Google may be the big fish on the Net, but Google Street View Car got no respect from the cops on the street! Neatorama reader Chris Whiteoak sent us these series of photographs of a Google car being pulled over by the police ... here's the story, in Chris' own words:
I'm from Bradford, United Kingdom. I was just going on my lunch break at work today and i noticed a black car that had stopped at a red light. It had a "google" sticker on the side, and a large camera "thing" on the top. I decided to pull out my camera phone to take a pic, but just as i did a police car pulled up right behind it and put on it's lights and officer inside was motioning the car to pull over.
I then realised why, as the car was in the lane to go straight ahead, which was marked "bus / bicycle / taxi only", before i could take another pic, the google car sped off, went nearly the whole way round the block in busy Bradford city centre (the police still following now with lights and siren on!), before eventually pulling into a car park... which just happened to be the car park to the old police station!!!
When i eventually caught up i did manage to get a picture of the police car and the Google car pulled over in the car park, after which the officer got out of the car and started asking me not to take pictures! lol
Also, I'm hoping when they put the street level view for Bradford on google maps, am hoping there will be a cheeky pic of me taking a pic of the google car, which i can then upload to google earth my pic of the google car taking a pic of me (if that makes sense?!? lol) :-D
And now, the photos:
Let us know if there's a picture of you taking a picture of the Google Car on Google Earth and thanks Chris!
Hilarious.
I just thought it was funny seeing the google car being pulled, but then not actually pulling over until it had drove almost round the block, then the irony of the police officer asking ME not to take pictures!! lol
Do you think Google managed to shoot some new footage for that stretch of road? I doubt we'll be seeing the arrest on Google Maps anytime soon, but who knows...
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2127657
This should bring up a route on gmaps pedometer, the route starts where the police put his lights on, and ends in the police station car park (as shown in the last pic)
I was started running round the block expecting the google car to pull over and was wanting to get a great shot of the car with police car behind with lights on, officer out giving a ticket etc, but he decided he would keep on driving and i guess pull in somewhere away from all the busy commuters or something.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2475792/Google-Street-View-car-pulled-over-by-police-for-driving-in-bus-lane.html
Looks like they stole your story Alex!!
I don't think it is.
But there may be special rules about when they're in the specific act of engaging suspects...
It is, generally - and certainly here, perfectly lawful to take photos of police doing their job. You were entitled to ignore him or tell him "Sorry it's lawful I'm keeping photographing". No offence was committed. Harassment of photographers is becoming a bit of an issue.
http://p10.hostingprod.com/@spyblog.org.uk/blog/harassment-of-photographers/
The delicious irony of a Googlecar being pulled is too funny.
No need to get all defensive to the officer.. He sure can't take you in for it.
Of course, the law is different in different places.
http://maps.google.nl/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=nl&geocode=&q=Bradford,+UK&sll=52.373045,4.893186&sspn=0.010821,0.033045&ie=UTF8&ll=53.792495,-1.755779&spn=0.001176,0.0103&t=h&z=18&iwloc=addr&layer=c&cbll=53.792494,-1.755778&panoid=4Hmm_-eiQkSXx_c1kHPNLg&cbp=11,74.49096854301233,,0,9.734374999999995
Plus... Could this be you?
http://maps.google.nl/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=nl&geocode=&q=Bradford,+UK&sll=52.373045,4.893186&sspn=0.010821,0.033045&ie=UTF8&ll=53.792495,-1.755779&spn=0.001176,0.0103&t=h&z=18&iwloc=addr&layer=c&cbll=53.792494,-1.755778&panoid=4Hmm_-eiQkSXx_c1kHPNLg&cbp=11,74.49096854301233,,0,9.734374999999995
Which is why police officers (ask) to search your car because you are protected by your 2nd admendment against unreasonable search and seizure without a warrant.
(which is why they ask for a dog if you refuse) ;)
If taking the picture was illegal He would be TELLING you to not take a picture and likely would give you a punishment of some sorts seeing what they did to Google for something minor.