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It would appear that our cops have had a field day charging drivers with stopping on the zigzags at the Pleasance theatre.
Now we all know how they like to do this. Because it's a simple collar. An easy notch on their belt so their sergeant can be satisfied they are doing their job.
But this raises a number of issues.
First, the zigzags are supposed to be to allow pedestrians and other road users an unobstructed view of a crossing. Well, that's fair enough. After all, aren't we all interested in road safety?
So, given this, then you would think that the deciding factor in the length of zigzags would be the prevailing speed limit, with perhaps an allowance for those who travel just faster. That would seem fair and equitable?
Except, in Edinburgh there is no consistency of length. And, when convenient, the council removes them completely. (The crossing in Home Street has none)
Grassmarket for instance. A crossing with lengthy zigzags, but not at the kerbside where they are conveniently removed to allow buses to stop. As if a parked bus wouldn't obscure the crossing, negate road safety? Of course this is of no consequence when a cop decides to persecute a cabby.
Look around the town. Planners just make it up. There are too many examples of this to name. Crossings with short zigzag lines on one side, and long ones on the other? The same road safety conditions are not equally applicable from both directions? Really?
Then there's Raeburn Place. Crossing point extended into the road, narrowing it. Yet the recessed areas before and after it have zigzags preventing parking, despite the fact that parked cars there would not obscure the crossing, because it is highly visible due to it being extended into the roadway.
Many examples. No consistency. All simply designed for maximum confusion for drivers and the best possible opportunity for cops to book motorists.
And, now for the ultimate hypocrisy. The rules do not apply to cops. I've lost count of the number of times I've witnessed cops parked on zigzags in Raeburn Place, as they shop for their "playpiece" just around the corner from their coven at East Fettes. Or the number of times they've parked on zigzags as they go off on their missions, whatever they are. Or in the Grass market when they pull some miscreant motorist for driving through the ridiculous Cowgate road closure and by the time they get to them they've reached the crossing. Do the cops, with a mind for crossing safety pull their victim over beyond the crossing? Nope, they just stop. Two cars on the crossing and its obscured. But its OK because its the cops doing it.
Think a cabby would get away with it?
Not a chance.
It wouldn't surprise me if the cop involved in my Pleasance case came up with the zigzags as an excuse for his deplorable behaviour. Particularly since I've now heard some drivers claim that cops were tapping into their PDAs as they drove onto the rank.
And we all know how they lie to save their skin. But if that had been the case he wouldn't have told me to move up an empty rank while putting my passengers safety at risk. He would have detained me.
As I said. You can't trust a cop.
Well, a good number of them anyway.
BTW You've got other examples of inconsistent zigzags? Then let's have them.
And when you spot a cop parked on the zigzags, why not take a photie and post it here along with the date and time information?
_________________
Skull, "You are a police inspector, aren't you?"
Cab Inspector Smith, "Yes."
Skull, "So, are you going to tell Mr Taylor what his rights are?"
Smith, "And ... What rights?"
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