Driver catches undercover police officer posing as a windscreen washer to nab motorists using their phones
A driver has revealed a deceptive new tactic police are using to catch out motorists using mobile phones.
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A driver has uncovered a sneaky new tactic police are using to catch out drivers using mobile phones.
The man accused an officer of posing as a window washer in Auckland, New Zealand, to catch people using their mobile phones while driving.
The motorist recorded the confrontation after spotting an undercover officer in a hoodie standing on the side of the road while stopped at a light.
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“He‘s the cop who gave me the ticket!” the man told his passenger in the video.
“This is bad, man. He‘s pretending to be a window washer!”
The driver’s passenger exited the car and approached the officer to “let the public know” about their sneaky scheme.
“Alright guys so we‘ve got police here hiding, pretending to be window washers,” he can be heard saying.
“So what they do is they stand here and they dress up in hoodies with a window washer thing and they‘re looking and trying to get people tickets for fines, maybe phones, seatbelts.”
Several other officers then approached the man as he loudly questioned whether their deceptive tactic was “saving lives”.
Police told the man he was within his rights to film, but advised him to move on and allow the operation to continue.
The officer wearing a hoodie then returns to his post beside the road.
NZ Police Inspector Tony Wakelin said the impersonation was not appropriate and said the operation will be wrapped up immediately.
“We will be communicating with our staff this should not be happening in future,” he said.
“There were lessons here for their staff on the appropriate way to conduct these operations in future. And I will be ensuring those conversations will be had.
“The use of a plainclothes officer to watch for these offences is a standard operating tactic to prevent death and serious injuries on our roads.”
Originally published as Driver catches undercover police officer posing as a windscreen washer to nab motorists using their phones