shootnfish Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 i was driving to work yesterday morning past a field of rape, i noticed a small flock of pigeons flying over about 40yds infront when suddenly one dropped like a stone and landed in the road just infront of me , it had been shot, i stopped as a bloke appeared from the hedge by the road to get it. he said" sorry bout that " i said "no worries, nice shot"and carried on to work wishing even more i was off shooting and not work. his hide was only about 15feet from the road this diddnt bother me but what could of happend if iwas a copper. i thought you had to be about 40 / 50, yds from public highways but im not sure . anyone know exactly? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winchester Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 (edited) The minimun distance from the CENTER OF THE HIGHWAY IS 50 METERS anycloser and your brakeing the law. Rights of way are not coverd under this act in England & Wales Hope this helps, Edited January 4, 2009 by winchester Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clayman Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 (edited) It is an offence under the Highways Act 1980 s 161(2) to light any fire on or over a carriageway, or discharge any firearm or firework within 50 feet of the centre of a highway which is a carriageway, with the consequence that a user of the carriageway is injured, interrupted or endangered. The section applies to rights of way over which there are vehicular rights, e.g. ways shown on the definitive map as byways open to all traffic, but not to footpaths and bridleways. Shooting near a footpath or bridleway Good shooting practice requires that at all times consideration should be given to other users of the countryside. Although it is not a specific offence to shoot across a right of way, it is an offence to disrupt user of that way and cause a nuisance. It is suggested that shooting should halt whilst people use nearby rights of way, and that it is ensured that users have left the area before resuming. This is considered to be a necessary safety precaution and it should avoid causing an excessive noise disturbance. The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) produced a guidance document on the control of noise in reference to clay target shooting. It states that, ˜No shooting should take place in the direction of any public right of way (or any building with public access) that is within 275 metres (300 yards) of the shooting position. It also recommends that all other publicly accessible areas within 1 km of the shoot should have prominent signs displayed by the organisers indicating the existence of the shoot. Greater safety margins may be needed for bridleways. Horses can be unpredictable and dangerous if startled. reference, Ramblers Assoc guidelines Edited January 4, 2009 by clayman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenhunter Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 That guy was definitely breaking the law, not only by being too close but I believe that shooting so that your shot lands on property or the highway that you do not have the shooting rights over is also a bit sus. I'm sure someone will know for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackbart Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 So your not actually breaking the law until you interupt or inconvenience someone in some way ! Thats the way i read it anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy Fudd Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 So your not actually breaking the law until you interupt or inconvenience someone in some way ! Thats the way i read it anyway. it does read like that, but **** law always comes into it. safer staying away from them as much as possible! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawkeye Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 The minimun distance from the CENTER OF THE HIGHWAY IS 50 METERS anycloser and your brakeing the law. Rights of way are not coverd under this act in England & Wales Hope this helps, I think you mean 50 FEET Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J@mes Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 I think you mean 50 FEET and only if you cause nuisance or endangerment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawkeye Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 B) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CEREALTHRILLER Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 Here in Scotland you can, but I can't think why you would want to, shoot from the centre of the road as long as you have permission to shoot on the land either on one side or both sides of the road As long as you don't endanger anyone or cause a nuisance B) although I don't know if you could be charged with reckless discharge I was amazed when I was told this at a BASC evening last year as I always went by the 50ft rule - or what I thought was a rule! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootnfish Posted January 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 so its 50ft then . thanks for the replys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tam Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 Here in Scotland you can, but I can't think why you would want to, shoot from the centre of the road as long as you have permission to shoot on the land either on one side or both sides of the road As long as you don't endanger anyone or cause a nuisance :( although I don't know if you could be charged with reckless discharge I was amazed when I was told this at a BASC evening last year as I always went by the 50ft rule - or what I thought was a rule! What evening were you at Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clayman Posted January 5, 2009 Report Share Posted January 5, 2009 and 50ft means that the inside lane of the M25 is cool to shoot on!!! Where your shot lands is another matter, if you do not have permission to deposit shot / clays / spent cases, you are subject to the laws of trespass and civil damage. While there is unlikely to be any criminal offense generated by fall out and litter, you could be sued by the land owner for clean-up costs and general damages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highlander Posted January 5, 2009 Report Share Posted January 5, 2009 Like a lot of gun law this is one of those misunderstood/misread/misquoted bits of legislation that could lead you into all sorts of grief. The guy wasn't committing an offence (luckily it was you who nearly got hit by a dead un) BUT say it had been a copper or an anti or just some bloody minded up his own **** type citizen? Then the shooter could have found himself in deep doo doo. As with so many things shooting common sense should prevail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WGD Posted January 5, 2009 Report Share Posted January 5, 2009 Presumably the law is the same for shotgun & rifle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CEREALTHRILLER Posted January 5, 2009 Report Share Posted January 5, 2009 What evening were you at The Deer Park Livingston one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winchester Posted January 5, 2009 Report Share Posted January 5, 2009 The section of the law you are looking at is 16a to cause fear with a firearm. As i have said before you can be shooting on oneside of a hedge, and some one could be walking on the otherside 100s of feet from you Trespassing. You discharge the firearm and they call the police you are in the poo , big time, then you will find out how good your selected orginisation-insurance realy is. Beleve me when you locked in a cell its no fun, even less when you find your on your own, Bewear this is a trick the antis use, and the police back them up even when the people your surposed to have done this to do NOT complain but some spotty Eric some 300 yards away dose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sapper063 Posted January 6, 2009 Report Share Posted January 6, 2009 if you have your back to the hedge with road on other side you can shoot as long as you are shooting away from the road its a very grey area but usually common sence will guide you .if it dont feel right dont shoot. simple. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winchester Posted January 6, 2009 Report Share Posted January 6, 2009 if you have your back to the hedge with road on other side you can shoot as long as you are shooting away from the road its a very grey area but usually common sence will guide you .if it dont feel right dont shoot. simple. iF YOU FRIGHTEN SOME ONE you will still be up the creak without a paddle even though you are the right distance from the road REMEMBER THE LADY WITH THE STARTING PISTOL ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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