unmarked cop cars

[smileyeagle1021]

I'm not a cop hater... far from it... there is nothing I love more than seeing some erratic crazy driver getting pulled over...
That said, some of the unmarked cars I've seen have been ridicules. I've seen some that even have fake company logos with fake phone numbers on them to disguise them.
At what point do we cross from seeing who is really honest and who is just being good because they see a cop and turn into outright spying?

[Wingates_Hellsing]

When they break the public/private barrier. More elaborate camouflage is indicative only of an increased effort. Unless that's towards observing private matters and not public behavior it's just a different way of going about what they've been doing all along. The whole point of a Police force is to A: observe for criminal activity and B: react to it.

[smileyeagle1021]

Very true WH, so an important question would be to ask at what point do we say that the increased effort has gone too far and that there is better uses of resources... making a fake company goes well beyond what is necassary to camoflage in an urban setting. A plain old Chevy Malibu will blend in just as efficiently as an SUV with a company logo on it... except the plain old Malibu doesn't need a graphic designer, a special paint job, etc. Call me paranoid, but I want to know why they go to the extra effort... at the least it's a waste of resources.

[Wingates_Hellsing]

I'd say that there can definably be a plus to making up a company car for that sort of thing. Regular vehicles with plain-clothed people in them snooping around is quite obvious to more organized criminals/law-breakers. On the other hand, people more or less expect to see company cars just hanging around for whatever reason.

If they were originally done to snoop on, say, a crack den, it's more than helpful. I'd say it's necessary. After which it doesn't really make sense to remove the paint, better to keep it and use the vehicle as per usual.

This is of course all conjecture, I don't really have an idea what these guys in particular are doing so *shrug*

[protege]

Most departments though, use unmarked cars that are pretty obvious. They're usually Ford Crown Victorias or Chevy Impalas. They look like regular cars, but the paint jobs are always muted--black, gray, dark blue, etc. cheap dog-dish hubcaps. Some do have a spotlight mounted on the driver's side, but these are rare. All of this is so they'll blend in. But, most of the time, these cars are *not* used in pursuits unless absolutely necessary.

That wasn't always the case--occasionally, you'd see an unmarked unit hiding in the bushes looking for speeders. But, after some high-profile cases of a *fake* unmarked Chevy pulling people (usually women driving solo) over on I-70 around Washington...and a couple on Route 51 near me...most departments stopped that. People were scared of even the *legit* units...and either wouldn't stop, or would draw their firearms on the cops

[tabbyblack13]

If there is the issue with putting fake advertisement on vehicles why not have real advertisements payed for by real companies. The cops get cover, the district gets money, and the company gets advertised.

Undercover vehicles can be very important for the police force. If you take them away you can hamper investigations too.

[lordlundar]

If there is the issue with putting fake advertisement on vehicles why not have real advertisements payed for by real companies. The cops get cover, the district gets money, and the company gets advertised.

That causes problems actually. If for example they have a van of a carpet cleaner in use for a stakeout, then when the bust occurs, the criminals put two and two together and start retaliating when they see a genuine company vehicle, just in case it's a sting. That puts the lives of the employees at risk that they never signed on for. The reason for the fakes is so that not only is there no innocent lives at risk, the police can effectively make the company disappear when the operation is over.

[crashhelmet]

The city of Henderson (a suburb of Las Vegas) has a couple of all black Cadillac Escalades that are used as unmarked cop cars. They have no significant markings or government plates. The only way you can tell they're cop cars is to get close enough to see the red and blue lights in the grill.

I don't know if they were bought with tax payer money or if they were donated, but they cause issues with the people here from time to time.

CH

[draggar]

I don't know if they were bought with tax payer money or if they were donated, but they cause issues with the people here from time to time.

Normally vehicles like that are obtained though drug busts (or confiscated). and are usually on their way to the auction block. They're fitted with police quality parts (engine, lights, safety gear, etc.) and then used.

Palm Beach county (FL) has a yellow Mustang - big spoiler on the back, barely legal tints, fancy rims, etc. Unless you saw an officer get in or out of it, you would have never guessed it was an unmarked car.

[crazylegs]

Unsuprisingly I'm all for as many different types of unmarked vehicle as possible - I know in our county alone we have at least 5 makes of unmarked car - and two or three models of each; that way you never quite know who's around.

I bet you all change your driving habits when you see a marked police vehicle - while this is effective roads policing it is only effective while the police car is there, once it's gone so are the good habits!

[elsporko]

The only people who would complain about unmarked police cars are the ones who break the law and want it obviouse when they should fake being good citizens. Law abiding citizens have no reason to be concerned with nmarked police cars.

[lordlundar]

The only people who would complain about unmarked police cars are the ones who break the law and want it obviouse when they should fake being good citizens. Law abiding citizens have no reason to be concerned with nmarked police cars.

yup, because the police in unmarked cars don't go on high speed pursuits and are invisible on the road when serving as law enforcement officers.

Oh wait

[smileyeagle1021]

The only people who would complain about unmarked police cars are the ones who break the law and want it obviouse when they should fake being good citizens. Law abiding citizens have no reason to be concerned with nmarked police cars.

As Lordlunder pointed out, there is the problem of unmarked cars going on high speed pursuits which would be extremely dangerous, and as a taxpayer, who is now being forced to pay an additional $174 a year for police services, the issue of the extra cost and whether or not such costs are worth it.

[crazylegs]

As Lordlunder pointed out, there is the problem of unmarked cars going on high speed pursuits which would be extremely dangerous,

When you say unmarked do you mean a plain car but with covert lights as in this - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4eXx...eature=related or do you mean a plain car with a single 'cherry' light popped on the top? If it's the latter then I agree that isn't suitable for a pursuit but the first one certainly is.

[Shangri-laschild]

They have no significant markings or government plates. The only way you can tell they're cop cars is to get close enough to see the red and blue lights in the grill.

The ones in the state I live in have government plates and the police radio antenna and the light bars are inside the car on the ceiling so not all unmarked cars are as hard to spot.