Stealth Fighters - Traffic Cop Style

[Danno]

On another board, a conversation has started about 'stealth' police vehicles.  Since my login failed and the board owner doesn't reply to emails, I can't reply there.

However, it got me to thinking there must be some interest in the latest fad or trend among law enforcement agencies - stealth or ghost cars.

Here's an example from Mesa (AZ) Police Department.  It's all black with black reflective lettering.  The only reason you can see some of it in this view is the angle of the sun was just right.  Usually, the markings are virtually invisible . . . except at night when they blaze brightly in direct headlight beams.  

Mesa PD (and several other local agencies) are using the 'ghost' cars for DUI and aggressive driving enforcement.

 

Here's an example that was posted on that other forum:

 

Edited September 25, 2015 by Danno

[Danno]

And here's my favorite so far!   Arizona Department of Public Safety is experimenting with a white ghost car!

[SfanGoch]

When they build a better mousetrap, it's time to build a better mouse.

[Kit Basher]

No disrespect intended, Danno, but even with the ghost markings, those are pretty obviously police cars. The local deputies here are using an unmarked white minivan. Imagine the shock when someone is pulled over by that!

[mk11]

I think that's the whole point .. too many protests if they aren't identifiable.

Saw a black RCMP tactical unit superduty with grey markings a few months ago but didn't have my camera ready. Maybe lucky for me; the gent driving was  all  business...

 

mike

Edited September 26, 2015 by mk11

[slusher]

If you use to the same old police cars everyday those would catch you by surprise.  Here in town they have 2 color schemes going ..

[Joe Handley]

When they build a better mousetrap, it's time to build a better mouse.

That's what I like about my 200, looks like a rental, accelerates like a muscle car

[av405]

That's not something you really see down here in So Cal. I don't know if local laws prohibit it or not but the only "stealth" features that local agencies use are slicktop cars. That is, no light bars on the roof. And then there are, of course, the all-white Highway Patrol vehicles.

[Harry Joy]

No disrespect intended, Danno, but even with the ghost markings, those are pretty obviously police cars. The local deputies here are using an unmarked white minivan. Imagine the shock when someone is pulled over by that!

Currently my job has me driving all over three states, and I never can remember what every little town's police cars look like. Spotting them is easy enough though, usually by identifying the add-on packages. Or by their behavior, moving or sitting still. I have an enormous amount of respect for law enforcement, but if I don't speed a bit I don't get my job done.

[Harry P.]

I always thought that police cars had the obvious markings and graphics so that a person would immediately recognize it as a "police car." That was the whole point of the graphics.

So now police agencies are going the exact opposite way... using cars with subtle markings, or none at all, in an effort to hide the fact that the car is a "police car."

If the new line of thinking in law enforcement is that it's better for cop cars to be unidentifiable to the public, as is obviously the thinking behind unmarked cars, why do they bother with "police car" markings at all? They seem to be contradicting their own line of reasoning.

[Danno]

No disrespect intended, Danno, but even with the ghost markings, those are pretty obviously police cars. The local deputies here are using an unmarked white minivan. Imagine the shock when someone is pulled over by that!

True that.  Around here, the big thing in unmarked vehicles is pickup trucks.  The state, counties and many local agencies have fleets of 4x2, 4x4, 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton, and even some 1-ton, extended cab, crew cab, and pre-runner style (Raptor) pickups in various colors and accessory packages - - - in daily use.  Many are used for traffic enforcement.  AZ DPS even has some 3/4ton trucks with utility bodies (think plumbers, etc.) that are used for traffic enforcement and commercial carrier enforcement (semis, buses).  

 

Several years ago, before the advent of pickups, DPS used several new Chevy Monte Carlos for traffic enforcement.

 

[Ace-Garageguy]

I always thought that police cars had the obvious markings and graphics so that a person would immediately recognize it as a "police car." That was the whole point of the graphics.

So now police agencies are going the exact opposite way... using cars with subtle markings, or none at all, in an effort to hide the fact that the car is a "police car."

If the new line of thinking in law enforcement is that it's better for cop cars to be unidentifiable to the public, as is obviously the thinking behind unmarked cars, why do they bother with "police car" markings at all? They seem to be contradicting their own line of reasoning.

One would postulate it's simply whether the particular department casts a particular vehicle in a "deterrent" role (marked, obviously) or "enforcement" role (unmarked, to catch the bad guys being naughty when they think nobody's looking).

[av405]

 

If the new line of thinking in law enforcement is that it's better for cop cars to be unidentifiable to the public, as is obviously the thinking behind unmarked cars, why do they bother with "police car" markings at all? They seem to be contradicting their own line of reasoning.

I think you're grouping all aspects of the law enforcement profession under one umbrella. Your statement really only applies to traffic enforcement where, for better or for worse, a police officer can be more successful at enforcing traffic laws if the public doesn't know he/she is there. 

Also, I disagree with your statement because if you look at how police car graphics have evolved over time, you'll see that police cars are actually becoming more "obvious." Gone are the days when a simple star on the door would do. Now you're seeing much more extravagant designs and bigger fonts on police cars, along with more agencies switching from all-white vehicles to black and white schemes. 

[Petetrucker07]

Az DPS can be a bit confusing too. Some DPS are Law Enforcement or Commercial Enforcement. Some freeway angels, road side service. The same vehicles either way, one says enforcement on the side and has different light bars. The others just say DPS and have blue and amber lights.

[Danno]

I always thought that police cars had the obvious markings and graphics so that a person would immediately recognize it as a "police car." That was the whole point of the graphics.

So now police agencies are going the exact opposite way... using cars with subtle markings, or none at all, in an effort to hide the fact that the car is a "police car."

If the new line of thinking in law enforcement is that it's better for cop cars to be unidentifiable to the public, as is obviously the thinking behind unmarked cars, why do they bother with "police car" markings at all? They seem to be contradicting their own line of reasoning.

Harry, 

The vast majority of vehicles are employed in general enforcement and patrol roles.  Those vehicles are the highly-visible, well-marked units intended to be easily and instantly recognizable.

There's a different approach for specialized enforcement vehicles.  That's what we're talking about in this post.  Jobs like vehicle-theft detection, drug and people smuggling mitigation, DUI and drug-influenced driving mitigation, aggressive driving mitigation are best performed with vehicles that are not so obviously police vehicles.  These are the vehicles that are completely unmarked, or, as is the topic of this thread, subtly stealth-marked so as to seem innocuous at first glance but simultaneously display official markings upon closer view.  

Just like drug enforcement officers make more arrests when dressed in plain-clothes rather than adorned in highly-visible uniforms.

 

Not really cross-purposes at all, just tailoring the equipment to the job.

 

[disabled modeler]

They have some here that you cant barely tell they are police vehicles and a few that are older or mundane vehicles you would not expect them to use...sneaky.  Then we have a DARE program cars...new Z-28, mid 80s Monte SS...pretty cool.

[Joe Handley]

I do get concerned about the less obvious stuff, if it's hard to distinguish as a  police vehicle, how does one know it's an actual cop?

[Ace-Garageguy]

I do get concerned about the less obvious stuff, if it's hard to distinguish as a  police vehicle, how does one know it's an actual cop?

If you actually interact with them, it should be pretty obvious whether you're talking to a trained professional, or a loose-cannon wannabee.

And it's probably unlikely a nut-case fake police vehicle will have late-model strobes, etc,

This area has had a couple of fakes over the past 40 or so years with flashing blue lights behind the grille, but the real-looking stuff's a little harder to acquire these days.

[Danno]

Here's another brand-new one.  Note the DUI Enforcement marking.

 

[Maindrian Pace]

Think that's good? DPS used to be really sneaky in the '90s. They had a few mid-'90s Thunderbirds with tinted windows, metallic paint, wire wheel covers, and whitewall tires running up and down the 60. The speeders never stood a chance; when one of those came behind you and you saw the red and blue wig-wags behind the grille, you were pretty well hosed. They also had a few dark-colored Monte Carlos. People complained, as people do.

[Danno]

Az DPS can be a bit confusing too. Some DPS are Law Enforcement or Commercial Enforcement. Some freeway angels, road side service. The same vehicles either way, one says enforcement on the side and has different light bars. The others just say DPS and have blue and amber lights.

Well, actually, Clayton, there are 'tells:'

The DPS Highway Patrol Roadside Assistance trucks are 1-ton rigs with service bodies. They are operated by civilian, non-enforcement employees.  Besides being marked as Roadside Service Patrol (see service body), they have under-sized stars on the doors in the stripe-break.   Obviously small stars.  And they have heavy-duty push bumpers.

 

The patrol/enforcement trucks have the conventional Highway Patrol markings, most prominently the full-sized stars on the doors.  Most of them have standard pickup beds, all have bed covers.  Some of them assigned to motor carrier enforcement have the service bodies but with conventional markings.

[1930fordpickup]

They have been running the traffic stealth cars here for over 10 years. We have had Pickups and SUV's from the MI state Police, The County guys have cars and SUV's Stealth and not Stealth running all over. I just learned to slow down . 

I am just waiting for a first payola car to follow our leaders around. LOL Sorry if this was to political. 

[Danno]

I do get concerned about the less obvious stuff, if it's hard to distinguish as a  police vehicle, how does one know it's an actual cop?

You'll know.  If it's an actual cop and you don't stop, he'll inundate you with marked units quickly enough.

If you still wonder . . . keep going.  Actual cops use stop-sticks and Startrackers, and the marked unit inundation will resemble Sugarland Express.  Or, you can use your smart phone to call up the local news and see yourself on TV via the traffic chopper.

 

 

[1930fordpickup]

Thanks Danno that just made my day. 

 

[Petetrucker07]

Well, actually, Clayton, there are 'tells:'

The DPS Highway Patrol Roadside Assistance trucks are 1-ton rigs with service bodies. They are operated by civilian, non-enforcement employees.  Besides being marked as Roadside Service Patrol (see service body), they have under-sized stars on the doors in the stripe-break.   Obviously small stars.  And they have heavy-duty push bumpers.

 

The patrol/enforcement trucks have the conventional Highway Patrol markings, most prominently the full-sized stars on the doors.  Most of them have standard pickup beds, all have bed covers.  Some of them assigned to motor carrier enforcement have the service bodies but with conventional markings.

I never noticed the door star being different. At 65 the different stripe and star size are over looked. Now I know. 

Edited September 26, 2015 by Petetrucker07