leaving the M3 last night and joining the A34 heading for the NE i was shortly picked up by a traffic cop who followed me to the first shell garage where i was stopping for a coffee ,he pulled up behind me to point out that my reverse lights where stuck on ,i though "oh ■■■■ ,that’s me fined " .He promptly asked for the usual tachos (still on analogue) which i supplied along with log book licence and drivers card ,i proceeded to remove the bulbs from the lights while he went to town on the tachos with his little chart gizmo ,then checked the lorry .I was pleasantly surprised when the result of all this checking returned no faults and no infringements on my tachos 
.I do work very close to time so was surprised that i hadn’t gone over at all .
He did say something strange though ,he said that one tacho only showed a 46 min break and they like to see longer on break to make sure we are doing a walk around before leaving.Seems a queer thing to say given that walk arounds and vehicle checks should be other work ,but hey ho ,no infringements so i was in a really good mood for the next 6.5 hrs up to Newcastle ,and many thanks to the friendly driver who came across to give me a bit of moral support and a lend of his socket set to get the bulbs out ,not entirely sure what i was supposed to do with a socket set though but thanks anyway ,nice to see some camaraderie between truckers still exists
Whether ‘they’ want to see you have a longer break or not. 45 minutes is the law and the rule. Not 46 or 48 or 54. 45 !
Kerbdog:
Whether ‘they’ want to see you have a longer break or not. 45 minutes is the law and the rule. Not 46 or 48 or 54. 45 !
Exactly ,didn’t want to say anything though or the “attitude test” could become a factor 
Yep, no point in trying to correct him, just nod and smile and all done and dusted.
When stopped abroad i would open the cab door, offer to shake the hand, it does wonders, and depending which country you are in learn a few everyday greetings.
Got stopped at the toll near Boulogne sur Mer, he climbs on the cab steps, and in ten seconds i was gone again, he peered at the tacho as if there would have been something sticking out of it.