From: markf@syma.sussex.ac.uk (Mark Foster)
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
Subject: Re: Unmarked police cars
Date: 9 Apr 92 10:39:39 GMT
Organization: University of Sussex

perry@Unify.Com (Perry Clarke) writes:
: Apologies if this sort of info has appeared recently in this group but I
: thought some urban folklore from across the pond would be of interest.  I
: lived there up to a couple of weeks ago.
: 
: In the UK the unmarked cars have:-

Ordinary unmarked cars are just that, Ordinary unmarked cars. But most
of the following is true of unmarked Traffic cars.

:    * Alternately flashing headlights

Mostly true.

:    * Fog lights replaced with flashing blues (often a flashing blue behind
: 	 the grill also)

Not true. It is usual to have two blue lights behind the grille where
possible or a special dash mounted blue. Please note that these are
usuallly of the strobe variety rather than the more crude bulb and
spinning reflector.

:    * Two big, very polite blokes in police uniform and day-glo vests (who
:      show their id before doing anything else)

They do not always wear the flourescent jackets in the car. All you will
usually have to go on (to spot them) is two neatly shirted gentlemen,
who will then put on the jackets and the white caps as they get out of
the car.

:    * Some have a panel on the rear of the vehicle that lights up to say:
: 		 POLICE - STOP

True. Although it is sometimes laying flat on the rear parcel shelf and
pops up when required.

: All in all, fairly easy to spot when they are after you but quite difficult
: to see when they are just cruising.  It is a source of entertainment on long
: trips to try and spot them before you blast past at a licence endangering
: delta in velocities.  The checklist I used was:

They are really easy to spot at any time. The easiest way being that the
perfect manner in which the car is driven gives it real prescence.

:    * Clean, late model, UK manufactured car

True. They are washed at the end of every shift.

:    * No stickers (bumper, country roundel, "Baby On Board", etc)

Wrong, Wrong. The 'camera car' for Sussex has a "GB Sealink Ferries"
sticker on the back and two roller blinds in the rear window.

:    * Lowered suspension

Not always.

:    * No model badges

Not always.

:    * More radio aerials that is normal for a family car

Not always. The car mentioned above has only one extra and that looks
like a mobile phone aerial.

:    * Two big blokes in police uniform and day-glo vests

As mentioned above. Not always.

: Although vague, it seemed to work, in 5 years I got caught once (and that
: was plain stupidity on my part).  The UK differs from the US in that many
: forces wont stop you doing up to 100 mph unless it is inappropriate for
: the traffic conditions or your driving is not considered (for example,
: if you blast past an unmarked car, recognise it as such and slow down you
: will often not be stopped - you are paying attention).

Forgive me for saying so but, CRAP. If you drive at 100mph here you will
be well and truly nicked. It is true however that on M'ways you are
unlikely to be stopped unless you drive at more that 90mph.

[stuff about marked cars deleted.]
[stuff about fixed penalty offences deleted.]

: The fastest anyone has been booked at is (as I recall) 165 mph.  The
: situation presented some difficulties for the police as their Jaguars could
: only do 141 mph!  Radios were used and a road block set up.  The german
: national they caught (in a factory spec Porsche 928) claimed that he had
: started out at 70 mph but as no one else seemed to be obeying the limit he
: saw no reason why he should :-)

The fastest that I know of anyone being caught by Radar trap was a
Motorcyclist who went through a traffic light controlled X-roads in west
london at....... 153mph.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Mark Foster, Computing Service  |       markf@syma.sussex.ac.uk            |
| University of Sussex, Falmer.   |       markf@central.sussex.ac.uk         |
| England. +44 273 606755 x8096   |       ccfa3@cluster.sussex.ac.uk         |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"There are no such useless words as 'I didn't have a chance'"... Driving, HMSO
------------------------------------------------------------------------------