Equine Clothing That Closely Resembled Police Uniform

Venevidivici said:
The very first time I wore a Polite tabard (&the matching hat band),a woman driving a convertible Mercedes was bombing up a hill towards me (I had seen&heard her coming at speed,due to me riding downhill, towards her). As she got within 20-25ft of me,she instantly killed her speed and,what do you know,dropped the mobile phone that she was chatting on,(like a hot brick),into her lap&looked extremely stunned&sheepish. I rode on,smirking to myself. Yes-she absolutely thought I was a police officer but yes,she definitely killed her speed as well. Tho it helps that I was on a big,bay horse,seeing as she was approaching me forwards,it was the chequered pattern on the hat band&tabard that did it,not the wording...
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I remember reading a lot of comments on here from people who said ordinary hi-vis made no difference to motorists like this.

I can see why the police have a problem. But meh. Back to the drawing board. To my mind, anything that stops tossers like that endangering lives is a good thing...
 
Found an old mag with an ad for this clothing which says its endorsed by the police, so am a tad confused after reading the statement. Also never heard of any issues when motorbike riders started wearing it, surely they're more likely to be mistaken for a copper out an about than a horse rider? After all there aren't many sheriffs in the uk
 
my bfg said:
Found an old mag with an ad for this clothing which says its endorsed by the police, so am a tad confused after reading the statement. Also never heard of any issues when motorbike riders started wearing it, surely they're more likely to be mistaken for a copper out an about than a horse rider? After all there aren't many sheriffs in the uk
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It's not endorsed as such, rather the police (or rather ACPO) have decided that a chequered marking with the word 'polite' is not to be considered impersonation of a police officer.
 
my bfg said:
Found an old mag with an ad for this clothing which says its endorsed by the police, so am a tad confused after reading the statement. Also never heard of any issues when motorbike riders started wearing it, surely they're more likely to be mistaken for a copper out an about than a horse rider? After all there aren't many sheriffs in the uk
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Ehmm, think it was rather more "endorsed" by the company that made the "Polite" goods, more than the police as such, TBH. From what others have said on here, they didn't really ask first whether it was OK to use this motif, i.e. they went ahead and presumed the police would be OK with it rather than doing the sensible thing and liaising FIRST and getting ACPO and police forces on their side.

Result: confusion and possibility of being charged with "impersonating a police officer". WHY didn't they ask first??? Ijuts.
 
Really, people. Read exactly what the police have said about these POLITE vests. They have not said do not wear them, they have not said you can't wear them, all they have said is that there is a risk that they could give rise to action. Well, they would say that wouldn't they. They've got to say that to cover their backsides.

I suggest everyone gets off their soapboxes, puts on their POLITE vests and then get on with riding horses until such (unlikely) time when someone is arrested and successfully prosecuted. And if a police officer makes a comment when you are wearing one just POLITELY thank him for his comments and carry on.
:-)
 
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