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#Post#: 115571--------------------------------------------------
Need advice regarding a traffic stop where I received 3
offences.
DIR By: jpesci90
Date: April 10, 2026, 4:27 pm
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For context, I am a 20M who drives a Subaru Impreza WRX.
I was going to a friend's house in Camden and I got stopped for
my strobe lights on Oxford Street, fair enough I know its
illegal and I should get a ticket for it. However it became
apparent quickly that the officer was trying to find anything
and everything to penalise me for. This included my front plate
that was cracked due to an accident a week prior, which he
stated was illegible but can be read by cameras at carparks etc,
and when I tried to explain that I had a quote from a mechanic
to go sort it out in a few days time he did not seem interested.
Then the officer said my car was improperly registered
(registered to my dads business at which I work and commute) and
that I need to get it sorted out which I didnt see how it was
any of his business. Finally, he gave me an offence for driving
without glasses as according to my licence, I for some reason
require eyesight correction despite never having any eye issues
or wearing glasses in my life. I asked the officer once he was
done if I was legally entitled to leave and drive off at which
point he made vague unclear statements such as "I am not going
to stay here and watch you so I cannot stop you driving off".
After he got back into his vehicle, I started my car, and waited
a few seconds to see if he would come out and he did. He said,
"I told you, you cannot drive" which was very unclear from what
he actually said and I felt like it was designed to catch me out
and potentially pin me for another offence. He asked me to get
out of my car so he could drive it around the corner and park
it.
After this, the officer made remarks about my age and my car
saying that I was driving, and I quote "a killing machine" at
which I asked him if I was dangerously driving, had any speeding
offences or was speeding at the time of the traffic stop to
which he called me "obtuse".
I am obviously going to challenge the offence regarding the
eyesight correction as that is a DVLA mistake and I have perfect
vision. Would it be reasonable to challenge the number plate
offence as well as I felt like the officer just saw a young lad
in a car like mine which bear in mind I saved up for to buy with
my own money, and assumed im just some rich kid who drives
carelessly endangering people around me and profiled me based on
that. Also, the officer stated that the letters of the offences
would be sent to my home address and not the registered business
address which seems incorrect as the car is registered under a
business.
Any advice would be helpful
#Post#: 115572--------------------------------------------------
Re: Need advice regarding a traffic stop where I received 3
offences.
DIR By: Southpaw82
Date: April 10, 2026, 5:05 pm
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Strobes: you admit you should get done - and you called
attention to yourself.
Plate: you seem to admit the offence. “I’m going to get it
fixed” isn’t a defence.
Eyesight: sure, challenge it - but it seems unsurprising that he
believed what was on your licence.
Maybe have a look at “the attitude test” - might save you more
hassle (on top of making sure your car is legal).
#Post#: 115575--------------------------------------------------
Re: Need advice regarding a traffic stop where I received 3
offences.
DIR By: jpesci90
Date: April 10, 2026, 5:37 pm
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--- Quote from: Southpaw82 link ---
>
> Strobes: you admit you should get done - and you called
attention to yourself.
>
> Plate: you seem to admit the offence. “I’m going to get it
fixed” isn’t a defence.
>
> Eyesight: sure, challenge it - but it seems unsurprising that
he believed what was on your licence.
>
> Maybe have a look at “the attitude test” - might save you more
hassle (on top of making sure your car is legal).
>
--- End Quote ---
I was respectful throughout the interaction and I admitted fault
to the strobe. The officer could have also been respectful and
charitable towards me instead he made unnecessary comments,
tried to tell me not having my licence on my persons was illegal
when I know it isnt, told me I should not be driving a "killing
machine" as he put it and all in all just made it seem like he
was assuming I am a certain kind of driver based on my age and
my car when I wasnt. I wasnt speeding, driving dangerously or
anything. I didnt do anything to warrant that kind of attitude.
This is the first time I have been stopped by police so I was
nervous but was not aggressive etc.
I asked him very clearly if I was legally allowed to drive off
once he was done. He gave a very unclear vague response which
again felt like it was designed to catch me out when he couldve
just said hey mate you cant drive due to the eyesight issue.
Only when I turned on the engine and remained stationary to get
the heating up, did he come out and ask me to exit the vehicle
so he could drive it and park it up somewhere. He then told me
he would give me a note to put on the car so I wouldnt get a PCN
but didnt even do that and just drove off.
#Post#: 115579--------------------------------------------------
Re: Need advice regarding a traffic stop where I received 3
offences.
DIR By: Southpaw82
Date: April 10, 2026, 7:17 pm
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Not having your licence on you isn’t illegal. Not presenting it
when demanded is. So in that respect “not having your licence”
can be illegal.
I suspect that your version of respectful and the officer’s may
differ.
#Post#: 115580--------------------------------------------------
Re: Need advice regarding a traffic stop where I received 3
offences.
DIR By: andy_foster
Date: April 11, 2026, 12:01 am
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It is an offence not to produce your licence, but it is a
defence if it is subsequently produced at a police station
within 7 days, or if was not reasonably practicable to produce
it any sooner or at all.
As sections must be read as a whole, the effect of s. 164 is
that if you fail to produce on the spot, and also fail to
produce within 7 days, and cannot rely on the reasonable
practicability defence. You committed the offence when you
initially failed to produce on the spot.
As regards the attitude test, being 20 and driving a WRX with
strobes is going to be an instant and hard fail.
#Post#: 115583--------------------------------------------------
Re: Need advice regarding a traffic stop where I received 3
offences.
DIR By: jpesci90
Date: April 11, 2026, 3:14 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: andy_foster link ---
>
> It is an offence not to produce your licence, but it is a
defence if it is subsequently produced at a police station
within 7 days, or if was not reasonably practicable to produce
it any sooner or at all.
>
> As sections must be read as a whole, the effect of s. 164 is
that if you fail to produce on the spot, and also fail to
produce within 7 days, and cannot rely on the reasonable
practicability defence. You committed the offence when you
initially failed to produce on the spot.
>
> As regards the attitude test, being 20 and driving a WRX with
strobes is going to be an instant and hard fail.
>
--- End Quote ---
I know it isnt an offence to not produce my licence however the
officer said it was illegal and did not mention the fact that I
could produce it at a police station. Only after did I point
this fact out, did the officer ask for a photo of my licence.
With regards to the eyesight correction, I just contacted DVLA
regarding this issue and they informed that as long as I met the
eyesight standard, i.e reading a plate 20m away, I could drive
without glasses despite having the correction on my licence. The
officer did not tell me about this and said that I would not be
able to drive at all unless I had glasses or contact lenses. I
told him I could read his plate if we wanted me to but he didnt
seem interested.
I dont know about you but it seems like this officer was being
unfair and disingenuous on purpose. Because of him, I thought it
was illegal for me to drive home so I had to call up friends to
see if anyone could come and drive my car back home when in
reality I could have pulled out and left.
Just because I drive a WRX at 20, doesn't mean I came at this
interaction entitled or with an attitude. Its my first time ever
being stopped, I was visibly nervous and yes I had the strobes
on accidentally when I have them off and I take blame for that.
The officer could have acted in good faith towards me. Its bad
enough that people have a negative view of public servants.
#Post#: 115611--------------------------------------------------
Re: Need advice regarding a traffic stop where I received 3
offences.
DIR By: andy_foster
Date: April 11, 2026, 8:39 am
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As a matter of law, the occifer's attitude is about as relevant
as yours.
#Post#: 116054--------------------------------------------------
FPN for driving without glasses advice required - England
DIR By: jpesci90
Date: April 16, 2026, 7:02 am
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Hi all,
For reference I passed my test a little over a year ago. I was
pulled over by police and was issued a ticket for an unrelated
offence (just a fine) but upon checking my licence during the
stop, the officer said that I have the 01 code which is for
eyesight correction.
Now this came as a shock for me as I never have worn or needed
glasses in my life so I was confused why my licence had this
code. I told the officer that I do not need glasses to drive and
was unaware of this code on my licence and that in fact I could
read a licence plate from over 20 metres away. The officer told
me that this didnt actually matter and I was legally required to
be wearing glasses/contacts and to phone DVLA if this was a
mistake.
I phoned DVLA the day after and the person I spoke to told me
that even if the 01 code is on the licence, as long as you meet
the required standard for eyesight which is reading a plate from
20m away, you do not need to wear glasses or contacts - (not
sure if this is entirely correct based on other online sources)
I received the FPN and I was hoping I could challenge this based
on the information provided by DVLA. Besides reapplying for a
new licence and getting this code removed, is there any evidence
I could provide to show that I did not need glasses at the time
of the stop and have never needed eyesight correction in my
life? I have records of eye tests done etc. Any advice would be
helpful as you can imagine I dont exactly want 3 points for what
it seems was a mistake on DVLA's end.
Thanks
#Post#: 116056--------------------------------------------------
Re: Need advice regarding a traffic stop where I received 3
offences.
DIR By: andy_foster
Date: April 16, 2026, 7:24 am
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One case, one thread!
I'm gonna go ahead and call bullsh*t on the FPN.
Perhaps you would like to give us a clue as to what specific
offence this notice refers to?
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