Halton police stop 'cheating' speeders

Was that a taxi or a police car?

That's what motorists in parts of Halton have been asking for the past year.

Halton police say that they've been putting taxi-style lights atop some unmarked cars to nab speeders and aggressive drivers in Milton and Halton Hills.

But Insp. Bill Ford said the program, although successful, was scuttled three weeks ago because some folks thought it gave police an unfair advantage.

"Our goal here in Halton Region is to reduce the number of deaths caused by aggressive driving and motor vehicle accidents," Ford said. "It was very effective.

"But we're not about catching people committing traffic offences at any cost."

Ford said there was only one complaint from the public about the project, which was suggested by traffic officers who thought the lights would help police vehicles blend in more than unmarked cars alone.