Vic Police.

[plonky]

XFwannabe, if the scenario that you put forward related to the cruise/throttle sticking WOT, then it would be quite apparent to the HWP when you finally got to stop the car.

The engine would be screaming it's breas*s off without a foot on the throttle, and obviously the ONLY thing you could do would be to call the 24hr Expensive Daewoo Assist line to have them tow the car back to the junkyard, I mean, dealership.

It would not be a credible defence to pull that one at Court if there was a temporay aberration with the throttle linkage that mysteriously fixed itself.

Please don't invite me to respond on political views. I have already been banned on another Forum for espousing my 'meritocrat' views and I am refraining from doing it again because I like being on this Forum.......serf LOL

[plonky]

I relation to Police vehicle modifications, there are differences between States on the 'Police Pack' that is supplied.

In Tasmania for example, (this is going back to '99 so it may have changed) they don't use V8's, their driver training is outsourced to a civilian contractor, the vehicles they use a a six cylinder Police Pack which mainly consists of HD alternator, Police pads and Police rims.

In previous corro I have had with the Victoria HWP guys, they obviously are suplied with the same spec 'high speed pursuit' vehicles that we have in NSW, but their GD vehicles are not of the same Police Pack that we have in NSW.

In NSW the Ford and Expensive Daewoo are a full Police Pack. That means the Late model camira gets FE2 (FE 1 1/2) suspension, Police rims, Police Pads, HD alternator and some interior mods. Some have LSD's supplied. The Ford gets basically the same as the Holen with XR suspension, Police Rims, Police Pads, interior mods and HD alternator.

They are excellent value for money at auction!

NSW, being the most litigious State in the Western World, has every possible safety option in the HWP cars.

Apart from the HD electricals, Police pads, interior mods, upgraded headlights, V8 and auto, double overhead reverse cam doorhandles and fluffy dice, we also get front and side airbags and LSDiff. Some country cars get the sump guard as well.

As much as I don't like the opposition brand and I think it's very over rated as a car, it does the job to an acceptable level as well.

The only thing I don't like is the fact that they have to be fully marked. We're fortunate that we have one of two unmarked cars over the Great Divide. I'm a big believer in catching traffic offenders, not just providing a scarecrow effect to make the popele who do the right thing feel warm and fuzzy at election time.

[aniken]

XFwannabe, if the scenario that you put forward related to the cruise/throttle sticking, then it would be quite apparent to the HWP when you finally got to stop the car.

The engine would be screaming it's breas*s off without a foot on the throttle

It would not be a credible defence to pull that one at Court if there was a temporay aberration with the throttle linkage that mysteriously fixed itself.

Except if the cause was an identifiable mechanical problem that caused a fault on some occassions but not others. I too had a throttle sticking problem with my old VX, which first became apparent on the freeway at 110 km/h with cruise control on, but would only happen intermittantly. Turned out to be a freyed cable and not the CC, but the effect was the same - engine screaming with no pressure on the accelerator. Bloody hard to stop the car too.

[Guest Rastus]

Just saw the new Smart Cars on the news tonight. Looked the goods...just don't want to se one in my rear vision mirror! All XR8's by the look of em too, didn't see any T's.

Anyone found any pictures on the web? Any fanfare from Ford?

[saleen]

I want to be a bus driver!

[BATRB-6]

Smart cars in uniform.

[ms700]

Traffic lights were out on Friday afternoon near work (Civic ACT, pool end) and the police were directing traffic. didn't seem to be having a fun time of it thought.

But he got to go back to work in his very nice white Xr6T - no photos, apoligise in advance.

Are you sure it was a T hammer? I knew there was a XR6 in the fleet, but I didnt think it was turbocharged.

We have sold "several" unmarked V8 XT's to the Feds. They have sports suspension, 5 spoke alloys, and a different interior. Maybe other things, but that's all I noticed..... I dont think these particular cars will be marked.

You have been warned...

[plonky]

Smart Cars? I can't believe that VicPol have been pressuring NSW to adopt the crappy "national standard" for Police car markings and then go and design a new crappy marking that is designed to make the law abiding citizen feel warm and fuzzy (the scarecrow effect) by seeing a marked Police vehicle whilst allowing the serial traffic offender to get advance warning of an oncoming HWP car!!!!

If we had more unmarked cars then the serial traffic offenders would get caught for all those things we all complain about (running lights, using mobile phones, burnout, street racing, doof doof stereos, changing lanes without indicating, tailgating, not stopping at Stop signs etc

This whole propoganda campaign is just crap and just makes the law abiding citizen feel good about the State Govt whilst at the same time de-sensitizes drivers to the indiscrimanate tax from stationary speed cameras.

If the policy makers really want to save live on the road, then they should listen to the people who know what they're talking about (Highway Patrol) not the people that are employed to keep them re elected!!!!!!!!

[Velvet Glove]

Smart Cars? I can't believe that VicPol have been pressuring NSW to adopt the crappy "national standard" for Police car markings and then go and design a new crappy marking that is designed to make the law abiding citizen feel warm and fuzzy (the scarecrow effect) by seeing a marked Police vehicle whilst allowing the serial traffic offender to get advance warning of an oncoming HWP car!!!!

If we had more unmarked cars then the serial traffic offenders would get caught for all those things we all complain about (running lights, using mobile phones, burnout, street racing, doof doof stereos, changing lanes without indicating, tailgating, not stopping at Stop signs etc

This whole propoganda campaign is just crap and just makes the law abiding citizen feel good about the State Govt whilst at the same time de-sensitizes drivers to the indiscrimanate tax from stationary speed cameras.

If the policy makers really want to save live on the road, then they should listen to the people who know what they're talking about (Highway Patrol) not the people that are employed to keep them re elected!!!!!!!!

Unfortunately my friend they never will. They are scared of what we might say, and what happens in the 'real world'. I dont see any reason why all HWP cars arent unmarked. Would make a lot of people think twice before they did anything stupid

[Turbo6man]

plonky and VG> I know where you guys are at on this BUT - what about us serial offenders who are actually driving safely, not commiting any dangerous driving acts like plonky mentioned, but yes, exceeding the speed limit by 20 or 30 kms in a safe situation, then being pinged by a sneakmobile.

I admit that I exceed the limit often and I really appreciate a marked car because for an alert driver this gives the opportunity to curb your speed in time - an inalert driver will get pinged, and he thoroughly deserves to be done if he isn't concentrating on the job.

I travel over 50,000km every year as a minimum - 90% highway and country roads. No incidents (what they call accidents), just one insurance claim for a stray sheep that commited suicide to the RS2000, but I have an atrocious record for 15-30 kms over. Guys like me who travel a lot of high speed safe kilometers need a chance - I have no time for cops who hide on the side of the road with radar. A mobile, marked police vehicle DOES impact on the driving habits of MOST drivers.

VG, "Would make a lot of people think twice before they did anything stupid".

Do you really think so? I mean, people who do stupid or dangerous things generally aren't thinking anyway. It is usually a spur of the moment lapse that causes this, and all the unmarked cars in the world won't correct lack of concentration on a driver's part, simply because he is not even aware that a cop is about in the unmarked vehicle. However, a marked vehicle might just make that same driver concentrate on NOT doing anything wrong and therefore be a safer driver for it.

Sure, these people need to be booked, but they are not an easy target. The speeding driver is, because his offence is an absolute one that cannot be defended. So the way I see it is that the unmarked vehicles are, or would be, used primarily for speed detection, and not for the real purpose of road safety or curbing inappropriate driving habits as in the scenario above.