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.'"

Now we're in trouble...

[Anonymous Coward]

... because we can be certain that intelligence agencies previously never broke the law.

Re:Sirens?

[Andy Prough]

"Your honor, the deceased motorist was clearly a terrorist."
Judge - "Well, alright then. Dismissed! Anyone for a spot of tea?"

Re:Stupid interlligence

[mark-t]

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).

Re:What about other people?

[gman003]

So in other words, it covers murder but not manslaughter?

Re:Brits obey speed limits?

[0123456]

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.

And British motorways are among the safest roads on the planet, thereby demonstrating that speed limits have little to do with safety.

Re:Sirens?

[Cl1mh4224rd]

Everybody should be able to drive at whatever speed they are comfortable with...

You're piloting a vehicle weighing a ton or more that's capable of causing destruction and potentially ending lives in a fraction of a second. You really have to take driving much more seriously than that.

Re:Now we're in trouble...

[Z00L00K]

As long as they have emergency lights on the vehicle it should be OK.

Speeding without indication to other drivers would be to cause unnecessary danger, and it will of course cause someone to cut them off just because as well as some cops stopping them instead.

Re:Sirens?

[Imrik]

The difference is the Germans actually obey that law.

Re:Sirens?

[coinreturn]

In the States, you've got all kinds of wankers driving 4-abreast and not passing, with 1/4 mile of clear road in front of them. You have to tailgate and honk to break of those stupid formations sometimes. Idiots.

Even worse are the assholes who think you're not passing someone fast enough, tailgate you and honk, so they can rush up behind the guy in front of you and do the same thing, all the way to their destination.

Re:Now we're in trouble...

[tomtomtom]

Serving members of the security services carry a warrant card. If they are speeding the police may well pull them over. Displaying the warrant card and explaining they are on a live op *may* get them let off, but there is no requirement for the police to treat them any differently to the general public. This changes that, and about time.

Posting AC for obvious reasons.

Utter BS. It's just people who enjoy being "above the law" wanting to be *more* above the law and feel important. Noone should be above the law. They are not an emergency service and they are not police. The only justification for speeding should be to get *to* an emergency situation as a first responder, ie paramedic or fire crew.