Ghost lettering and/or minimally marked vehicles for traffic stops

[Larry Sellers]

CT state police runs 99% unmarked cruisers. Chargers, challengers and the new ford whatever cars and SUVs. CT dmv police do the same as well. We’ve got bomb techs, K9 and swat that run around in unmarked vehicles as well.

I’ve never known them to have marked vehicles. The town I live in has been purchasing black vehicles with ghost lettering, not quite sure how I feel
About it.


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[HCM]

FHP just recently started running blacked out/ghosted Chargers. Back in the early 2000's, they were running hot rod Marauders with no markings at all for aggressive driving enforcement (RUMINT was that those cars were bankrolled by the insurance companies). I've also seen all sorts of Fusions, Altimas, Tundras, Equinoxes, and Camrys all lit up doing traffic control or sitting at construction zones. If I were worried about impersonators, it would likely be from a wannabe security guard driving a clapped out Crown Vic, Expedition, or Tahoe. They seem to rival the volunteer firefighters from back home as far as who can put the most lights on their POV.

But back to the topic at hand, I'm not gonna lie . . . the ghost marked cars do look pretty slick, and there's no doubt that they're FHP cars from a mile away.
Attachment 29818


Down here, you could have 100 FHP troopers lined up on the turnpike in Broward/Dade during rush hour and their printers/ticket books would be out of paper/toner in 15 minutes. More than once I've had someone behind me for a mile and their eyes never came up from their phone . . . . and I never saw their hands never touch the wheel either. Then again, I can't expect too much when I almost got creamed in a traffic snarl by a local LEO whose eyes were on his phone and not the road. Welcome to Florida, Mad Max rules are in effect. *shrugs*

The non standard vehicles you are referring to are most likely the officers personal vehicles which they have equipped with lights and magnetic stick on “Police” markings specifically for working off duty jobs like road construction.

I can’t speak to Florida but it’s common here in TX.

[Lon]

The non standard vehicles you are referring to are most likely the officers personal vehicles which they have equipped with lights and magnetic stick on “Police” markings specifically for working off duty jobs like road construction.

I can’t speak to Florida but it’s common here in TX.

Huh. Didn’t know that was a thing. No bueno here. Dont know any agencies that allow that or even if it’s legal.

[HCM]

Huh. Didn’t know that was a thing. No bueno here. Dont know any agencies that allow that or even if it’s legal.

It’s legal in TX. It’s a State / regional thing. You mostly see it with guys working off duty gigs at road construction or church traffic details. You also see guys with similarly equipped motorcycles doing funeral escorts.

Guys make good money on off duty jobs. Good enough that there have been some ex/fired/ no longer certified cops arrested for impersonation because they still had a uniform and they though $35 an hour cash was worth the risk.

[rob_s]

The non standard vehicles you are referring to are most likely the officers personal vehicles which they have equipped with lights and magnetic stick on “Police” markings specifically for working off duty jobs like road construction.

I can’t speak to Florida but it’s common here in TX.

I can’t see that being the case with FHP. Folks from other states typically have trouble understanding the FHP. They are an odd bunch. They are not like state police in other states.

[KeeFus]

It’s legal in TX. It’s a State / regional thing. You mostly see it with guys working off duty gigs at road construction or church traffic details. You also see guys with similarly equipped motorcycles doing funeral escorts.

Guys make good money on off duty jobs. Good enough that there have been some ex/fired/ no longer certified cops arrested for impersonation because they still had a uniform and they though $35 an hour cash was worth the risk.

That is NOT the case in NC. When working off-duty jobs we just use our assigned vehicles. Some departments make you reimburse them for the use of the car for the job...others don't.

If my vehicle didn't have the spotlight on the A-post it would look like a normal 2006 charger, right down to the normal license plate. The lights are not easily seen.

[Hambo]

The non standard vehicles you are referring to are most likely the officers personal vehicles which they have equipped with lights and magnetic stick on “Police” markings specifically for working off duty jobs like road construction.

Most FL LEOs don't even drive their own car to work. Take home cars are the thing down here.

[HCM]

Most FL LEOs don't even drive their own car to work. Take home cars are the thing down here.

Not here but again, all policing is regional. I haven’t seen the “ make your POV a police car” thing anywhere other than Texas.

[TGS]

Not here but again, all policing is regional. I haven’t seen the “ make your POV a police car” thing anywhere other than Texas.

What happens to their insurance while performing LE work with a personal vehicle?

[HCM]

What happens to their insurance while performing LE work with a personal vehicle?

They are more accurately described as performing security work. Like any other side business I guess.