Some background info... I ride to work just about every day... and I leave around 5:30 AM. Not much traffic at that time, but I do my fair share of passing the cages anyway. I take backroads (more twisties) all the way to work. I start out in Canton, GA and ride through Alpharetta, GA and wind up in Duluth, GA.
So I left a little later that usual yesterday, understandably there were more cars on the road. I must have passed somewhere in the neighborhood of 45 to 50 cars on the backroads going through Canton. All was fine until I hit Alpharetta, GA. As I'm sitting at a light, an Impala turns in front of me from a perpendicular street and I think "cop." I look the car over carefully and cannot find any giveaways at all... no antenna, no cop rims, no lights in the car... nothing. About a minute goes by and the light turns green, so I take off... nothing crazy, I'm doing about 10 over as usual. I get a mile or so down the road and I catch up to the Impala... I inspect it again and can see no reason to believe it's a cop car. There are two lanes (one in each direction,) he's going about 5 under the speed limit, and once I get around him the road is wide open... so I pass. Nothing extravagant, I didn't want to make a big show out of it or wake anyone in the adjacent neighborhood up... I just roll a little on and ease around him... signals and all. As I'm passing him (on a double yellow), I see his hand reach for the dash and wham... the lights go on. He's an undercover... and the lights are built in the A pillars of the car (and in the taillights.) He reminds me that there is no passing on the double yellow and that the speed limit is about 8 MPH lower that what I was doing, then asks me if we can "do this without paperwork this morning." I tell him "absolutely, sir!" and count my blessings.
So if you happen to live or ride in Alpharetta, GA... look out for Impalas (Lord knows what else they have) that just might have lights in the A pillars of the cars... almost impossible to see until it's too late
Hah! Law Enforcement in SoCal has taken to using cars with out-of-state plates wink.gif
The two LAPD officers riding in said vehicle pretty much gave it away. Utah plate on a Crown Vic? Hmmmm....internal lights....hmmmm....brush-haired members of LA's finest? Yup. Intelligence gathering mission (they probably radio marked cars to make the stops)
they can pretty much use any car nowadays, the agency i work for just got a new dodge charger lol. also our narc guys just use what ever they take off the drug dealers , ive seen lexus, lincoln navigators and my personal favorite.....a yellow cab blink.gif
What was Bailey Rock telling me the TN state troopers call the color scheme on their cruisers? Bruised bananas? The are hard to spot! I was on top of one before I realized it was a trooper on tn hwy 30 going to Nashville from the fall dragon ride. I wished I had my radar with me but.....
Its a given the car will be from Detroit though! No Celicas are likely in the US.
Falls Church VA used to have Volvo Turbo Wagons for patrol cars... I don't know why it always struck me as comical?? I guess a little too "Soccer Mom Like"?
If you live in Maryland around the Annapolis area, look out for a Silver 2005 unmarked Mustang GT or a Red 2004 Mustang GT, as well as a Black 2002 Camaro SS. I have seen them make numerous stops. They have strobes and flashing lights, but the only blue and red lights around the rearview mirror.
twowheelfiend, Oct 3 2006, 07:56 AM The plates weren't state or federal use only types???
No, that's what fooled me the most. Just your standard GA plate. There was a regular cop running up and down the same road this morning, so I guess the undercover told his patrol buddies to look out for me sad.gif Bummer
Cambelloni, Oct 3 2006, 07:32 AM Around here (MA) staties use black Ford Exploders with regular commercial plates. I haven't been nabbed by one (thankfully) but I see them often.
Impalas are sooo last year...our detectives all got new Ford Five-Hundreds this year.
WERA910, Oct 3 2006, 06:52 AM Falls Church VA used to have Volvo Turbo Wagons for patrol cars... I don't know why it always struck me as comical?? I guess a little too "Soccer Mom Like"?
Volvo actually marketed the Turbo Wagon as a police vehicle a few years ago. I've seen some pictures of 'em in various agency liveries, but they didn't go over too well for the most part...too pricey.
Black dodge trucks and chargers; although sometimes with the patented state b&w color scheme.
Wireless,
Me thinks you were pulled over by a non-traffic officer (admin, narc, internal affairs, detective, etc). I got nailed by a local LEO on saturday. My internal radar spiked when I saw a dark car with bright headlights on during the middle of the day out in the country. Ding, ding, ding, ding. 78 in a 60 (which I thought was a 70 zone). He was in a hurry and let me off too.
South Carolina uses a few BMW's (6 or 7 series I believe) that were donated to the state when they built their plant here. I've also seen a few unmarked Ford and Dodge pickups used by the leo's.
That's good to know. I was just thinking about this the other day... Why is it that whenever you see a car that resembles a leo, i.e. white or blue or black Crown Vic, Impala, etc. with a spotlight, and an antenna, it's either a cop, or some ghetto ass gangsta?! huh.gif So many times I've been riding up past a vehicle just like that, and squint my eyes to leer through the dark tint, trying to see if it is a cop, and it's some fool leaned waaaaay back in the seat, smoking a blunt with the windows rolled up. goofy.gif I think gangsters and drug dealers get old cop cars just like cops get impounded criminal's cars. Aren't they afraid that when they roll up to their crew, they'll run off thinking they're the po-po?
My department doesn't have one, but the city just north of us (where I live) has this awesome Big Bird Yellow 2004 Mustang Cobra. The lights are hidden on it and it has limo tint all around so you can't see in it. It hangs out near I95 where people are in a hurry to get in the traffic jam. Best undercover ride around. I hear they fight over who gets to drive it and take it home. Next time I see it I'll try and get a picture. Everytime I see it in a traffic stop the person being pulled over looks dumbfounded. It's Great!
I passed a new mustang that looked a bit odd a couple of weeks ago. The front end was all dark and the windows were tinted. As I passed it I realized it was a Delaware state trooper. They've used Mustangs for a long time, but that was the first one of the current model I've seen.
Crash1973, Oct 3 2006, 07:41 AM The CHP ran a test of the Volvo patrol car a few years ago. Not sure what the outcome was. Any Chippies on here that can shed some light?
I had read that they deployed them in San Bernadino county... the Oficers loved them because they had dual AC compressors installed.
As I myself obey All Traffic Laws, have no need to worry about such things. rolleyes.gif But for you who do Metro Nashville is using many different type of cars and SUV's, some with mag wheels and most with blacked out windows. They are everywhere, I saw a solid white Impala with a rear Wing, blacked out windows and white 5-spoke wheels pulling a car over last week. I heard there even using a local Auto Customizing House to spice up there rides. blink.gif
HispanicSlammer, Oct 3 2006, 07:14 AM What was Bailey Rock telling me the TN state troopers call the color scheme on their cruisers? Bruised bananas? The are hard to spot! I was on top of one before I realized it was a trooper on tn hwy 30 going to Nashville from the fall dragon ride. I wished I had my radar with me but.....
Its a given the car will be from Detroit though! No Celicas are likely in the US.
I can't remember if its New Mexico or Arizona but there's a city around there that uses Toyota Camrys as cruisers.
FotoMoto, Oct 3 2006, 09:46 AM Black dodge trucks and chargers; although sometimes with the patented state b&w color scheme.
Wireless,
Me thinks you were pulled over by a non-traffic officer (admin, narc, internal affairs, detective, etc). I got nailed by a local LEO on saturday. My internal radar spiked when I saw a dark car with bright headlights on during the middle of the day out in the country. Ding, ding, ding, ding. 78 in a 60 (which I thought was a 70 zone). He was in a hurry and let me off too.
I was thinking the same thing... my lucky day. I also never took my helmet off... so I think he thought I was in my 20's and cut me some slack. You could hear it in the way he was speaking to me. I just kept saying "yes sir." Worked for me... this time smile.gif
Would you believe full size cargo/panel vans here? I've seen them pull people over for speeding fines. Definately not for high speed pursuit, but sneaky nonetheless!!
My buddy is an undercover surveillance guy - he uses a Mazda Tribute with kid seat and baby on board placard!
We have new silver Durango, std plates for police chief....area Hwy Patrol officers have customized Chevy 1/2 T full size and customized Cobalt SS (bright red) at their sneaky disposal now. Passed the Cobalt yesterday on my lunch hour on the 41 A four lane....about 72 in the 55. Never knew it at the time. Trooper(went to school with him) came in the wife's store this morning in the Cobalt and we had the discussion about "watch for this from now on............ goofy.gif
One unusually heavy LEO morning here in Louisville I spotted an Explorer, one Yukon, a Dodge Charger (blacked out) and 3 Crown Vics from various departments. They also like to use plain looking camaros.
bluedragon, Oct 3 2006, 04:06 AM they can pretty much use any car nowadays, the agency i work for just got a new dodge charger lol. also our narc guys just use what ever they take off the drug dealers , ive seen lexus, lincoln navigators and my personal favorite.....a yellow cab blink.gif