Photoshop skills can make a big difference.
It is very simple to digitally alter photos in Photoshop. This means that people with more experience can unalter these photos. After posting a Facebook post about a brand new car, the Waikato Police Department in New Zealand had to learn this lesson. The vehicle’s identity was hidden by a quick digital blackout, but an image flip revealed that it was Holden’s Chevrolet Equinox. It was so embarrassing.
Waikato Police is credited with being a good sport about the public showing of their secret patrol vehicle. Although the original post on Facebook showing the masked vehicle has been removed, they responded with a consciliatory post in which they reiterated their message of “anywhere and anytime”.
This was a rookie error. It was not enough to make the car opaque, but it was too dark. This would have made the entire image black and left nothing to be restored. The original image can be easily recovered by simply increasing the light levels. Automakers often make the same mistake when they create silhouetted teaser images for new vehicles. This can reveal more detail than was intended after the light levels are raised.
We found a link to an official news release from New Zealand Police that was distributed last July and which talks straight-up about the Equinox undercover cars. This release actually contains the image and text explaining how unmarked vehicles can be used to catch bad drivers red-handed.
“Unmarked vehicles are especially effective in detecting high risk behaviors such as driving without seatbelts on, driving while impaired, driving distracted and driving at unsafe speeds,” stated Inspector Peter McKennie. He is acting national manager of road policing. We know speed is the most important factor in determining the outcome of a collision. This applies regardless of whether you are able to walk away or are dragged away. We will continue to work unabatedly to stop people speeding on roads.
For decades, there has been a lot of debate about unmarked patrol cars being used for traffic enforcement. While the vehicles are believed to deter bad driving behavior, opponents argue that they only generate revenue and are not intended to be safety or deterrence.
Waikato’s secret fleet of ships is no longer secret. It was actually never secret at all.