Undercover Police Motorcyclists - Speeding?

Quiet_Spark

arcon5 wrote: »

Do they even have unmarked police bikes?

Surrey police have at least one unmarked Suzuki Hayabusa (in grey so it blends in very well), and many other forces also have similar high performance machines.

Nodding_Donkey

arcon5 wrote: »

Do they even have unmarked police bikes?

Yes they do, but as has already been said there are lots of clues.

konn1ch1ha

Richard53 wrote: »

The riders tend to wear black, perhaps with a hi-viz waistcoat, but are always correctly dressed with full coverage. The giveaway is that the bike will almost certainly have extra bits and bobs (radio, siren, camera, hidden lights and their associated switches etc) which are dead obvious if you know what the normal bike looks like.


Conversely, I have an ex-police waterproof jacket which I got on eBay. It is exactly what the police wear (blue checks and all) except for the word 'Police' on the chest. And I am not, nor ever have been, a policeman.

To be honest, he was wearing a hi-viz, like you described the one from E-Bay (with no "Police" text or anything). I think I remember him having the little shoulder pads, maybe?

It was just a bit alarming considering how far behind me this biker was, then to come parallel with me, look at me, and then follow me along the carriageway and then not bother me. Strange.

I don't remember the bike having any 'extras' on it, I'm not a bike expert so I wouldn't really know the difference. It just looked like an average bike.

Is it possible he would have had a camera if he did detect my speed, and taken my photo to be linked back to HQ and then I receive a fine? Does it work like that?

Annoying this is, I was speeding yes, but so does EVERYONE on that road!

OnanTheBarbarian

Were you carrying a few k's of Peruvian white at the time?

If it was plod and you were going to get done for speeding, then he would have needed to pull you at the time to deal with the offence and to report you/ give you notice of intended prosecution.

Generally undercover police motorcyclists are not going to be nicking general motorists for speeding matters, they are used more often for surveillance activities.

Norman_Castle

If it was a police bike they would have stopped you to caution or prosecute if needed. As you were going a bit quick they may have been looking for other misdemeanors, seat belt etc. They may have lingered waiting for a PNC check.

neilmcl

arcon5 wrote: »

Do they even have unmarked police bikes?

They have unmarked vehicles of nearly every sort.

kwmlondon

He may have thought you were someone he knew and was going to give you a cheery wave, then realised his mistake and then carried on his journey.

londonTiger

neilmcl wrote: »

They have unmarked vehicles of nearly every sort.

except anything more than 7 years old

Iceweasel

neilmcl wrote: »

They have unmarked vehicles of nearly every sort.

Definitely - including battered old vans and 'pimped' Corsas driven by plods with baseball caps on backwards - Beware!

The undercover guys would summon up their colleagues rather than stop you themselves,

So stop being paranoid (even if they are out to get you.)

bod1467

arcon5 wrote: »

Do they even have unmarked police bikes?

Yes. I remember chatting to some Police at the lookout parking spot above Faslane. There was a standard Police-liveried Pan Euro, and (unmarked) a Yamaha R1 and a (new then) Kawasaki GTR1400.