The cops get even craftier

**Blackbird** · 13th April 2003, 16:14

Just got back from the Easter Egg run in Tauranga, travelling over the Kaimai Range. On the approach to the Kaimais on the Tauranga side my radar detector picked up a signal. It turned out to be an unmarked late model dark green van with a tinted rear window. Looking closely showed a lens inside! First camera vehicle I've seen that hasn't been a white Camry or similar. Anyone else come across blacked-out vans? Bet he made a fortune out of tin-tops.

**wari** · 13th April 2003, 16:27

Sometimes they play nasty and other times they are just nasty nasty ... !!!

**Redstar** · 13th April 2003, 17:09

red van northern moterway tinted windows same story

**bikerboy** · 13th April 2003, 17:52

Just saw a green toyota 4wd ute with canopy/tinted windows just north of Warkworth. Only noticed it as a cop in fluro vest was sitting in it reading the paper, it was parked just off the road.

I got a good look as I was slowing for a side road turn off, otherwise I most likely would have gotten snapped!

**merv** · 13th April 2003, 19:26

We regularly have a white van, tinted rear window on the south bound side of the Western Hutt motorway near Belmont. I had seen them used in the South Island for some years. Came across one on the ChCh - Ashburton highway and on the highway from ChCh to Picton near Parnassus.

**Robbo** · 13th April 2003, 19:43

On the Tauranga Run today myself. Saw that green van with the camera.

Also saw another White Van, camera in back.along with a Red Van just north of

Palmerston North last month. I guess that at least two of them will have my smiling

Mug shot, but alas!! No number plate up front. Tough!!

They remind me of Cash Registers on Wheels. I fail to see what they have to do

with Road Safety and can only be classed as Revenue Collectors, as if Big

Brother does'nt get enough from us Motorcyclists already with the new

Outrageous ACC levies via Registration.

Don't forget to Smile and Show your Best side next time you pass one.

Cheers

Robbo

**wkid_one** · 13th April 2003, 20:50

It is still the FU*&ER in the marked car who catches you read handed you have to look out for ...

**MikeL** · 13th April 2003, 22:23

Thanks for the info, Blackbird. Make sure you're up front with your radar detector on all future runs - we'll just slow down when we see you brake.
Wasn't it a great day?? Weather was almost perfect (apart from the fog the other side of the Bombays), great ride through the Karangakage Gorge - not too many cars on the road. A good turnout for the ride from the Mount to Tauranga Hospital, and a very pleasant return to Auckland via Matamata. Why does it have to be spoilt by the presence of officers of the Department of Road Revenue Collection (Cash Registers on Wheels, as Robbo so aptly puts it)??

**Blackbird** · 14th April 2003, 18:02

I've written an article complete with photos on fitting a detector to a 'bird for the international Blackbird website, as finding space without obscuring instruments is one of the issues. This won't apply to a lot of other makes, but the article also covers other things such as wiring one in and the use of a helmet speaker. It's too big to post here but if anyone would like a copy to help avoid blatant revenue collection, send me an email.

**SpankMe** · 14th April 2003, 18:24

Originally posted by Blackbird
It's too big to post here.

If it's a problem with attachment size, I have increased the max attach size to 2Mb.

**Blackbird** · 14th April 2003, 19:23

Right, let's see if I can attach this .......

**750Y** · 15th April 2003, 09:17

At nights I see an unmarked white commodore with the parkers on sitting on the eastern side of the ararimu bridge watching for speedsters down the mad mile. usually after 7PM too.
be careful through there.

**merv** · 15th April 2003, 12:46

This morning we had a red van on the North bound side of the Porirua motorway. The damn vans are multiplying to add to the white Camrys and Mazda wagons that are already around.

**Coldkiwi** · 15th April 2003, 13:24

wheres the ararimu bridge 750?

**750Y** · 15th April 2003, 13:29

It's the last bridge going overhead before the Bombays(heading south). That's where I join and exit the motorway each day on my trek to the viaduct downtown.