"Ghost" MNRF CO truck

[blasted_saber]

That's funny...I can count on my palm how many CO'S I've seen while hunting in the last 10 years. Mostly see them while fishing on overpopulated lakes.. ie Simcoe icefishing.

No one is making a compelling argument why law enforcement has to sink to sneaking around. Seems a little dishonest no?

Not to me. I'd rather COs be sneaky then have poachers get away with poaching.

[400bigbear]

Not to me. I'd rather COs be sneaky then have poachers get away with poaching.

I think blasted sabre and others are missing FW's point here . Nobody is denying that undercover ops and ghost cars shouldn't EVER be used but a pro -active approach is prevention and will deter more . Once an animal or fish has been killed it is gone for good and will never ever be harvested legally . Alot of any temptation to cross the line or risk a charge is taken away if da law is visible . Do dope dealers deal in front of a marked car ? Not likely . Will a robber rob a store or bank knowingly if there is a marked car close that they have seen ? . Not likely . I think that is the point FW is trying to make . Just like Friday . MNR was very visible with insignia etc on the side of the chopper cruising low in Burk's Falls area . Alot of folks noticed it and it likely prevented some from taking a adult moose without the proper tag in the last two days or leaving one in the bush to rot . Lots of camps frustrated at lack of tags or not finding calves . High visibility kept many honest hunters honest just incase they decided to even think about straying . Saved some moose and likely even some deer .

TD

TD

[welsh]

This isn't about undercover work. It's uniformed officers driving cars with low-profile markings. The question is whether you best deter offenders by being visible.

[sawbill]

Routine patrols with a green/white pickup will never the deter a local seasoned poacher. They're comfortable in their back yard and are used to seeing an MNR vehicle. They've got their stories down pat even before being stopped and checked.
Unmarked can pick up a lot of violations, everything from guys fishing with extra lines to loaded firearms in a vehicle. All that's usually needed is to get closer to the guys before they clean up their act and unmarked accomplishes this.

[huntrfishr]

CO's should probably parked their marked car in a visible place but walk the river wearing a fishing vest and gear.
Might get more excitement that way.

[Crash2000]

Having been working in a "ghost car" for years I will chime in here, although not a CO. It may be a cost saving issue, striping a vehicle can cost a lot of money first of all. It could be a new vehicle for them and the striping is being designed and being prepped for installation. Unmarked law enforcement vehicle have their place, and so do marked. Most unmarked have so many lights that it is obvious that they are who they are when they want to be seen. The officers are also in uniform which is a dead give away. When people see a marked vehicle they are good, while they see the marked vehicle, but once out of sight return to their original habits. If your original habits are legal then there isn't an issue. I also used to get people telling me all the time "I saw your new mustang the other day," when we didn't have a mustang at the time. People will never now where the officer is or what he is driving so they will change their habits all the time no knowing. Not everyone but the majority will. Striped vehicles are also usually made of reflective material for visibility, so it would be pretty hard for a marked vehicle to park in low light conditions and not glow. If your legal who cares. If your legal lots of people will be happy that they will catch a few more poachers. And they have had unmarked vehicles throughout the province for decades, as I was aware of one such in north western Ontario years ago. There are always people who feel that this is unfair, or entrapment or that the unmarked vehicle is not needed, but the majority feels the opposite.

[rev500ss]

I saw a CO last weekend and I'm almost certain he was out in his own truck. There wasn't a marking on it, but he was in uniform. Was actually very helpful as I was in a new area and he pointed out some spots to stay away from.
I had all my stuff so I was legal so I wasn't worried about seeing him, but if others weren't legal they would have never noticed him until he was out of his truck.

[Exo200]

Having been working in a "ghost car" for years I will chime in here, although not a CO. It may be a cost saving issue, striping a vehicle can cost a lot of money first of all. It could be a new vehicle for them and the striping is being designed and being prepped for installation. Unmarked law enforcement vehicle have their place, and so do marked. Most unmarked have so many lights that it is obvious that they are who they are when they want to be seen. The officers are also in uniform which is a dead give away. When people see a marked vehicle they are good, while they see the marked vehicle, but once out of sight return to their original habits. If your original habits are legal then there isn't an issue. I also used to get people telling me all the time "I saw your new mustang the other day," when we didn't have a mustang at the time. People will never now where the officer is or what he is driving so they will change their habits all the time no knowing. Not everyone but the majority will. Striped vehicles are also usually made of reflective material for visibility, so it would be pretty hard for a marked vehicle to park in low light conditions and not glow. If your legal who cares. If your legal lots of people will be happy that they will catch a few more poachers. And they have had unmarked vehicles throughout the province for decades, as I was aware of one such in north western Ontario years ago. There are always people who feel that this is unfair, or entrapment or that the unmarked vehicle is not needed, but the majority feels the opposite.

I agree , Headin to work last year and had this guy behind wanting to " GO " And at a very dangerous time pulled a bad hair brain move to pass me , only to have the light grey mid sized car behind him start strobing the grill light's I pulled over and the officer got his guy a km up the road. I just laughed... Saw a CO in a blue ford escape running around last year. It work's

[brent]

Not really sure what exactly a ghost car is....

But the MNR has fully marked vehicles, completely unmarked vehicles and they also have some vehicles with subdued markings. Those are the dark vehicles with markings that only show up when a light hits them at night.

Good news, there are currently 9 new CO's going through Ontario Police College right now.

We need more CO's, but I don't think it will happen.

Maybe it's time to train some OPP a little more in the FWCA. A CO in every OPP detachment would be nice to see.

[Brampton Mike]

Like a previous poster said...if you are doing nothing wrong then why are concerned about it??? I'm all for more u/c co's in unmarked vehicles to stop all the poaching that is going on, be it in the rivers, lakes or woods!