Stealth Bike Cops

[Rob MacLennan]

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From my perspective, we need different types of police vehicles to be able to effectively manage traffic. Marked units are good for some things, ie. the OPP pace car on the highway at rush hour. Unmarked cars are good for cell phone, and moving violation enforcement. Motorcycles are good for seatbelts, cell phones, and responding to collisions in heavy traffic. Planes are good at measuring speed of those drivers that are really adept at spotting police vehicles and in areas where stationary enforcement isn't an option. I'm not saying that police officers need more pickup trucks or minivans, I think we have enough of those. An unmarked motorcycle would encourage pursuits in my opinion and riders in this Province don't need an extra excuse not to stop.

There are times when a stealth vehicle is necessary, but those times are few and far between; what I referred to as tactical response. If a marked vehicle is present then the violation is less likely to occur in the first place, which I would argue is better for public safety. A visible deterrent is an effective deterrent and when I need to find an officer, I want to be able to find that officer. Motorcycles can certainly have their uses, and first responder is one of them. In the UK they are even being used (or at least experimented with) as fast response paramedic vehicles. As to catching cell phone users if they are truly distracted, then they won't see a MARKED vehicle coming.

 

[suzuki2000]

... If a marked vehicle is present then the violation is less likely to occur in the first place, which I would argue is better for public safety. A visible deterrent is an effective deterrent ...

agreed, it is always interesting to be travelling along the highway and as soon as a cop is spotted on the side of the road with somebody pulled over, suddenly the rate of flow all drops to 99 km/h.

If anything this is likely the free chance to carry on at whatever speed your are going at. The cop is busy, it would be near impossible for them to get anyone.

Maybe this is a fix, instead of playing "hide and seek" behind trees and under bridges, just park intermittent cruisers alnong the side of the road with the lights on. people would then observe the posted limits, put phones away, sit up straight, etc... But then again, this provides no revenue

 

[kiwi]

agreed, it is always interesting to be travelling along the highway and as soon as a cop is spotted on the side of the road with somebody pulled over, suddenly the rate of flow all drops to 99 km/h.

for the past 20 odd years the police in the UK used to use cardbaord cut outs and blow up vehicles on overpasses to force traffic to slowdown on the highways. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/north_east/7322266.stmthey do this in china too.. http://web.orange.co.uk/article/quirkies/Cardboard_cop_cars_slow_trafficI remember when we had speed cameras in NZ, when they first came out they were always in a White station wagon with the boot (trunk) open.. I used to have a hatchback and when I went to get something from the back, traffic would always slow down.. lol!BUT here, the Nth American way, its not about safety but revenue gathering.

 

[Rob MacLennan]

for the past 20 odd years the police in the UK used to use cardbaord cut outs and blow up vehicles on overpasses to force traffic to slowdown on the highways. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/north_east/7322266.stmthey do this in china too.. http://web.orange.co.uk/article/quirkies/Cardboard_cop_cars_slow_trafficI remember when we had speed cameras in NZ, when they first came out they were always in a White station wagon with the boot (trunk) open.. I used to have a hatchback and when I went to get something from the back, traffic would always slow down.. lol!BUT here, the Nth American way, its not about safety but revenue gathering.

Not just those places: http://www.beyond.ca/vancouver-deploys-cardboard-cops/159.html

 

[inreb]

If a marked vehicle is present then the violation is less likely to occur in the first place, which I would argue is better for public safety.

No question. Except for that to be effective you'd need a heck of a lot more marked cars driving around. Imagine what that would cost(these clowns are unionized). Today I rode from just before noon til 5:30, saw one(1) marked car. How many undercover cars did I see? I have no idea. But I was mindful of their existence and it definitely had an effect. If I need a cop I'll dial 911. Did I mention I hate stealth cops?

 

[Roomie]

Come up here to the sticks. Seems here's more stealth cars than anything. Being in the middle of nowhere though they need to brush up on skills. You can spot one a mile away. Does it slow anyone down? No. 40 zone in front of my work coming into town and everyone does 80 or 90 or more coming into it. Stealth car sat there last night for an hour and a half. Didn't stop one car or rig. Left. Went to tims then left town. I don't paint them all with the same brush but the opp where I live are a complete joke. I drive through town and they'll follow me though because I'm on a ss. :thumbup:

 

[Rob MacLennan]

No question. Except for that to be effective you'd need a heck of a lot more marked cars driving around. Imagine what that would cost(these clowns are unionized). Today I rode from just before noon til 5:30, saw one(1) marked car. How many undercover cars did I see? I have no idea. But I was mindful of their existence and it definitely had an effect. If I need a cop I'll dial 911. Did I mention I hate stealth cops?

That's just the point; how many unmarked cars did you see? You didn't. Could have been none. Could have been 20. You don't need to have a tonne of marked cars. You just need to have the cars marked. That. alone, is a deterrent. The unmarked cars aren't and are only good for revenue generation, not really for public safety in a traffic enforcement role.

 

[AL3RT]

I drive through town and they'll follow me though because I'm on a ss.

 

[CafeRay]

Maybe this is a fix, instead of playing "hide and seek" behind trees and under bridges, just park intermittent cruisers alnong the side of the road with the lights on. people would then observe the posted limits, put phones away, sit up straight, etc... But then again, this provides no revenue

and they will ticket you for flashing lights to warn other drivers, which will make them slow down, but it is not illegal to do this as the laws are written.

So, the point is not to slow cars down or to be safer, the point is to generate money to justify a six figure salary for a job that requires a high school diploma and minimal training.

 

[Riceburner]

Police should not be for revenue generation (unmarked traffic patrol vehicles)...they should be for public safety and order. A marked car does that as it moves around as a visible deterrent and a presence.

 

[Rob MacLennan]

and they will ticket you for flashing lights to warn other drivers, which will make them slow down, but it is not illegal to do this as the laws are written.

So, the point is not to slow cars down or to be safer, the point is to generate money to justify a six figure salary for a job that requires a high school diploma and minimal training.

Ummmm..... just try getting a job as a cop, these days, without post secondary education.

 

[Two50noob]

Ummmm..... just try getting a job as a cop, these days, without post secondary education.

Increasing university degrees and a history of community work. Not to mention doing exceptional on their aptitude tests. Lots of competition. Allot of losers with no ambition go into police foundations few get into the force.

 

[Bike Cop]

and they will ticket you for flashing lights to warn other drivers, which will make them slow down, but it is not illegal to do this as the laws are written.

So, the point is not to slow cars down or to be safer, the point is to generate money to justify a six figure salary for a job that requires a high school diploma and minimal training.

A high school diploma is a minimum requirement but as mentioned, is no longer competitive for applicants. The vast majority of police officers that are being hired currently have post secondary education, in all sorts of fields. Similarly, there is a minimum age requirement of 18 years of age, but there the chances of being hired at 18 are extremely small.

With regard to the training - all applicants are sent to Ontario Police College, which is a post-hire institution. Recruits are trained intensively for 4-5 months depending on their police service. Once that is completed the on-road training begins. This is typically 12 months of one on one training with a coach officer.

 

[inreb]

The Ontario Police Indoctrination College? And then 12 months one on one to shore up any loose ends? Nice.

 

[CafeRay]

With regard to the training - all applicants are sent to Ontario Police College, which is a post-hire institution. Recruits are trained intensively for 4-5 months depending on their police service. Once that is completed the on-road training begins. This is typically 12 months of one on one training with a coach officer.

Then after that...nothing, without any even basic fitness requirements.
I have no problem with police, but the TPF and OPP have come off the rails in terms of cost/benefit.

 

[zrxter]

"So what's the point? Is the point of the police to encourage road safety and be visible for safety and discourage bad behaviour?
Or is the point to sneak up and catch people for heavier fines?"



Amen to that! ......gotta justify the cost of all their new toys by collecting more taxes.

 

[DownUnder]

I say the benefit of stealth vehicles is greater then marked cars. A marked car will slow down a group of 10-20 vehicles for a few seconds/minutes. If the road was flooded with stealth cop cars the majority of the population would be paranoid and keep their speed respectable ALL the time.

What is peoples adverse allergy to the speed limit and using indicators and stopping at red lights/stop signs in this province caused by? Personally if I saw 75% of the drivers on the road taken off it because of their ****** driving id be much happier driving each day. If any country in the world needs more stealth cop cars its Canada.

 

[sash]

Cops on unmarked bikes!... Awesome to catch those that text and read their emails as they are weaving all over the road and/or slowing down traffic.

 

[inreb]

I say the benefit of stealth vehicles is greater then marked cars. A marked car will slow down a group of 10-20 vehicles for a few seconds/minutes. If the road was flooded with stealth cop cars the majority of the population would be paranoid and keep their speed respectable ALL the time.

I agree 100% which, unfortunately, makes you wrong. According to The Great Leader.

 

[blastermitch]

Australia is in the same boat, stealth cop means "stealth cop". No markings at ALL and usually a sport bike zx10/gsxr/cbr etc etc. Even for the cars, they use modified muscle cars with aftermarket mag wheels, exhausts and tinted windows etc etc thats if they arent using just a plain stock looking mid size car like a hyundai elantra or mazda 3.

People here dont know how easy they have it on the roads... mind you the insurance consequences for getting caught doing anything wrong is insane here.

Hey, a fellow Aussie! Howya goin'?

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