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With all the police procedurals filming in the city, have you ever wondered how to tell the real squad cars from the impostors? It turns out that the city has a special insignia for the imitation-vehicles-- but it's hard to spot. Look closely at the back of the car, however, and you'll see it: TV Unit!
Has anyone noticed the insignia on-screen? Or do you think they edit it out in post-production?
UPDATE: Steve writes in: "That is a REAL police car... TV unit is an NYPD unit assigned to all
Television and Film Productions around the City.. Their function is to guard..protect and facilitate the safe filming of the production."
So if that's true, we're back to square one-- how can you tell the real cops from the fake ones?
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That is a REAL police car... TV unit is an NYPD unit assigned to all Televsion and Film Productions around the City.. Their function is to gaurd..protect and facilitate the safe filming of the production.
No, I think that this is an actual unit. They deal with permits and security that film companies pay the city for.
The NYPD's part in that whole promote "let's film in NYC".
I've watched a lot of L&O and they always edit it out. But good to know!
Yep, us taxpayers pay for their private security, too.
If the film co. do pay, can you show us the bill they get or is it through polictical contributions to special pet projects?
Get these film producers out of NYC.
Film cop cars must be covered (lights and tape over writing) during transportation to and from shooting locations.
#4:
*Yep, us taxpayers pay for their private security, too... Get these film producers out of NYC.*
Tax payers do not pay a single dime for TV and motion pcitures to be filmed in the city. Do a little reaseach before posting a comment. the Production Companies pay thru the nose to use the city as a stage... Productions of any kind in the city are great for the city economy...
How you think that's bad is beyond me.
here's a list of current productions in nyc:
http://nyc.gov/html/film/html/locations/current_nyc_productions.shtml
its as hard to spot a fake cop as it is to spot a fake firefighter.
DAMN YOU BRAUNSTEIN!!!
Give me a break with the production companies paying through the nose. I thought the city gave them tax breaks and they used them all ahead of schedule.
Show me where they pay through the nose?
isn't that what I asked, I don't care about how many friggin annoying productions are filming at the moment.
stop being an asshole edex.
Its easy to spot a fake cab/police car. The license plate does not match the cab number.
To spot a cop cabbie, usually there's two people in the front seat.
That's poor work, Gothamist. Posting something as news without knowing whether it's true or not? Without even saying something like, "It looks like ..."? I'm surprised and disappointed that you would post that fake cop cars for TV shows are marked "TV Unit" without actually checking to see if you're right.
Most of the actors playing the parts of the officers are real police officers assigned to the NYPD Movie/TV Unit.
Founded in 1966, the NYPD Movie/TV Unit was the first of its kind in the country. Because of its relationship with the NYPD, the Unit has the greatest knowledge on how to assist productions, particularly with complex shooting situations, in a City that is dense with vehicular and pedestrian traffic. In addition to this expertise, their services are free to productions filming in the City.
Whether it's filming on bridges, highways, or busy intersections, the Unit controls traffic to ensure that companies can get shots that may otherwise be impossible. In addition, the City's many police related shows, such as Law & Order and Third Watch, generate "crime scenes" which are supervised by the Movie/TV Unit. The Unit's responsibilities do not end there; they also monitor child work permits, stunts, prop firearms, placement of equipment, pedestrian safety and parking.
While filming on busy New York City streets presents countless challenges, the Unit has, over the years, developed a strong working relationship with the film industry. The unit makes effort to ensure that New York City remains a popular location for filming.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fictional_portrayals_of_the_NYPD#NYPD_Movie.2FTV_Unit
The real cops are the ones harassing you for doing something perfectly legal: taking photos on the subway, riding a bike, etc.
The picture cars used for filming tend to have fake precinct numbers on them. Most used for Law & Order have "27 PCT" on them, since that is what the fictional precinct on the show is. Some other fake precincts are 15 (NYPD Blue), 33, 53 (Car 54 Where are you?), and 55 (Third Watch).
The NYPD Film and Television Unit has a website. They are responsible for traffic control and permit enforcement.
Now if you look closely at the RMP, you will see a Highway Patrol type light bar.
it's easy enough to spot the fake ones... just like with cabbies, you look at the plates and that tells you if it's real or not.
real cabs have plates that match the number on the "hat". real cop cars have matching unit numbers and plates. the fakes do not.
the dmv doesn't play around. :)
Tax payers do not pay a single dime for TV and motion pcitures to be filmed in the city. Do a little reaseach before posting a comment. the Production Companies pay thru the nose to use the city as a stage... Productions of any kind in the city are great for the city economy...
Could you be more wrong? The city gives out tax breaks and they were so popular this year they ran out of the allotted credits in the spring!
FYI, more of Martin Scorsese's The Departed was filmed in New York than in Boston. Martin knows a good deal when he sees one. If you see the movie, very early on Leonardo DiCaprio and Anthony Anderson are jogging while at the "Massachusetts police academy". You can see the Throgs Neck Bridge in the background.
#10:
*To spot a cop cabbie, usually there's two people in the front seat.*
To spot NYPD Yellow Taxi's is very easy, Yes, sometimes there are two people in the front seat, but a fool proof way: NYPD Yellow Taxi's do not have the TLC number coding system on the licence plate, (eg. 2G81).
NYPD Yellow Taxi's always have a long string of numbers on the licence plate and TLC Yellow Taxi's must have matching numbers on the roof, rear doors and licence plate.
Unfortunately for the real cops, it's easy to pick the fakes out. They make more money than any street cop.
Tax Breaks for Millionaires:
Yes, you are correct. Through recently implemented legislation, the City and State of New York do give out tax breaks and other incentives for productions to come and film here in NY. There are requirements though, and it's not as simple as signing up.
edEx: You're right too - productions DO pay through the nose - crew rates are higher than on the West Coast, equipment & vehicle rental rates are higher as well (in some cases, easily twice as expensive!), and virtually all productions nowadays, no matter how low-budget, are beholden to unions - paying high pension & welfare contributions, in addition to the standard payroll taxes and workers' comp.
In the early 90's, studios & other producers basically threw in the towel rather than deal with negotiating with unions (teamsters included) and the other high costs associated with shooting in NY - slowing production down until there was virtually none (L & O was about the only thing going on). The tax incentives, in addition to assistance from the NYPD film & tv unit, are among some of the reasons why production in NY has come roaring back, employing more people than ever in all phases of film & tv production, and in ancillary areas too - those actors coming in from LA have to live somewhere; those production offices have to get their phone lines and office rentals from somewhere, the trucks have to get parked somewhere, and lunch (on production) has to get delivered or catered by someone.
So yeah, there are tax breaks and paying through the nose, but ultimately, the city does benefit from all the taxes the folks now working contribute. It's just a pain when trailers take up all the damn parking!
So we are basically giving them tax breaks to subsidize the higher union pay and other expenses?
something doesn't sound right here.
How does that benefit, In REAL dollars and terms the average NY'er??????? What about the Lost revenue in closing a busy street? Anyone have any info on that?
Or, having to fund a separate NYPD unit just for this industry.
Someone is making out like a bandit. And, it ain't us.
To spot a cop cabbie, usually there's two people in the front seat.
-
You can also just check the center of the vehicle - there is not safety glass as there would be in a normal cab or police car.
When not on the set, I've always seen the fake cops wearing a homemade vest type thing which covers the uniform. See the second-to-last photo here.
When they were filming "The Interpreter" a few years back in the village, the fake cop cars were had the flexible magnetic peel off precinct numbers. Only the stripes and large side logos were painted on. At the end of the day they peeled the magnetic sheets off for transport. From a distance they looked real, but, up close it was really obvious they were not real, no radios, cb's, rear seat cage, completely bare interiors, etc..
Speaking of police cars, has anyone else observed as I have the poor parking habits some NYPD officers engage in? I too frequently see police cars double and even triple parked while their occupants chat. They don't seem to care that they are impeding traffic and inconveniencing the motoring taxpaying public. I've also seen them park haphazardously in the middle of the street when there is ample curb space available. Just this morning at Eighth Avenue at the SW corner of West 54th Street I saw a police car parked on the west side of Eighth Avenue facing south (Eighth Avenue is a northbound street). Couldn't the officer who parked that car have done so properly?
I have the highest regard for our police officers. They have a tough and thankless job, no question about it. But if they want RESPECT they need to show RESPECT by obeying the same laws they enforce.
Of course it is necessary to park in a awkward manner sometimes during legitimate police actions, I'll grant that. But for officers to park police cars in a way that interferes with traffic and demonstrates disrespect for the law when it is not necessary and justified is just plain wrong. Those who do it just because they can tarnish themselves and the entire department.
Let me show you guys the most common theme with NYC Pollice Cabs
If the 4 letter ID starts with 6Y..example 6Y61..its a cop
Also 2W5 beginnings are cops
I have persoanlly seen about 20-25 with these identifiers
Steve