Police tower at On The Run gas station at Park rd & Woodlawn (Charlotte: shop) - North Carolina (NC) - City-Data Forum

BBSLM · 01-19-2010, 09:36 AM

Any idea what this is?

Hopefully it's not some type of speed/redlight camera set-up.

Nativechief · 01-19-2010, 10:03 AM

Its a new idea they have come up with to make potential crooks think just maybe they are being watched.. You never know if a cop is in it or not. I have seen it at walmart and uncc charlotte several times.

bs13690 · 01-19-2010, 10:07 AM

I've asked before and they told me it is just up to monitor the area. I don't think speed/red light cameras are used in Charlotte anymore.

coastalgirl · 01-19-2010, 10:24 AM

They had them at Rivergate during the Christmas shopping season too. It's just to deter crime.

CMPX2 · 01-19-2010, 10:34 AM

There is one on the backside of the Federal courthouse now as well.

BBSLM · 01-19-2010, 12:30 PM

that makes sense.

It doesn't look like any camera I had ever seen, but I thought I remembered something about the removal of the original cameras being temporary, so I thought this might be the new generation.

Metallisteve · 01-19-2010, 02:48 PM

Temporarily forever.

CMPD has several of these portable tower units. As others have stated, it's difficult (if not impossible) to tell if someone is in it or not due to the dark glass...unless you watched it all day long for someone going up into it!

They seem effective to me. They get everyone's attention which may be enough to deter most thugs.

bs13690 · 01-19-2010, 03:06 PM

Article from a few months ago about them. Do Mobile Police Watch Towers Work | Morgan Fogarty | FOX Charlotte | 102109 (http://www.foxcharlotte.com/dpp/news/mobile_police_watch_towers_102109 - broken link)

I could see where they would help. I wonder if they have bathrooms in 'em.

Alpha8207 · 01-19-2010, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bs13690

I wonder if they have bathrooms in 'em.

LOL that someone else's brain works like mine.

I saw one of these in the parking lot at the Eastway Wal-Mart. And over there, I dern near parked directly under it!

Sean_CLT · 01-19-2010, 06:47 PM

They appear to have A/C units on the roof, so I presume someone could stay in one a long time if there's enough space to stretch your legs. I would not be too suprised if there is a porta-potty in there... I would presume one of the tower's intended uses is to be placed at a stadium parking lot where the occupants may not be able to get to the restroom.