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30ashopper

SoWal Insider
Apr 30, 2008
6,845
3,471
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Right here!
I wonder what has changed since I asked the Sheriff about the unmarked pick up trucks I saw a few months ago? Below is a portion of his reply to my questions:


I saw this grey SUV parked at the intersection of Chat Holley and Highway 331 last night with lights flashing. There was also a marked WCSO car at the foot of the bridge. As far as I could tell, the SUV was not giving traffic tickets...no other cars were stopped at the time I drove past around 5:30 p.m.
:dunno:

Whoever is driving it has been quite active. They had a guy pulled over right in the Sandestin entrance the other evening. It looked like a normal traffic stop.
 

scooterbug44

SoWal Expert
May 8, 2007
16,706
3,339
Sowal
I thought official policy was that no unmarked cars were used at night - and that if you had any questions, you should always call dispatch.
 

Miss Kitty

Meow
Jun 10, 2005
47,011
1,131
70
I thought official policy was that no unmarked cars were used at night - and that if you had any questions, you should always call dispatch.

There have been numerous cases of "unmarked" cars pulling women over in this area and I am sure other places. Not law enforcement, but impostors. The reports say the thing to do is keep driving until you get to a well lit, well populated area (preferably a police or fire station) and call 911.
 

jodiFL

Beach Fanatic
Jul 28, 2007
2,466
741
SOWAL,FL
Destin had a gray Mustang for years that they used for traffic stops.
They had several and at that time I am pretty sure Walton CO. had a black one and a red one. Almost certain the red one was an investigators personal, but still had lights etc. I kinda remember something about the gray one getting rolled on the island near the Coast Guard Station. Not sure what the statues are about LEOs using their own vehicles but seems it would save $$ for the county.
And most LEOs I know will tell you no traffic stop is normal/routine, they never know what they are walking into.
 
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Everytime

Beach Fanatic
Jul 9, 2005
439
113
Shelby County, Alabama
Not sure what the statues are about LEOs using their own vehicles but seems it would save $$ for the county.

But using their random, plain, personal cars for traffic patrols and stops, in my view, would open up a lot of risks for the LEOs and for people who may be pulled over by false LEOs.
 

jodiFL

Beach Fanatic
Jul 28, 2007
2,466
741
SOWAL,FL
I understand the risks of having alot of random vehicles out there but they also run the risk of not doing something about a danger to others if they are witness to it and just cruise on by or let another driver continue on if they can do something to stop them. I am sure that it isnt SOP to use a private vehicle but what if that deputy/detective/investigator had just got off work and happened to be in his/her own vehicle that was equipped with lights and let a drunk driver going at a high rate of speed continue on down the road directly toward the vehicle loaded with kids coming home from soccer? I am sure they would rather just call it for a marked vehicle and continue on home but I am pretty sure somewhere in that oath they take it says they have to stop or attempt to stop that activity.
 
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Everytime

Beach Fanatic
Jul 9, 2005
439
113
Shelby County, Alabama
And in that situation, too, I agree that they should do something to stop the hazardous driver. But to intentionally put unmarked and/or private vehicles out on the roads for routine traffic enforcement is where you may run into more frequent risks, chases, complaints, etc. And I'll go ahead and admit that I don't think using unmarked and/or private vehicles going 5 to 8 mph over a 55 to 70 mph speed limit is a good use of such strategy, but when the LEO driving such a vehicle sees a drive going 15 mph over the speed limit, driving aggressively or erratically, etc., then by all means, they should pursue the offending vehicle.
 

Matt J

SWGB
May 9, 2007
24,861
9,665
More than likely that is what is happening. Keep in mind that last week was probably one of the busiest weeks of spring break and possibly the season for South Walton. It's kind of an all hands on deck situation. They may very well have had to use unmarked vehicles to patrol 98, even if they hadn't I'm sure the number of times it was spotted could have very well been one of the "out of the norm" situations described.
 

scooterbug44

SoWal Expert
May 8, 2007
16,706
3,339
Sowal
There have been numerous cases of "unmarked" cars pulling women over in this area and I am sure other places. Not law enforcement, but impostors. The reports say the thing to do is keep driving until you get to a well lit, well populated area (preferably a police or fire station) and call 911.

That's why the Sheriff said call dispatch - because they can immediately tell you if the car pulling you over is legitimate and send a REAL cop if they aren't.
 
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