Question regarding unmarked cars
Discussion
Quick question for some of the more knowledgeable on here
On the way home from a very long day at work, in my exuberance I overtook a Hyundai off a roundabout at at a speed possibly in excess of the limit. The road was clear, the visibility was good and no oncoming traffic for at least a mile, there was no issue caused to the the other car - but possibly the manoeuvre this was in excess of the 60 limit by perhaps 20 to 30mph. I have a BMW F31 335d which does pull pretty well, so accelerated past with ease. When I passed the Hyundai they put on the blue lights for about 10 seconds, followed me for a few miles and pulled off. I saw the lights, eased off and stuck to the limits, expecting to get pulled over at any time. I got lucky, and know that.
The question is, do traffic use Hyundai's as unmarked cars? I wasn't aware that there were models in the range that were powerful enough to serve this purpose? If this likely to have been a non traffic unmarked car, and they just put the lights on to give me a scare, but monitored my driving to see if I was worth a pull? Will no doubt have done an ANPR check, decided I look 'ok' and proceeded on to wherever they were going.
I know I was in the wrong, got lucky, but am wondering why??
On the way home from a very long day at work, in my exuberance I overtook a Hyundai off a roundabout at at a speed possibly in excess of the limit. The road was clear, the visibility was good and no oncoming traffic for at least a mile, there was no issue caused to the the other car - but possibly the manoeuvre this was in excess of the 60 limit by perhaps 20 to 30mph. I have a BMW F31 335d which does pull pretty well, so accelerated past with ease. When I passed the Hyundai they put on the blue lights for about 10 seconds, followed me for a few miles and pulled off. I saw the lights, eased off and stuck to the limits, expecting to get pulled over at any time. I got lucky, and know that.
The question is, do traffic use Hyundai's as unmarked cars? I wasn't aware that there were models in the range that were powerful enough to serve this purpose? If this likely to have been a non traffic unmarked car, and they just put the lights on to give me a scare, but monitored my driving to see if I was worth a pull? Will no doubt have done an ANPR check, decided I look 'ok' and proceeded on to wherever they were going.
I know I was in the wrong, got lucky, but am wondering why??
MHB said:
Quick question for some of the more knowledgeable on here
On the way home from a very long day at work, in my exuberance I overtook a Hyundai off a roundabout at at a speed possibly in excess of the limit. The road was clear, the visibility was good and no oncoming traffic for at least a mile, there was no issue caused to the the other car - but possibly the manoeuvre this was in excess of the 60 limit by perhaps 20 to 30mph. I have a BMW F31 335d which does pull pretty well, so accelerated past with ease. When I passed the Hyundai they put on the blue lights for about 10 seconds, followed me for a few miles and pulled off. I saw the lights, eased off and stuck to the limits, expecting to get pulled over at any time. I got lucky, and know that.
The question is, do traffic use Hyundai's as unmarked cars? I wasn't aware that there were models in the range that were powerful enough to serve this purpose? If this likely to have been a non traffic unmarked car, and they just put the lights on to give me a scare, but monitored my driving to see if I was worth a pull? Will no doubt have done an ANPR check, decided I look 'ok' and proceeded on to wherever they were going.
I know I was in the wrong, got lucky, but am wondering why??
I'd imagine because they wanted you to alter your behaviour but have little interest in completing the paperwork for what you were doing as their priorities lay elsewhere.On the way home from a very long day at work, in my exuberance I overtook a Hyundai off a roundabout at at a speed possibly in excess of the limit. The road was clear, the visibility was good and no oncoming traffic for at least a mile, there was no issue caused to the the other car - but possibly the manoeuvre this was in excess of the 60 limit by perhaps 20 to 30mph. I have a BMW F31 335d which does pull pretty well, so accelerated past with ease. When I passed the Hyundai they put on the blue lights for about 10 seconds, followed me for a few miles and pulled off. I saw the lights, eased off and stuck to the limits, expecting to get pulled over at any time. I got lucky, and know that.
The question is, do traffic use Hyundai's as unmarked cars? I wasn't aware that there were models in the range that were powerful enough to serve this purpose? If this likely to have been a non traffic unmarked car, and they just put the lights on to give me a scare, but monitored my driving to see if I was worth a pull? Will no doubt have done an ANPR check, decided I look 'ok' and proceeded on to wherever they were going.
I know I was in the wrong, got lucky, but am wondering why??
vonhosen said:
I'd imagine because they wanted you to alter your behaviour but have little interest in completing the paperwork for what you were doing as their priorities lay elsewhere.
As a tactic I can say it it worked for me, 'light touch' policing in action. Though wonder if there is ever a judgement made based on the vehicle in question? Would a 10yr old tatty Ford / Vauxhall receive similar as a new BMW? Both would be equally wrong, but which party would be more likely to alter their behaviour based on a similar light touch? MHB said:
vonhosen said:
I'd imagine because they wanted you to alter your behaviour but have little interest in completing the paperwork for what you were doing as their priorities lay elsewhere.
As a tactic I can say it it worked for me, 'light touch' policing in action. Though wonder if there is ever a judgement made based on the vehicle in question? Would a 10yr old tatty Ford / Vauxhall receive similar as a new BMW? Both would be equally wrong, but which party would be more likely to alter their behaviour based on a similar light touch? I think it more likely than the age type of vehicle being the deciding factor, it would be something about you or the vehicle that placed you within their sphere of priorities that would change the approach.
codenamecueball said:
Unlikely to be traffic, could be a CID car or pool car. I imagine they just wanted you to s
t yourself for a bit and calm it down, and as I imagine you won't be blasting off roundabouts at 90mph for a while, they did their job.
As a tactic it was certainly effective, and I won't be doing that again! In accordance with the speed limits accept I was in the wrong, but do not feel there was any actual element of danger in my actions. I suppose the question is, how do they ever have any evidence that by adopting this course of action it actually works? In my case it did, but how would the officers in question ever know?t yourself for a bit and calm it down, and as I imagine you won't be blasting off roundabouts at 90mph for a while, they did their job.MHB said:
codenamecueball said:
Unlikely to be traffic, could be a CID car or pool car. I imagine they just wanted you to st yourself for a bit and calm it down, and as I imagine you won't be blasting off roundabouts at 90mph for a while, they did their job.
As a tactic it was certainly effective, and I won't be doing that again! In accordance with the speed limits accept I was in the wrong, but do not feel there was any actual element of danger in my actions. I suppose the question is, how do they ever have any evidence that by adopting this course of action it actually works? In my case it did, but how would the officers in question ever know?t yourself for a bit and calm it down, and as I imagine you won't be blasting off roundabouts at 90mph for a while, they did their job.What they did was as far as they were prepared to go at the time. They can't know how it will influence your choices beyond the moment & I doubt they give that a second thought.
vonhosen said:
They don't, they just don't care about that enough (within their priorities) to do more about it at that time.
What they did was as far as they were prepared to go at the time. They can't know how it will influence beyond the moment & I doubt they give that a second thought.
I fully understand that in the current circumstances with pressures on available resources / priorities, what happened this evening was an issue that's likely now forgotten. Though as my sole interaction with the police for many years, I'd like the facility to tell them that this was effective, and will relay this to friends and family. What they did was as far as they were prepared to go at the time. They can't know how it will influence beyond the moment & I doubt they give that a second thought.
I suppose that the police spend 90% of their time dealing with less than 10% of the population, so there are still 90% of us that don't have any regular interaction - and therefore think it's important that for the 90% any 'good' experiences are communicated.
OP, many here will tell you that all speed enforcement is purely aimed at revenue generation, but as you have found out there can still be human judgment based policing.
I don't agree with your apparent perception that the police will regard someone in a BMW as more likely than not to heed a warning and be a good citizen henceforth. BMWs don't always project the image "sensible person", as they can also present images such as "selfish tailgater" and "blinged-up gangbanger". Judging people by their cars is a bit daft anyway, although I confess that I assume that any car with a personalised number plate is driven by a dhead.
PS: This being PH, I am compelled to add: worst "I've got a BMW" thread EVAH.
I don't agree with your apparent perception that the police will regard someone in a BMW as more likely than not to heed a warning and be a good citizen henceforth. BMWs don't always project the image "sensible person", as they can also present images such as "selfish tailgater" and "blinged-up gangbanger". Judging people by their cars is a bit daft anyway, although I confess that I assume that any car with a personalised number plate is driven by a d
head.PS: This being PH, I am compelled to add: worst "I've got a BMW" thread EVAH.
I would think in most cases, if you had done something they deemed dangerous or a little OTT they would at least stop and have a chat, that opens the door to them to find out a lot more about you, about the car etc, simply flashing their lights seems a very rare method of enforcement. This has happened to me numerous times, especially as a kid honing about.
You might have been extremely lucky and they were about to do this before being pulled elsewhere.
Or they might not have been actual police, my Dad was ex plod and often used pool cars to do enquiries linked with people arguing about speed camera cases, but I doubt would ever do something like this. Just not beat cops or plod, maybe CID or something else.
Been stopped by an unmarked before, but he was great, I was a tt and not wearing a seatbelt for some stupid reason (getting gas I think) and he gave me numerous chances to check him out, pulling alongside, flashing etc but I took no notice, stopped for fuel and he pulled me.
Fair enough, only a reveal, but next exit was A1, and he had to be sure I was not going on there without a belt, nicest copper I have ever met!
You might have been extremely lucky and they were about to do this before being pulled elsewhere.
Or they might not have been actual police, my Dad was ex plod and often used pool cars to do enquiries linked with people arguing about speed camera cases, but I doubt would ever do something like this. Just not beat cops or plod, maybe CID or something else.
Been stopped by an unmarked before, but he was great, I was a t
t and not wearing a seatbelt for some stupid reason (getting gas I think) and he gave me numerous chances to check him out, pulling alongside, flashing etc but I took no notice, stopped for fuel and he pulled me.Fair enough, only a reveal, but next exit was A1, and he had to be sure I was not going on there without a belt, nicest copper I have ever met!
MHB said:
Quick question for some of the more knowledgeable on here
On the way home from a very long day at work, in my exuberance I overtook a Hyundai off a roundabout at at a speed possibly in excess of the limit. The road was clear, the visibility was good and no oncoming traffic for at least a mile, there was no issue caused to the the other car - but possibly the manoeuvre this was in excess of the 60 limit by perhaps 20 to 30mph. I have a BMW F31 335d which does pull pretty well, so accelerated past with ease. When I passed the Hyundai they put on the blue lights for about 10 seconds, followed me for a few miles and pulled off. I saw the lights, eased off and stuck to the limits, expecting to get pulled over at any time. I got lucky, and know that.
The question is, do traffic use Hyundai's as unmarked cars? I wasn't aware that there were models in the range that were powerful enough to serve this purpose? If this likely to have been a non traffic unmarked car, and they just put the lights on to give me a scare, but monitored my driving to see if I was worth a pull? Will no doubt have done an ANPR check, decided I look 'ok' and proceeded on to wherever they were going.
I know I was in the wrong, got lucky, but am wondering why??
Sounds more like a Walter Mitty type to me and not the real plod at all.On the way home from a very long day at work, in my exuberance I overtook a Hyundai off a roundabout at at a speed possibly in excess of the limit. The road was clear, the visibility was good and no oncoming traffic for at least a mile, there was no issue caused to the the other car - but possibly the manoeuvre this was in excess of the 60 limit by perhaps 20 to 30mph. I have a BMW F31 335d which does pull pretty well, so accelerated past with ease. When I passed the Hyundai they put on the blue lights for about 10 seconds, followed me for a few miles and pulled off. I saw the lights, eased off and stuck to the limits, expecting to get pulled over at any time. I got lucky, and know that.
The question is, do traffic use Hyundai's as unmarked cars? I wasn't aware that there were models in the range that were powerful enough to serve this purpose? If this likely to have been a non traffic unmarked car, and they just put the lights on to give me a scare, but monitored my driving to see if I was worth a pull? Will no doubt have done an ANPR check, decided I look 'ok' and proceeded on to wherever they were going.
I know I was in the wrong, got lucky, but am wondering why??
I had the same as OP a few years ago when 'testing' the acceleration of an AMG I had for a couple of days. Wig-wags and blues on a very grubby Audi with one occupant and no uniform (but I'd say he was informed) and a gesture for me to cool it as he went past. Job done and we both carried on with our business.
Some unmarked cars won't want to attract attention to themselves and will let that sort of thing go, but there are more non-traffic unmarked cars out there than most people appreciate and if you do something a bit silly, there's a chance you'll get a friendly warning from one. It's fine in my book.
Some unmarked cars won't want to attract attention to themselves and will let that sort of thing go, but there are more non-traffic unmarked cars out there than most people appreciate and if you do something a bit silly, there's a chance you'll get a friendly warning from one. It's fine in my book.
MHB said:
Quick question for some of the more knowledgeable on here
On the way home from a very long day at work, in my exuberance I overtook a Hyundai off a roundabout at at a speed possibly in excess of the limit. The road was clear, the visibility was good and no oncoming traffic for at least a mile, there was no issue caused to the the other car - but possibly the manoeuvre this was in excess of the 60 limit by perhaps 20 to 30mph. I have a BMW F31 335d which does pull pretty well, so accelerated past with ease. When I passed the Hyundai they put on the blue lights for about 10 seconds, followed me for a few miles and pulled off. I saw the lights, eased off and stuck to the limits, expecting to get pulled over at any time. I got lucky, and know that.
The question is, do traffic use Hyundai's as unmarked cars? I wasn't aware that there were models in the range that were powerful enough to serve this purpose? If this likely to have been a non traffic unmarked car, and they just put the lights on to give me a scare, but monitored my driving to see if I was worth a pull? Will no doubt have done an ANPR check, decided I look 'ok' and proceeded on to wherever they were going.
I know I was in the wrong, got lucky, but am wondering why??
It could be a police driving school vehicle. How many passengers wee in the car?On the way home from a very long day at work, in my exuberance I overtook a Hyundai off a roundabout at at a speed possibly in excess of the limit. The road was clear, the visibility was good and no oncoming traffic for at least a mile, there was no issue caused to the the other car - but possibly the manoeuvre this was in excess of the 60 limit by perhaps 20 to 30mph. I have a BMW F31 335d which does pull pretty well, so accelerated past with ease. When I passed the Hyundai they put on the blue lights for about 10 seconds, followed me for a few miles and pulled off. I saw the lights, eased off and stuck to the limits, expecting to get pulled over at any time. I got lucky, and know that.
The question is, do traffic use Hyundai's as unmarked cars? I wasn't aware that there were models in the range that were powerful enough to serve this purpose? If this likely to have been a non traffic unmarked car, and they just put the lights on to give me a scare, but monitored my driving to see if I was worth a pull? Will no doubt have done an ANPR check, decided I look 'ok' and proceeded on to wherever they were going.
I know I was in the wrong, got lucky, but am wondering why??
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