License plate reading.

[w1zard]

I don't know if its just me, but when I was in the car the other day I was reading, or trying to read the license plates of cars a little ways ahead of me. Now that got me to thinking, while in pursuit of a suspect, do you guys/gals even worry about a license plate while chasing a suspect, or do you wait until afterwards? Does it really even matter? :cool: You'd think it would be impossible to read the plate while trying to pay attension to what your doing. Thanks

[w1zard]

Also, is it ok to take binoculars with you? lol.

[Wombat311]

We always try to get the plate. It's one of the first things we try and do.

If it's stolen then you know at least one of the reasons the guy is running.

If it's not - our communications try and contact the registered owner to find out where the car should be, while we chase it. If he says 'my buddy Jim has it' then there's a fair chance we'll be told to terminate pursuit and follow up later since we now 'know' who was driving. If it's not stolen and no contact with the registered owner it gives us some idea of where the car may turn up later. Or to expect a false report about a stolen car later on. Alwyas sus on those reports that come in after a pursuit.

[DeltaV]

It's good practice to ALWAYS get the tag number of any vehicle you plan to stop before you initiate the stop, if possible. I'll follow cars for several blocks before making a stop just so I can check the car and the owner for wants/warrants through the computer. If someone's wanted or suspended, I'd like to know that before I make contact with the driver.

Since a pursuit is usually the result of an attempted traffic stop, you should have the vehicle's tag number before you initiate it.

[Menace]

That's in a department that doesn't have a restrictive pursuit policy...*COUGH*

[scott715us]

That's usually the first thing I'm doing behind a vehicle. I will at least read the plate. If I plan on pulling the vehicle over, I will call the plate in so the dispatcher can be running it before I initiate the stop.

I do also have binoculars, but I can't say that I have used them while in motion. Only stationary when I want to monitor something from a distance.

[mcsap]

If possible, yes. During a pursuit it isn't always a good idea to get too close to someone though. It happened to me and I swerved leaving 155 ft of skids causing flat spots on my 84 Dodge Diplomat. ( 1987)

[ChesCopPodz]

It's good practice to ALWAYS get the tag number of any vehicle you plan to stop before you initiate the stop, if possible. I'll follow cars for several blocks before making a stop just so I can check the car and the owner for wants/warrants through the computer. If someone's wanted or suspended, I'd like to know that before I make contact with the driver.

Since a pursuit is usually the result of an attempted traffic stop, you should have the vehicle's tag number before you initiate it.

Agree 100%. Sometimes however, they see you pull out after them and the chase is on before you get the chance to get the plate. You just have do make do with those.

[valycop]

Also, is it ok to take binoculars with you? lol.

Yes, I carry binoculars with me at all times as they come in handy, but if you think I'm going to put them to my eyes during a pursuit, you're crazy! The first thing I do is get the plate number just like the other guys have already said. It's nice because I can sneak up on people in that dark blue/green crown vic and by the time the violator knows I'm there I already have the plate number.

w1zard you'd be shocked at how close some of us get to a speeding car who has a driver who doesn't want to be stopped, but we use our training and experience to keep us out of trouble. I had two (out of three) driving instructors who over the years have taught me a lot about pursuit driving. (I've graduated from three academy's DC, Maryland and Virginia). Knock on wood, I've been in quite a few pursuits over the years, but I've never wrecked one (patrol car) yet. The violators on the other hand have suffered, but that's another story. :D