Closed Bridge and t...
 

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[Closed] Closed Bridge and the LAW

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Anyone know if I could be arrested for crossing the Tay road bridge pedestrian walk way when closed due to high winds?
I normally commute on bike but risk assessed and decided with the high winds I would be safer running. However after jumping over the gates a bridge patrol bloke informed us we would be arrested.
I nearly kept running but thought better of it. Would you have took the risk and kept going? Would the police really waste time on this? I am sick of the H&S high vis wearing fear mongers that are intent on refusing us our right to make decisions for ourselves. After all it's in my own interest to not get hurt, I have eyes, ears, physical ability and common sense to help decide benefit over risk.
Does anyone know the law regarding this?


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 10:21 pm
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The Law of common sense?


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 10:23 pm
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and after all some guys that work on the bridge every day probably know a lot more about the bridge than you and know a lot of the risk that you don't know.


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 10:24 pm
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I am sick of the H&S high vis wearing fear mongers that are intent on refusing us our right to make decisions for ourselves

That's what all the people say before they get injured and sue someone...


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 10:24 pm
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Isn't this Darwinism in action? Shouldn't we just see how it plays out?


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 10:26 pm
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law of natural selection?


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 10:26 pm
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I feel the same contempt for those policeman wannabes who tell me not to jump red lights in my car.


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 10:27 pm
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Maybe they don't want to put the rescue services at risk when some eejit comes a cropper?


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 10:27 pm
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Perhaps you should be able to sign a waiver?

Something like: I accept that I have been advised the bridge is closed. I will cross at my own risk and if I get blown off the bridge then the emergency services should not attempt to rescue me. A nominated family member will collect my body at their own expense.

?


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 10:35 pm
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The problem we have with elfinsafety is that it is that good it almost negates Darwinism so where will we be in 50 years or so.


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 10:36 pm
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You would be trespassing - not a criminal offence. However the police, after they had to chase you down, might well go for Breach of the Peace or something similar in compensation for wasting their time.


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 10:36 pm
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The Law of common sense?

This.

In the same way, on a flight, you are politely asked to keep your seatbelt on. They then ask again, because it's common sense.

You either accept that there is a lot of common sense behind the request or you're a bit of an idiot.

Find another route home.


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 10:40 pm
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for @#** sake, I checked the wind on windfinder to get actual wind readings, assessed the risk decided that the wind had died sufficiently for a mere ultra marathon running mountain goat. And FFIW i am one of the rescue services! So get it right up ye!


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 10:41 pm
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Then why are you asking?


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 10:44 pm
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[i]And FFIW i am one of the rescue services![/i]

...just not one of the brightest, eh?


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 10:47 pm
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I don't see what they could arrest you for other than one of the catch all "beeing an effwit in a public place"

Its not trespass, its not a breach of the peace. Dunno what it could be


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 10:47 pm
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BoP covers pretty much anything - including causing distress or annoyance. Worst case, the police could just say you're annoying them.

I've been charged with BoP.


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 10:49 pm
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CaptainFlashheart
.....................
Find another route home.

100 mile round trip?


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 10:50 pm
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Move to a more civilised place then! 😉


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 10:51 pm
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@spando, surely as a Troll (albeit not a great one) you would be more comfortable underneath the aforementioned bridge....

Oh and you sir are SurfMatt and I claim my £5


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 10:52 pm
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nah you do it
Knock yourself out, break a leg etc


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 10:52 pm
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Well TBH my sense of responsibility as an emergency responder stopped me from crossing as i did't want to waste anyone's time. Otherwise I probably would have enjoyed the chase. Just like when I was a kid! Never ever got caught, should have joined the SAS! lol


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 10:53 pm
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Just go for it spando. Are you going to stand up to these H&S do-gooders or what ? It's about time that people who value the freedoms which our grandparents fought for made a stand against the nanny state.

Just jump over those gates and run for freedom.

Let us know how you get on.

And good luck.


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 10:53 pm
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[i]Well TBH my sense of responsibility as an emergency responder[/i]

Hurrah for the St Johns Ambulance.......... 🙄


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 10:55 pm
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In those circumstances I would have wanted to cross the bridge too - at my own risk.

But the guys watching you have no idea of your competence or otherwise and would have had to call in the police - who would then be at risk if they ventured on to the bridge.


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 10:57 pm
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I've been charged with BoP.

So have I.

Got into a heated argument with a member of the local clergy, ended up pouring a bottle of Domestos over him.

I was charged with a 'Bleach of the Priest'...

IGMC.


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 10:57 pm
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ron jeremy

who is surfmatt? not i thats for sure.


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 11:00 pm
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SurfMatt wouldn't mess about with a bridge; he would have walked across the water. You, however, can't.


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 11:02 pm
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I checked the wind on windfinder to get actual wind readings, assessed the risk decided that the wind had died sufficiently for a mere ultra marathon running mountain goat

Just do some ultra marathon training miles up to Perth and cross there. 😈


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 11:02 pm
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AW Garry_C classic lol a wee bit of weee just came out 😆


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 11:03 pm
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The Tay Bridge Disaster

Beautiful Railway Bridge of the Silv’ry Tay!
Alas! I am very sorry to say
That ninety lives have been taken away
On the last Sabbath day of 1879,
Which will be remember’d for a very long time.

‘Twas about seven o’clock at night,
And the wind it blew with all its might,
And the rain came pouring down,
And the dark clouds seem’d to frown,
And the Demon of the air seem’d to say-
“I’ll blow down the Bridge of Tay.”

When the train left Edinburgh
The passengers’ hearts were light and felt no sorrow,
But Boreas blew a terrific gale,
Which made their hearts for to quail,
And many of the passengers with fear did say-
“I hope God will send us safe across the Bridge of Tay.”

But when the train came near to Wormit Bay,
Boreas he did loud and angry bray,
And shook the central girders of the Bridge of Tay
On the last Sabbath day of 1879,
Which will be remember’d for a very long time.

So the train sped on with all its might,
And Bonnie Dundee soon hove in sight,
And the passengers’ hearts felt light,
Thinking they would enjoy themselves on the New Year,
With their friends at home they lov’d most dear,
And wish them all a happy New Year.

So the train mov’d slowly along the Bridge of Tay,
Until it was about midway,
Then the central girders with a crash gave way,
And down went the train and passengers into the Tay!
The Storm Fiend did loudly bray,
Because ninety lives had been taken away,
On the last Sabbath day of 1879,
Which will be remember’d for a very long time.

As soon as the catastrophe came to be known
The alarm from mouth to mouth was blown,
And the cry rang out all o’er the town,
Good Heavens! the Tay Bridge is blown down,
And a passenger train from Edinburgh,
Which fill’d all the peoples hearts with sorrow,
And made them for to turn pale,
Because none of the passengers were sav’d to tell the tale
How the disaster happen’d on the last Sabbath day of 1879,
Which will be remember’d for a very long time.

It must have been an awful sight,
To witness in the dusky moonlight,
While the Storm Fiend did laugh, and angry did bray,
Along the Railway Bridge of the Silv’ry Tay,
Oh! ill-fated Bridge of the Silv’ry Tay,
I must now conclude my lay
By telling the world fearlessly without the least dismay,
That your central girders would not have given way,
At least many sensible men do say,
Had they been supported on each side with buttresses,
At least many sensible men confesses,
For the stronger we our houses do build,
The less chance we have of being killed.


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 11:05 pm
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St Johns ambulance ha ha lol


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 11:05 pm
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St Johns ambulance ha ha lol

My mum is an emergency responder, she's 65. Do tell us how this qualifies you as bridge runner?


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 11:07 pm
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My mum is an emergency responder

I thought all mothers were.


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 11:10 pm
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Surely you can't actually close a public right of way in Scotland? Get Mel Gibson on to them...


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 11:12 pm
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I'm interested in the double standard that's being set here as I'm sure spando, as a member of the rescue services, would consider anyone who disregards his/her safety warnings as a numpty.
I think you should push for a special card or signal that you could flash to the H&S pleb that would then allow you and your awesomeness to pass without trouble, it'd also mean that they'd know that you have the suitable superpowers to save yourself.

What would Chuck Norris do?


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 11:12 pm
 poly
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Their may be a number of pieces of legislation or common law that apply; but certainly their are powers within the Traffic Management Act that allow the police and Highways Agency Officers to close roads and divert both traffic and pedestrians. Failing to comply with their instructions is presumably an offence, and certainly obstructing an officer in the course of his duty (including protecting life and limb) is - I know this is the basic argument applied to closing streets around large fires etc without the need for official road closure orders etc. The bridge itself may have some specific statutory instruments too.

In any case I'd say ignoring the advice that the bridge was closed would have got you a lengthy discussion with a police officer, and if your attitude continued you would probably end up getting lifted for a public order offence or breach of the peace. Whether the fiscal would have pursued it in the public interest would have been interesting to see - but I suspect they might - as they generally don't like smart arses!


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 11:14 pm
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I don't actually wear Hi Viz gear. I probbly ought to really....


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 11:15 pm
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That's what all the people say before they get injured and sue someone...

Litigation, [s]adult[/s] version of, "I'm telling on you"


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 11:16 pm
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The ElfinEgo has landed....


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 11:16 pm
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SurfMat wouldn't mess about with a bridge; he would have aquaplaned across in his rear wheel drive car that was better than yours


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 11:16 pm
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In any case I'd say ignoring the advice that the bridge was closed would have got you a lengthy discussion with a police officer, and if your attitude continued you would probably end up getting lifted for a public order offence or breach of the peace. Whether the fiscal would have pursued it in the public interest would have been interesting to see - but I suspect they might - as they generally don't like smart arses!

Wouldn't all that just crumble in the face of AWESOME?


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 11:16 pm
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Spando, tell us more about your Emergency Responding ability and what this has to do with your bridge crossing ability...


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 11:18 pm
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Noooo hi vis, its the work of the devil.

For sure it has a place, just not every where and every one, it a joke!


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 11:19 pm
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Spando, tell us more about your Emergency Responding ability and what this has to do with your bridge crossing ability...

Reposted so you can try again.


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 11:20 pm
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I think you are highly likely to be in breach of tay bridge byelaws and liable to a fine. This is a civil offence, but if the rossers attended and wanted your name etc so they know where to send the fine to and you refused that would be grounds for arrest and fine in itself.

You could potentially be arrested for creating a danger/breach of the peace for creating a danger (to yourself)- but more likely to be cautioned, as long as you dont get into being chased by the rossers if they tell you to 'gerrof the brigde'.

I doubt it could be trespass because it is a public bridge and subject to public right of way


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 11:20 pm
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With your ability to know better than everyone else about everything, you would think you could have predicted the weather and resulting bridge closure in advance, and stayed in bed ?


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 11:20 pm
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Yep, there's a place and a time for hi-viz. And there's a place and a time for camouflage.

Camouflage for illegal bridge crossing I reckon.


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 11:21 pm
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Great stuff now i really need to go change my pants 😆


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 11:24 pm
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I have that problem myself, occasionally. 😳


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 11:30 pm
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wise words ernie and sage advice - why not look at some footage of the riots for appropriate clothes to wear whilst commuting crime to avoid CCTV detection as well?
You can never be too careful in these days of nanny state surveillance IMHO


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 11:30 pm
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sugdner

some perspective, nice.

For the record, If once over the bridge I was met by a welcome party I would be humble and apologetic as to be any other way as suggested would be against my aim of just getting home. I would of course charm them with cunning use of NLP.


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 11:31 pm
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NLP and emergency response?

Do you wear a special suit too?


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 11:32 pm
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You shouldn't live in Fife. That's where your problems stem from. 😉


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 11:33 pm
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Shopping list for commuting:
1. Urban camo
2. Catapult to take out cctv
3. Hi vis to blend in
4. Pedalo and power kite as escape vehicle
5. Clean under wear in case I end up in hospital
6. A lawyers card
7. Head cam 😀


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 11:38 pm
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You live with your mum, don't you?


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 11:39 pm
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Crikey

I'm so sorry to have insulted the good work you mum does that was very insensitive of me.

Wish i was allowed to wear my special suit but my mum wont let me 😈


 
Posted : 08/12/2011 11:45 pm
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Don't know if helps but I've riden the Tay Bridge a few times (I now you this is not supposed to be done) and nothing happened when I boke that rule. If coming up the A92 it is not obvious that there is a special bit in the middle and one just follows the rest of the traffic around the roundabout. I did get stopped at the toll booth once and asked to use the middle bit. Are the toll booths still there?


 
Posted : 09/12/2011 12:00 am
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No toll booths now - it's all free.
Gotta love that wee lift on the cyclepath at the north end though 🙂


 
Posted : 09/12/2011 12:02 am
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no, no toll booths any more 😀


 
Posted : 09/12/2011 12:02 am
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No toll booths ? WTF ?? First health & safety/the nanny state, and now this. Do people want the state to provide [i]everything[/i] for them ? [i]ffs[/i]....no wonder the country is in such a mess.


 
Posted : 09/12/2011 12:10 am
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Posted : 09/12/2011 12:20 am
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What was wrong with swimming?


 
Posted : 09/12/2011 1:07 am
 Drac
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Spando if your a first responded you are not part of the Emergency Services.

Time Bandits we call them.


 
Posted : 09/12/2011 7:28 am
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Have seen the same sort of response from car drivers "just nipping through" an active road resurface site during night works (fully signed and closed off for access with diversion routes in place) putting the workforce and more importantly the idiot in the car at very high risk. they then get all sweary and abusive when politely being told to leave before the end up under some heavy plant.

some people are just fools 😆


 
Posted : 09/12/2011 7:32 am

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