NCJ Number
58263
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 26 Issue: 6 Dated: (JUNE 1978) Pages: 44-46,48-52
Date Published
1978
Length
5 pages
Annotation
SURVEILLANCE TECHNIQUES FOR POLICE INVESTIGATORS ASSIGNED TO TAIL SUBJECTS WHO ARE TRAVELING IN MOTOR VEHICLES ARE DESCRIBED IN AN ARTICLE FROM A POLICE MAGAZINE.
Abstract
FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED IN CHOOSING A SURVEILLANCE TECHNIQUE--WHETHER THE SURVEILLANCE IS BEING CONDUCTED AT NIGHT OR IN THE DAYLIGHT, WHETHER THE SUBJECT MAY SUSPECT HE OR SHE IS BEING FOLLOWED, THE AMOUNT OF VEHICLE TRAFFIC IN THE AREA, THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CASE AND THE NUMBER OF INVESTIGATORS AND VEHICLES ASSIGNED, THE PHYSICAL LAYOUT OF THE AREA--ARE NOTED. THE NEED FOR INVESTIGATORS TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE PROFICIENTLY AND AGGRESSIVELY IS EMPHASIZED. MEASURES THAT WILL ENABLE INVESTIGATORS TO STAY AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE TO THE SUBJECT VEHICLE WITHOUT BEING OBSERVED ARE DESCRIBED, INCLUDING TECHNIQUES FOR SINGLE- AND MULTIPLE-CAR SURVEILLANCE, PARALLEL SURVEILLANCE (DRIVING ON A STREET PARALLEL TO THAT TRAVELED BY THE SUBJECT IN ORDER TO AVOID DETECTION IN LIGHT-TRAFFIC SITUATIONS), AND CHANGING THE APPEARANCE OF THE POLICE VEHICLE AND/OR THE INVESTIGATOR (USING DISGUISES, DIMMING LIGHTS, CHANGING THE SEATING POSITIONS OF VEHICLE OCCUPANTS). SPECIFIC DRIVING TECHNIQUES, SUCH AS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE SUBJECT'S 'BLIND SPOT', ARE ALSO NOTED. METHODS USED BY SUBJECTS TO DETECT OR ELUDE TAILS (MAKING MIDBLOCK U-TURNS, USING EXCESSIVE OR IRREGULAR SPEED, STRATEGICALLY TIMING ARRIVALS AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS, ETC.) ARE DESCRIBED, TOGETHER WITH RECOMMENDED RESPONSES FOR BOTH SINGLE-CAR AND MULTIPLE-CAR SURVEILLANCE. NOTES ON THE USE OF BUMPER BEEPERS--ELECTRONIC DEVICES FOR LOCATING AND TRACKING VEHICLES--ARE ALSO PROVIDED, TOGETHER WITH DIAGRAMS ILLUSTRATING VARIOUS SURVEILLANCE SITUATIONS AND RESPONSES. (LKM)