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High-tech jab to end LA's car chase fixation
Sydney Morning Herald ^ | February 4, 2006 | Gerald Wright

Posted on 02/04/2006 7:05:52 PM PST by Polliwag

A new high-tech tool for police provides alternative to todays high speed police chases. A launcher fires a Dart into a car that includes a GPS system used to track the car.

Program being tested in LA, in connection with the US Justice Department, for 4 to 6 months.

The product is made by Starchaser and uses launcher technology from Metal Storm.

"High-tech jab to end LA's car chase fixation By Gerard Wright in Los Angeles February 4, 2006" -------------------------------------------------

Remember the big PR on Metal storm two weeks ago.

"Security & Terrorism New super-gun to be tested in Feb By PAMELA HESS UPI Pentagon Correspondent

WASHINGTON, Jan. 20 (UPI) -- Next month a new high-explosive munition will be fired in Singapore and then tested again by the U.S. Army, heralding what may be a sea change in weaponry: a family of guns that can fire at speeds of up to 240,000 rounds per minute, albeit in short bursts."

(Excerpt) Read more at smh.com.au ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: metalstorm; policechase; starchase
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1 posted on 02/04/2006 7:05:54 PM PST by Polliwag
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To: Polliwag

What will Fox News air during the day if they do this?


2 posted on 02/04/2006 7:13:30 PM PST by bnelson44 (Proud parent of a tanker! (Charlie Mike, son))
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To: Polliwag
A new high-tech tool for police provides alternative to todays high speed police chases....called a two way radio....

You may outrun my old chevrolet, but you can't outrun my 'ol two way....Leroy's waiting at the station (up the street?) just to hear from me....(an old country song)

3 posted on 02/04/2006 7:17:38 PM PST by B.O. Plenty (Islam, liberalism and abortions are terminal..)
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To: Polliwag

"New hig-tech tool for police"

Does hig-tech include stuned beebers?


4 posted on 02/04/2006 7:18:25 PM PST by Stellar Dendrite (There's nothing "Mainstream" about the Orwellian Media!!!)
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To: Polliwag

Am I missing something here?

Law Enforcement spends millions to develop high-tech system to shoot a car-chase suspect's vehicle with what amounts to a spitball countaining a global positioning gizmo, probably costing several tens of thousands of dollars.

As the squad cars back off the chase - at the first corner spectator runs out and pulls the spitball off the back bumper, and promptly sticks it on the first passing citizen's ride.

LEO's end up pulling over and shooting the citizen when they freak out - all of which makes bad guys bolder, and car chases even more riveting.

Duh. It this all too difficult to see ahead of time?

What's needed - is one of those pitchfork-looking electronic zapper gizmo's, shown in the sequel to "Fast and Furious", which short-circuited the engine electronics in the chased car.

Sure it was Hollywood, but that would make more sense than hitting the bad guys with an expensive spitball. That's just ridiculously naive.


5 posted on 02/04/2006 7:40:09 PM PST by Cringing Negativism Network
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To: Polliwag

Lets wait and see the test results. I forsee buildings and pedestrians being hit with stray darts.


Give one to the Texas Border Patrol;)


6 posted on 02/04/2006 7:42:56 PM PST by Old Flat Toad (Pima County, home of the single vehicle accident with 40 victims.)
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To: Old Flat Toad
I forsee buildings and pedestrians being hit with stray darts.

At least they'll know where they are.

7 posted on 02/04/2006 7:45:14 PM PST by Right Wing Assault ("..this administration is planning a 'Right Wing Assault' on values and ideals.." - John Kerry)
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To: Cringing Negativism Network

See this on the Exopy


http://mrtmag.com/news/starchase_vehicle_tagging_082405/


8 posted on 02/04/2006 7:49:58 PM PST by Polliwag (http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/002/893foort.asp)
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To: Old Flat Toad

I think that soon new technology will combine the vehicles operating computer and a chip in the license plate to coordinate and complete the needed information for a satellite to shut down the vehicle's power to a low speed for stopping.

Then all the LEO would have to do is type the plate number into a satellite computer up link and it would shut them down. Even if this is not in the future an on board GPS locater would be simple to accomplish without the necessity of shooting at the vehicle with a locater attachment.

Why not? they already use the computer data to tell the last few minutes of operation before a crash. And if they can unlock your doors they already know where you are.......


9 posted on 02/04/2006 7:54:54 PM PST by PROSOUTH ( Deo Vindice "God Will Vindicate")
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To: PROSOUTH

Already existing, it's called OnStar. They just have to force everybody to buy a car with it and utilize it.


10 posted on 02/04/2006 7:58:52 PM PST by ChefKeith (Flies,fleas,ants,ticks,cockroaches,bad cops,lawyers,judges & politicians All the same. Useless!!!)
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To: Stellar Dendrite

"New hig-tech tool for police"

Does hig-tech include stuned beebers?

LOL!


11 posted on 02/04/2006 8:03:16 PM PST by gas0linealley
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To: PROSOUTH

Would be interesting to see how it works with stolen plates.


12 posted on 02/04/2006 8:07:08 PM PST by Old Flat Toad (Pima County, home of the single vehicle accident with 40 victims.)
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To: Polliwag

Thanks for the link.

I still think this is ivory-tower stuff. I'd give the bad guys 2 months to figure out how to arrange for a "plan b" in event of being tagged - they get a half mile ahead of LEO's pursuing them and call a buddy on their cell phone.

Buddy has a waiting doberman wearing a fat collar. Bad guy pulls up at arranged meeting place for 15 seconds, while his buddy pulls the tracker off the back bumper - and sticks it onto the doberman - and lets it go.

Officers spend the next three hours, chasing the dog around South Central, Fox 11 filming the whole time.

Good for Fox ratings. Great entertainment. Probably spawn a whole series of new movie plots.

I just don't think this is realistic. You need to STOP the car. Bad guys have brains too. They'll figure out how to defeat the tracking thing in no time.

It's a waste of money. Make it stop the car. Then spend the money on it.


13 posted on 02/04/2006 8:09:10 PM PST by Cringing Negativism Network
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To: Cringing Negativism Network

Maybe Metal Storm can sneak in a few of their High Explosive 40mm grenades in the tube.


14 posted on 02/04/2006 8:15:39 PM PST by Polliwag (http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/002/893foort.asp)
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To: Old Flat Toad

I had to throw you off and not divulge the secret of the new product but since you insist. There will be a gun that scans the vehicle and reads a computer emitted signal with the serial number of the vehicle that is then sent to the satellite for shutdown. Now there you have it, and to think you paid extra for them to open your doors and look what else you got. lol


15 posted on 02/04/2006 8:17:23 PM PST by PROSOUTH ( Deo Vindice "God Will Vindicate")
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To: Cringing Negativism Network
Naaahhhhh.

Replace the Po-Lice chopper with an A-10.

MUCH more satisfying...


16 posted on 02/04/2006 8:27:54 PM PST by null and void (If the Muslim world can be brought to its knees by 12 cartoons, let's give them a whole comic book!)
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To: null and void

I think this gizmo will work as a way to find bad guys who somehow "get away" during a chase - but it won't eliminate the need for officers to stay behind the suspect and do exactly what they're doing now.

If they change policy and rely on the gizmo, that's an opportunity to play games with the device.

However, if nothing changes from current chase policy and there's still a black/white on the suspect's bumper, and a chopper following his every move, then the gizmo would allow the suspect to be re-acquired if they somehow shook off the pursuing officers.

So it's probably useful, but shouldn't cause a change in the chase policy. That's way over-reacting.


17 posted on 02/04/2006 8:40:15 PM PST by Cringing Negativism Network
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To: Cringing Negativism Network
"What's needed - is one of those pitchfork-looking electronic zapper gizmo's, shown in the sequel to "Fast and Furious", which short-circuited the engine electronics in the chased car. "

Actually they do have two things just like you said. One is actually a grappling hook device that pulls you to a stop...unless you have a Mack truck! They also have EM devices that disable you car at a distance. All this stuff is part of the DoJ...IIRC the grappling hook thingy was Canadian.

18 posted on 02/04/2006 8:45:01 PM PST by endthematrix (None dare call it ISLAMOFACISM!)
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To: Polliwag
A launcher fires a Dart into a car that includes a GPS system used to track the car.

Maybe they can just "cut to the chase" and stop the car the old fashioned way.


19 posted on 02/04/2006 8:50:43 PM PST by anymouse
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To: Cringing Negativism Network

There already exist a high tech weapon to end endless car chases - A Gun!


20 posted on 02/04/2006 9:27:45 PM PST by Wisc Paul
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