Yep NYPD have been clamping down on bikes read victimising for a while now. A member of Teesside Bikers I know was stopped and ticketed even though she was on an advanced bike training course run by the ex head of Cleveland Police's traffic division. When he asked the officer if he was aware of certain national guidance on bike training etc the constable didn't have a clue but his ambivalent attitude remained the same. Steer clear of North Yorkshire if you can help it and certainly the Helmsley TT, they're red hot on that road. This public service broadcast was brought to you by a friendly biker
Number plate. Rather than giving her a VDRS, he did her for it instead. Don't get me wrong if the plates illegal then it's illegal but NYPD are doing themselves no favours presently.
Cheshire police ie Northwich/chester/Ellesmere Port/ Eastham/ helsby+Elton M56- M53 A41 Unmarked vehicles reg Dk09 black 530 bm Silver 530 bm 2 silver st mondeo reg Dk10 bab 1 black st mondeo DK10 BCF & Dk 09 The cars are all fitted with with the gizmos
Been told today that that Notts Police are reinstating the Traffic Division that they disbanded to turn into Armed Response Units.
Cheshire Police also have a new BMW X5 on a private X Reg plate (to make em look like an old Pensioner) plus an unmarked Fireblade and a few VFR1200's
I can confirm this, having just tonight been pulled over by a black unmarked landrover coming out of notts. The bloke who got out is heading up the new traffic unit. They will have a lot of bikes. Marked and unmarked. Fortunately I got away with a slapped wrist. Could have been worse.
On the M5 between Glos and Birmingham I regularly see Blue, Black and Silver 5 series BMWs . I see them most evenings , hot spots are between J8 and J3. In Cardiff I have spotted unmarked Merc Vito vans in silver. The flashing blue lights are hidden in the light clusters and door mirrors. So be carefully peeps. On the M4 I regularly see camera vans on bridges over the motorway between Cardiff and Bridgend too
Got stopped leaving Cardiff few months ago in my M5 by a sneaky unmarked volvo v70 dark blue, had taxi plate on front grill. Got let off with warning after hitting 110mph thinking this taxi man wants to race
And seen today dark blue 54reg Vauxhall inaignia old shape in helsby so they using older cars to catch us out. Loads police are here the wont give there own up tho!
Are you sure it was an M5? Derbyshire have a black unmarked stealth BMW X5 that is as you describe (I wrote about it on here in April, when I saw it pull up a CBR600 rider in London Road, Derby city centre)
A23/Sussex unmarked vehicles: Black Fireblade Slate grey A4 saloon Silver A4 saloon Both A4's blacked out rear windows. Reports of others too - dark blue 5 series and an Audi S3.
Black Fireblade - not seen that one yet, thanks for the heads up. Black Audi S3- See this car blocking a section of the A27 last sunday due to a rta.
To be honest Guy's you're wasting your time trying to keep track of unmarked Traffic vehicles. All UK forces use various unmarked vehicles which are mostly less than 5 years old. What has changed in the last three years or so is the increased use of 'Ghost Plates' on these vehicles. These are general nondescript plates of varying 'age' issued to UK Police Forces by the DVLA in bundles. Unmarked cars then use these plates for a few months or until Plod think they've been rumbled upon which they just swap out the plate for another in their 'Pile' much like having a new PAYG SIM card number. On top of this they have a lot their cars 'Wrapped' so they can also change the colours at the drop of a hat, costs em about £1K every time they do it. (Don't ask........................ just believe me!)
That may be true of some forces but certainly not Cleveland Police. Also given the current financial climate I've not heard of any other forces prepared to change the wrap on their cars just because they believe people are recognising them.
Chester an Ellesmere Port Neston cars have been the same ones for ages. But every 3 to 5 years they change the cars they get replace with the newer model so it's still good to have the heads up and mental note of what's flying about.
