Police officer threatens to confiscate bike from 4-year-old - for riding on pavement

Meanwhile, whilst I was out and about today I came across this. It was left like that for at least an hour blocking the segregated path next to a busy high street (which has parking spaces!).

I also saw a Police car drive past it.

Image courtesy of Fly6

Put this officer on bike patrol duties for the next year.

Put this 4 yr old on tag, that will learn her.

Oink oink

The article states:-
The youngster was accompanied by her father Dale, who was holding her by a lead.
Would he not be better off using a choke chain?

felixcat - as i said we have the powers to seize items BUT we have to justify why we have taken it and for what reason and in this scenario i cant see a reason to justify it. So ultimately we could have taken the bike but i dont know any officer i work with who would actually do it, thats the difference.

Just like the law states that you can get 5 years imprisonment for theft on first conviction - it will never happen.

As for the fines scenario mentioned earlier, if a child, because until they go to Mags court they are classed as a child / youth, and go to youth court the parent is responsible for the payment.

We wont give a penalty ticket to a child.

If you still cant get your head around it check out one of the many websites which explains the law in all its finer points.

Why do the English hate children? This wouldn't happen in other countries.

Put em down the mines.....oops Mrs Thatcher closed em,

The last cyclist/police interaction I witnessed was when a PC stepped into the road to allow an adult cyclist to proceed unhindered along the pavement.

This was at a location where the road is wide and has a green painted cycle lane.

Confusing.

During a cycle-training session, I was outside a school teaching five young riders the folly of pavement riding, when, yes, two cycling bobbies came along - on the pavement.

They pulled up showing genuine interest in the cycle-training, and offered to help at any future sessions.

Some banter ensued when I politely pointed out that perhaps they should have been riding on the road and not the pavement.

"Ah, we have dispensation so we can chase criminals." "That's Our Job", they proudly told the youngsters, puffing out their chests and patting their equipment pouches.

We all looked around, and I asked my trainees if they could see any 'criminals'. There were none to be seen, so I suggested that the two policemen seemed to have lost their quarry, much to the amusement of the children.

This caused them to change tack, with...
"Ah, but it is best to ride on the pavement when there is so much dangerous traffic".

So I asked my trainees, who were now clearly enjoying the exchange, if they could see any 'dangerous' traffic.
We all looked up and down the near deserted road.
"Yes, there is a parked car over there" said one, - and that was it.
Nothing else, zilch, not even the local vicar with a shopping basket.

There followed a sheepish, "We must be on our way; lots of baddies to catch" from PC Senior Bobby, and I wished them a pleasant and safe ride. His junior, gave a knowing wink back at us as they left.

As the two set off, we stood and watched with jaws hanging, as one went along the road, while PC Senior Bobby bunny-hopped onto the .....pavement.

It didn't take me long to decide whether they could indeed help with any future training.

I hope the said office in this article is named and shamed.

Disgraceful...

It must be true, it was in the paper

I would say it's ok to ride on the pavement if, and only if, you have stabilisers on your bike.

If I was her dad I'd have told the PC to take the bike off her, but warned him against touching her!

I would have thrown that kid in the slammer and tazerd the ol' fella.

I too am amazed that this should happen - my kids ride on the pavement until we reach quieter roads as we live close to the South Circular in London. I do wonder sometimes why serving police officers who are also keen cyclists (and are sympathetic to the issues) like Stumps bother to post sometimes. They explain the law, and how the system works, often acknowledging the constraints that frustrate them, because, much as we all like to think we know the law, we are often wrong. They (he in this case) then gets a truckload of abuse for his pains as if he had written the law and was responsible for deciding how it should be implemented. it strikes me being a police officer is a bit like learning to drive. First you learn to pass your test, then you learn how to drive. There are some bad drivers with test passes, and there are some police officers who clearly have no common sense or idea of how to use discretion correctly. But there are many more that have more of these skills than I do, and I have been grateful to them in the past for the quiet word, rather than the heavy hand. I also find that the way I speak to them helps - I'm sure the dad wasn't short or rude, but it never helps...

The kid escaped lightly. If it had happened up here in Scotland, our routinely-armed cops would probably have shot her...

"sensitivity and careful use of police discretion is required.” isn't in the cards for officers with the intent on Ruling the Peasants harshly. Post this officers name as he is likely terrorizing so many others with abuse of authority. And, please, alter the law for those under 12 years old, over 65 or the disabled to ride safely as it is apparent "Discretion" is horribly missing in many officers abilities.

http://reason.com/blog/2013/05/01/court-oks-barring-smart-people-from-beco