Curious unmarked cars...

Recently on Avenue L near Nostrand I saw an SUV blow through a redlight with lights flashing and sirens blaring, then immediately pull over to a syagogue and let out an older Hassidic (not sure if I have this term right) gentleman. Then the lights came back on and the SUV sped away down Avenue L.

Not being from the area, I thought this was odd. Since then, I have seen this sort of thing happen a couple of times. Last time it was on the V. bridge near the Staten Island toll. I saw a black SUV with a dashmount blue light blazing down through the "bus only" lane. As they passed my car...I noticed the driver and passengers all to be dressed in what appeared to be Hassidic fashion.

Can someone explain this?

they police their own . they have their own EMT services hasala(spelling :P?) and other junk.

There are a number of upstate Hassidic communities in places such as Monsey where they have their own police force, EMTs, etc.

There is reciprocity among police forces (some of the rules that we normal folks have to follow they don't) but in most cases they should not be using their lights and sirens for non-emergency purposes. That would be like a Jersey City police car driving in NY and turning on its lights and sirens.

I lived upstate for many years and had friends who were in the state police that complained about abuse of the privileges, not just by the Hassidim but by many local sheriffs, town and village officials. It’s up to the police to make a call as to whether or not they want to stop folks when they see them abusing the privilege. Sometimes they do (especially when it is dangerous or egregious) but often they do not.

Anonymous wrote: There are a number of upstate Hassidic communities in places such as Monsey where they have their own police force, EMTs, etc.

There is reciprocity among police forces (some of the rules that we normal folks have to follow they don't) but in most cases they should not be using their lights and sirens for non-emergency purposes. That would be like a Jersey City police car driving in NY and turning on its lights and sirens.

I lived upstate for many years and had friends who were in the state police that complained about abuse of the privileges, not just by the Hassidim but by many local sheriffs, town and village officials. It’s up to the police to make a call as to whether or not they want to stop folks when they see them abusing the privilege. Sometimes they do (especially when it is dangerous or egregious) but often they do not.

they happen around hasadic area's all the time. they abuse it. you really dont have to let them through you know if its not a emgerancy .

do you have to pull over for an unmarked car or can you keep driving?

Around the Albany area several years ago there was a person or people that were pulling over women in their cars alone then sexually assaulting them on desolate streets/roads. At the time, the police said that if an unmarked car tried to stop you, and you weren't sure if it was the police you should continue driving at a low rate of speed to a well lit public area. If you were close enough you should drive directly to the nearest police station. They also advised that you ask for identification prior to rolling your window down all the way.

However YMMV with this advice as I think it works best for petite, attractive women. Everyone else might find themselves being dragged out of a car looking at the business end of a weapon.

Subject: Re: Curious unmarked cars...

Anonymous wrote: Not being from the area, I thought this was odd. Since then, I have seen this sort of thing happen a couple of times. Last time it was on the V. bridge near the Staten Island toll. I saw a black SUV with a dashmount blue light blazing down through the "bus only" lane. As they passed my car...I noticed the driver and passengers all to be dressed in what appeared to be Hassidic fashion.

Can someone explain this?

This is not their own police force but an NYPD police assigned to the Rebbi of each of the two Orthodox sects. What you saw going to SI was the Rebbi being driven to vist a graveyard. The Rebbi is considered a religious "bigwig" (for lack of a better word) and thus entitled to police escorts. This is done for all religious leaders that ask for it.

As for stopping for an unmarked police car there are things you must consider. The colors of their lights is an indication of who they are. I am not sure but I think red is for police, blue is for emergency vehicles and yellow is for non-police/fire/emt emergency vehicles.

Im confused... I've seen these guys for years aroudn crown heights. You're saying that the Hassidic-appearing people in those light-kit-equipped minivans are NYPD?

Just so you know - Blue lights usually mean volunteer firefighters/emt techs getting to a call. You don't HAVE to get out of the way, but you should.

i doubt they are police they are all over the place and alot of times they arent doing anything as of a emergency! they are in crown heights, borough park and billy's burg.

dan.h wrote: Im confused... I've seen these guys for years aroudn crown heights. You're saying that the Hassidic-appearing people in those light-kit-equipped minivans are NYPD?

When the Rebbi is being escorted to the cemetery it is the NYPD that is escorting them. Since 9/11 there have been police officers (undercover) assigned to neighborhoods that have a high number of religious jews living there. I know the Boro Park community has their own patrol (who do a good job I have to add). But when I lived there 2 years ago they used their own cars to patrol in. They did use flashing lights but not red. Im not sure about the Crown Heights sect. I could be wrong but I do not think that the Orthodox can/want to become police officers. Many are volunteer or auxillary cops though. So if it is an orthodox person driving the van they may not be NYPD. But I wouldn't be surprised if the NYPD supplied them with the vans.

Last time I was at the 77th I saw an officer with a skullcap, definitely religious, but without the long curls and the tzitzit. I assumed he was a regular officer, but thinking back he could well have been auxiliary.

I would assume that there is some attempt to recruit officers with more than a passing knowledge of the culture to serve in the community, but who knows? Perhaps some of the guests who post here and know better could weigh in with more info?

reminds me of the hassidic bus - not school bus type - but regualar city type bus only it's all hassidic men and speeding like crazy down bedford and perhaps other streets.

as for real or "real" police in unmarked cars, my favorite are the TAXIs. creeps me out everytime the taxi's true colors start flashing about and the siren goes off.

vanilla wrote: my favorite are the TAXIs. creeps me out everytime the taxi's true colors start flashing about and the siren goes off.

You mean a yellow taxi or the livery looking cars?

i've seen yellow cabs turn suddenly into flashing cops. it's surreal.

sweet tea wrote: i've seen yellow cabs turn suddenly into flashing cops. it's surreal.

That I have never seen. I can see how that would be weird.

yeah, i was at one of those crazy thousand-way intersections in chinatown, and i thought, wow, that cab's blowing the light! he's driving like an assh--oh, no, he's driving like a cop. i can only imagine it must have been more disorienting for those in cars.

now, whenever a cab doesn't stop to pick me up, i wonder....

sweet tea wrote: i've seen yellow cabs turn suddenly into flashing cops. it's surreal.

yeah, this is what i was talking about... SO creepy.