Guy on Facebook said Police took a ride on his bike ?

[Deus]

Guy on Facebook said a police officer stopped him in Bristol because of his battery in a triangle bag ? he then goes on to say that the officer rode his bike surely they can not do that ?
He also said the officer said that the bike has to be under 60kg ?

 

[Deleted member 25121]

Guy on Facebook said a police officer stopped him in Bristol because of his battery in a triangle bag ? he then goes on to say that the officer rode his bike surely they can not do that ?
He also said the officer said that the bike has to be under 60kg ?

Probably testing it to see if it was speed limited to 15.5 MPH.

 

[Nealh]

They could confiscate the bike for testing if they felt was illegal, maybe the rider offered the test ride to prove it met the required speed limit.
There is an upper weight limit though would have to be a tank to be 60kg.
My Boardman is half a tank and with extra batteries carried with all kit is about 34 - 36kg.

 

[LeighPing]

Probably testing it to see if it was speed limited to 15.5 MPH.

Probably. Nevertheless, the authorities aren't authorised to test criminality, by suspicion alone, in a bid to find evidence.

 

[Bobajob]

They could confiscate the bike for testing if they felt was illegal, maybe the rider offered the test ride to prove it met the required speed limit.
There is an upper weight limit though would have to be a tank to be 60kg.
My Boardman is half a tank and with extra batteries carried with all kit is about 34 - 36kg.

the police do not need to follow the law they are a law unto themselves.
Get used to it as it’s another revenue earner for them.

 

[Nealh]

Originally the upper weight limit 40kg for two wheels/tandems and 60kg allows trikes to be electrified, though now I think upper weight weight limit no longer exists as quads are also allowed.
Flecc is totally up to speed with legislation so can clarify.

 

[LeighPing]

Guy on Facebook said a police officer stopped him in Bristol because of his battery in a triangle bag ? he then goes on to say that the officer rode his bike surely they can not do that ?
He also said the officer said that the bike has to be under 60kg ?

Can you post a link to that page please?

 

[Deleted member 25121]

Probably. Nevertheless, the authorities aren't authorised to test criminality, by suspicion alone, in a bid to find evidence.

Aren't authorities authorised to test vehicles that they suspect are violating the law?

 

[LeighPing]

Aren't authorities authorised to test vehicles that they suspect are violating the law?

A Police Officer test riding someone's bike down the road isn't an expert testing method. Not unless it was a vehicle testing checkpoint that provides expert opinions and testing methods anyhow. Procedures need to be observed. Otherwise there's nothing stopping them from pulling anyone over and taking a spin in their vehicle based on how something looks. Nothing stopping them from searching your home without a search warrant.. Where does it end?

"a police officer stopped him in Bristol because of his battery in a triangle bag." That doesn't sound like a good enough reason to be shopping for evidence of illegality. Some bikes do have large batteries. Some have more than one. Based on that quote, there's nothing being suspected based on the size of the motor or the speed of the bike. No crime in progress..

Still, I'd like to read the full story. Link anyone? Was the officer on foot, or in a vehicle? What were the circumstances?

 

[Bobajob]

They could confiscate the bike for testing if they felt was illegal, maybe the rider offered the test ride to prove it met the required speed limit.
There is an upper weight limit though would have to be a tank to be 60kg.
My Boardman is half a tank and with extra batteries carried with all kit is about 34 - 36kg.

the police do not need to follow the law they are a law unto themselves.
Get used to it as it’s another revenue earner for them.

A Police Officer test riding someone's bike down the road isn't an expert testing method. Not unless it was a vehicle testing checkpoint that provides expert opinions and testing methods anyhow. Procedures need to be observed. Otherwise there's nothing stopping them from pulling anyone over and taking a spin in their vehicle based on how something looks. Nothing stopping them from searching your home without a search warrant.. Where does it end?

"a police officer stopped him in Bristol because of his battery in a triangle bag." That doesn't sound like a good enough reason to be shopping for evidence of illegality. Some bikes do have large batteries. Some have more than one. Based on that quote, there's nothing being suspected based on the size of the motor or the speed of the bike. No crime in progress..

Still, I'd like to read the full story. Link anyone? Was the officer on foot, or in a vehicle? What were the circumstances?

As I posted earlier the police don’t have to follow the law they are a law unto themselves. The random stopping has been going on for years regarding stop and search, smelling cannabis etc etc. When they’re wrong so what?

 

[flecc]

Originally the upper weight limit 40kg for two wheels/tandems and 60kg allows trikes to be electrified, though now I think upper weight weight limit no longer exists as quads are also allowed.
Flecc is totally up to speed with legislation so can clarify.

Indeed, all pedelec weight limits were removed in the 6th April 2015 amendment to the 1983 EAPC regulations.

The police officer was clearly muddled, even about the former weight limit for a solo e-bike.
.

 

[Deus]

Can you post a link to that page please?

https://www.facebook.com/groups/144951402623545/

Just type Bristol in the search to find the post posters name is Ben Loader

 

[Deleted member 25121]

A Police Officer test riding someone's bike down the road isn't an expert testing method.

Of course not but police are allowed to investigate suspected breeches of the law aren't they? They'll call in their experts, eg forensics, vehicle testing etc etc, for further testing if they think necessary.

Our local police made random breath tests over Xmas, they didn't need proof that a driver was over the limit before stopping and testing her/him. Are you saying that was wrong of them?

 

[Bobajob]

Of course not but police are allowed to investigate suspected breeches of the law aren't they? They'll call in their experts, eg forensics, vehicle testing etc etc, for further testing if they think necessary.

Our local police made random breath tests over Xmas, they didn't need proof that a driver was over the limit before stopping and testing her/him. Are you saying that was wrong of them?

What constabulary do you work for?
You’re right they can stop to do road side interviews if you’re driving a vehicle under the road traffic acts in place.
The cyclist hadn’t done anything wrong but was apparently stopped for a roadside check. They could have taken the bike to a testing centre to determine if the said ebike was in fact legal. But the police still need a reason, just cycling along and not breaching any law isn’t enough of a reason to stop and confiscate.

If you get stopped by the police bear in mind they are generalising with their interpretation of the law believe it or not the police don’t often know the law they draw on basic acts to enable them to do it.
Remember where they take the bikes is somewhere they know the people which in itself opens it up to abuse.

 

[LeighPing]

Are you saying that was wrong of them?

I'm saying that we're not obliged to give a sample of neither breath nor bike.

 

[Deleted member 25121]

I'm saying that we're not obliged to give a sample of neither breath nor bike.

Failure to give a blood specimen while suspected of drink driving would result in you being prosecuted.

 

[Deleted member 25121]

What constabulary do you work for?
You’re right they can stop to do road side interviews if you’re driving a vehicle under the road traffic acts in place.
The cyclist hadn’t done anything wrong but was apparently stopped for a roadside check. They could have taken the bike to a testing centre to determine if the said ebike was in fact legal. But the police still need a reason, just cycling along and not breaching any law isn’t enough of a reason to stop and confiscate.

If you get stopped by the police bear in mind they are generalising with their interpretation of the law believe it or not the police don’t often know the law they draw on basic acts to enable them to do it.
Remember where they take the bikes is somewhere they know the people which in itself opens it up to abuse.

1. I don't work for the police, it's not necessary to be a member of the police force to be law abiding.

2. I wasn't there but presumably the police had reason to stop the cyclist. What makes you think they had no reason to do so, were you there?

 

[LeighPing]

presumably the police had reason to stop the cyclist. What makes you think they had no reason to do so, were you there?

Obviously Bobajob wasn't there. This was the info given - "a police officer stopped him in Bristol because of his battery in a triangle bag"

Then they came up with a load of weight blarney before taking his steed for a joyride. The officer was clearly clueless, misquoting the law, had no justifiable reason to be hunting for further evidence that the owner of the bike was not obliged to give.

 

[LeighPing]

Ooh more info. The plot thickens.

 

[Deleted member 25121]

Ooh more info. The plot thickens.

View attachment 33767

Ah, obviously the police suspect he's up to no good then. Reading between the lines his bike is able to provide assistance above 15.5mph, "I set my speed dial to 15.5mph", and the police are struggling to prove that.