Car spotted with devices on all for corners in FT Worth Texas...possible Videoing traffic? (Dallas: hotel, tax)

[SVTRay]

We drove in to Dallas to today on I-30 and just as we pulled into FT Worth I passed a guy with a slightly suspicious vehicle. My guess is a dark color import with what looked like possible cameras videoing traffic. Has anyone seen this vehicle before and know the story?

[CptnRn]

Possibly something like a Google Maps streetview car?

[SVTRay]

Originally Posted by CptnRn

Possibly something like a Google Maps streetview car?

Nah, it had four individual devices about the size and looks of a side mirrors...two mounted I the front on the hood of front fenders and the other two in the rear on the trunk lid. All four was angled towards traffic on their perspective sides.

[CptnRn]

Originally Posted by SVTRay

Nah, it had four individual devices about the size and looks of a side mirrors...two mounted I the front on the hood of front fenders and the other two in the rear on the trunk lid. All four was angled towards traffic on their perspective sides.

Could be a new way of doing a traffic count, which is often done during planning for road redesign.

[Bo]

It's probably one of those cars that automatically reads license plate numbers and runs them through the state database. It's checking for stolen vehicles, owners with active warrants, etc.

[CptnRn]

Originally Posted by Bo

It's probably one of those cars that automatically reads license plate numbers and runs them through the state database. It's checking for stolen vehicles, owners with active warrants, etc.

I'm so glad they have started doing that. I know the legislature approved those monies last year. It is good to hear hey are finally using them.

[SVTRay]

Originally Posted by Bo

It's probably one of those cars that automatically reads license plate numbers and runs them through the state database. It's checking for stolen vehicles, owners with active warrants, etc.

I haven't heard of that but it sounds cool.

My only thoughts on that is the vehicle in question wasn't all that offical...using typical city makes/models and sported regular plates...aka no Tax Exempt plates. Those devices wasn't all that concealed either. I mean who knows, I wished I could have taken a picture of it.

[azradaz]

But I had an experience in Arizona today with a nondescript sedan equipped as described, including suspicious behavior of the car wanting to spend time right behind me (I'll spare you the details, but he obviously wanted to be in a certain relative position to me), and then he drove away.

[High_Plains_Retired]

Possibly it's a commercial venture in order to try and analyze traffic patterns in the area?

I'd hate to be the one who had to put numbers to that sort of data.

[KathrynAragon]

Originally Posted by SVTRay

Nah, it had four individual devices about the size and looks of a side mirrors...two mounted I the front on the hood of front fenders and the other two in the rear on the trunk lid. All four was angled towards traffic on their perspective sides.

My husband and I saw one of these in Pittsburgh PA recently - just a few weeks ago! It was in the parking lot of the hotel we were staying at. We couldn't figure it out at all.

Then we saw it or one just like it driving around later that day.

It was dark in color too.