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POLICE AIRCRAFT ARE WATCHING YOU DRIVE

Drivers who use their mobile phones or flout traffic laws can be busted by police in the sky.

Cheshire police have acquired a £300,000 light aircraft with sophisticated camera equipment to crack down on motorists. The plane monitors traffic and zooms in on offending vehicles, which are then reported to local ground patrols.

Fitted with a thermal camera and numberplate-recognition technology, the aircraft can target drivers who speed, overtake dangerously, or use their mobile phones. It is part of an initiative by Cheshire County Council designed to prevent accidents on their most dangerous roads.

Orwellian new road signs saying 'Police Aircraft Traffic Enforcement' have been introduced, although it is not clear whether these planes will be used elsewhere in the country. The roads under watch at the moment are the A41, A534, A537 and the A54.

It always amazes me just how many folk out there drive considerably more expensive cars than us yet can't even be ar$ed to get a handsfree kit!

It always amazes me just how many folk out there drive considerably more expensive cars than us yet can't even be ar$ed to get a handsfree kit!

Agreed :thumbdwn:

It's not just mobile users it will be targeting (which IMO would still be hard to do even with this spy plane) but general traffic offences.

More excuse to get a set of Polish numberplates fitted ASAP if you're in the North West!

yep , seen the signs on the A41 near Chester and thought WTF ?

wasn't until a week later that i read all about it in the local paper

:eek: I'll have to be extra good on my way to football everyweek now, shame really the A41 is a good road to drive.

I'd be happier if they'd spent the £300,000 pounds putting an extra 10 officers or so on patrol!

I'd be happier if they'd spent the £300,000 pounds putting an extra 10 officers or so on patrol!

My thoughts exactly

And they'd probably catch a helluva lot more mobile phone addicts.