M3 - Unmarked cars

[craigw]

Driving down the M3 over the weekend (Hampshire). Saw an unmarked Red Impreza, Dark Green Volvo saloon, Dark Grey Mondeo.

[FASTBOY]

Reg no's would be nice as I travel this road everyday. What stretch were you on ?

[craigw]

The Volvo near Fleet svcs, The Impreza near Basingstoke, the Mondeo near the M27 turnoff. All were on other carriage so couldn't get numbers. Also got followed on M27 by policehelicopter!

[FASTBOY]

What were u driving ? Obviously they know you well

[mel]

Just a ? would evidence from a helicopter be admissable ??? I imagine it would be very hard to get a constant radar fix from the air, laser near on impossible and the "expert opinion" gag a bit thin because they are obviously not Traffic cops and anyway speed judgment would be total different from the air to on the ground !!! Just a thought. Does JR have any experience of this ?

[mel]

Just another small point M27 is Hampshire and they haven't got a Helicopter to my knowledge they use funny little light aircraft or the coastgaurd Helicopter from Lee on Solent. Nearest Plod chopper is Sussex?

[Graham and Rosie]

Helicopter would use nice stationary landmarks like bridges and those lovely white squares in the road, then time you over a fixed known distance, quick calculation of your speed and off goes the NIP... ================ Graham and Rosie

[john robson]

Not got any comments re speed enforcement from a helicopter. But a funny story about one. A few years back our helicopter was following a stolen car,but aparantly due to low fuel it had to back off, However, a nearby army chopper offered assistance in following. Anyway they were eventually caught and went to court. The pilot was then questioned about how he followed the car . Easy, the car was identified to me so I simply put missile lock on and tracked it that way. A few comments were made about the safety of this in court. (Mmm what happens if I press this button)

[smeagol]

Nice one John LOL, Is it possible to use this strategy on car thieves? We'd all be a lot happier!)

[STAN]

I've got funnier police helicopter story. The Northant's crew crashed theirs... New campaign required "helicopters Kill" !!!!!!

[tricky2]

Yep, driving down the M3 yesterday and believe i was watched by one. Thing is he was going over my head in the opposite direction. Might be a stupid question but does it matter which direction they are going in to whether you can be tracked?

[mel]

quote:Not got any comments re speed enforcement from a helicopter. John, Is that a no comment as in "I don't want to or am not allowed to say" or a no comment as in "sorry we don't do it so I don't know" ??

[craigw]

I was in a Jeep Cherokee (see my thread Help again JR) for reason!

[mel]

Still not convinced that they could actually do you from the air although I do remember laughing at some road signs in North California years ago that said "speed limits enforced by light aircraft" !!! Not a clue how they actually pulled you over. No doubts at all the technology is there but would it really be used for speeding. Has anyone actually been done from the air or is this the start of an urban myth? I suspect the truth is that when up on training flights its quiet handy to track fastish cars as practise for tracking nicked ones, getaway cars etc.

[Paul V]

A friend of a friend was done in the states by a helicopter, he was on a completely open road nothing around for miles then heard the thing above asking him to pull over, he got a spot fine and told to be more careful.

[mel]

But could they really manage that on the M25/M3 where ever in this country !!!! You'd probable find that they broke the Foot and Mouth regulations if they landed in a field at the side of the road anyway

[nubbin]

In your defence, you could argue that you were driving along when you were startled by a huge chopper suddenly appearing over your head, and this made your legs go all tense and accidentally press the accelerator ::

[mel]

Had an ex girlfriend claim that once !!!She ended up getting done for perjury as it wasn't huge at all