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British Columbia: Police unveil cardboard cops
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by Barry ORegan | June 6, 2008 at 06:46 am
811 views | 47 Recommendations | 28 comments
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Barry Artiste, Now Public Contributor
Well I have seen unattended Police cars on the side of the road as decoys to slow down speeders, now Cardboard Cutouts of Cops to slow down speeders is a new one on me. I know some of the forces officers, and let me tell you those cardboard cutouts better come in Extra, Extra large if they want these officers to hide behind them.
Now as a Human Health Risk Consultant to Police Agencies and other Government and Military Departments, I have a problem with this, my role is to assess risk for officers health and safety.
Here is the problem, anyone who has followed behind a speeder whizzing by you who comes across a radar trap or police vehicle immediately slams on the brakes. When they do this, the speeding cars most times swerves wildly until the driver gets the car under control, sometimes they don't and the car runs off the road or into oncoming traffic. I have seen it more than on one occasion.
Now an officer hiding behind a "Cardboard Cop" has his field of vision obscured, hence would only hear the screeching brakes of the offender, and most likely would be killed instantly if God forbid the car or tractor trailer lost control. If it does not injure or kill the officer, then the public at large are at risk from oncoming traffic, or if they are behind the "Panic Braking Speedster" who they were following too closely.
Now we all know the Road Rules, that "Speed Kills", perhaps they should rethink the Officer hiding behind the "Cardboard Cop" before it turns into "21 Gun Salute" or a "Civilian Roadside Memorial".
Police unveil cardboard copsNeal Hall, Vancouver SunPublished: Friday, June 06, 2008A life-size replica of a Vancouver traffic cop pointing a radar gun at oncoming traffic was unveiled Thursday on city streets.
The police force has up to eight replica cops that initially will be deployed on Knight Street to try to reduce speeding and traffic fatalities.
"There may or may not be a police officer behind one of these cut-outs," Vancouver police traffic Staff Sgt. Ralph Pauw said at a news conference.
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Barry ORegan
Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (28)
at 08:57 on June 6th, 2008
Barry Artiste, Good to know! I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 09:23 on June 6th, 2008
Barry Artiste, I like this story.
at 10:17 on June 6th, 2008
Thanks to you both, as the Vancouver Sun sometimes ask me for my Opinion on Stories I sent this one to them today.
at 11:01 on June 6th, 2008
Barry Artiste, I like this story. It's good stuff.
Cardboard Cops - better than the real thing in some cases!
I read somewhere some time ago that where they tried this before they had a rise in car accidents due to drivers being distracted by the sight of cardboard cops. Hmmm...
at 12:48 on June 6th, 2008
My Point exactly, it is pretty much a no brainer.
Thanks for the great comment Lotus
at 11:20 on June 6th, 2008
What a strange idea... I wonder if it would have the opposite effect: a motorist whizzing along and seeing a cop, then thinking, "Ah, whatever... it's just a cardboard cop..."
(If this wasn't a Simpsons plot, then it should be)
at 12:55 on June 6th, 2008
Perhaps Jordan, but taking a life on a supposed ta, I am sure no one would want to find out.
Though if they put Cardboard Cutouts of Premier Campbell or for that matter any Cardboard Cutouts of Politicians on the roadside, one wonders how many Drivers would make a run for them? Especially Truck drivers pee'od over high gas prices, and motorists over high property taxes?
I guarantee you the nations streets and highways would be littered with trashed and torn cardboard cutouts full of tire tracks and possibly some with bullet holes in them.
I think it best Police erect a sign warning Drivers that Radar is in effect in this area, that to me would make sense.
Thanks for the comments Jordan, much appreciated.
And Yes, sounds like something Chief Wiggum would come up with.
at 14:54 on June 6th, 2008
I think you have something here with the cardboard cutouts of politicians. We should put these up in designated locations and let people vandalize them however they want. I bet these "selfless" public servants would be surprised at what happened.
at 15:02 on June 6th, 2008
Thanks for the comments BigT, for sure I would love to have cameras mounted somewhere watching the action as motorist would see who got first crack at the Politicians as cardboard cutouts, I am sure the motorists around here would take em out with extreme prejudice.\
I think it would be a great Friday Stress reliever don't you? Or even a Great Monday pick me up.
Regardless it would show Politicians how much they think we revere them, when some drivers take it into reverse.
at 11:23 on June 6th, 2008
You have to wonder how soon a college initiation will require you to show up with one of these. Perhaps they'll need a "bait" cardboard policeman program.
at 11:26 on June 6th, 2008
When I was in high school, one of the items on the scavenger-hunt list was the light bar from a police cruiser. Sure enough, one student* was idiotic enough to try removing one. Not only are they not quick-release, but they're particularly hard to remove unnoticed in the police-station parking lot! On the other hand, a cardboard cutout would be far more scavenger-hunt-friendly.
(* and, no, it wasn't me!)
at 12:59 on June 6th, 2008
Good one, thanks for that comment, hilarious, though they said they will take them away after their shift. Makes me wonder, are Police only around 8.5 hours a day? I thought they were around 24 hours? With our rainy weather as well, these cardboard cutouts would not last very long.
at 12:04 on June 6th, 2008
Being cynical - this sounds a way to 'save money'
at 13:02 on June 6th, 2008
Actually it is a way to make money , and possibly in a fatalist way. A life is not worth a few hundred dollars in fines, if someone loses theirs.
Thanks for the comments Bealieu.
at 12:18 on June 6th, 2008
I'll be watching to see if this catches on in other communities. I agree with mbaumgartner that these won't last long on the street unattended.
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Gharlayat 12:22 on June 6th, 2008
Wonder how many parnets are going to find cardboard cops in their teens rooms..
at 13:18 on June 6th, 2008
Thanks Gharley and Jennings for your comments, if ever they are left unattended, surely they will find their way in Kids rooms, much like some scam off with stop signs, flags and anything else they can scam on a dare.
at 12:24 on June 6th, 2008
If our taxes pay the policemen salaries and the policemen use cardboards to do their job, where are our taxes going, and what the policemen are doing while the cardboard is "doing" their job?
I always have preferred a cop that chase thief and criminals than the one that chase drank people on Graville St or speeders on the roads... but now they don't even do this!
at 13:21 on June 6th, 2008
I guarantee you, you won't find them amongst the partiers on Granville street, Cops like the most of us, hate cleaning barf, urine and other leavings that these cardboard cops would endure. Not to mention drugged out panhandlers trying to figure out how to get the gun or taser off the cardboard cutouts.
at 12:34 on June 6th, 2008
They can only arrest cardboard drivers though
at 13:12 on June 6th, 2008
Now that's a great idea!
at 12:57 on June 6th, 2008
two words - cardboard donuts
at 13:14 on June 6th, 2008
M-M-M-M- Frosted-Jelly Cardboard Donuts---Aaaarrrgghhhh!!!
at 13:11 on June 6th, 2008
Are they waterproof? Will they be out in the rain? Nobody will believe it. Yeah, we have parked cop cars in places, but they usually also have a dummy in uniform in them, too.
at 13:15 on June 6th, 2008
Dummies in Cars, now there is an idea!
at 13:28 on June 6th, 2008
Barry Artiste, I like this story. It's good stuff. That is hilarious!
at 13:45 on June 6th, 2008
Thanks Amy for the GS and the Flag, will it be to soon to say Now Public will have one gracing the office,.(Jordan, I'm looking at you and Baumgartner)
at 14:59 on June 6th, 2008
You're absolutely right about this causing more accidents. When cities started putting in those red light cameras there were a lot more rear end collisions.