Unmarked Police Cars... Getting Sneakier?

[ThunderLew]

So I was coming back to work from lunch and saw a silver Impala pull over a lady. Only this Impala was completely stripped of any police badges. The blue and red lights were in the grill and the turn signals and the plates looked like they were missing the (XMT) and had real tabs (most police in my area don?t have tabs).

I have also heard, but not confirmed that police in my area are starting to hide as taxi cabs. They already have some pretty stealthy Suburbans.

Has anyone else seen some of these real undercover cars?

 

[Baked]

If you ain't breaking the law, why should you care what the hell cop cars look like?

 

[Legendary]

Unmarked Impalas, Suburbans and cabs as cops have been in use in NYC for a few years now. An unmarked Impala produced two cops who gave me an MIP ticket just last year.

 

[imported_LoKe]

No hubcaps -> Undercover Cop.

 

[ZoomStop]

Not over here but they use them a lot in Cleveland.
Sneaky? Yes.
Effective? Yes.

 

[jagec]

They are getting sneaky...time was, it was all Crown Vics, totally unstealthy. Now they use anything and everything.

I got pulled over once by a sedan with a big For Sale sign in the window. Didn't see THAT one coming.

 

[Gunslinger08]

Yes, I've seen them all. We also have Camaros in VA.

I've seen a marked state trooper get off at an exit so everyone sped up, and he then got right back on the highway and pulled over 3 people at once.

Cops are getting sneakier.

 

[Brainonska511]

They only used to drive unmarked crown victorias in my area, but I think they've been switching to other types of cars to throw people off.

 

[SSP]

Originally posted by: jagec
They are getting sneaky...time was, it was all Crown Vics, totally unstealthy. Now they use anything and everything.

I got pulled over once by a sedan with a big For Sale sign in the window. Didn't see THAT one coming.

LMFAO... owned.

 

[kyzen]

The problem with the proliferation of unmarked cars is that now the average joe with a nice-ish looking car can pose as a cop. About 3 years ago this happened 2 blocks down from my then-girlfriends house; a guy posed as a cop with lights on his car and everything, pulled over a 19 year old girl, and killed her. It was all over the news in Colorado and neighboring states for a little while.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Unmarked police cars have been around for years. You just get your eyes put in or something?

- M4H

 

[imported_Trippin315]

Mid '80s rusted out Chevy pickup. Best one ever seen here in Appleton. Any idea how many of those are up here.

 

[spidey07]

wait until you get pulled over by an unmarked V8 camaro.

 

[Gunslinger08]

Originally posted by: kyzen
The problem with the proliferation of unmarked cars is that now the average joe with a nice-ish looking car can pose as a cop. About 3 years ago this happened 2 blocks down from my then-girlfriends house; a guy posed as a cop with lights on his car and everything, pulled over a 19 year old girl, and killed her. It was all over the news in Colorado and neighboring states for a little while.

Agreed. They may get a few more speeders, but they're also opening the door for a whole world of trouble.

 

[nakedfrog]

I saw an Impala just like that a few years ago, except it was either black or very dark blue.

 

[Brainonska511]

Originally posted by: kyzen
The problem with the proliferation of unmarked cars is that now the average joe with a nice-ish looking car can pose as a cop. About 3 years ago this happened 2 blocks down from my then-girlfriends house; a guy posed as a cop with lights on his car and everything, pulled over a 19 year old girl, and killed her. It was all over the news in Colorado and neighboring states for a little while.

That's bad, but you can always remember, if you are unsure if the car that is pulling you over is actual cop, you can call the police to determine if it is a real cop. Also, in my area at least, unmarked cars must have a fully uniformed officer within it.

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: LoKe
No hubcaps -> Undercover Cop.

You mean silver center caps?

 

[Trikat]

Eh? You didn't know about unmarked popos cars?
But yea, as everyone says they are basically allowed to use any car they want. They can even have men disguised as construction workers with speed guns. Or hobos on the side of the road packing speed guns in their shopping cart.
The most common types of unmarked police cars are crown vics and impalas. Chargers are also being implemented at certain police stations depending on if they decided to go for chargers over impalas.
Camaros are uncommon in NC, but most of them are concentrated around Charlotte I think.
I have seen suburban and pick-up cops too.

 

[pontifex]

aren't the license plates marked different too (like has government or something on the plate) or do they use regular license plates now?

 

[MisterJackson]

I saw a Buick LeSabre the other day who pulled over a couple of hispanic guys here on I85 (also reffered to as "drug corridor"). they had all three guys in cuffs face down and the german shepard in the trunk.

The LeSabre was a beater looking car too, but it was lit up like a Christmas tree. Those fvckers are getting sneaky around here.

We also have a few BMW unmarked cop cars donated by BMW since their factory is here.

 

[NogginBoink]

Originally posted by: joshsquall

Originally posted by: kyzen
The problem with the proliferation of unmarked cars is that now the average joe with a nice-ish looking car can pose as a cop. About 3 years ago this happened 2 blocks down from my then-girlfriends house; a guy posed as a cop with lights on his car and everything, pulled over a 19 year old girl, and killed her. It was all over the news in Colorado and neighboring states for a little while.

Agreed. They may get a few more speeders, but they're also opening the door for a whole world of trouble.

Many public service organizations recommend driving to a well-lit, populated area if being pulled over by an unmarked car for just this reason. I suspect most cops would be respectful of this, and if not, the judge/jury sure would be.

 

[KarenMarie]

i think it is cheating.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: jagec
They are getting sneaky...time was, it was all Crown Vics, totally unstealthy. Now they use anything and everything.

I got pulled over once by a sedan with a big For Sale sign in the window. Didn't see THAT one coming.

:Q

Once I saw a mid-90's Grand Prix that turned on cop lights, shocked the sh!t out of me.

 

[MisterJackson]

Originally posted by: pontifex
aren't the license plates marked different too (like has government or something on the plate) or do they use regular license plates now?

BTW, the LeSabre I mentioned above had regular tags. I've also seen a few crown vics with reular plates and full stealth lighting.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: Brainonska511

Originally posted by: kyzen
The problem with the proliferation of unmarked cars is that now the average joe with a nice-ish looking car can pose as a cop. About 3 years ago this happened 2 blocks down from my then-girlfriends house; a guy posed as a cop with lights on his car and everything, pulled over a 19 year old girl, and killed her. It was all over the news in Colorado and neighboring states for a little while.

That's bad, but you can always remember, if you are unsure if the car that is pulling you over is actual cop, you can call the police to determine if it is a real cop. Also, in my area at least, unmarked cars must have a fully uniformed officer within it.

FTW

If I was uncertain about something pulling me over, I will stay in my lane at a safe speed and call the police.