First, when following someone out of a neighborhood; timing is everything. You don’t want to hightail it behind the subject but you don’t want them getting too far. This takes practice: I am always aware of how busy the road the subject is about to get on is; the traffic Lights, Signs, etc... If there is nothing that is going to get in my way I count to 3 and go. This if of course assuming the subject‘s speed is normal. If there are a lot of potential obstacles, I just go as soon as they do. When they make turns, I try to turn as they make the turn. That way they don’t notice me since they are busy turning. If they have made a turn at a light and I’m far back, I will gun it to the light and slow down after turning so the subject doesn’t notice.
General Rule: I am behind them (I don’t mean right behind them although I have done that to) until they get to the first or second place. If they don’t notice me leaving the neighborhood with them I just pull into where ever they are going. I Get my video, location and wait. The first place or two I do this and then I back off. I use what is referred to as buffer cars so the subject doesn’t see me in their mirrors the whole time. This is just an extra car in between me and him. The more buffer cars the better in terms of him noticing me but remember a buffer car might stop at a light and the subject might go through. Always be aware of the lights. Using buffer cars is a judgment call you start making with a little experience.
if I see a subject turning on to a road and I am a distance away, I will speed up tremendously to get to the light as he turns, and then turn slowly. Does this look wierd. Maybe to other drivers, but who cares as long as your subject does not notice.