Shocking moment BMW driver ‘inhales hippy crack balloon’ while on the motorway as police release montage of motorists being caught red-handed
Published: 19:38, 4 August 2024 | Updated: 19:50, 4 August 2024
This is the shocking moment a BMW driver was filmed inhaling what appears to be a ‘hippy crack balloon’ on the M6.
The motorist was slapped with a GBP726 fine and six points on his licence after a passenger in another car submitted the footage to the West Midlands Police Operation Snap portal.
The portal was introduced in 2017 as an easy way for motorists to instantly report unlawful driving along with evidence of the act and submissions have grown steadily each year.
The BMW driver is one of 11,000 dangerous drivers who have been caught on camera in the West Midlands in the past year.
West Midlands Police have released a montage of clips exposing the worst drivers who were caught red-handed in the last 12 months.
This is the shocking moment a BMW driver was filmed inhaling what appears to be a ‘hippy crack balloon’ on the M6
The motorist was slapped with a GBP726 fine and six points on his licence after a passenger in another car submitted the footage to the West Midlands Police Operation Snap portal
One dashcam clip shows a motorist ignoring a red light and driving over a pedestrian crossing, narrowly missing a woman who was crossing.
That motorist was convicted of dangerous driving and was given a year-long ban, ordered to take an extended retest and must pay GBP2,649 in costs and fines.
In another video, a car drives alarmingly close to a cyclist on Kings Heath High Street in Birmingham.
The driver was slapped with six points on their licence and ordered to pay GBP1,034.
A road rage motorist captured on Lichfield Road, Wolverhampton, was given five points and a GBP150 fine for dangerous driving.
Meanwhile a taxi driver using his phone while waiting at traffic lights in the Dudley area was hit with six points and a GBP400 fine.
West Midlands Police say they have a 90 per cent conviction rate coming as a result of motorists turning in reckless drivers.
June was the biggest ever month for driving footage being sent to the force with 1,467 submissions – the equivalent to 50 every day.
One dashcam clip shows a motorist ignoring a red light and driving over a pedestrian crossing, narrowly missing a woman who was crossing
In another video, a car drives alarmingly close to a cyclist on Kings Heath High Street in Birmingham
A road rage motorist captured on Lichfield Road, Wolverhampton, was given five points and a GBP150 fine for dangerous driving
A taxi driver using his phone while waiting at traffic lights in the Dudley area was hit with six points and a GBP400 fine
Sergeant Steve Evans said: ‘Road safety is an absolute priority for West
Midlands Police and the work of our team is making a real difference.
‘Around 90 per cent of the submissions we get end in positive action.
‘That can be everything from a warning letter, up to prosecution and a day in court.
‘One driver has previously received a suspended prison sentence as a result of footage sent to the Op Snap team.
‘It doesn’t take long to do, and people who do take the time to send us their clips are making a real difference to road safety.
‘Every one of the people who’ve been filmed like this and have had to pay the price should now be thinking again about the way they drive.’
References
- ^ Freya Barnes (www.dailymail.co.uk)