A Right B*lls Up

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2624384/Ed-Balls-charged-police-failing-stop-car-crash.html

[youngmafbog]

Are you surprised?

Balls is one of those who firmly believe it is one rule for him and another for the rest of us. Apparently particularly so for the pleb in the peugeot.

[Svejk]

can you imagine if it was a ukip member. we'd never hear the end of it.

[Orderlimit]

Yet another labour politician facing a court.

The party is a shambles !!.

[aelmpvw]

i'd like to have been there when the policeman asked him for his name

[New Judge]

The article suggests that Mr Balls will lose his licence:

“Already has three points - and could be hit with another 10 for scrape”

Strangely failing to stop/report an accident is one of the very few motoring offences for which the driver can be jailed. However, he will not face jail (this sanction is reserved for serious “hit & run” type incidents) and nor will he get the nine points he needs to face a ban.

Looking at Magistrates’ sentencing guidelines his offence fits into the lowest category of seriousness:

“ Minor damage/injury or stopped at scene but failed to exchange particulars or report”

For this he will receive the minimum number of five penalty points taking his total to eight.

[Peter Pedant]

I thought it was on private land.....

is the law the same - some insurances dont work on private land

[New Judge]

The Road Traffic Act applies to roads or “other public places”. The definition of “other public places” is not provided in the Act but it is generally accepted to be places to which motorists have “unfettered access”. The issue of ownership of the land is not relevant (meaning that, for example, supermarket car parks fall under the Act). A private car park which is controlled by gates or a barrier and to which only certain vehicles are afforded access would not usually fall under the Act. If a motorist wants to argue that an offence was committed in a place not covered by the Act he would have to argue that before Magistrates.

The police and Mr Balls - who has accepted rsponsibility for the offence - obviously both consider the offence was committed in a place covered by the Act.

[chrissa1]

I went down to the village one Sunday morning to get the papers and when I had been back about 15 minutes, there was a knock on my door.
It was the police. He told me that he owner of a car that I had nudged, reversing out of the square, had followed me home and then reported it to the police.

I knew nothing about it and hasn't seen or felt a thing, but when we looked, there Was a slight dent in my bumper. Nothing happened with the police.

I thought it was odd that the people had followed me home but had not knocked on my door themselves.

[Gromit]

// Ed Balls faces losing licence //
No he doesn't.

// for failing to stop after crashing Ford Mondeo //
Crashing? He touched another car while attempting a low speed manoeuvre.

That ministerial chauffeur cannot come quick enought for Ed.

[Brenden]

Doesn't he just suit his name.