I bet you have seen a lot of these officers on the motorways now. There the ones with the orange flashing lights and yellow/black chequed paintwork.
They seem to be replacing traffic cops nowdays. I imagine its a lot cheaper to pay one of these guys instead of a copper.
Are they there just to get crashed cars off the carriageway/put out cones/direct traffic etc. Or do they have the power to give stop vehicles/issue speeding tickets etc?
2006-10-30 00:50:03 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
Legally they have NO powers greater than the average motorist. They are part of the Highways Agency and NOT the Police Force. There sole purpose is to aid in traffic direction & flow management NOT to prosecute, harrass or otherwise interfere with law abiding citizens.
The ONLY people in the UK that can issue traffic tickets for motoring offences is the Police. Even jumped-up traffic wardens can only give you a ticket if you are less than two feet from the kerb - any furthar and it's a Police matter (obstructing traffic) and not a parking offence.
They (Highway Agency) CANNOT legally stop your vehicle - only the Emergency Services, VOSA (Vehicle Standards Agency) and Customs & Excise can do this. However, trying to stop you MAY be for your own safety. eg. crash ahead, fallen tree...
2006-10-30 01:18:22 · answer #1 · answered by creviazuk 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
As far as I´m aware they have no powers of arrest and have no legal right to stop or detain anyone, regardless of your behaviour on the roads. They do liaise with the police though so be warned!
At the moment their main role is to assist with incidents, clear broken down cars and generally help at accident scenes so as to get the traffic flowing again after an accident.
If the new "scheme" continues to be a success they will, in the future, be taking over some of the functions that the police currently perform, such as creating rolling road-blocks etc. The idea is that this will free up police resources and enable them to concentrate on the more "important" things.
2006-10-30 09:02:32 · answer #2 · answered by gav_82 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like you are referring to the VOSA officers?
If so, then yes, they have recently been granted the power to stop vehicles on a public road. However, their powers are limited to checking items regarding road tax, insurance and Construction and Use Regulations.
In other words, they can't pull you for speeding or dangerous driving. But they can pull you if they believe your vehicle is unsafe or unroadworthy.
They also have the power to perform a full roadside safety-check on your vehicle - something the police cannot do. If you've got dodgy brakes or iffy suspension, VOSA officers can prohibit your vehicle from moving until it's fixed.
2006-10-30 09:17:07 · answer #3 · answered by Nightworks 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
these peeps have no ppwers of arrest, all they do is patrol round the motor ways and if there are any incidents they can cone things off direct traffic remove debris from the road by creating rolling roads ( where they drive along with do not pass flashing on there msg board and there ambers going
2006-10-30 19:14:18 · answer #4 · answered by TERRY READ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The role of the traffic officer as described on the Highways Agency website.
2006-10-30 09:13:11 · answer #5 · answered by migelito 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
NONE AT ALL!!!
They are part of the highways agency not law enforcement.
They are to assist in incidents to keep the traffic flowing.
I went past 1 at 140 last week on my bike on the M40
2006-10-30 09:02:29 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe they are just another branch of Police, so they have full Police powers.
2006-10-30 09:02:46 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
They have the power to make our blood pressure rise rapidly...lol...
2006-10-30 09:01:57 · answer #8 · answered by fluffy bunny 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
if u r going to fast they pull out and boom your dead
2006-10-30 08:52:52 · answer #9 · answered by toby 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋