Cape Town's Ghost Squad

Tim182 said:
What next... Why not put cameras on all streets, our gardens, houses, monitor all communications and maybe even tag every person with a tracker
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Not sure what your problem is. :confused:

EDIT: Unless you're one that has never sworn at a bad driver blatantly breaking the law :rolleyes:
 
Visible policing is very expensive. Those one set of eyes earns a salary with benefits and must be transported ... and have working hours and take leave incl sick leave. Cameras work 24/7 and cost very little and take far fewer sick leave days and don't go on strike and burn things down when on strike.

Camera footage correctly handled and operated don't lie and cannot be bribed.

The watchers must be watched. That is the key issue ... and that is happening in this case (CoCT).
 
If these guys don't do their jobs and pull off the Blue Light Convoys when they break the law, then they can just as well scrap the unit.
 
Fulcrum29 said:
These are marked vehicles.
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Exactly

Nerfherder said:
Its impossible for the police to be every where at once... that is why we need technology to help them.

Have cops on every street corner sounds more like a police state than a ghost squad does.
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Its also impossible for ghost squads to be everywhere at once. The technology makes no difference. It simply enables them to trick people and extract money more easily. It won't reduce crime or increase safety.

Slootvreter said:
Not sure what your problem is. :confused:

EDIT: Unless you're one that has never sworn at a bad driver blatantly breaking the law :rolleyes:
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My problem is that I don't agree with invisible policing. And I swear at drivers on a daily basis and this won't change, even with the ghost squad. In fact it won't change one bit.

BeVonk! said:
Visible policing is very expensive. Those one set of eyes earns a salary with benefits and must be transported ... and have working hours and take leave incl sick leave. Cameras work 24/7 and cost very little and take far fewer sick leave days and don't go on strike and burn things down when on strike.

Camera footage correctly handled and operated don't lie and cannot be bribed.

The watchers must be watched. That is the key issue ... and that is happening in this case (CoCT).
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The ghost squad also is very expensive. You still need people to operate the cars and the equipment costs a lot. Simply mark the cars as police vehicles and I'd be happy

Jola said:
If these guys don't do their jobs and pull off the Blue Light Convoys when they break the law, then they can just as well scrap the unit.
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Well they won't, I'd bet my money on that
 
Originally Posted by chrisc4290 said:
Met a ghost squad cop at the local petrol station. He had his badge behind the lapel of his jacket. I guessed it was a cop since he had some towing equipment and wheel clamps on the back seat, and also a sticker for the Council bldg parking garage. Had a chat and he told me he keeps an eye on what motorists are up to. Was a white Toyota Corolla with CCT plates. He also had a gun in a holster under his jacket and didn't mind if I saw it. He asked me why I was barefoot as he reckoned it made for dangerous driving.
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Nerfherder said:
WTF are CCT plates ?

why the F where you barefoot ?
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What's the problem with driving barefoot?
Is it against the law to drive barefoot? If so, why?
 
Tim, why are you so opposed to invisible policing in a public area? Its a totally different ball game to them monitoring your private actions like email.

Also, invisible policing helps catch people who think they can get away with it. And those kinds of people wont stop breaking the law unless visible policing is everywhere all the time. Now tell me, which one is the more practical and feasible solution in a country with a lowish population density? Nevermind that visible policing is quite easy to work around - "oh look, the car just drove past, so we've got at least 20min to do xyz"
 
Not the exact article I want, but this will do: http://mayslawgroup.com/police-vehicles-marked-vs-unmarked-2

Note that the unmarked vehicles used in the article are also used for reaction purposes as with marked vehicles, thus some of those advantages and disadvantages will be irrelevant. The vehicles used in our Western Cape province will be utilised for reporting and public surveilance (monitoring) and by indicating to that article it would be beneficial.

This thread requires a poll.

Seems that only Tim182 is against unmarked policing...
 
We want visible policing. Or is this money generating scheme to boost the province?

they can stop my taxi but they wont get a cent.
 
Archer said:
Tim, why are you so opposed to invisible policing in a public area? Its a totally different ball game to them monitoring your private actions like email.

Also, invisible policing helps catch people who think they can get away with it. And those kinds of people wont stop breaking the law unless visible policing is everywhere all the time. Now tell me, which one is the more practical and feasible solution in a country with a lowish population density? Nevermind that visible policing is quite easy to work around - "oh look, the car just drove past, so we've got at least 20min to do xyz"
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I agree... and I think that it will also discourage road rage and other vigilanti type behavior.

We see some one committing a traffic violation on the road and we feel the need to police it. This stems from the belief that if we don't do something then no one will.
Perhaps if we know that this person will get caught by the ghost squad then we might be calmer on the roads.

One of the most satisfying experiences I have had in my life is seeing someone buss past me in to oncoming traffic, only to get pulled over when the come round the corner.

R1000 : driving at oncoming traffic.
R2000 : trying to evade law enforcement.

Still late for work : Priceless.

I find it very calming to see this kind of thing happening.
 
Slootvreter said:
So that he sees them, and knows when not to speak on his cellphone, or overtake someone when he is not supposed so, etc etc. :rolleyes:
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He should look out for these family stickers...

FsEIz.jpg
 

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Slootvreter said:
So that he sees them, and knows when not to speak on his cellphone, or overtake someone when he is not supposed so, etc etc. :rolleyes:
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WTF. You don't know me or know how I drive. You probably are the one who does all these things. I personally despise bad drivers who don't stick to the rules of the road.

I however strongly disagree with invisible policing simply because it is a way to trick unsuspecting drivers. What if you are taking a leisurely Sunday drive and happen to go 10km/h above the speed limit without even noticing. You didn't mean to go to fast, its hardly speeding and the next time you look at your speedometer you would notice and slow down again. The mean ghost squad car is out to make money and get unsuspecting drivers and will film you. If you had seen a police car or a marked speed trap this would have caused you to pay attention and slow down. With the ghost squad you continue driving at the higher speed and only find out once you get the ticket weeks later.
 
Naks said:
IIRC, it used to be in the 90s, but not anymore.
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I got warned for bare feet driving in Richards Bay in the late 70's, can't remember what the exact offence would have been but it was something along the lines of not being in full control of the vehicle. IIRC open backed sandals (slip-slops) were also verboten.
 
I can collaborate the above stories about cops using non CCT plates. Was driving through Stellenbosch arterial and cars passed me on the right hand side, emergency lane, because there was loads of traffic. I did not really care as I was going straight, suddenly an old rusted Elantra had its lights and sirens blazing pulling the last car in the convey over.

The boys in blue are definitely wising up.
 
Tim182 said:
WTF. You don't know me or know how I drive. You probably are the one who does all these things. I personally despise bad drivers who don't stick to the rules of the road.

I however strongly disagree with invisible policing simply because it is a way to trick unsuspecting drivers. What if you are taking a leisurely Sunday drive and happen to go 10km/h above the speed limit without even noticing. You didn't mean to go to fast, its hardly speeding and the next time you look at your speedometer you would notice and slow down again. The mean ghost squad car is out to make money and get unsuspecting drivers and will film you. If you had seen a police car or a marked speed trap this would have caused you to pay attention and slow down. With the ghost squad you continue driving at the higher speed and only find out once you get the ticket weeks later.
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This is laughable.
 
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