On 21/1/04, [EMAIL PROTECTED] disgorged: >What I want to know is, do they have those snooper trucks running up and down >the streets checking for unlicensed TV receivers?
Yes, but they don't do it like they used to. In fact, they used to have a fleet of vans with vary large antennae on the roofs and the words 'TV DETECTOR VAN' in vary large letters printed on the sides. Supposedly inside, blokes with corduroy trousers and jackets with elbow-patches listened on bakelite headphones for any seepage of 'well it's midnight and BBC 1 is closing down for the night, good night...' It was commonly thought that most if them were placebos that were sent out now and again to patrol low-income housing and apartment areas in an effort to frighten offenders into nipping out to the Post Office and buying a license. Nowadays it's much more subtle and with very few vans. Databases from various sources are used to single out properties with no license and calculate possible offences taking place. The latest gear is used and they can locate the television receiver in the room to within a few inches. Not apocryphal - our satellite truck operator told me all bout the technology used to do this. Frightening accuracy. Most people buy a license, and it's very good value considering what you pay for Sky and the utter shite they pump out..... Cheers, Cotty ___/\__ || (O) | People, Places, Pastiche ||=====| www.macads.co.uk/snaps _____________________________ Free UK Mac Ads www.macads.co.uk
