On 25 Apr, 15:07, Tom Crispin
wrote:
New guidelines issued to the Metropolitan police means that motorists
can openly flout many highway code rules without risk of the police
taking any action other than a word in their ear.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7874363.stm

In contrast, cyclists will still be persecuted for minor
infringements, such as mounting a kerb to avoid the mortal perils of
left turning lorries encroaching on ASLs.


No, it doesn't say that in these terms:-

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Met ignore minor driving breaches

Police will not charge drivers going through no entry signs
Police officers in London have been told they no longer have powers to
enforce the law when drivers flout basic rules of the road.

Motorists caught making "minor errors of judgment" should face no more
than words of advice, new Metropolitan Police (Met) guidelines said.

But drivers could be prosecuted if caught on street cameras owned by
local authorities in the capital.

And police can still act if the driving puts other road users at
risk.

The new guidelines say officers should not act if they spot drivers
ignoring no entry signs, turning restrictions, traffic direction
signs, flow priority, no u-turns and vehicle restrictions.

This is purely about getting the cash in to the council's coffers

Anti-camera campaigner Captain Gatso

A memo circulated to officers this week read: "Where officers witness
offences in circumstances that amount to minor errors of judgment,
drivers may continue to be stopped and words of advice given, however,
no formal warning may be given or reporting action taken.

"Officers must not tell drivers that no proceedings will be brought as
a local authority civil enforcement notice could still be issued, for
example where the authority has captured the offence on camera."

A Met spokesman said: "Following a review of police powers after the
introduction of the Traffic Management Act 2004 and the Transport for
London Act 2003 police no longer have legal power to enforce certain
moving traffic offences involving non compliance with signs.

"The power for enforcement now lies with Transport for London and
local councils.

"Where officers see driving that is blatantly of a poor standard or
that endangers other road users police will still intervene and take
action under their general powers to tackle dangerous or careless
driving."

Anti-camera campaigner Captain Gatso said: "This is purely about
getting the cash in to the council's coffers."

A Transport for London spokesman said: "We would rather motorists
understood and complied with the rules rather than issue a high number
of penalty charge notices.

"Any money raised from traffic enforcement is put back into improving
London's roads and traffic control."

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