Do you know how easy an unmarked police car is to spot though?
Also, you only find out if the vehicle is going to run once you put the lights on. What’s the plan, just follow everyone home you want to give a ticket to?
Depends on the charge obviously. For a stolen vehicle, as is the case in the OP, why not? It’s not like cops are productive with their time anyways. They sit on the side of the road doing nothing for hours at a time.
If the vehicle is not suspected to be stolen and a stop is attempted but the suspect flees, they can easily arrest them later at their house or workplace. The license plate gives possible suspects, then phone location data is subpoenaed to prove who was driving at the time.
The high speed chase only starts when the lights come on. An unmarked car could easily follow at normal speeds.
Do you know how easy an unmarked police car is to spot though?
Also, you only find out if the vehicle is going to run once you put the lights on. What’s the plan, just follow everyone home you want to give a ticket to?
Depends on the charge obviously. For a stolen vehicle, as is the case in the OP, why not? It’s not like cops are productive with their time anyways. They sit on the side of the road doing nothing for hours at a time.
If the vehicle is not suspected to be stolen and a stop is attempted but the suspect flees, they can easily arrest them later at their house or workplace. The license plate gives possible suspects, then phone location data is subpoenaed to prove who was driving at the time.
No need to chase.
After they’ve disposed of the evidence of whatever dodgy shit they were doing that caused them to run.