Did I spot a fake unmarked copper?
Discussion
Driving down the A1 this morning, I saw a Jaguar XE some way ahead being driven in a rather odd fashion. He was aggressively tailgating, and occasionally straddling the lanes when people didn't move over right away. I made a mental note to give him a wide berth, but as he was getting held up I ended up as the car behind him and was pacing him.
It was only when I got to a 2-3 second gap behind him that I noticed some fairly dim blue strobes in his rear clusters. These just hadn't been visible to the naked eye from a distance. There weren't any lights in the rear windscreen. I've seen unmarked cars on blues enough times to know that those blue lights are pretty damn obvious when they're turned on, and you generally seem to have them in the rear windscreen as well.
So, are there unmarked cars with such lights, or do you reckon I have spotted someone being naughty?
It was only when I got to a 2-3 second gap behind him that I noticed some fairly dim blue strobes in his rear clusters. These just hadn't been visible to the naked eye from a distance. There weren't any lights in the rear windscreen. I've seen unmarked cars on blues enough times to know that those blue lights are pretty damn obvious when they're turned on, and you generally seem to have them in the rear windscreen as well.
So, are there unmarked cars with such lights, or do you reckon I have spotted someone being naughty?
I didn't think to try and remember the reg, and as the screengrab will show the DC doesn't reveal their reg (this is zoomed in and cropped from a 4k video; I was at a following distance of 2-3 seconds, and this was as close as I got/bright as the lights got).
To give an indication of how piss poor the rear lights were, here is the nearside "blue" illuminated. Barely brighter than the DRL it's integrated into and doesn't even look blue here. The blue was absolutely swamped by the red of the cluster. Hence why I got so close before I realised there was even a blue strobe there.
I won't post a video to avoid any debate about the accuracy of any potential distance/time calculations...
The more I look at it and think about it, the more I am thinking "Walt".
To give an indication of how piss poor the rear lights were, here is the nearside "blue" illuminated. Barely brighter than the DRL it's integrated into and doesn't even look blue here. The blue was absolutely swamped by the red of the cluster. Hence why I got so close before I realised there was even a blue strobe there.
I won't post a video to avoid any debate about the accuracy of any potential distance/time calculations...
The more I look at it and think about it, the more I am thinking "Walt".
I saw a car with blue strobes on recently, I was approaching a roundabout on a fast by-pass and had moved to the outside lane for the upcoming roundabout. Ahead in the outside lane at the roundabout, a car seemed to be stopped about a car’s length from the roundabout, but pointing slightly left. I approached at a reasonable pace, and slowed a bit to see what he was blocking/escorting or whatever. He moved left and stopped at the left edge onto the roundabout. There was no other ‘action’ taking place, no wide or heavy load. So I just took the right hand lane through the roundabout and away. This seemed to be an Audi of some description. . I am not convinced it was a genuine unmarked police car. I imagine there must be some ‘wannabes’ driving around.
There are a host of organisations / services that can legitimately use blue lights - and as has been said above Fire / Rescue / Ambulance etc issue senior staff an unmarked car with covert blues if their role requires them to attend incidents.
Its also not unknown for a car with covert blues to be decommissioned and sent to auction with the strobes still fitted but deactivated
Its also not unknown for a car with covert blues to be decommissioned and sent to auction with the strobes still fitted but deactivated
There was a chap in a 2017 VRS driving towards Wycombe on the M40. No traffic to overtake but there he was in lane three enjoying the freedom of the road.
As I got closer he sped up, so I tucked back in. It seemed he wanted to engage me as he too, switched lanes. After a few miles, I dropped off to get behind him and when the opportunity presented itself, I overtook him. It seemed he was now waiting for a similar opportunity only given there was a bit of traffic ahead, he would have had to have done it from my nearside as I was still in lane three overtaking.
He gave it full beans on a RH bend and wedged himself into what would have been a safe braking distance for me. I shook my head, and he might have seen in his rear view mirror that I suggested he stop off and get himself a freshly ground coffee. I back off to give myself space and he tucked back in and appeared to be coasting me as I maintained my speed. But he was waiting for me to pass (I was expecting a response perhaps to tell me that he'd already had a lot of coffee) but it was only to wave some random badge at me. It wasn't a police badge, I don't think; it was red in the middle and silver around it, held in a black holder.
There was nothing about his car that might have suggested he was unmarked plod.
As I got closer he sped up, so I tucked back in. It seemed he wanted to engage me as he too, switched lanes. After a few miles, I dropped off to get behind him and when the opportunity presented itself, I overtook him. It seemed he was now waiting for a similar opportunity only given there was a bit of traffic ahead, he would have had to have done it from my nearside as I was still in lane three overtaking.
He gave it full beans on a RH bend and wedged himself into what would have been a safe braking distance for me. I shook my head, and he might have seen in his rear view mirror that I suggested he stop off and get himself a freshly ground coffee. I back off to give myself space and he tucked back in and appeared to be coasting me as I maintained my speed. But he was waiting for me to pass (I was expecting a response perhaps to tell me that he'd already had a lot of coffee) but it was only to wave some random badge at me. It wasn't a police badge, I don't think; it was red in the middle and silver around it, held in a black holder.
There was nothing about his car that might have suggested he was unmarked plod.
Vsix and Vtec said:
If you recall the registration, I'm sure the local constabulary will be able to confirm if it's not, they may be reluctant to confirm if it is however.
Or just ask if they have a Jaguar XE in that colour.I encountered a similarly suspicious car (Skoda) a few years ago; not being sure if it actual Plod or someone impersonating, I referred it to them and they confirmed it was one of theirs.
Glassman said:
There was a chap in a 2017 VRS driving towards Wycombe on the M40. No traffic to overtake but there he was in lane three enjoying the freedom of the road.
As I got closer he sped up, so I tucked back in. It seemed he wanted to engage me as he too, switched lanes. After a few miles, I dropped off to get behind him and when the opportunity presented itself, I overtook him. It seemed he was now waiting for a similar opportunity only given there was a bit of traffic ahead, he would have had to have done it from my nearside as I was still in lane three overtaking.
He gave it full beans on a RH bend and wedged himself into what would have been a safe braking distance for me. I shook my head, and he might have seen in his rear view mirror that I suggested he stop off and get himself a freshly ground coffee. I back off to give myself space and he tucked back in and appeared to be coasting me as I maintained my speed. But he was waiting for me to pass (I was expecting a response perhaps to tell me that he'd already had a lot of coffee) but it was only to wave some random badge at me. It wasn't a police badge, I don't think; it was red in the middle and silver around it, held in a black holder.
There was nothing about his car that might have suggested he was unmarked plod.
A knobsworth.As I got closer he sped up, so I tucked back in. It seemed he wanted to engage me as he too, switched lanes. After a few miles, I dropped off to get behind him and when the opportunity presented itself, I overtook him. It seemed he was now waiting for a similar opportunity only given there was a bit of traffic ahead, he would have had to have done it from my nearside as I was still in lane three overtaking.
He gave it full beans on a RH bend and wedged himself into what would have been a safe braking distance for me. I shook my head, and he might have seen in his rear view mirror that I suggested he stop off and get himself a freshly ground coffee. I back off to give myself space and he tucked back in and appeared to be coasting me as I maintained my speed. But he was waiting for me to pass (I was expecting a response perhaps to tell me that he'd already had a lot of coffee) but it was only to wave some random badge at me. It wasn't a police badge, I don't think; it was red in the middle and silver around it, held in a black holder.
There was nothing about his car that might have suggested he was unmarked plod.
donkmeister said:
Driving down the A1 this morning, I saw a Jaguar XE some way ahead being driven in a rather odd fashion. He was aggressively tailgating, and occasionally straddling the lanes when people didn't move over right away. I made a mental note to give him a wide berth, but as he was getting held up I ended up as the car behind him and was pacing him.
It was only when I got to a 2-3 second gap behind him that I noticed some fairly dim blue strobes in his rear clusters. These just hadn't been visible to the naked eye from a distance. There weren't any lights in the rear windscreen. I've seen unmarked cars on blues enough times to know that those blue lights are pretty damn obvious when they're turned on, and you generally seem to have them in the rear windscreen as well.
So, are there unmarked cars with such lights, or do you reckon I have spotted someone being naughty?
Whereabouts on the A1 were you?It was only when I got to a 2-3 second gap behind him that I noticed some fairly dim blue strobes in his rear clusters. These just hadn't been visible to the naked eye from a distance. There weren't any lights in the rear windscreen. I've seen unmarked cars on blues enough times to know that those blue lights are pretty damn obvious when they're turned on, and you generally seem to have them in the rear windscreen as well.
So, are there unmarked cars with such lights, or do you reckon I have spotted someone being naughty?
Few months back in sussex got followed for about 20 miles by a police officer in an unmarked car the harsh sunlight gave it away as the front grill LEDs & large LED on the dashboard were being picked up by the sun which we were driving towards. I could clearly see him in uniform also.
He must have been asleep or off duty as this Jaguar over took him, me & about 2-3 other cars all at once on a NSL 60 very tight country lane & must have been doing at least 90 when he blasted by. I would have expected him to follow it was a very dangerous overtake with little space & the Jag was really on a mission to get well into 3 figures by how much he gapped us all!
The police officer did nothing but follow me for mile & mile......! Either off duty going home (it was early in the morning) or not interested. The jag was travelling so fast & being driven dangerously I would have expected an on duty officer to pull it over as that's a well deserved ban putting so many cars at risk in such a tight country lane.
He must have been asleep or off duty as this Jaguar over took him, me & about 2-3 other cars all at once on a NSL 60 very tight country lane & must have been doing at least 90 when he blasted by. I would have expected him to follow it was a very dangerous overtake with little space & the Jag was really on a mission to get well into 3 figures by how much he gapped us all!
The police officer did nothing but follow me for mile & mile......! Either off duty going home (it was early in the morning) or not interested. The jag was travelling so fast & being driven dangerously I would have expected an on duty officer to pull it over as that's a well deserved ban putting so many cars at risk in such a tight country lane.
RS_MAN_CHILD said:
Few months back in sussex got followed for about 20 miles by a police officer in an unmarked car the harsh sunlight gave it away as the front grill LEDs & large LED on the dashboard were being picked up by the sun which we were driving towards. I could clearly see him in uniform also.
He must have been asleep or off duty as this Jaguar over took him, me & about 2-3 other cars all at once on a NSL 60 very tight country lane & must have been doing at least 90 when he blasted by. I would have expected him to follow it was a very dangerous overtake with little space & the Jag was really on a mission to get well into 3 figures by how much he gapped us all!
The police officer did nothing but follow me for mile & mile......! Either off duty going home (it was early in the morning) or not interested. The jag was travelling so fast & being driven dangerously I would have expected an on duty officer to pull it over as that's a well deserved ban putting so many cars at risk in such a tight country lane.
Not every Officer is authorised (trained) to use blue lights. He must have been asleep or off duty as this Jaguar over took him, me & about 2-3 other cars all at once on a NSL 60 very tight country lane & must have been doing at least 90 when he blasted by. I would have expected him to follow it was a very dangerous overtake with little space & the Jag was really on a mission to get well into 3 figures by how much he gapped us all!
The police officer did nothing but follow me for mile & mile......! Either off duty going home (it was early in the morning) or not interested. The jag was travelling so fast & being driven dangerously I would have expected an on duty officer to pull it over as that's a well deserved ban putting so many cars at risk in such a tight country lane.
RS_MAN_CHILD said:
Few months back in sussex got followed for about 20 miles by a police officer in an unmarked car the harsh sunlight gave it away as the front grill LEDs & large LED on the dashboard were being picked up by the sun which we were driving towards. I could clearly see him in uniform also.
He must have been asleep or off duty as this Jaguar over took him, me & about 2-3 other cars all at once on a NSL 60 very tight country lane & must have been doing at least 90 when he blasted by. I would have expected him to follow it was a very dangerous overtake with little space & the Jag was really on a mission to get well into 3 figures by how much he gapped us all!
The police officer did nothing but follow me for mile & mile......! Either off duty going home (it was early in the morning) or not interested. The jag was travelling so fast & being driven dangerously I would have expected an on duty officer to pull it over as that's a well deserved ban putting so many cars at risk in such a tight country lane.
It might not have been a police vehicle. Lots of cars have LED lights fitted, not just police. He must have been asleep or off duty as this Jaguar over took him, me & about 2-3 other cars all at once on a NSL 60 very tight country lane & must have been doing at least 90 when he blasted by. I would have expected him to follow it was a very dangerous overtake with little space & the Jag was really on a mission to get well into 3 figures by how much he gapped us all!
The police officer did nothing but follow me for mile & mile......! Either off duty going home (it was early in the morning) or not interested. The jag was travelling so fast & being driven dangerously I would have expected an on duty officer to pull it over as that's a well deserved ban putting so many cars at risk in such a tight country lane.
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