Tag Archives: Police

Drone Target: Police Using UAVs To Catch Bad Drivers And Ticket Them In Poland

When it comes to catching law-breaking drivers, police will use any technology legally and financially available to them. That means as drivers we have to watch out for fixed and mobile cameras, average speed cameras, marked and undercover cars, helicopters and sometimes, as in the case of Missouri state Highway Patrol, even police airplanes timing us over a stretch of road.

Drivers in countries like Poland can add police drones to that already lengthy list. The video sourced below from Polish police shows various cars and motorbikes being filmed crossing a solid white line to overtake slower vehicles, blissfully unaware that their misdemeanors were being tracked from the sky.

Though almost certainly larger than a consumer DJI-style drone, the police drones are sufficiently small and flying high enough to make them hard for drivers focused on passing the cars ahead from spotting them.

Only when a policeman in a high-vis jacket steps into the road much further on to pull them into a side road do they have the first inkling that they’ve been busted, even then they won’t know how.

Also: Police Chopper Stealthily Films Subaru BRZ Driver Potentially Accumulating Over A$10,000 In Speeding Fines

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Poland isn’t the only country employing drone technology to catch drivers. Police forces in the UK first began using drones equipped with high resolution cameras and thermal imaging equipment to target bad driving in 2019, and forces in Australia’s Queensland rolled out their crime-fighting drones this summer to tackle illegal street races, having previously used them to record crime scenes for forensics teams.

In the U.S., police forces are also using drones, though that use varies from state to state and isn’t specifically related to catching speeding drivers. It became possible after a 2016 ruling by the Federal Aviation Authority that opened up airspace to non-hobby flyers, though the regulations insist the done should only be flown in line of sight, despite the fact that the technology allows them to fly much further.

Those drones are often used for surveillance or as virtual first responders, but in 2019 San Diego was considering flying a 12,500 lbs (5670kg) ex-military drone with a 79 ft (24 m) wingspan over the city to catch speeders. Fortunately for Southern Californian hoons, the plans came to nought.

Do you think police forces should be allowed to use drone technology to enforce traffic laws? Leave us a comment and let us know.

Tesla Model 3 Driver Nabbed By The Police Falling Asleep Behind The Wheel For The Third Time

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The driver of a Tesla Model 3 in Kenosha County, Wisconsin was recently fined after being spotted by police driving down the highway while asleep.

It is understood that police received a call about the man sleeping while behind the wheel of the Model 3 and quickly responded. Dashcam footage from one of the police vehicles shows officers driving alongside the Tesla and noting that the driver had his eyes closed and his head was down.

The officer then pulled behind the Model 3 and flicked on his lights but for approximately 2.2 miles, the Tesla driver failed to respond and continued to drive down the highway at 82 mph (132 km/h). Officers then pulled alongside the car with their lights and sirens blaring and finally, the driver pulled over to the side of the highway.

Read Also: Tesla Recalls 285,000 Vehicles In China Over Unintended Cruise Control Activation

For the following few minutes, officers and the driver of the Tesla Model 3 have a conversation and the latter repeatedly denies being asleep while behind the wheel, despite what the officer saw. Authorities then confirm that the driver had the ‘Navigate on Autopilot’ function that can guide the car from a highway’s on-ramp to an off-ramp enabled.

Despite clear evidence that Navigate on Autopilot was enabled, meaning the car’s Autosteer system was also enabled, the driver denied that he was using Autopilot. He was ultimately issued with a citation for inattentive driving and his car was towed because he had two priors for sleeping while behind the wheel.

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Hate Crime Or Overreaction? Mustang Driver In Trouble For Leaving Tire Marks On Pride Crosswalk

June was LGBT Pride Month and the West Vancouver Police Department celebrated the occasion by unveiling a rainbow-colored crosswalk outside the station.

At the time, the department said “While our Pride flag may have come down for the year, the new crosswalk will remain as a statement of our commitment to promote inclusion, diversity, and respect.”

One week after it was unveiled, the crosswalk was reportedly “defaced” by the driver of a fourth-generation Ford Mustang. According to the department, on July 7th staff inside the police station heard “loud and sustained tire squealing” coming from outside.

Also Read: Ford Mustang With “Street Racing Is Not A Crime” Sticker Predictably Crashes

When they went to investigate, they discovered tire marks on the crosswalk. Police went on to say the “suspect vehicle left the area at a high rate of speed and was not located.”

In a statement, Cst. Kevin Goodmurphy claimed the driver of the Mustang chose to “leave a gesture of hate on a crosswalk that stands for the exact opposite.” The department also called for the public’s help locating the pony car.

While it’s unfortunate the crosswalk was damaged, the surveillance video doesn’t exactly scream hate crime. As you can see, the Mustang pulls up to the intersection and makes a complete stop. It then turns right and drives out of view.

There’s no audio and the rear tires are hidden by vegetation, but this doesn’t appear like the aggressive, hate-filled burnout that police are implying. The ‘action’ also lasts for less than eight seconds and that doesn’t seem like it could cause the “sustained tire squealing” claimed by police.

CBC News reports police have identified a suspect, but there’s no word on who it is or what charges they could be facing. However, the department originally noted they were a investigating a case of “mischief to property.”

It’s official! We held a small ceremony today to unveil the new Pride crosswalk outside the police station. While our…

Posted by West Vancouver Police on Tuesday, June 30, 2020

San Leandro Rioters Stole 50 Cars From FCA Dealer, Including Nearly Every $80k Hellcat

Following our story earlier today about the ransacking of the ‘San Leandro Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM SRT’ in California on Sunday night, more details on the aftermath have emerged.

In particular, the owner of the dealership revealed that upwards of 50 vehicles were stolen from the FCA dealership in the midst of wide-spread looting throghout the local Alameda County and other parts of the U.S.

Footage of the looting, triggered by civil unrest following the death of George Floyd while under police custody in Minneapolis on May 25, hit social media on Monday, showing several Dodge Challengers and Chargers being driven off the San Leandro dealer lot.

Read: Looters Raid FCA Dealership Driving Off With Hellcats, Burn AMG GT In Mercedes Showroom

San Leandro Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram

Speaking with CBS Local, the owner of the San Leandro Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram dealership, Carlos Hidalgo, said that around 50 vehicles were stolen from the showroom and the parking lot. This included “nearly every” powerful Dodge Challenger Hellcat and Dodge Charger Hellcat model, many of which appear to have been on sale with prices ranging from just under $60,000 to upwards of $90,000. Among the vehicles stolen was a 2020 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody Daytona 50th Anniversary Edition painted white with a blue livery and a showroom price of $90,995.

“Right now we’re thinking 50 [vehicles] … Gone,” Hidalgo said. “We have trackers on them so we’re seeing which ones are out there. They’re running around everywhere. We tried calling the cops and they were too busy. They couldn’t respond. So, you know …”

How the looters gained access to the cars

Hidalgo says the rioters gained access to a key safe, hence why they were able to drive away with the vehicles. He had instructed employees to use the dealership’s cars to block the driveways after seeing looters ransacking a Nike store across the street. However, that was not enough to stop them from gaining access to the dealership.

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During the brazen theft, looters showed a total disregard for the vehicles and at one stage, drove a Hellcat parked in a corner into two other Hellcats on either side of it before stealing it. What’s more, a Hellcat displayed on the showroom floor was driven right through the glass front windows. Many of the Hellcat models stolen look to have been brand new and were still equipped with their front splitter guards.

“It’s not a cause for anybody. This is just bad thieves. It’s horrible,” said Hidalgo. “This is domestic terrorism brought upon to people that work. That’s not right.” Hidalgo added that the theft and damage caused to his dealership will hurt the 100 people that he employs who had already been struggling during the coronavirus pandemic.

Canadian Police On Hunt For A Driver Who Really, Really Hates Gas Pumps

Hilarious footage has emerged out of the city of Brandon in Manitoba, Canada showing an angry man repeatedly hitting and smashing a gas pump.

Brandon police released the surveillance video that was filmed on April 25 at a gas station on Highland Avenue.

In the video, an older gentleman can be seen hitting the gas pump with his fist on multiple occasions as he tries to pump fuel. He grows increasingly irritated and even starts kicking the gas pump before he pulls out the nozzle and hits the fuel pump with it. Before long, he throws the nozzle and the hose up into the air and drives off.

Watch Also: Impaired Mustang Owner Crashes, Sets Gas Pump Ablaze

Police told Global News that the man was upset after being asked to pay before pumping.

“He wasn’t pleased about being asked to pre-pay for his fuel and unfortunately decided to take it out on the gas pump,” said Brandon Police spokesperson Const. Myran Hamm last Friday. “There’s a complaint of mischief because there was some damage done to the pump.”

Authorities are asking anyone who recognizes the man to call them or Crime Stoppers.

While it can be frustrating to pay before fueling up, it’s bizarre to see someone get so upset with it. For the sake of other drivers, we hope the man was able to cool down when he got back behind the wheel because you don’t want someone to be driving around as angry as this.