Mirror - 11/3/2008

[lymaze]

www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/2008/03/11/jeremy-clarkson-caught-doing-70mph-on-the-m40-while-talking-on-his-mobile-phone-89520-20347501/

Thanks to HH.

Can't a man drive down a road without some silly cow taking his photo?

[Eclair]

Pretty vague pic. That could be anyone.

[lew]

Appears not .....away my motto is he that casts the first stone.....and I'd lay money that, that pair have done it too....tw*ts

[lymaze]

What annoys me is that they have only taken the photograph because it is, allegedly, Jeremy Clarkson. If it was you or me doing that they wouldn't have cared. They're not making a stand for the law or safety, they're making a fast buck and getting their names in the papers.

If he was doing it then he's silly, but so many people do the law isn't working at the moment and needs a re-hash.

[Vixen]

You can;t even tell that it's definitly him! That is so annoying, lymaze is right, if it was any other person, no-one would have cared! It's like the celeb magazines, the put a circle around a celebs armpit to let us know they are sweating, or that they have chipped nail polish. I mean, WHO CARES! They are just human beings that everyone knows because they are on TV and whatnot and they have a lot of money. Some people need to get a life..... *tch*

[Wyvern]

I know there's no love lost between Jeremy and the Mirror, and if that's him (which is highly likely, given the rarity of the car) doing what he appears to be doing it was a very silly thing to do, but I really don't like the tone of the article. Criticise by all means, report the facts by all means, but the footnote appears to lump poor Jezza in with Mao, Tito, Brezhnev, Ceausescu and Idi Amin, madmen and dictators with terrifying human rights records and that's pushing it a bit. Does that mean everyone who uses their mobile while driving goes on to embark on political repression and ethnic cleansing? I can just imagine it... "My people, we have won a great victory against the insurgency this morning in Milton Keynes. To celebrate, here are The Doobie Brothers..."

And what Jeremy Clarkson have these muppets been watching on TV all these years? I don't recognise this chap "always banging on about the new driving laws" - unless he's pointing out yet another daft one...

[Deleted]

Jezza in a dictator's car, dozy twit, he's only human and makes mistakes too.

Wonder how much money the picture got? Seems a bit shallow.

[lymaze]

www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/2008/03/12/police-to-quiz-top-gear-presenter-jeremy-clarkson-over-using-mobile-while-driving-89520-20348459/

Aaaaaarrrrrrggggghhhhhh! Is there not someone better to hunt down like a fox and rip to shreds. Do they not realise that this continual bloody witch hunt against a man who simply drives cars for a living and does a lot of work privately helping people and supporting charities, is just out of line. I know driving with a mobile is wrong, but he's not a child murderer, he's not brought about the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people, he isn't in fact a bad person at all. I wish the continual personal attacks would stop and people would see the bloody wood for the trees.

[lew]

Yeap..........Jemery was wrong, crikey haven't these people got better things to do and report, lets hope this couple nabs other people rather than pick on one person

[teegeethree]

Grrr - I wish they'd just get off his back! Ok, he should know better, but I'm sure he's not the only person to drive while on his mobile...

[lymaze]

I feel very sad about it all. I am going to have to make a cup of tea and think of positive things. I hope that couple get done for speeding.

[PP]

Wish my mobile could take pics as clear as that! And to think it was taken from the passenger side at 70mph! I'm in awe of the photographer! (sarcasm btw).
Yes, he shouldn't be using his mobile whilst in a car (think it's illegal even if it's in stationary traffic) but judging by the fact that the trees in the background aren't even the slightest bit blurred then he could well be parked up somewhere for all we know. Attention seeking twerps.
Sorry, didn't mean to rant. I'm off ill today and my tolerance levels are low gggggggggrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[Wyvern]

Oh for goodness sake. Yes, Jeremy was wrong if he was using his mobile, and yes I suppose as a recognised authority on driving issues he can expect a lot of flak for this, but I sincerely hope that everyone the Mirror says they caught doing exactly the same thing will be treated as strongly (or leniently) as he is. I had a horrible feeling they were going to pull something like this and some people are going to want to make an example of the man. Hopefully they'll realise that "seeing the wood for the trees" in this case is a very apt turn of phrase; those cars weren't going anywhere when that photo was taken unless that phone has the fastest shutter speed on record - basic digital cameras have quite a long exposure time. I have a nasty feeling this is going to get very out of hand

And actually, there is a wider issue that could blow up from this, and one that could affect any of us every time we get behind the wheel of a car - the latest revision of the Highway Code has basically expanded the area of "driving without due care and attention" to cover anything from adjusting the radio to having a cigarette (or a drink, or something to eat - so James had better be careful with his customary petrol station Ginsters), and as far as I can tell, the grounds for deciding if the law has been broken is pretty arbitrary. There will doubtless be some agencies keen to find a test case to clarify the position. With his predeliction for nicotine, if the police check the CCTV footage and spot him sparking up, they could make an issue of that too.

Again, to quote a certain bag, "I am weed off and sadded a bit".

[lymaze]

www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/2008/03/29/what-more-do-you-need-89520-20366506/

And the Mirror is of course outraged.

Dear Mirror

You had insufficient evidence. Even people who have no photographic expertise could see that there was no way you could identify Mr Clarkson, and you had either tried to set him up or you need better journalists. Bugger off and do something better with your paper please, like bringing murderers etc to justice. Or better still, close down.

[lew]

Very good ly.......just wish Hammond didn't write for them

[Wyvern]

Brava, ly! Well said ;D

Mind you, they've made an excellent case for the old adage, "When the law is against you argue the facts. When the facts are against you argue the law. And when both are against you have a tantrum and call people names..."