Mobile phones in cars...

[Teloz]

Someone I know says they were booked for using a phone in a car and fined �60 plus points. They said they were sitting in stationary traffic and had switched off the engine, I quote:

"My engine was switched off! The code I was given by the officer was different to the standard code, I think it was aiding and abetting or something. It still affected my insurance though, plus the points and �60. Maybe I should have got out and called in. I had been stationary for 15 mins so had turned off engine."

Can anyone tell me what they were likely to have been booked for?

[Ethel]

3 points and a �60 fine is standard for using a mobile phone whilst driving.

"7) What counts as driving?
Driving is using a motor vehicle on public roads and can include when a vehicle is stopped at traffic lights or during a traffic hold-up. Therefore you should not use that time to make or receive a call. Park safely and then use the phone.


http://www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk/advice/mobil ephones.htm


CU80 is the fixed penalty code for using a mobile whilst driving.

[Teloz]

I appreciate what you're saying Ethel, but in this case the person concerned was stuck in a traffic jam with no possibility of moving and so could not "park safely". Indeed, they remained stationary for a further thirty minutes.

[dzug]

Well unfortunately the fact that he was stationary and couldn't move is (in law - not saying I agree with the logic of it) no excuse. The traffic could have started moving at any time. You only know it didn't with hindsight