Just returning to the office and was pulled over by the Traffic Police.

Sitting at a set of Traffic Lights with the Police Car behind me. Watched in my rear vision mirror as Mr Plod punched details into his on-board computer. Lights change and we both turn right and then another car gets between us. At next set of lights, still in same situation and then off up the road with nothing coming towards us, police car overtakes the car, pulls in behind me with lights flashing and siren sounding. Do the correct thing and pull over to the kerb, alight from my vehicle and talk to the nice policeman who asks me if my vehicle is registered. Stated that it was and showed him the current registration label on the side window. He then tells me that my vehicle registration number, 16VTC, does not show up on the Government system. Asked if I have the registration papers with me, reply No.

Off he goes back to the computer and has another go and this time we have success, it is registered and all is OK. Laurie, the policeman, apologises for the "Bloody Computers".

I said to him that I thought he was checking as he did not recognise the car (Only about 25 Coupes in Australia). He agreed that this was what he was doing after he saw the Fiat badge. We then had a discussion on Coupes and Chris Bangle and how well they go.

Thanked him for doing his job and his manner. Laurie waves me goodbye and off we go.

At least it was a another pleasant experience in driving a rare car in Australia.

What?

you mean there ARE polite policemen outside UK after all?
(no offence Stan and whoever else is in the force, but our lot is just appalling, ignorant, arrogant and a pain to deal with-no onboard computers though...)

V.

So,then,initially you assume the police officer is a bit of a low life,by referring to him as Mr.Plod,? And after you actualy speak to him you realise he is a nice polite bloke only going about his job in a curtious and respectful manner? So do you really think its ok to refer to him as Mr.Plod and continue to be insulting?

Steamer, If I have offended you, I apologise.

In Australia, we have a lot of nicknames for people and things, some being derogatory and others being as a mark of respect or that one has "earned his/her stripes". Police are known by a number of names but we do not consider "Mr Plod" as one which is derogatory.

Mate, sorry that you got on your high horse about this Copper 'cause he was no mug. He was a great bloke and just wanted a gander at me wheels. We had a bit of a nag about the wheels and then we both buggered off, no worries.

Nah mate, that's not a coupe. *This* is a coupe...

Neil

Say hello to Ant & Dec

Has to be a few good ones left around.

Certainly aren't many left here.

Plod isn't a derogatory term for Police in Britain either How is that offensive Steamer? It's like calling a carpenter a 'chippy', a plasterer a 'spread', an electrician a 'sparks' etc.

If someone said to you,"Oh,here comes Trappy,aka MR.Plod",would you not think that they were inferring that you were a bit slow on the uptake/
Honestly Im not that offended,I have been called lots worse I can assure you,so no worries,its all Fair Dinkum here!

I always thought the 'poo-lice' were called 'plod' because they were known to 'plod along' slowly (like the start of the Bill if it still starts like that ) Looking it up, apparently Mr.Plod was the name of a dim witted Police Officer out of Noddy?

I didn't think that plod was offensive

Probably because you are not a policeman?