Gentlemen–and Cops–Prefer Polaroids

[amateriat]

Yesterday, I was on my bike, on my way to see a client, when I came upon a police road block...one of those Cushman-like vehicles that's long been a NYPD mainstay. I carefully crept past the vehicle and stopped next to the officer standing about ten yards away, asking if it was okay for me to head down the block.

"No problem", he said, "Just watch for any fuel spillage crossing 4th Avenue."

Ah...bad old 4th Avenue. Drag-strip to the harried, driven masses, and home to many a serious accident (some years ago, an Army recruiting guy in a Chevy Cavalier changed lanes a bit too inattentively, and smacked me clean off my bike...in broad daylight. Amazingly, I managed to get away with little more than the usual scrapes, cuts and bruises.) This time it was a couple of Livery cars that tangled in a manner that suggested that "right-of-way" was an abstract concept to both drivers.

There were a few patrol cars, one unmarked car, an EMS vehicle (someone got hurt, but apparently not too badly)...and, one cop taking pictures of the aftermath. With a cheap Polaroid camera. Not something semi-swoopy like a Spectra (I have one around here, somewhere...I don't even know if I can still buy film for it). From where I stood, it looked like a One-Step model.

As I walked my bike back up the blocked-off street, I was curious enough about this to want to have a word with the cop I talked to before. Do they use Polaroids because of the need for not-easily-tampered-with documentation? Is shooting digital problematic in a situation like this?

The officer confirmed all of this. In the event of an accident where legal charges and counter-charges will fly around, whatever evidence is brought forth has to be as bulletproof as possible, he told me. It's not as sexy as some gal hoisting a Canon 1D or the like on CSI, but it gets the job done, and uncontested.

And, even though I didn't ask, I presume they're getting their film from Fuji, unless there's a huge stash in some storeroom nobody's talking about. (The way My Fair City's budget is about to get hammered, hoarding's not a bad idea...)


- Barrett

 

[ChrisN]

Interesting story, and good point about the polaroid. Now I need a translation, or better yet a few photos! What's a Cushman, and what are Livery cars?

 

[amateriat]

Chris: Yep, shoulda clarified:

Livery cars are simply private cars-for-hire, as opposed to yellow cabs. They are an outgrowth of the barely-legal "gypsy cab" phenomenon of the late 60s/70s in NYC. The Taxi & Limousine Commission, after a futile attempt to outlaw the cars, essentially allowed "Livery" companies to operate under certain conditions and regulations, which didn't thrill the yellow-cab companies much, but made for safer travel in neighborhoods that were underserved by regular taxis at the time. (A whole book could be written about that subject, and I'd be surprised if someone hasn't done just that already.)

Cushmans were three-wheeled, one-person vehicles that came into use by the NYPD several decades ago (more substantial, and weatherproof, than a scooter, but cheaper to own and operate than a typical patrol car). The current versions, apparently not made by Cushman, are descendants of those early "Cushes."


- Barrett

 

[Doug]

Chris, I believe Barrett's talking about the same sort of Cushman rig I used when I was the local parking control officer (metermaid) long ago. Three wheels, one at the front. Lawnmower type putt-putt motor under the seat, which was barely wide enough for two only in dire need. The "doors" on each side were flexible material and slid shut. Handy for jumping in and out. Top speed about 40mph. I believe Cushman made other small utility vehicles of the same type in various configurations.

 

[oftheherd]

Interesting. The court test used to be fairly simple. Could anyone, preferably the photographer, say under oath that a particular photograph acurately depicted the scene as seen when it was photographed.

If different focal lengths, usually a wide angle, had to be used, it was useful to know the proper viewing distance of a print. That would be based on the size of the photo and the focal length of the lens. Kodak used to publish books on that subject.

I am surprised at the need for Polaroid for the stated purpose.

 

[Roger Hicks]

I am surprised at the need for Polaroid for the stated purpose.

Surely it's just easier: one less thing to contest. Sure, you can do it with certified pics, but why not use Polaroids?

And thanks to the OP for an interesting story.

Cheers,

Roger

 

[Muggins]

Certainly in 1992, when I managed to find a WW2 bomb on a British beach, Royal Navy EOD crews were carrying fairly cheap-looking Polaroid cameras for recording purposes. I saw the chap readying the camera, asked if he'd take me one (I'd already sneaked out the previous tide, roundabouts midnight, and taken two or three by flash...), and was gobsmacked to be told that I could come down with them! As it happened, their Polaroid died on them any my spectacularly crummy Boots 226X point-and-click was the only record.

Unfortunately, as you can probably guess by my choice of camera, I wasn't into photography then, so I didn't note details that I might have if I had been.

I'm guessing that the Polaroid was so that if you came up with anything you didn't recognise, or unusual, you could get help with it ASAP as the penalty for getting it wrong involved being removed from a very large area in very small pieces.

Adrian

 

[icebear]

quote : ... that "right-of-way" was an abstract concept to both drivers. LOL 😀

 

[Kin Lau]

Interesting, but what are they going to do when it's winter? Polaroids don't work so well in sub-zero temps.

 

[eli griggs]

Kin Lau, as long as the film isn't frozen, a freshly pulled print can go into a warm jacket, under the armpit is best, to develop out. A number of pack film cameras came with two metal sheets which could be kept warm in the coat and the just pulled film went in between these pre-warmed film sized plates.

On the issue of courts and photographs, when I took my conceal carry class, we were advised to keep disposable cameras (or other ready film cameras available) in the event of a home invasion that involved a shooting in defense.

The logic behind this is you shouldn't depend on police photographs or even access to the scene after they arrive, as evidence on your behalf and digital photos from whatever source are too easy to challenges in court where even the smallest suspicion of editing, etc could be reason to doubt all such evidence.

Polaroids are great for instant feedback, as other have pointed out, and can show what you're overlooking as well as to what has happened as you work a scene.

I sure do miss the days of plentiful instant film and I'm sure picky about using the 4x5, pack film and SX-70 type stuff I have on hand. I haven't tried the Fuji stuff yet.

 

[David Goldfarb]

Once when my office was broken into a few years ago, the security guy made some Polaroids to show how the lock had been jimmied, but he didn't know enough to understand that his camera couldn't focus closer than about 3 feet, and he wouldn't be able to get a clear picture close up.