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British Spies To Be Allowed To Break Speed Limit
An anonymous reader writes "The Telegraph reports, 'Britain's spies are to be given a "licence to speed" for the first time, under changes to motoring laws. While James Bond would no doubt have scorned such niceties, officers in MI5 and MI6 are currently required to obey the rules of the road, even when national security is under threat. Now Robert Goodwill, the transport minister, intends to add the Security Service and the Secret Intelligence Service to the group of agencies with permission to break the speed limit.'"
... because we can be certain that intelligence agencies previously never broke the law.
If the Secret Intelligence Service tries to get away with speeding, they have to reveal who they are, then they aren't secret anymore. In fact anyone speeding might be revealing they're in the Secret Intelligence Service.
It compares the current list of public services that are allowed to speed (fire, police and ambulance) to the new list (Vehicles used to carry organs for transplant, bomb disposal units, mountain rescue teams and those engaged in “surveillance and covert operations”). But nowhere does it mention that they'll have a siren. If someone is driving really really fast where normally people aren't driving really really fast, and hits someone, killing one or more, I wonder how it'll play out on court.
Politics; n. : A religion whereby man is god.
so now they can keep up with other traffic
What about construction zones? What about school zones?
This kind of thing is so utterly likely to get completely innocent people killed that I expect to see it being discontinued within a week of implementation.
File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
I had a house-mate once who was a (non-UK) law enforcement officer, and he talked about "moving surveillance" (i.e. trailing suspects in a car.) They'd typically have three cars in such an operation, so that they could take turns being close to the suspect without arousing suspicion.
He said that according to the law, officers fully obeyed road laws during such an operation, but unofficially, it was impossible to do so. Once he got pulled over by a traffic cop, who, seeing his radio, maps etc. and badge, profusely apologized and sent him back on his way.
I imagine that moving surveillance is what they are envisioning 'spies' using this power for, rather than using an Aston Martin to chase an assassin motorcyclist through a built-in-middle-ages town on market day.
I do think it is better to recognize the reality of the situation, then you can put regulations and guidelines around what is and is not acceptable. You can't issue guidelines on how to handle a situation you pretend doesn't exist.
Quattuor res in hoc mundo sanctae sunt: libri, liberi, libertas et liberalitas.
"New study shows traffic accidents and speed related injuries have increased 50% since the law excusing government agents from the speed limit was enacted. GCHQ responded by saying the law is essential to thwart terrorist activities."
Wrong. Statistics of traffic speed incidents will be classified to maintain the antiterrorist operational integrity.
Questions raise, answers kill. Raise questions to stay alive.
Just because there isn't a current exemption from law for them, does not mean the law applies to them. When you are above the law, you do not need an exemption from laws that do not apply to you.
Unlikely... they'd get stopped and pulled over just like anyone else. Under this law, however, I do not think they would be ticketed... after showing their credentials, presumably they would just be sent on their way. Failing to pull over and stop for a police car that is on your tail is also a crime... one that is entirely independent of speeding. If the officer did give them a speeding ticket, it would not have to be paid.(although the person would probably still have to make a report that they were given a ticket).
File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
Yes, Officer I was speeding.
Why was I speeding, well you see, I'm an agent of MI6.
No I cannot give you credentials as I am currently on a covert op.
Kindly let me go or I will have my superior contact your superior and have you demoted to foot patrol!
When I last visited the UK drivers drove like maniacs on the motorway. Speed limits seemed to be universally ignored. 100 miles per hour seemed to be typical.
It's really quite a simple choice: Life, Death, or Los Angeles.
Some dumb shit in the MI5 who does nothing but read Iranian Porn all day gets to drive like a maniac all they way back to their stupid hole in Brentwood. Because he needs that level of Freedom to protect the Queen. Assholes.
Shoes for Industry. Shoes for the Dead.
How many people die in traffic accidents compared to terrorist attacks?
Unlikely... they'd get stopped and pulled over just like anyone else.
Pulled over for speeding? In the UK? Since when?
There were hardly any traffic cops remaining on the roads when I left the UK some years ago. Instead, they'll get a photo in the mail, and will presumably write back to say that actually they were a spy on important National Security business, and the police will just forget about it.
GoldenEye (1995)
Q: Now, this I'm particularly proud of - behind the headlights, stinger missiles!
James Bond: Excellent, just the thing for unwinding after a rough day at the office.
Q: Need I remind you, 007, that you have a license to kill, not to break the traffic laws.
I think there was also some admonishment in View to a Kill after the Paris driving.
So is this why James Bond is never speeding in the movies?
Priest: "Universe from nothing, no laws of physics, sped up time"+ huge discrepancies. Creationism? No. Big Bang Theory
Wouldn't it take longer to be pulled over, explain that you are in the secret service. Wait for the officer to stop laughing, then PROVE that you are in the secret service, then get back on the road?
I mean if something is "National Security" type stuff - where apparently seconds matter, it's so important that you can put your countrymen in the line of danger by whizzing past them at dizzying speeds, surely an interuption of at least five minutes (at the utter least) is going to be much much worse than simply doing the speed limit in the first place....
Oh, snap, I forgot I shouldn't have brought my logic and common sense into this conversation....
*sips coffee*
Moved to http://soylentnews.org/. You are invited to join us too!
I was lied to by BBC america - Captain Jack and team definitly broke the speed limit many times!
_ _ _ Go for the eyes Boo! GO FOR THE EYES!
Judge: Do you have any evidence for this allegation?
1. Of course they are guilty. If they weren't, they wouldn't be suspects, would they?
2. Why would you ask such a question? Are you one of them?
So they don't get off for corporate espionage too?
...And anyone pulled over for speeding should just say that they're an intelligence officer and exempt from the speeding laws but that they can't identify themselves due to national security.
Wouldn't it take longer to be pulled over, explain that you are in the secret service. Wait for the officer to stop laughing, then PROVE that you are in the secret service, then get back on the road?
Solution: IdentiEeze
...which would get you into the houses of parliament even if the name says G Fawkes and you have a barrel of gunpowder under your arm.
http://michaelsmith.id.au
A couple of decades ago there was a special forces unit, 14 Intelligence Company, who did undercover operations, primarily in Northern Ireland. I've read a couple of books about it (this is a good one: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Operators-Inside-Intelligence-Company/dp/0099728710) and they all mention how operatives were given training in advanced driving.
In one instance, they were pulled over by police during training, but when they provided a code word they were allowed to continue.
So I guess they've always been doing this, but now it's just been formalised.
They're not only allowed to speed, but they can now legally deploy oil slicks, and smoke exhausts against other motorists. But only if they're playing the theme to Peter Gunn really loudly.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/the-corruption-of-britain-uks-key-institutions-infiltrated-by-criminals-9052617.html
more than that doggie in the window.
rewriting history since 2109
If you're Bill Murray, all you need is a cigarette case
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hP-u6XWclKQ
Before:
Spook says: Oh no, I'd better not speed to disarm the nuclear weapon and save the world in case I get a ticket in the mail in 2 weeks time!!!. Oh no, IT'S TOO LATE!
Now:
Spook says: Fear not, I shall go 35mph in a 30 zone and SAVE THE WORLD!
The fact is that the Police cannot speed whenever they please, they have to be on a recorded "emergency" incident, and unless the records support the need for the "blues and twos" then the driver will very much get a ticket. So how is this going to work with a spy? Are they going to write down the top secret terrorist incident they were speeding to in order to get away with a £30 ticket? I think not.
Alternatively, if they are caught by one of the very very few remaining police with the power to pull over a vehicle (rather than simply being flashed by a robo-enforcement scamera) how are they going to answer the plod when he asks "Whats all this about then?" Are they going to say "sorry, you can't give me a ticket but I can't tell you why you can't give me a ticket?"
Waste-of-time legislation....in fact I can't believe I wasted my time typing this.....
This is the crowd I grew up with, so I may be the unkowning carrier of disinformation, but here is my read:
All drove very fast. They did get ticketed frequently stateside, but the personnel office had resources. Justifications were welded onto all damage.
A small number drove mad fast because they couldn't pull out of some high-danger mentality even after the helicopter lift. They flouted the law like city kids who are "in the system", since they felt doomed anyway. You can see that kind of driving around the exits for military bases, where soldiers drive ninety to work because that is their permanent risk profile.
But most were just trying to feel the thrill, to act like the real thing. They had race-car training and cop evasion training and could surprize you when they decided to treat some ordinary sight as a threat. But they suffered that ordinary human pathetic weakness for emergency powers and a starring role.
Of course, the British are pioneering. Wait for the feedback effect, when someone challenges the phony backstory for a traffic death, and a file is opened on this new strain of domestic saboteur.
New Jersey is one of the states where that is the law and, oddly enough, it is enforced pretty regularly.
Finally we find a way in which NJ is superior to CA. Not enough to make me move, though :)
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
If you are on a urgent mission, you wouldn't be pulled over by the police. You would dial 999 and talk to the police operator and tell them you are being followed by a police car, where you are, and that you are on urgent national security business. The police dispatcher would then confirm this with GCHQ/MI5/MI6 and contact the police car. You'd probably be then instructed to let the police car overtake you, and it would then go ahead of you with big flashing lights to help clear your path.
In Texas the law is on the books but nobody, including the police follows it. Trying to follow it is a safety hazard.
The traffic doesn't care what speed your car or special privileges allow you to drive. You go the same speed as everyone else.
Build your own energy sources from scratch. http://otherpower.com/
A cop in Maryland tried to enforce it and it made national news.
What about the rights of the lonely arch villan? What about him/her/it? Surely you don't expect us to follow the speed limits when MI-5 and the like are trailing us. Oh damn, there goes my cover again..
Lots of politically connected people are going to become spies.
On the other hand, I am looking forward to a list of infractions, complete with names, addresses and this-is-a-spy reasons for dismissal, to be released soon on wikileaks.
"You cant arrest me, i am spy and work for MI6.
Now, upload my picture on the net and lets tell the whole world."
Cant wait to see how this will work.
But Terrorists...
Terrorists don't have emergency lights...
etc...
I'll sell it to ya for $50.
Are they 0065?