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dmention7
Hater
I'm honestly surprised they haven't started doing this sooner.
Though I really don't see why people are crying foul about it. If the goal is to stop speeding and reckless driving... a marked car in the median will make everyone slow down for about 1/4 mile. But cops in taxis will make a good number of people slow down permanently.
I guess it always grates me a little when people complain about not being able to break the law as easily because cops are harder to spot. People use all sorts of tactics to circumvent the law so they can speed more easily and more often, then they act all surprised when law enforcement takes a step to catch up.
Though I really don't see why people are crying foul about it. If the goal is to stop speeding and reckless driving... a marked car in the median will make everyone slow down for about 1/4 mile. But cops in taxis will make a good number of people slow down permanently.
I guess it always grates me a little when people complain about not being able to break the law as easily because cops are harder to spot. People use all sorts of tactics to circumvent the law so they can speed more easily and more often, then they act all surprised when law enforcement takes a step to catch up.
Workdawg
NARWHAL
My first thought is that they're being sneaky bastards and shouldn't be allowed to do that. Upon further reflection though, I definitely see it the same as Jay. When it comes down to it, people are bitching about having to be more careful in breaking the law. If the cars were being used to fight any more serious crime, people would be cheering.
YSOSLO
is the word, beotch
Tom I wonder if that Charger you saw wasn't actually a confiscated vehicle. Jess and I saw a cop driving in a Ford F-150 this weekend and it said on the back that it was confiscated from a drunk driver. Just the cops' way of hiding, yet also better using the resources available to them. Although I cry foul on the window tint. If we can't have it, they shouldn't either.
cosmicspd3
New Member
I guess there was one in Anoka, Jeff was telling me...
ZoomZoom Diva
New Member
It's a sign the law is wrong and not a reflection of the will of the people... however, the legislators will listen more to police union whining than the will of a million citizens.
...and no, I don't think cops engaging in these underhanded techniques rather than allowing the law to be changed to reflect the will of the people is the proper solution.
dmention7
Hater
IMO, the only way the speed limit would reflect the will of the people is if it was at or above the physical speed limitations of the average car. Not to turn this into a political debate thread, but I don't believe matters of public safety are best left to the consensus of the average driver's right foot. Accidents, both minor and serious, are far too rare of an event in the average driver's experience for them to judge the risks or potential consequences of their actions with any accuracy at all.
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DrWebster
Guest
I'm half-and-half on this one. I agree that people shouldn't bitch about not being able to break the law as they please, and that cops do need to step it up if they're serious about making any kind of permanent change in the way people drive. But at the same time, having unmarked/deceptively marked cars can cause problems in an emergency -- what if something happens and you need to flag down a cop? If they're driving a car marked as a taxi, you'd have no idea who they are, and an already bad situation could turn worse. I'd say that deceptive police cars should only be used on speeders, and not drive around as cruisers.
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Slim
Guest
+1
I'd also add that the more people see cop cars (i.e. police presence) the more likely they are to change their driving/speeding habits. To me unmarked cars are more about getting tickets than getting the public to slow down.
Workdawg
NARWHAL
That's partly true, but I'm sure a lot of people are a bit more cautious when they see crown vics and chargers rolling around. If the cops start hiding in taxis and more common models (Mazda3 would be a good choice, tons of those out there), whenever people see those, they'll probably check their speed.
dmention7
Hater
I can see the point about unmarked cars only being around to issue speeding tickets, but I also think it's valid that the majority of speeders are only going to slow down if they think they will get caught. Unmarked cars on the road increase the perceived risk of being caught without increasing the number of cops on the payroll.
Take me for example... I used to routinely fly down 394 at 75. The first time I almost got nailed, it was a crown vic that had everything but the cherries on the roof, and I spotted him about 200' before passing him. The guy behind me got nailed. The second time I saw an unmarked car it was just some random impala that I never would have picked out. Now I've decided it's not worth it, and almost every day I see someone pulled over by an unmarked car on that stretch of road.
Take me for example... I used to routinely fly down 394 at 75. The first time I almost got nailed, it was a crown vic that had everything but the cherries on the roof, and I spotted him about 200' before passing him. The guy behind me got nailed. The second time I saw an unmarked car it was just some random impala that I never would have picked out. Now I've decided it's not worth it, and almost every day I see someone pulled over by an unmarked car on that stretch of road.