←back to thread

LAPD helicopter tracker with real-time operating costs

(lapdhelicoptertracker.com)
100 points polalavik | 3 comments | 21 Nov 25 22:11 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
Show context
BadBadJellyBean ◴[21 Nov 25 22:48 UTC] No.46009959[source]▶
I find it interesting that the question is "why don't they use drones". My question is: why so much air surveillance? I live in Germany. The only times I hear a helicopter is if someone is being rescued or if someones missing. I rarely see them at all.
replies(8): >>46009992 #>>46010039 #>>46010046 #>>46010095 #>>46010377 #>>46010416 #>>46010471 #>>46010969 #
shoddydoordesk ◴[21 Nov 25 22:52 UTC] No.46009992[source]▶
There are high speed police chases (100mph+) in Los Angeles — no exaggeration — on an almost daily basis. Air support is the primary defense tool for law enforcement.

It's so bad that the local TV stations have their own choppers and a dedicated on-screen UI tailored for the chases with GPS-based tracking and speed.

If you're lucky you can catch one of the many YouTube live streams. Here's one from....two days ago: https://www.youtube.com/live/uGiJU-FlpdE

replies(7): >>46010007 #>>46010024 #>>46010029 #>>46010186 #>>46010216 #>>46010236 #>>46010463 #
asdff ◴[21 Nov 25 22:54 UTC] No.46010024[source]▶
They get away from time to time from the airship. Two in one week this past august and I don't think they ever caught the suspects. One drove under an overpass and fled on foot, the other entered LAX airspace which requires waiting on clearance from ATC and got away somehow after that. I don't know why they don't just shoot a magnetic dart at the car with a gps tracker on it.
replies(3): >>46010063 #>>46010120 #>>46011108 #
efnx ◴[21 Nov 25 22:58 UTC] No.46010063[source]▶
It would have to be a very special dart. Cars are mostly aluminum and foam. A piercing dart would be dangerous and a magnet would really work.
replies(2): >>46010104 #>>46010170 #
1. asdff ◴[21 Nov 25 23:02 UTC] No.46010104[source]▶
Outside certain high performance cars, most cars have steel body panels.
replies(2): >>46010181 #>>46011210 #
2. bluedino ◴[21 Nov 25 23:11 UTC] No.46010181[source]▶
Some steel body panels. Much of a car is made of plastic/urethan type materials, hoods are usually aluminum, some bodies are all aluminum....
3. WarOnPrivacy ◴[22 Nov 25 01:30 UTC] No.46011210[source]▶
> Outside certain high performance cars, most cars have steel body panels.

I never thought of my Olds Silhouette minivan as a high performance car. Neat.

The rubbery panels were great. I was at school pickup and another parent backed into it. They crushed the front fender to the firewall. Then they pulled up and it popped out.

They were freaked out but it was fine. And it's just a car.