Gordon Fink
Member
hardcorehunter5 said:
That hasn’t stopped the implementation of red-light cameras. Some fines may turn out to be uncollectible, but the end result is the same … if the primary concern is public safety.
~G. Fink
unmarked patrol cars
- Thread starter fchavis
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That hasn’t stopped the implementation of red-light cameras. Some fines may turn out to be uncollectible, but the end result is the same … if the primary concern is public safety.
~G. Fink
SMMAssociates
Member
Locally, a Judge in the Warren OH area has forced the Girard City Council to remove a speed camera - State Law apparently requires a live Police Officer to issue citations.
I don't know if it still applies, but in PA the owner of the vehicle was the presumed driver in situations like this, but had the right to rat out his kids or whatever.
IAC, I object to the things because the folks providing the cameras get a cut, and are therefore provided with an incentive to set the trigger point lower than common sense might allow. Not to mention "conditions", which a human might note, but the defendant may not be able to prove.
Essentially, driving too slow or too fast with respect to the general flow of traffic, weather, or road conditions, can be a violation regardless of the speed limit. Note the "too slow" thing....
I especially object to the red light cameras. Pretty much the same thing - the camera providers have already shown a tendency to set the devices improperly, and sometimes you have to go through the light for your own safety, or that of others. An LEO is likely to be a little more friendly about it.... Not to mention the clowns who stop short or speed up to avoid the camera's interest....
('Course, there was this idiot on a motorcycle who passed about four cars in line at a red light and drove right through it. He did slow down to check, but.... That's when you want a "red light machine gun"....
)
Regards,
I don't know if it still applies, but in PA the owner of the vehicle was the presumed driver in situations like this, but had the right to rat out his kids or whatever.
IAC, I object to the things because the folks providing the cameras get a cut, and are therefore provided with an incentive to set the trigger point lower than common sense might allow. Not to mention "conditions", which a human might note, but the defendant may not be able to prove.
Essentially, driving too slow or too fast with respect to the general flow of traffic, weather, or road conditions, can be a violation regardless of the speed limit. Note the "too slow" thing....
I especially object to the red light cameras. Pretty much the same thing - the camera providers have already shown a tendency to set the devices improperly, and sometimes you have to go through the light for your own safety, or that of others. An LEO is likely to be a little more friendly about it.... Not to mention the clowns who stop short or speed up to avoid the camera's interest....
('Course, there was this idiot on a motorcycle who passed about four cars in line at a red light and drove right through it. He did slow down to check, but.... That's when you want a "red light machine gun"....
)Regards,
RustyShackelford
member
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PA state trooper incident...
It's good to see PA and the PSP(State Police) set up these new state laws concerning unmarked LE units. The attacks by the fake PA state trooper took place in 1999/2000. It's sad that a string of violent attacks is what needed to push these policy changes in the PSP/state.
RS
It's good to see PA and the PSP(State Police) set up these new state laws concerning unmarked LE units. The attacks by the fake PA state trooper took place in 1999/2000. It's sad that a string of violent attacks is what needed to push these policy changes in the PSP/state.
RS
TallPine
Member
Some or all of the MHP cars now have the red/blue lights in the grill instead of on top, but the doors are painted and they have red and white state plates with numbers like "MHP-251" (a real number, btw ... I wonder if she ever visits THR...? )
Something I used to hate when I lived in CO ... the large white cars with ski racks on top, with red skis on one side and blue skis on the other In the mirror they looked just like state patrol.
)Something I used to hate when I lived in CO ... the large white cars with ski racks on top, with red skis on one side and blue skis on the other
In the mirror they looked just like state patrol.vito
Member
I few years ago I was on my way to work on my motorcycle, on an Interstate with zero traffic at about 5:30 AM. I saw an older maroon Ford Taurus ahead of me, and when I slowed to check it out saw what appeared to be an old man behind the wheel. I went back up to my desired speed, about 25 over the limit and within about 10 seconds saw the hidden interior blue lights go on. When I stopped the "old man" turned out to be a State Trooper about 55 years old, in uniform (he had a non-uniform jacket on while he was driving) and I ended up with a hefty speeding ticket.
OB-1
Member
I have a personal rule. I don’t stop for unmarked police cars. Now, I’ve never had to test that rule of mine, and hopefully never will. However, if that day arrives, I will slow down, turn on my flashers and call 911 on the cell phone.
Unmarked cars and plainclothsemen doing "routine" stops somehow smells too much like secret police.
I am often on the road at 1:00-2:00 am and have had a number of instances where an unknown vehicle driving upwards of 80 mph on a winding two lane road will catch up with and tailgate me for miles.
Sometimes they will eventually turn around and go back the way they came and other times they will pull me over because "I may have been going a little fast/bumped the yellow line/looking for a vandal" of some other usually made up reason that a citizen dare not challenge in this situation.
Aside from the issue of harassing citizens who have committed no known crime, this behavior is inheriently dangerous in any situation. It is doubly dangerous in an area with a high deer population.
I am often on the road at 1:00-2:00 am and have had a number of instances where an unknown vehicle driving upwards of 80 mph on a winding two lane road will catch up with and tailgate me for miles.
Sometimes they will eventually turn around and go back the way they came and other times they will pull me over because "I may have been going a little fast/bumped the yellow line/looking for a vandal" of some other usually made up reason that a citizen dare not challenge in this situation.
Aside from the issue of harassing citizens who have committed no known crime, this behavior is inheriently dangerous in any situation. It is doubly dangerous in an area with a high deer population.
JohnBT
Member
"It seems like VA has some of the worst offenders out there, as they DEFINATELY use unmarked cars for traffic stops"
I was hanging out with my father Friday and asked him about unmarked cars. They used them when he was a State Trooper 50 years ago, although they were usually given to the experienced Troopers, not the rookies.
Who to call about it?
I dunno. Doubt they're going to stop using them.
John
I was hanging out with my father Friday and asked him about unmarked cars. They used them when he was a State Trooper 50 years ago, although they were usually given to the experienced Troopers, not the rookies.
Who to call about it?
I dunno. Doubt they're going to stop using them.
John
Praxis
Member
I think this question fits in the general scope of the discussion.
Can anyone tell me why police officers tailgate you when they are "checking out" your car on the highway. A number of people in this thread mentioned the practice.
I've had this happen once when driving near Baltimore. An MTA (Maryland Transportation Authority) Cruiser came up behind me on I-895 and got right on my bumper. I was going the speed limit, 55MPH, and just set my cruise control and let the car go. He stayed behind me for a couple miles, then pulled up next to me for a few more miles, and finally gunned his engine and sped off. I'm sure he was running my plates, but what was up with the other behavior?
Can anyone tell me why police officers tailgate you when they are "checking out" your car on the highway. A number of people in this thread mentioned the practice.
I've had this happen once when driving near Baltimore. An MTA (Maryland Transportation Authority) Cruiser came up behind me on I-895 and got right on my bumper. I was going the speed limit, 55MPH, and just set my cruise control and let the car go. He stayed behind me for a couple miles, then pulled up next to me for a few more miles, and finally gunned his engine and sped off. I'm sure he was running my plates, but what was up with the other behavior?
1911 guy
Member
What was up with the behavior?
Some cops are idjits. Tailgating is a prime tactic to get someone to speed up and then bust them. Gotta make that quota, you know. Yes, I know there are good cops out there. I've actually met a few. Unfortunately, none of the good ones seem to be working traffic where they could be good PR for a dept. I can honestly say that every time I have had non-traffic interaction with a police oficer, it was handled well on both sides. Courteous, professional, even friendly. The few times I have been pulled over, however, were by morons on a power trip.
Some cops are idjits. Tailgating is a prime tactic to get someone to speed up and then bust them. Gotta make that quota, you know. Yes, I know there are good cops out there. I've actually met a few. Unfortunately, none of the good ones seem to be working traffic where they could be good PR for a dept. I can honestly say that every time I have had non-traffic interaction with a police oficer, it was handled well on both sides. Courteous, professional, even friendly. The few times I have been pulled over, however, were by morons on a power trip.
Art Eatman
Moderator In Memoriam
Re tailgating: Maybe they're not paid enough to afford decent eyeglasses? Gotta get real close in order to read the license plates? "My cousin, Weakeyes, works at the copshop."
Just joking...
, Art
Just joking...
, Art
Mainsail
Member
This is only partially on topic, but I just picked up a Y2K Crown Vic Police Interceptor. I’ve been undoing some of the cop mods, like reconnecting the rear window switches and the horn. I removed the siren from the grill, the wires were cut anyway. The spotlight on the A-pillar still works but the gears are stripped out inside so it can’t be aimed.
When I’m merging on the freeway now, people don’t speed up to keep me from getting in and nobody tailgates me anymore. It handles like a sports car and has plenty of power.
When I’m merging on the freeway now, people don’t speed up to keep me from getting in and nobody tailgates me anymore. It handles like a sports car and has plenty of power.
Mark Whiteman
Member
If its a Unity spotlight, they used to make replacement parts available. Dealers all over. Try Google. That siren speaker in fair shape? Model # on it? Re: tailgating, if you'd actually been stopped, there is a school of thought that the less "slack" you have when you "light 'em up", the less likely they'll feel they have a chance at running, if that's on their minds at all. Remember, it's considered a high risk thing to do, and they want to go home every night. Since you weren't stopped, I'd say it was a tactic to see if you'd "rattle". Drunk drivers many times will change the way they drive when being tailed. Drunk drivers many times will drive "too good", right at the limit, dead straight, trying to appear normal. Most people don't drive ridgidly like that. I dispatched for 28 years and spent a lot of time out with "the guys" before I started a family.
Re: tailgating, if you'd actually been stopped, there is a school of thought that the less "slack" you have when you "light 'em up", the less likely they'll feel they have a chance at running, if that's on their minds at all. Remember, it's considered a high risk thing to do, and they want to go home every night. Since you weren't stopped, I'd say it was a tactic to see if you'd "rattle". Drunk drivers many times will change the way they drive when being tailed. Drunk drivers many times will drive "too good", right at the limit, dead straight, trying to appear normal. Most people don't drive ridgidly like that. I dispatched for 28 years and spent a lot of time out with "the guys" before I started a family.No_Brakes23
Member
+1. A few years back in Cali after a string of rapes/beatings from people pulling over for unmarked cars, I made this decision as well. Shortly after CHP stated that they would no longer use unmarked cars, but who knows what they do now. Their "White" Crown Vics don;t look any different in the rearview than a civvie Crown Vic that someone took a J.C.Whitney catalog to.
MPs aboard MCAS Miramar used to be really bad about doing this. That's what clutch-checks are good for. Of course, I ususally move over anyway when a cop shows up, just out of courtesy.
SMMAssociates
Member
Just happened to think....mainsail said:
Given the couple of screws involved, and that those speakers sort of start over $50, I wonder if that speaker is any good.
(Guessing that it's a speaker and not an old mechanical siren. Dunno if you can even still get those.)
Mark's correct about the Unity spotlights. They used to be about $25, and a new mount was under $10. The idea was to leave the mount and put the rest of the spotlight in another vehicle, until there wasn't much left. Prices are a lot higher now.... Mounting 'em was always a bit itchy for me - I only did a couple, but it took a long half-inch drill bit placed more or less exactly where the Unity people's template wanted it. Off a bit and you'd crack the windshield....
Some newer vehicles have very narrow posts.... Even tougher....
Be careful about the laws in your State. In some cases they're just not allowed at all (fake ones may get you stopped), but the thing to really worry about is whether or not you have to get one that's set up so it can't shine directly into the eyes of oncoming drivers. I'm not sure you can easily find that anymore.
All of that said, they're damned handy. I miss mine, although it's been about 28 years since I had one installed. (Old rent-a-cop.) Besides the usual LE stuff, they're super handy for finding the kid's girlfiend's house at night (that ain't a typo) on a dark street, and things like that. A big old MagLite in the console helps a little....
(Wonder what the wife would say if I put one on my '99 Town Car....
. I think I still have the drill bit.)Regards,
agricola
Member
FYI over in the UK its a part of the law that you dont have to stop for an unmarked police car, or police officer not in uniform, largely for that exact reason.
Flyboy
Member
...because I certainly couldn't order some red gel from the theatre-supply store and make my own red lights.
SMMAssociates
Member
Hm....flyboy said:
That's how I got amber front turn signals when that became the "new vehicle" standard. I even put 'em on a '31 Ford a buddy of mine was restoring.
A lot of the newer dash and headliner inside strobes/blinkers are LED based. Getting a white one and gelling it probably would make for a less-efficient light. Changing a dome on a motorized mirror type light is kiddie stuff, although you may run into a "letterhead" issue to find a replacement dome.
(Actually, a hand spotlight with a red gel probably would be sufficient for nefarious purposes.)
Talk about "times changing" - the local PD used to buy a whole fleet of cars every year or two, and the cost of swapping the "Fireball" roof lights (really bad choice, but they were cheap) was higher than just buying new ones. They'd give 'em to anybody who asked and wasn't known to be a "problem"....
I was involved with a "little theater" group about 40 years ago, doing lighting. Probably a few scraps of the stuff here someplace still. However, if it's still out there, "gel" is water-soluble. Not good in a car.... (But it was real cheap, and we had a small budget....) I used to "stock" a plastic material for some uses - a lot more money at the time, but gels tended to fade, which made my directors nuts.
Regards,
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