Did you know that if someone nicks your car, and the police vehicle giving chase is damaged, you will get the bill for its repair. This seems to me to be utterly stupid - so stupid as to be incredible - but its what happened to Jason West of Stoke-on-Trent, according to today's Telegraph. A thief stole Jason's Golf GTI, and when the Police spotted it, they gave chase. The thief then rammed the Police car, causing significant damage. The Police then sent the bill for repairs to Jason. It seems this is what they always do. I suppose we've been told before that the law is an ass. Hard to argue with that.
I was once involved in something equally stupid. Sorry if I've blogged on this before. About 20 years ago, I was driving along a road in Newtown when a 10 year old just walked out in front of my vehicle. Absolutely nothing I could do about it. I saw the boy fly up into the air and genuinely thought he was dead. I can see it as if it was yesterday and I'll never forget it. I was lucky that my vehicle was in good nick and there were dozens of witnesses. I was so relieved when the boy recovered consciousness about 10 minutes later. An ambulance was called to take him to hospital. I was shocked when a few weeks later, I received a bill for £13 to pay for the ambulance.
Because I can be awkward when I decide to be, I objected. Not because of the money, just to the pronciple. I was told that I could claim the money back from the boy. Honestly, that's what I was told. A 10 year old boy. Well, I dug my heels in and decided not to pay, unless instructed to do so by the courts. I defended myself in the Small Claims Court, where I inevitably lost. Knew I would, but wanted to make a point. The Court must have agreed with me because no costs were found against me. I don't know whether the law has been changed by today. So Jason West, you are not alone.
11 comments:
My car was nicked from outside my house about 4 years ago. The police found it in Ely and took it to the privately run car pound. I had to pay over £100 to get it back. I also objected but was told to claim on insurance.
Thankfully the lad recovered but perhpas he would not 'today' as you would be lucky to get an Ambulance to attend. Despite the £16 million injection into a 'new Ambulance service'....Quote, Edwina Hart: response times in many areas of Wales are far from acceptable.I expect to see demonstrable improvement within the next six months, particularly in rural Wales, where too many people are still waiting too long for a response from the emergency ambulance service." Unquote.....Of course road caualties are now being taken to hosptial by taxis, fire engines, and a huge increase I read in the papers by Police cars. I wonder if you would get Billed-by-the-Bill for the deep cleaning of such police cars if you were taken to hospital in the back and were bleeding. Then of course there is the impending litigation, cross contamination, health and safety, culpability, Beecham principles and so the list goes on......
To paraphrase a line from Mel Gibson's "PAYBACK" - "Oh stop it, you are making me all misty eyed."
This list of stupid rules in the British legislative system is seemingly endless.
A useful job could be created with the mission to cross out or modify all the stupid and unnecessary rules which have been enacted by
zealous politicians and their uncivil servants (just my humble opinion).
"Did you know that" that Glyn Davies is going to make a fine MP for Montgomeryshire. How so? Because Edna Mopbucket says so that's how so.
anon 1 - more stupidity.
anon 2 - The young lad would have recovered anyway. He did go to hospital by ambulance, and was allowed to go home a few hours later.
Alan - In general I agree with you.
anon - Edna's always been kind to me. She was on today and gave me some really great stuff, but I dare not use it.
Edna Mopbucket, along with all the cleaning staff was on strike yesterday! So how do you answer that one? Russ
Russ - If you had kept your eyes open, you would have noticed her cleaning all the cut glass decanters in the coucillors drinks cabinet. Edna has no time for all this strike nonsense
Edna deserves something nice - all who agree "Say Eye".
Aye ...
Think you shoul dlook up Urban Myths on Stopes Glyn
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