Going past Chester zoo the other day I saw a sign that read (and I may get this slightly wrong);
Police
Aircraft regulation enforcement.
So what do they want me to do with that particular piece of information? Not taxi my Cessna down the dual carriageway maybe?
JH
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Heavens above!
Watch out for the shadow of the law falling on you if you are in excess of the NSL.
Those isolated square blobs on the road are a clue.
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Ah! regulation BY aircraft!!! The penny drops.
JH
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The helicopter can read your numberplate from a long way off, you probably wont even see it.
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Daft sign? Sounds more like daft use of resources to me.
What do they use to catch burglars? The local paper?
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Sounds more like daft use of resources to me.>>
Good point, I wonder how many speeding tickets it takes to break even on an hours air time?
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We're all much safer and better off under the watchful eye of New Labour.
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£800-£1,000 per hour is normal cost for a Police helicopter.
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So 15+ speeders caught per hour to break even. Mind you, they can sell the chase footage (if any) to carp tv Progs!
Edited by Armitage Shanks {p} on 28/01/2009 at 20:48
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It doesn't have to be a helicopter. Could be a balloon. You could make a profit. Buy helium at bulk rates, then when you're done, put it into kiddies balloons and sell them. You could come out on top.
Sorry, I've not had enough to drink. yet.
JH
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So 15+ speeders caught per hour to break even.>>
So a ticket every 4 minutes, I dont think even mlc or westpig are that good! :-)
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I believe Cheshire Constabulary have a fixed wing aircraft now. I think Manchester too.
Ted
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Cheshire Constabulary have a fixed wing aircraft
'Porsche GT3 or similar going south on the M6 er, exceeding the speed limit...'
'How fast is it going repeat how fast?'
'Er, looks like about 50 miles per hour faster than us... (gulp)'
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I'm sure there was a twin engined fixed wing in Cleveland for a number of years, to be fair it tops out at 170mph which is faster than the eurocopter currently in use and could stay up in the air for alot longer.
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There are signs in parts of the Peak District in Derbyshire that read 'Helicopter Traffic Enforcement'. Whether they do or not I don't actually know.
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Is it possible it's something to do with the police stopping the traffic flow when aircraft are due to fly unusually low over the road? This can happen near Waddington airfield.
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Fixed wing aircraft are cheaper to operate, stay up longer and are faster. It can follow you and guide a car in without you being aware.
They want you to know they have it so it acts as a deterrent.
How long before they are unmanned?
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I don't know whether it applies in this instance, but I'm sure that I read in the papers recently that the makers/operators of UAV's were looking to initiate trials of their aircraft for traffic enforcement agencies.
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