Article on spotting unmarked Police cars
Discussion
Different forces seem to have different methods of kitting the unmarked cars. Here in Orange County (otherwise known as Essex), they tend to have the lights that are visible from the side at the front (I think they are called 'ward off'lights), stuck to the bumper, and are still visible if you keep an eye out for them. However I did see an unmarked Focus about six months ago pull a car and all the blue lights were completely integrated into the main light units. None on the dash, in the rear window or behind the grill at all. Completely indistinguishable from a normal Focus 
They also have unmarked bikes, which are a little harder to spot too (although the word 'POLICE' on the back of the jacket of one of the ones I saw gave it away a bit
)
They also have unmarked bikes, which are a little harder to spot too (although the word 'POLICE' on the back of the jacket of one of the ones I saw gave it away a bit
)mybrainhurts said:
Parking on zig zags. Did he award himself three points for doing that?
(From: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1997/2400/regul... ):
The Zebra, Pelican and Puffin Pedestrian Crossings Regulations and General Directions 1997
Exceptions to regulation 20
21. Regulation 20 does not prohibit the driver of a vehicle from stopping it in a controlled area—
(a)if the driver has stopped it for the purpose of complying with regulation 25 or 26;
(b)if the driver is prevented from proceeding by circumstances beyond his control or it is necessary for him to stop to avoid injury or damage to persons or property; or
(c)when the vehicle is being used for police, fire brigade or ambulance purposes.
Paddy_N_Murphy said:
And being recited a response from the Plod like that for what is unquestioned knobbish parking is exactly what would get the hackles up on the majority of drivers.....
Really? So if, for instance, the car that has been pulled over is a suspected drink driver what should the cop do when the driver decides to stop there? Ask the pissed bloke to pull forward a bit so he can clear the crossing? Park in front of the stopped vehicle where his lights can't be seen and risk someone run into them? When the legislation was drawn up those doing so realised there are circumstances where emergency service vehicles may need to stop near crossings and made provision for it in law.
You have no idea why the police car ended up stopped where it was yet you know it is "unquestioned[sic] knobbish parking" because that is what fits your prejudice.
Cat
Interesting about the infrared led's in the numberplate, if you had a dashcam with video out linked into the the cars satnav/rear view screen then the led's would stick out like a sore thumb (a bit like pointing the tv remote at the camera on your phone to see if the batteries are still fresh but magnified in power 1000x).
I'm sure if a civilian put led's in their number plate they would be charged with perverting the course of justice.
I'm sure if a civilian put led's in their number plate they would be charged with perverting the course of justice.
Paddy_N_Murphy said:
4rephill said:
mybrainhurts said:
Parking on zig zags. Did he award himself three points for doing that?
(From: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1997/2400/regul... ):
The Zebra, Pelican and Puffin Pedestrian Crossings Regulations and General Directions 1997
Exceptions to regulation 20
21. Regulation 20 does not prohibit the driver of a vehicle from stopping it in a controlled area—
(a)if the driver has stopped it for the purpose of complying with regulation 25 or 26;
(b)if the driver is prevented from proceeding by circumstances beyond his control or it is necessary for him to stop to avoid injury or damage to persons or property; or
(c)when the vehicle is being used for police, fire brigade or ambulance purposes.
Zig zags are there for safety, aren't they? Yes, he should have awarded himself three points for stupidly if nothing else.
Cat said:
Paddy_N_Murphy said:
And being recited a response from the Plod like that for what is unquestioned knobbish parking is exactly what would get the hackles up on the majority of drivers.....
Really? So if, for instance, the car that has been pulled over is a suspected drink driver what should the cop do when the driver decides to stop there? Ask the pissed bloke to pull forward a bit so he can clear the crossing? Park in front of the stopped vehicle where his lights can't be seen and risk someone run into them? When the legislation was drawn up those doing so realised there are circumstances where emergency service vehicles may need to stop near crossings and made provision for it in law.
You have no idea why the police car ended up stopped where it was yet you know it is "unquestioned[sic] knobbish parking" because that is what fits your prejudice.
Cat
all the legal exemptions and accomodations enjoyed by the police, emergency services, health professionals etc are put in place just to piss them off and rub in the fact they they are paying these people's wages ...
mybrainhurts said:
Yup...I just knew plod would bite.
Zig zags are there for safety, aren't they? Yes, he should have awarded himself three points for stupidly if nothing else.
Is that what you do for kicks then? Come on here to "try and get plod to bite". Sad times my friend, sad times.Zig zags are there for safety, aren't they? Yes, he should have awarded himself three points for stupidly if nothing else.
"Awarded himself three points for stupidly?" Try that one again.
Mk3Spitfire said:
Is that what you do for kicks then? Come on here to "try and get plod to bite". Sad times my friend, sad times.
"Awarded himself three points for stupidly?" Try that one again.
Police doing their job doesnt always suit some agendas on here. They're f"Awarded himself three points for stupidly?" Try that one again.
ked either way and people will still bh and whine even when the legislation is used to counter a childish misinformed comment.Plod baiting has been going on for years here hence why most bobbies left a long time ago, there used to be a lot more than there is now but they all got fed up keyboard warriors arguing the toss every post.
untakenname said:
Interesting about the infrared led's in the numberplate, if you had a dashcam with video out linked into the the cars satnav/rear view screen then the led's would stick out like a sore thumb (a bit like pointing the tv remote at the camera on your phone to see if the batteries are still fresh but magnified in power 1000x).
I'm sure if a civilian put led's in their number plate they would be charged with perverting the course of justice.
Interesting point.I'm sure if a civilian put led's in their number plate they would be charged with perverting the course of justice.
As you say, if you recorded the rear of the unmarked car with any kind of camera it would presumably look like a relatively bright light shining out of the middle of the plate.
NinjaPower said:
Interesting point.
As you say, if you recorded the rear of the unmarked car with any kind of camera it would presumably look like a relatively bright light shining out of the middle of the plate.
Not necessarily. Not all cameras are sensitive to IR. If you get hold of a proper low light CCTV camera, that will usually be sensitive to most IR LEDs, but a lot of dashcams and GoPro-type cameras have a IR cut filter in front off the sensor specifically to filter out IR.As you say, if you recorded the rear of the unmarked car with any kind of camera it would presumably look like a relatively bright light shining out of the middle of the plate.
I'd be interested to find out more about these cameras they fit behind the rear plate if anyone has any more info?
Mk3Spitfire said:
mybrainhurts said:
Yup...I just knew plod would bite.
Zig zags are there for safety, aren't they? Yes, he should have awarded himself three points for stupidly if nothing else.
Is that what you do for kicks then? Come on here to "try and get plod to bite". Sad times my friend, sad times.Zig zags are there for safety, aren't they? Yes, he should have awarded himself three points for stupidly if nothing else.
"Awarded himself three points for stupidly?" Try that one again.
I prefer to call it giving people food for thought.
FurtiveFreddy said:
NinjaPower said:
Interesting point.
As you say, if you recorded the rear of the unmarked car with any kind of camera it would presumably look like a relatively bright light shining out of the middle of the plate.
Not necessarily. Not all cameras are sensitive to IR. If you get hold of a proper low light CCTV camera, that will usually be sensitive to most IR LEDs, but a lot of dashcams and GoPro-type cameras have a IR cut filter in front off the sensor specifically to filter out IR.As you say, if you recorded the rear of the unmarked car with any kind of camera it would presumably look like a relatively bright light shining out of the middle of the plate.
I'd be interested to find out more about these cameras they fit behind the rear plate if anyone has any more info?
I would also be interested in finding out about the transparent number plate/camera thing.
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