## Video Summary This video clarifies whether police officers can stop any vehicle and demand personal information such as name and address. It references the Road Traffic Act 1988, stating that police officers in uniform can stop vehicles at random without needing a reason, as detailed in Section 163. The video explains the legal requirements for drivers, including the production of driving licenses, names, and addresses. It covers Sections 164 and 165, which stipulate that drivers must provide their details and relevant documentation if requested by a constable or vehicle examiner. The guidance encourages respectful interactions with police to avoid unnecessary conflict, and highlights the importance of knowing one’s rights when stopped by law enforcement. ## Transcript Can the police stop any vehicle they choose to, and can they demand your name and address? These are just some of the questions I’m going to answer definitively in this video. Stay tuned. So, an increasing number of videos on various social media platforms, predominantly TikTok, seem to feature people recording police officers stopping them in their vehicles and having some kind of argument with them as to whether or not they’re allowed to stop them in the first place. Some people have been watching too many American movies and are questioning whether the police are allowed to request their driving licence, insurance, and indeed their name and address. Many people are rightly or wrongly getting confused about this, and I thought I would create a definitive video to clarify where the law is on exactly these points. Let me take you to the Road Traffic Act 1988, which contains many of the laws that you’ll need to know when driving. If you don’t know any of these laws, I very respectfully suggest that you don’t necessarily argue it out with the police officer at the side of the road in case you’re wrong, especially if you make TikTok videos proclaiming that you’re right or that the police officer is wrong when that might not be the case. Instead, argue it out afterwards because if the police officer is wrong in what they do, you may well have a claim afterwards if they’ve acted outside of their lawful duty. However, in the situation where they are acting perfectly legally in accordance with the Road Traffic Act, I hope this video will serve as some use to you. Looking at Section 163, this provides a very broad, non-descript power that a police officer in uniform can stop any vehicle for no reason whatsoever. A person driving a mechanically propelled vehicle on a road must stop the vehicle when required to do so by a constable in uniform or by a traffic officer. A person riding a cycle on a road must stop the cycle when required to do so by a constable in uniform. If a person fails to comply with this section, they are guilty of an offence. Therefore, any officer in uniform or a traffic officer can stop any vehicle; they do not need a reason. You just have to stop, and if you fail to stop, surprisingly enough, that's referred to as a failure to stop offence under Section 163 of the Road Traffic Act. Now, talking about a mechanically propelled vehicle, there is a section here meaning of a motor vehicle, detailing various different motor vehicles, but I won’t go into this too much. One of interest for other videos I’ve done before includes motor tractors, motorcycles, and various other things, but we’ll come back to those in future videos. So, if you didn’t know that, now you do. You can avoid any embarrassment of arguing with police officers over whether they can stop a vehicle at random for no reason – they can. They often conduct random stop checks, as the police refer to them, which is essentially the police setting up at the side of the road and stopping random vehicles as they choose. The reason they’re doing this is typically to check insurance details, driving licences, name and address, and who is in the vehicle. Moving on to Section 164, this extends the power even further. A police officer or vehicle examiner can require any of the following persons: the person driving a motor vehicle on a road; any person whom a constable or vehicle examiner has reasonable cause to believe was the driver of a motor vehicle during an accident; or a person whom a constable or vehicle examiner has reasonable cause to believe has committed an offence in relation to the use of a motor vehicle on a road. These individuals must, when required by a constable or vehicle examiner, produce their licence for examination. The purpose of this is to ascertain the name and address of the holder of the licence, the date of issue, and the authority by which it was issued. Additionally, if required to do so, the individual must state their date of birth. Failure to comply is an offence, but if you provide the licence within seven days, it can serve as a defence. Section 165 is about names and addresses. Broadly speaking, if any of the following persons is driving a motor vehicle on a road, or if there has been an accident, or if they have committed an offence, they must provide their name and address, and the name and address of the owner of the vehicle when required by a constable or vehicle examiner. They must also produce relevant documents for examination, including insurance certificates. In conclusion, the police can pull over any vehicle on the road if they are in uniform, for no reason at all. This is a Section 163 stop. A question arose the other day about police in unmarked vehicles; they must have some other reason for stopping you. Typically, when they activate their blue lights, it indicates that you need to pull over. Once you’re pulled over, you’ll be required to produce your documents, and if you don’t have them at the time, you can present them within seven days as a defence. You’ll also be required to provide your name and address and the owner’s details if that’s different. This video clarifies that police can stop any vehicle and ask for these details. Many videos I’ve seen depict unnecessary antagonism with police officers. In my experience, if you are polite, you are more likely to be on your way quickly and less likely to raise suspicion. Being antagonistic will raise suspicion, regardless of whether there is a valid reason. Save yourself the trouble and any unnecessary argument. Ask for the officer’s details if you wish but don’t argue about their authority to pull you over or request your documents. I hope this is useful. Please make sure you like this video and subscribe. As always, thank you for watching.