http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-38234763
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
End of the road for transport minister?
(47 posts)-
Posted 7 years ago #
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OMG! Silly Billy.
But one question. If we believe the report that there was no reason to pull over the car, do the police have the right to do random checks like this?
Posted 7 years ago # -
Young(-ish) Asian male gets pulled over "randomly" by Police.
Hmmmm...
Posted 7 years ago # -
Do people regard this as serious? Is it the same as travelling on a train without a ticket?
Longing for the day of TRANSPORT MINISTER PULLED UP FOR CYCLING WITHOUT LIGHTS.
Posted 7 years ago # -
he was pulled over by police in a routine stop
I ain't never been stopped routinely or otherwise in Scotland. Guy's a daftie doing this but very unlucky to encounter the one traffic patrol north of Dalwhinnie.
Posted 7 years ago # -
"Do people regard this as serious?"
It is serious, it's against the law. Though under the circumstances (which are credible - and presumably affect other people...), looks like he might get a tougher penalty than other people who actually cause injuries.
"Is it the same as travelling on a train without a ticket?"
If you mean travelling with the intention of not paying, then no.
I think it would be unfortunatde if it is considered that he has to resign for the insurance mistake, but anyone 'in public life' caught deliberately fare dodging seriously damages their reputation - and any government they may be part of.
Posted 7 years ago # -
His account of being mistaken about his insurance status sounds plausible. Isn't it something that the electorate won't be overly bothered about because they can imagine themselves doing likewise (cf speeding)?
Posted 7 years ago # -
"Isn't it something that the electorate won't be overly bothered about because they can imagine themselves doing likewise (cf speeding)?"
Yes.
(Don't know whether that is good or bad!)
Don't suppose the voters will be calling for him to resign, perhaps some sections of the media, and maybe bits of the opposition (it's the opposition's job to
opposeplay politics) and perhaps some in his own party.Posted 7 years ago # -
Labour figures are going for the 'honest mistake' line. If he's been set up it may be by his own side.
Posted 7 years ago # -
"
Mr Yousaf now faces a fine of between £300 and £5,000 plus six penalty points on his licence.
"
"after a trial at Selkirk Sheriff Court, Sheriff Valerie Johnston found him guilty" (of causing death by careless driving)
"Stewart was fined £650 and had five penalty points endorsed on his licence."
Posted 7 years ago # -
Well I'd let him off (donning horsehair wig & robes) with a fine.
But as for that texting Keith Vaz... (puts on black cap...)
Posted 7 years ago # -
do the police have the right to do random checks like this?
Yes. I got stopped by the police on my way to work and they went round the car looking for an issue they could charge me with.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Driving without insurance becomes much more serious if there is an accident, of course, as your insurance that you thought you had would then refuse to pay out.
I can't work out if I think he should resign, though.
A friend of mine has been stopped by the police twice (I think) north of Inverness. I can't remember the details - once I think it was just because it was late at night but I seem to recall that the other was a bit odd because they said they were looking for a particular car and his vehicle is a Land Rover...
Posted 7 years ago # -
Looks like the Sun got the story first.
Police tip-off or HY hoping for 'good coverage'?
Posted 7 years ago # -
It wouldn't be any issue at all if he was Minister for Something Else.
Is this the equivalent of the Finance Minister being refused credit because of maxxing out his credit cards?
Posted 7 years ago # -
Rosie, I'm surprised you think this is so trivial. Driving without insurance is pretty serious.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Think the unspoken thought is that he hasn't been a disaster (yet) as transport minister and if he has to resign he's likely to be replaced by someone (far) worse. So therefore it's trivial...
Posted 7 years ago # -
The 2006 legislation on careless driving has a new offence of death by dangerous driving with no insurance, reading this yesterday seemed like a silly offense as insurance has no safety implications per say, in fact I suppose it could be argued someone may drive less safely when insurance, insurance may typically relate more to someone economic position so a way to increase the penalty for lower income. I imagine being a transport minister he’s claiming 120k a year in or whatever the minister claim these days so could afford insurance.
However if the government now consider driving without insurance as an aggravating factor, then this is now consider negligent similar to driving under the influence or driving with no licence .
Posted 7 years ago # -
If a car is insured, albeit not in your name, you've got to be trying pretty hard to get pulled over such is the current lack of road policing.
Posted 7 years ago # -
"Rosie, I'm surprised you think this is so trivial. Driving without insurance is pretty serious."
Driving without insurance is very serious imo, and HY should take the rap as handed out, as he has said he will. I think what Rosie is saying is that the issue shouldn't bleed into politics, and I agree with that.
As for intention or otherwise, I believe that when it comes to being sure you are driving legally (insurance, MoT, VED) a very high standard should be set. You should have to take positive steps to ensure you are legal, not rely on assuming you are.
Posted 7 years ago # -
@Harts Cyclery - I suppose I am, as I don't regard it the same as driving without due care & attention because of drink, texting, messing about with the noise machine in the car.
So though the consequences may be serious as they are if something happens when you're uninsured, it's a kind of bureaucratic slip up.
I note that Unionists haven't been kicking up much fuss about it.
Posted 7 years ago # -
However I've never owned a car so I may not appreciate the full duties and responsibilities of owning such an object.
Posted 7 years ago # -
@Ed1 He wasn't pulled over in St Andrews. He was north of Inverness, going to a St Andrew's party.
Posted 7 years ago # -
It is a plausible story as most people change their insurer every year and with the pricing 'race to the bottom' it would be easy to pick up a policy with a lower cover level than you had previously - or even easier if it is a joint policy bought by a significant other.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Most people know that you are not covered for driving other vehicles unless you are the Policyholder of a vehicle (i.e. not just a named driver). I doubt that HY didn't know that he was only a named driver on his wife's policy.
If a car is insured, albeit not in your name, you've got to be trying pretty hard to get pulled over such is the current lack of road policing.
I've seen locals driving drunk up in those parts and the police turn a blind eye - it's very surprising that anyone behaving normally would get pulled over.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Its a meh from me I'm afraid.
Driving with out insurance is only serious because you might cause another driver to be out of pocket, heaven forbid you hit an expensive Jaguar with out the financial ability to repay it, there are far more serious offences with far more trivial penalties which are actually in place to protect people.
If he was such bad a driver that he was uninsurable then this would be different but clearly thats not the case here.
Posted 7 years ago # -
If a car is insured, albeit not in your name, you've got to be trying pretty hard to get pulled over such is the current lack of road policing.
I suspect he was guilty of DWBAITH (driving whilst being Asian in the highlands).
I've been randomly pulled over twice in 15 years, once the police man decided I'd given him a dirty look (his words) his partner looked somewhat apologetic (the fact my car looked like it was about to fall apart wasn't a factor, it should have been!) And once because I was an 18 year old laddy in a big car, they were allegedly looking for a driver of a red car.
Posted 7 years ago # -
" Driving with out insurance is only serious because you might cause another driver to be out of pocket,..."
I respectfully disagree. It is serious because you might do some serious damage to someone and then not be in a position to compensate them for their injury and the difficulties of their continuing life.
Posted 7 years ago # -
@eddie_h I've been in the Highlands for new years and every mile or so there was a car in the ditch. Ice, drink or combination thereof.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Not having insurance also means any pedestrian or cyclist he hit would have a much harder job getting compensation for personal injury or equipment damage.
...as I see ih just said.
Posted 7 years ago #
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