect of the court case.
Please, let it be soon!
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He can call the police to authorise the stop, at which point I would. I think I could argue a good case in court.
Last edited by: Zero on Sun 12 May 13 at 17:17
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>> I>> think I could argue a good case in court.
>>
Do let me know when the case comes up, will you?
I will move heaven and earth to be there!
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There wont be a Weatherspoons nearby.
But that begs the questions on reasons to stop. They have no powers to stop for moving traffic offences, (or any criminal reasons) merely construction and use offences
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''later expanded to stop any vehicle''
Well i didn't know that, they do have powers to stop any vehicle then, but i have never seen them stop a car yet.
If you didn't stop for them Z i wonder what penalties could come your way, whatever penalties followed i am quite sure that once the old bill have pulled you over then you and your car would be subject to the longest most rigourous examination ever recorded.
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>> ''later expanded to stop any vehicle''
>>
>> Well i didn't know that, they do have powers to stop any vehicle then, but
>> i have never seen them stop a car yet.
>>
>> If you didn't stop for them Z i wonder what penalties could come your way,
>> whatever penalties followed i am quite sure that once the old bill have pulled you
>> over then you and your car would be subject to the longest most rigourous examination
>> ever recorded.
You could bet your boots on that.
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If I was driving a private car I wouldn't stop for VOSA if they tried to pull me on a motorway, neither would I follow their "Follow Me" signs.
And I'd more than happily stand in court and discuss it.
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>>you and your car would be subject to the longest most rigourous examination ever recorded.<<
only get worried when the rubber gloves are snapped on :)
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>> According to the highway code they are not authorised persons to give signals.
I'm afraid they are. Sections 107 and 108 of the current Highway Code say VOSA Officers and Highways Agency Officers have powers to stop vehicles.
107
Vehicle & Operator Services Agency Officers have powers to stop vehicles on all roads, including motorways and trunk roads, in England and Wales. They will attract your attention by flashing amber lights
either from the front requesting you to follow them to a safe place to stop
or from behind directing you to pull over to the side by pointing and/or using the left indicator.
It is an offence not to comply with their directions. You MUST obey any signals given (download ‘Signals by authorised persons’ (PDF, 123KB)).
Laws RTA 1988, sect 67, & PRA 2002, sect 41 & sched 5(8)
108
Highways Agency Traffic Officers have powers to stop vehicles on most motorways and some ‘A’ class roads, in England only. If HA traffic officers in uniform want to stop your vehicle on safety grounds (e.g. an insecure load) they will, where possible, attract your attention by
flashing amber lights, usually from behind
directing you to pull over to the side by pointing and/or using the left indicator.
You MUST then pull over and stop as soon as it is safe to do so. Then switch off your engine. It is an offence not to comply with their directions (download ‘Signals by authorised persons’ (PDF, 123KB)).
Law RTA1988, sects 35 &163 as amended by TMA 2004, sect 6
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I missed 107. Still not stopping tho.
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>> I missed 107. Still not stopping tho.
Edit, tho it has to be said, the chances of being pulled by a VOSA man is probably nil.
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No mention of Scotland in those rules?
My 18 year old daughter is under strict instructions to only stop for the police so I would like to think that if this had happened to her she would have drove on.
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>> Edit, tho it has to be said, the chances of being pulled by a VOSA
>> man is probably nil.
Yes, if your car is taxed and on MID.
I went under a bridge on the M4 last week, there was a large white tripod and camera arrangement on it facing down the motorway. Wassat then, thought I. Not a speed camera I don't think. Then I passed a Police layby, and there was a VOSA S-Max in it. I expect they're out looking for the untaxed and uninsured.
So I'd say there's a small chance of being pulled by them sometime, when changing insurers and you're not on MID for a day or two, for example.
Funny that this thread should crop up, I was going to look in to it today as I wasn't sure if VOSA had stopping powers eiter. It seems they so, I I suppose I'd stop if requested.
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Stop by VOSA vehicle - Pat
