Page 25
Call Sign February 2012
Paul Hammett (V42) was not a happy bunny
FINED FOR HEADLIGHT
when Call Sign met him recently. Paul takes up
the story...
"I live close to Stansted Airport and use the
NOT WORKING!
M11 to come into work. It was about 03.15 one
morning as I joined the motorway and was
cruising along thinking about the day ahead,
Paul upset at police intransigence...
when a police car overtook me with its blue
lights flashing.The driver then pulled onto the
Highway Code and sure enough, there are a
hard shoulder ahead of me and I thought no
wealth of laws relating to Lighting
more of it and just drove past him. With that,
Requirements and advice on when and where
the police car re-joined the carriageway, flew
to use them. Technically and blindly following
past me for the second time still with his blues
the letter of the law, an infringement had
going but this time I was waved at to pull over.
occurred. However, it is possible that if you
I couldn't think that I'd done anything wrong,
actually carry a selection of spare bulbs on the
but came to a stop. A policeman got out, came
cab (as many drivers do), there is the chance
over to me and said that I didn't look after my
that being seen to be a responsible motorist,
cab very well. I asked what he meant as I knew
you could be given the opportunity to replace
there was no smoke coming out and it was
the expired lamp when it is safe and practica-
clean.
ble to do so without incurring the £30 fine! But
"You have a headlight not working, which
of course, there is no guarantee!
means you are using your taxi illegally and the
In an effort to impress the Editor, our young
bulb needs to be replaced before you can go to
eager-beaver reporter pointed out that every
work," the PC said with no little attitude.
taxi Owner s' Handbook includes a compre-
"I could not believe that he was serious and
hensive list of the lamps used for that particu-
Paul is smiling now but wasn't so
explained that a light bulb, any bulb, can fail at
lar model. Light bulbs can be bought individu-
happy at police intransigence
any time and without warning and certainly
ally or as travel kits, but whatever happens
without my knowledge when sitting in the cab.
Paul didn't find the tone particularly amus-
you'd have them on board for convenience.
Of course I then said that I would get it done as
ing, although he had the feeling that if it was up
Many of the usual taxi retail outlets will supply
soon as practicable. I was still not too far from
to Mr Plod then he'd have got the points as
all the necessary lamps for your taxi, so be
home and could have gone back to my house
well.
wise, be legal, keep them readily to hand and
to change it."
Paul asked Call Sign if he could comment on
save yourself 30 quid if you just happen to
However, the policeman was totally intransi-
the cost of buying and operating a new cab.
come across the same mean `ol Bill' that Paul
gent and uninterested in Paul's reasoning.
"It's been a bug of mine for some time and
ran into.
Instead he made himself busy checking Paul's
the high cost means we can't really be com-
Of course, being brave little soldiers, you
details on his computer before handing him a
petitive pricewise in the marketplace. There,
could inform any police in a car with one light
slip of paper explaining that it was a `fixed
I've got it off my chest so I feel better now," he
not working to avoid the M11 as there is a
penalty' £30 fine. But the man in blue went on
said!
rather unpleasant soul patrolling it...!!!
to give Paul the `good' news his infringement
After hearing of Paul's plight, Call Sign's
© Call Sign Magazine MMX11
did not carry any penalty points on his driving
young researcher/tea maker delved into the
licence!
gospel of all motorists and road users, The
Lee's merry-go-round!
Well, we thought that the footballing side of Dial-a-Cab's goalkeeper / driver Lee
Pearce (J71) had finally settled down following the December Call Sign when after
When Lee
years of being relatively settled with Wembley, he began getting shunted around
isn't goal
from team to team.
keeping
The main reason followed a bad cruciate injury at the end of the 2010 season,
duties, he
which kept him out for several months. As his recovery was almost complete, for-
earns his
mer Chelsea / Southampton star Neil Shipperley took him to Walton Casuals
living in a
where Neil was manager.
DaC taxi
But after some poor results, Shipperley resigned and Mick Sullivan took over,
telling Lee how well he had played and then dropped him from the team! Lee
went to fellow Ryman league side, Godalming Town and did well for the first
Call Sign
team only to be dropped again! So off went Lee again in search of first team
February 2012
football.
Editor: Alan Fisher
All non-league managers know of Lee and how reliable he is between the sticks,
Address: 39 47 East Rd, London N1 6AH
but as he pointed out to Call Sign, he is now 34 and whilst in goalkeeping terms
Tel: 0207 251 0581 Fax: 0207 553 7293
Email: callsignmag@aol.com
that isn't too old, he knows he needs regular football. One of those managers was
Website: www.dac-callsign.co.uk
Hendon FC manager Gary McCann who immediately asked Lee if he would go
Printers: Premier Print Group
there as a player and also to help coach some of the younger players. Although
25 31 Violet Rd, London E3
Gary couldn't promise Lee first team action, he said he wanted him for second
Design: Aldan Publications
Tel: 07958 300 428
team and cup games. Then Wembley FC player / manager Ian Bates - who has
Email: dfdannyfresco@gmail.com
amazingly clocked up over 800 games for The Lions - asked Lee if he was available
Views and opinion expressed in Call Sign must
to go back there! Lee didn't wait to be asked twice and was sent there on loan
not be assumed to represent those of the Editor or
with the possibility of making the move permanent. He went straight into the first
Board.No part of Call Sign may be reproduced
either manually or electronically without the express
team and told us it felt like going home!
permission of the Editor.
