Camo Covered Coppers

[Grennan]

Was just watching the news as i do every afternoon noticed an interesting story.

Victorian Police have pulled out the Camo, complete with leaves on their heads in order to catch speeders in a popular tourist drive The Black Spur.

Operation Surreptitious has seen police in the Yarra Ranges traffic management unit (TMU) use covert methods including combat fatigues, hiding in bushes, high-powered laser devices and binoculars to catch rogue riders, some of whom have been clocked at speeds in excess of 180km/h.

In the five years to December 2006, there were 82 casualty crashes on the Black Spur, with 43 per cent of these involving motorcyclists and 75 per cent of motorcycle accidents not involving any other vehicle.

Kinda funny looking at the pictures of the coppers laying in the shrubs haha.

[CSP]

Um... Isn't it against the law for a cop to hide in order to catch people?

[azzfox]

Haha yeah saw this on the news. If they want to catch bikes I say they should do the same up the Reefton Spur Plenty of bikes doing time trials up there, and plenty off accidents too.

[Grennan]

Apparently not. Its funny they had pictures on the news, they are in the shrubs, with camo shirts leaves on their heads laying on the ground with radar guns. Radios to call the coppers at the bottom to catch the speeder.

[Cobez]

It's a good idea. If it's illegal, they should change the law. Most people who will end up whinging about it are the ones that are worried about getting caught because they do silly things / break the road rules.

If it stops accidents, good on them!!

[Grennan]

I dont think its a good idea, they are speeding, yes ok punish them. But I would much rather have them out in the open because police presense is always going to be more effective. That way they dont stop speeding in a months time when they get the ticket but if the coppers are out in the open or even speed cameras or something in there that way theres always a presense and it stop drivers from speeding through there

[Cobez]

Well that's a good point, they should do both, some days have them hiding, then other days have them visible. Maybe then, people would think "hey, the cops usually sit around here most days" then obey the limits, then on the days they hide, they might catch the loose few who go flying through there.

It is a dangerous road in the wet and cold if there is any black ice on the road.

[Rufus®]

Was in todays paper aswell Police bushwhack hoons | Herald Sun

Operation Surreptitious began in early March and the Yarra Ranges traffic management unit has already nabbed 26 speeding vehicles over nine days, including a motorbike clocked at 190km/h.

I dont think its a good idea, they are speeding, yes ok punish them. But I would much rather have them out in the open because police presense is always going to be more effective. That way they dont stop speeding in a months time when they get the ticket but if the coppers are out in the open or even speed cameras or something in there that way theres always a presense and it stop drivers from speeding through there

Unfortunately if you read the article, the presesnce of police doesn't slow some speeders.

"And if a police car takes a speed from an oncoming vehicle, the drivers know there's not many places we can turn around and give pursuit."

I don't have a problem with it, if this is what it takes to get ********s off the road, so be it.

Now that people know that police maybe hidden in the area, i don't think they'll be in as much of a hurry to speed.

[Rufus®]

I dont think its a good idea, they are speeding, yes ok punish them. But I would much rather have them out in the open because police presense is always going to be more effective. That way they dont stop speeding in a months time when they get the ticket but if the coppers are out in the open or even speed cameras or something in there that way theres always a presense and it stop drivers from speeding through there

But the good news is, there are more police waiting down the road to personally hand them a ticket to the policemens ball.....

[Grennan]

I dont think its a matter of persueing them in the spur, because thats more dangerous than speeding. Have a car sitting at the bottom and top of the spur with walkie talkies.

For a local who lives there, you get caught speeding, the ticket takes a month to get there, for the next month they might be speeding through there atleast twice a day.

Wouldnt it be better to have them slow down THEN AND THERE rather than in a months time when it could be to late?

That road is far to dangerous to be revenue raising on.

[Troy711]

Um... Isn't it against the law for a cop to hide in order to catch people?

define 'hide'

[Grennan]

I think laying in the bushes with camo gear on with leaves on your head justifies the word "Hiding" in this scenario

[Ripcell]

Haha yeah saw this on the news. If they want to catch bikes I say they should do the same up the Reefton Spur Plenty of bikes doing time trials up there, and plenty off accidents too.

shhhhhh those 2 bits of road are my hangout, bike and car.....

[daron]

police presence slow down drivers, hiding them doesnt till after when they get the fine
also under code bah blah speed detection units must be visible for 250mtrs
i dont think thye use this one no more

[VicCop]

Prescribed speed detection devices are set up and used in accordance with the Road Safety (General) Regulations. There's nothing in them that state them not being able to be covert and use these tactics to detect speeding offences.

The closest thing to it is the operating manual for speed cameras where they're not allowed to use 'sly' tactics. The contractor Tenix has come under scrutiny before for doing things like leaving the boot of the car open and putting out a jack and spare tyre trying to make it look like a car on the side of the road having a tyre changed.

I could almost define hiding from motorists as being any more than three car lengths in front of them. Most don't look further than that past the end of their bonnet.

[azkwazere]

The closest thing to it is the operating manual for speed cameras where they're not allowed to use 'sly' tactics. The contractor Tenix has come under scrutiny before for doing things like leaving the boot of the car open and putting out a jack and spare tyre trying to make it look like a car on the side of the road having a tyre changed.

yeah ive read that manual and it turns out there are a number of factors in to which a camera can be located. Not a just a straight forward operation.

aZk.

[azzfox]

Haha yeah saw this on the news. If they want to catch bikes I say they should do the same up the Reefton Spur Plenty of bikes doing time trials up there, and plenty off accidents too.

Hate to quote myself, but speaking of which, my mate and his mate got caught up the Reefton Spur in their WRX by a hidden cop. He diddnt have camo though

When they were pulled over, the cop asked him how fast he was going, and he said 115. The cop pulled out the radar and it was spot on He must have been in good mood though, because he wrote down a lower speed and gave them a reduced fine lol

[Grennan]

Probally cause your mate didnt try dick him around. To be honest if i was pulled up by a cop wearing camo, id have a hard time not laughing.