A motorist was arrested after being stopped on the A33 in Reading when police spotted their vehicle driving with an amber warning light flashing on the roof.
Thames Valley Police’s Roads Policing team, #XRX11, said they initially pulled the car over after confusion about the flashing beacon, which is not authorised for general road use in the same way as emergency blue lights.
When officers stopped the vehicle, the driver claimed to have “forgotten” to switch off the light. However, further checks revealed they had also been smoking cannabis before getting behind the wheel.
The motorist tested positive on a roadside drug wipe and was arrested on suspicion of drug driving.
Police added that while the driver did complete their journey in a car with “blue and yellow stickers,” it was in the back of a police vehicle on the way to custody.
Thames Valley Police statement
In a light-hearted social media post, the officers wrote:
“Emergency vehicles come in all shapes and sizes, but even #XRX11 were confused when we saw this vehicle speeding along the A33 in Reading with a flashing amber light on the roof.
The driver had apparently forgotten to turn the light off but had also forgotten that smoking cannabis before driving isn’t a good idea. They provided a positive drug wipe and were subsequently arrested.
They did get to continue their journey in a vehicle with blue and yellow stickers, however this was because they were in the back of the police car on the way to custody.”
