Interesting traffic stop.

[polkaroo]

In Markham today, just drove past a wierd traffic stop. It was obviously several minutes old as everyone was out of the vehicles. Definately not high-risk since drivers/passengers were just standing idly by. I didn't have a chance to stop to have a better look.

They pulled over a single vehicle.... but "they" being an unmarked minivan (think soccer mom) and unmarked sedan. Both had a red rotating light slapped on the roof with a magnet mount. Looks like an 80's movie.

... now, I was thinking RCMP, but... if I see a single red rotating light in my rear mirror, and I'm serious that light looks like it was bought at Home Depot... do I really need to pull over? It could very well be police impersonators for a stop-and-rob....? I can't really find (or too stupid to) any info in the HTA that pertains to this.

 

[phyberoptics]

Police in Peel drive just about anything going, most likely what you rolled across was traffic stop stemming from an undercover surveillance operation. If the drivers/passengers were "just standing idly by", chances are you didn't see the detectives tossing the car for contraband.

If you monitor Peel, and you hear the vehicle ID's at shift start when the officers log on, if they are driving a 7xx series vehicle, these are the undercover "decks".

To answer your question about whether you have to stop...if you are EVER in doubt, put your four-ways on and immediately call 911...explain your situation, and they will verify with the dispatcher that you are being stopped by an actual police vehicle. Once the dispatcher verifies yes, pull over immediately. The dispatcher will advise the officer why you did not pull over, and your four ways demonstrate that you recognize the flashing beacon in your mirror.

 

[newtoscanning]

Stop at red.

If you see a red flashing light, you are required to stop, regardless of the number of flashing lights.

http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/DBLaws/Statutes/English/90h08_e.htm

However, it must suck getting robbed by a 'cop'.

 

[phyberoptics]

If you see a red flashing light, you are required to stop, regardless of the number of flashing lights.

http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/DBLaws/Statutes/English/90h08_e.htm

However, it must suck getting robbed by a 'cop'.

Power of police officer to stop vehicle
216. (1) A police officer, in the lawful execution of his or her duties and responsibilities, may require the driver of a motor vehicle to stop and the driver of a motor vehicle, when signaled or requested to stop by a police officer who is readily identifiable as such, shall immediately come to a safe stop. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 216 (1).
Offense
(2) Every person who contravenes subsection (1) is guilty of an offense and on conviction is liable, subject to subsection (3),
(a) to a fine of not less than $1,000 and not more than $10,000;
(b) to imprisonment for a term of not more than six months; or
(c) to both a fine and imprisonment. 1999, c. 13, s. 1 (1).

The portion in question here is "when signaled or requested to stop by a police officer who is readily identifiable as such..."

Undercover vehicles are not necessarily "readily identifiable" (that's exactly the point of unmarked/undercover vehicles), but that doesn't mean you don't have to stop....if you're in doubt, see my previous post.

 

[newtoscanning]

the safe way!

I'll just play it safe by never presenting the need for an undercover agent to pull me over!

 

[Jay911]

UC officers rarely will break cover to do a traffic stop. I don't know about YRPD, but on the other side of the world here in Calgary, they will follow and call for a "uniform" car to pull the subject over.

For what it's worth, I saw a minivan with red and blues in my neck of the woods one day last year, with plainclothes officers in it.. it turned out to be Prime Ministerial Security detail... it was a rather interesting encounter, considering I was working as a vollie FF at the time, on a job on the highway..

 

[polo_762]

Best UC rig I ever saw was a silver Infiniti coupe (with passenger sun visor mounted red LED lights), I think it was a metro detective, in town (Mississauga) for a search warrant with Peel.

Must be fun to tear up the road in that Infiniti....

 

[locatorgta2]

Police Vehicles

I noticed Toronto has started using a dark blue minivan for laser rader traps. It did have the logos on the side in the dark blue vinal that glows in certain light angles

 

[I_10_92]

Home Depot doesn't sell rotating red lights... they sell red driveway refectors.. they're in the hardware department

 

[polkaroo]

Home Depot doesn't sell rotating red lights... they sell red driveway refectors.. they're in the hardware department

But you know what I mean!

... that's what I thought too, that if an unmarked vehicle wanted to pull someone over, they'd ask for a marked cruiser to attend.

 

[I_10_92]

Yes I do know what you mean. Canadian Tire sells the 'snow-berries' (blue rotating lights).

You could, or just ask the officer to provide their identification (warrant card) and badge. Then you'd be good. I really don't think that an unmarked car with a plain clothes officer would be making traffic stops, UNLESS there's a good reason to i.e. You're running drugs, or some other illegal activites.

 

[hankv]

I really don't think that an unmarked car with a plain clothes officer would be making traffic stops,

The (US) State of South Carolina is infamous for it's unmarked Traffic Cars, but the policemen are usually in full uniform. :wink:

 

[jellotor]

If I was ever pulled over by an undercover police officer in an unmarked vehicle, I'd be requesting to see a uniformed sergeant, especially if he/she didn't identify him/herself.

As stated earlier in this thread, there are laws against things like that. And for a good reason, too.

 

[bluesman905]

All of the UC's i've monitored have always called for a "bubble" to do the stop for them. Usually it's just to I.D the people in the car and many times have been told to let 'em go regardless of having no insurance etc..bigger fish to fry i suppose. Like stated elsewhere in this thread it seems kind of pointless to be UC and start flashing lights.

UC officers rarely will break cover to do a traffic stop. I don't know about YRPD, but on the other side of the world here in Calgary, they will follow and call for a "uniform" car to pull the subject over.

For what it's worth, I saw a minivan with red and blues in my neck of the woods one day last year, with plainclothes officers in it.. it turned out to be Prime Ministerial Security detail... it was a rather interesting encounter, considering I was working as a vollie FF at the time, on a job on the highway..

 

[jellotor]

I was doing some shooting once, trying to get some viz of a certain 'lady of the evening' for a client and let the undercover sergeant know where I was going. Some bozos started to hassle me and before I could even mouth off to them there were a couple of unmarked vehicles stopping and some undercover guys stepping between me and my fans. One of the clowns even said 'Who do you guys think you are?' and the sergeant said 'We think we're cops, so step off!'

It wasn't clear identification, but it also wasn't an arrest situation...at the time I found it funny more because a marked cruiser drove by immediately afterwards and none of the assembled masses flagged him down to make sure the sergeant was who he said he was.

Mind you, it's not the Mensa Society who hangs out on Barton St. at 1:30 in the morning...

 

[EJB]

No Graeme: It barely is human down there at that time...
Ah Hamilton