Posted on 04/20/2015 1:28:18 PM PDT by fruser1
Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) issues these plates to police departments for officers in unmarked cars involved in sensitive investigations such as narcotics, organized crime or terrorism.
Confidential tags cannot be traced back to any specific person or organization if a criminal has a source run the plates through conventional databases.
But all three police sources also expressed bewilderment about why the Edmonston Police Department would need any confidential tags.
Each pointed out that Edmonston is a very small town, and that any major narcotics, terrorism or organized crime investigation would be outsourced...
The Town denies any allegation that this tag was intended to shield the Chief or any other Police Department member from automated traffic enforcement...
There is no evidence that the confidential tags have been captured on any speed or red-light camera, because police departments do not maintain records for tickets that are not assigned to any individual or organization.
...a confidential tag would generate no ownership records, and thus, no ticket.
When asked about the purpose of the confidential plates or to elaborate on whether they are being used properly, Ferguson said she’s not authorized to discuss the internal security measures of the Edmonston Police Department.
MVA officials declined to comment for the story or acknowledge the existence of the confidential tag program.
(Excerpt) Read more at wtop.com ...
Good point. Criminals see a car they think is surveilling them, they run the plate. It turns up non-searchable, bingo, it's a cop car. It would actually work better if they had phony addresses in nonexistent towns. At least it would look "real".
” one law for cops. “
Keep in mind since we don’t know who issues this tags or how it’s administered, public officials and gov employees are probably getting them too.
Per your complaint, I was speeding on the highway once with a cousin who was in Fed LE. Got pulled over, he whipped out his badge, and away we went! Too bad I couldn’t always ride w/him (we were on our way to a funeral out of state).
p.s., he drives like a mouse.
Agreed 100%, but my point stands. I don't care who gets them. There is one law for all, including LEO, etc. etc. etc.
Yeah, right, whatever - wholly unenforceable, for the same reason that mechanics get a better deal on parts than you do - not because of volume, but because they are friends with the auto-parts guys. For the same reason soldiers cover eachother's asses so long as the brass can look the other way... Whine and wail all you want, but that good ol boy thing is the same everywhere.
Getting rid of officer discretion will get rid of the officer's discretion to let you off too, so be careful what you wish for.
Which is why the "official" reason for having them is not likely to be the real reason.
If I was REALLY an undercover cop who was afraid that somebody would run my plates to get my address, the LAST thing I would want would be for the plate search to come back as "confidential/restricted". I would want the plate search to come back with my cover name, and some plausible address. And I would want any mail sent to there to be forwarded to me at the police dept. If it was anything but a ticket-avoiding scam, then mail would be sent to an address which would then forward to the police dept.
Car parts and soldier's covering for one another from the brass have nothing to do with the law, which should be equally applied to car dealers, mechanics, soldiers, LEO, Congress, POTUS, etc. etc.
It's not, which tells me that, if someone else can do it and get away with it, so can I. Double standard. If we are a Nation of laws, not of men, then the law must apply equally to ALL (wo)men.
His personal vehicles were being used in sensitive operations?
I was thinking the exact same thing.
“Confidential tags cannot be traced back to any specific person or organization if a criminal has a source run the plates through conventional databases.”
Assuming the details of this are true, then the criminal can be easily assured the plate belongs to a blackop when the trace turns up NOTHING. It’s like the fool criminals who thought they could dodge fingerprints by burning theirs off with acid, but merely created instantly recognizable scar patterns.
Ah, good to know next time I need to steal some license plates.
I agree with your sentiment, but it's never going to happen.
No, HE has been used in sensitive operations - Not his vehicles.
I am thankful that his personal plates are not traceable, as he has already experienced two direct threats to his family because of his work
And I assumed what I did.............
My fault, I guess........
Maryland “Freak State” PING!
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