Crime and criminals

[DaveR]

But put a woman in charge and this is what you'll get!   

You're going to get some grief for that comment, Yorkie! 

[Fester]

I witnessed a 'Hit Squad' of traffic wardens on Happy Valley Rd the other night, blitzing every parked vehicle they could with fines.

Exactly where?

The car parking area that faces the pier, and looks out to sea.... then thy moved on up to the roadside outside the Grand.

They did this in Conwy earlier this year... a very dirty trick in my opinion.

[Hugo]

Instead of hitting the honest motorist and possibly affecting the tourist trade why can't they have a blitz on the motorists driving without tax and insurance.
It's not rocket science in tracing them, after all everything is on a computer nowadays and is traceable.  You have the Registration of the vehicle there and also those cars that have a valid tax and insurance are also there so the computer will work out those cars not entitled to be on the road.
All you have to do then is sort out the potential cheats out by postal code and have the officers out in numbers and the job is done.

[Yorkie]

But put a woman in charge and this is what you'll get!   

You're going to get some grief for that comment, Yorkie! 

Bring it on - the husband also works for CCBC!    Nepotism or what?     

[DaveR]

Instead of hitting the honest motorist and possibly affecting the tourist trade why can't they have a blitz on the motorists driving without tax and insurance.
It's not rocket science in tracing them, after all everything is on a computer nowadays and is traceable.  You have the Registration of the vehicle there and also those cars that have a valid tax and insurance are also there so the computer will work out those cars not entitled to be on the road.
All you have to do then is sort out the potential cheats out by postal code and have the officers out in numbers and the job is done.

The ANPR van you see at the side of the road does just that. Many people think its a speed camera van but it's not - its actually reading everyone's number plate and checking that they are taxed and insured.

[Hugo]

They are very good Dave but will only check on cars going past where they are located.  A number of Police vehicles have the system installed too but in very limited numbers and again will only recognise the number plate if the vehicle has driven past.
The trouble there lies in the fact that many untaxed and uninsured vehicles will not pass these cameras and will  therefore escape unpunished.

Years ago I was talking to someone who was a prosecutor against people who were TV licence dodgers and during our conversation we discussed the TV Detector Van that used to come around town looking for these dodgers.   I suggested something to him using the computer systems available and he confided in me that they were already doing that and it had been very effective in the prosecution of those TV cheats.   The TV Detector Van was a visual and effective deterrent but the computer systen was even more effective in obtaining prosecutions.

[Yorkie]

The ANPR van you see at the side of the road does just that. Many people think its a speed camera van but it's not - its actually reading everyone's number plate and checking that they are taxed and insured.

Try passing one at 10 mph over the limit and you will find that it is a speed detector.   I am refering to the Arrive Alive van which is the main one seen at the side of the road.  Many of the forces vehicles, especially the traffic cars are now fitted with ANPR and they do the majority of the Tax and Insurance work.  At the same time they also pick up known offenders (drug dealers or regular criminals) who own or drive the cars.

You need eyes in your ass nowadays or a good GPS with all the cameras on the database!   

[SDQ]

I think the Arrive Alive van is basically a mobile speed trap.
The ANPR vehicle is operated by the police and is usually accompanied by a number of police vehicles who wait either side of the van & pull over the vehicles that set off the ANPR alarm. As well as tax/insurance etc... I think it also reports if certain vehicles have 'markers' on it for being known to be involved in organised crime (drugs etc..) or disqualified drivers known to be still driving. They also keep a look out for cars stopping short & turning around to avoid the camera to avoid detection. Quite a good set up but obviously costly due to the manpower required, that's why some large city forces have set up Interceptor Units which have special vehicles fully equipped with ANPR out on patrol 24/7 as seen on many TV shows.

[Ian]

You need eyes in your ass nowadays

Must admit, we prefer the car.   

[Yorkie]

I knew I should have used the spell checker!      L0L

[Hugo]

 Quite a good set up but obviously costly due to the manpower required, that's why some large city forces have set up Interceptor Units which have special vehicles fully equipped with ANPR out on patrol 24/7 as seen on many TV shows.
[/quote]

SDQ's explanation of the ANPR cameras is spot on and highlights the effectiveness of having these cameras but it does also expose the weakness in  the system.
If on the other hand the Police used their computer systems and arranged for a blitz on these Tax and Insurance dodgers then it would be all sorted in a quick space of time.

[Pendragon]

Interceptor Units..............that sounds so American 

[Trojan]

Interceptor Units..............that sounds so American 

So does - You need eyes in your ass nowadays What happened to the good old British A***?

[Yorkie]

I knew I should have used the spell checker!      L0L

Dyslexia!    L0L

[Trojan]

Interceptor Units..............that sounds so American  

So does - You need eyes in your ass nowadays What happened to the good old British a***?

Amazing, I type in "a***" and it gets automatically censored.

Another try......a-*-*-e