Unmarked Cop Cars/Cop Cars With No Lights

VR3

To me, this just is not right.

I was going home today, got onto the road to get onto the highway. I was surrounded by 3 cops. 2 of which I didnt know was there, two were driving Dodge Chargers that had no police lights.

This is absolute BS. I dont care if I get pulled over, but I have a problem getting pulled over by someone without lights. I wont even stop for an unmarked cop car, lol - he will have to get a cop with lights to start to chase me before that point...

Just annoyed at the insanity of it all...

George Grand

School's out and life's in. Wait till you get a load of a few of the other things in store for you.

They even have......undercover police officers that don't wear uniforms.

VR3

Yeah Im not worried about those... chances of me ever being involved in something to that extent is like 100000 to 1

VR3

PS...

I didnt get pulled over, just a general complaint. I wouldnt be complaining nessicarially if I had gotten pulled over, I go 10 over everyday to and from work. Sometimes more.

TroyD

Not stopping for a cop? Ask ol' Rodney King how that worked out for him.

Welcome to the real world, sport.

BDT

bert26

I gotta agree with Sid on this - there is something inherently wrong with unmarked cars busting speeders. Drug stake outs, protective duty detail, etc. ok - revenue generation via speeders - no.

That being said - if you break the law, you deserve everything you get.

Chris
(all time leading drivers license point scorer in Pennsylvania :rolleyes: )

wallstreet

They've got lights. You don't see them until they turn them on though. I don't have a problem with this. I've seen so many idiots driving like maniacs.

bobman1235

Yeah, a cop car with no lights I'd have an issue pulling over for, just because you never know what kind of whacko might want to pull you over and PRETEND they're a cop.

But most of those unmarked cars have a whole slew of lights, you just don't see 'em.

Airplay355

They probably have thin dashboard lights and rear lights they turn on when needed. Relax, if an unmarked car pulled over a drunk driver who was speeding there'd be less complaints.

I like the po-po, my only encounter with them has been when I rear ended someone. He told me accidents happen, that's why they are called accidents. Told me not to worry about it and then started cracking jokes.

Most unmarked cop cars you can tell are cop cars anyway. There are just inherent differences about them that reveal they are cops.

I dunno, all IMHO of course. Not trying to start a war.

MrNightly

Vr3MxStyler2k3 wrote:

To me, this just is not right.

I was going home today, got onto the road to get onto the highway. I was surrounded by 3 cops. 2 of which I didnt know was there, two were driving Dodge Chargers that had no police lights.

This is absolute BS. I dont care if I get pulled over, but I have a problem getting pulled over by someone without lights. I wont even stop for an unmarked cop car, lol - he will have to get a cop with lights to start to chase me before that point...

Just annoyed at the insanity of it all...

Insanity of a unmarked cop? Give me a break. You sound like a 19 year old kid.

And try telling that to the judge when you are road blocked in for running. "But Judge, I didn't know it was a cop... there weren't any cherries on top." BS. You sound like you just have an attitude with authority.

And FYI, most undercover cops, (No cherries, no markings) are traffic guys anyways. All they do is pull you over for driving violations and accidents.

And Airplay is right, you won't complain when they arrest the drunk who hit your car. Then I bet you won't be complaining...

wingnut4772

Mwah ha ha ..we are watching you!:D

Seriously, most police that do traffic at all are marked. They may have slick tops but they are usually marked. I don't know if I would pull over for an unmarked unit. There are quite a number of bad guys with blue lights robbing people like that. Usually the unmarked unit calls for a uniform to conduct the stop because we know this. If you ever get lit up by a totally unmarked unit..only stop for the officer in a VERY public, high traffic place. If it's midnight and no one is on the road but you and him....screw it! Wait for uniform to show or drive to the nearest police station or public area where you feel safe.

amulford

You could pull ME over in a dark secluded place...;)

wingnut4772

amulford wrote:

You could pull ME over in a dark secluded place...;)

You are a little out of my jurisdiction...:p

dorokusai

These are just general comments.

You have the right to stop in a comfortable location, within a reasonable amount of time. You can't finish your weed run to NC if your in VA....but you can go to a well lighted, and populated area.

If the car is decal marked, regardless of physical lights on the roof, consider it an authorized police vehicle. You have the right to request that another officer be present before exiting the vehicle, provided it's not a felony stop, in which you'll have a firearm telling you to get out. Extended driving will eventually turn into a felony stop.

If it's not marked, request that a uniformed officer be called to the scene, as it's your right to do so.

If it's not your county, or state, that pulled you over, you can also use this same right.

Keep in mind that hassling an off-duty/out-of-"jurisdiction" police officer may very well get you the ticket or **** kicking you wanted, as oppossed to a "slow the hell down" comment. It's your call, use common sense.

My father is an ex-police officer and he used to be a real ****, he's still a ****, but not as much.

wingnut4772

I agree with the exception of asking for another officer before exiting the vehicle. I am going by how you wrote it in the circumstance that the unit is marked. I assume then that the officer is also identifiable by a uniform or proper identification. Not obeying a lawful order to exit the vehicle under those circumstances could get you in a bit of trouble - depending on the officer.

MacLeod

You will pretty much never see a cop car running radar or pulling somebody over that wasnt fully marked. A lot of them dont have lightbars but theyre still painly marked and have lights inside.

What possibly happened was the marked car pulled you over and the 2 unmarked cars may have just been passing by and decided to stop and backup the other officer.

However I did get pulled over by a detective in an unmarked Ford Escort (yeah, it really was a white Ford Escort) once back in 1988 when I passed him on a 2 lane road doing 60 in a 35 mph zone. He lit me up and pretty much ripped me a new one. No ticket just a good browbeating and it was totally appropriate. I was a teenage punk driving pretty wrecklessly and he was within his rights.

Also, I reject the idea that if a cop catches you breaking the law that it is somehow unfair because he wasnt plainly visible. Kinda defeats the purpose. Its kinda why they dont post signs warning you that theyre running radar up ahead.

dorokusai

wingnut4772 wrote:

I agree with the exception of asking for another officer before exiting the vehicle. I am going by how you wrote it in the circumstance that the unit is marked. I assume then that the officer is also identifiable by a uniform or proper identification. Not obeying a lawful order to exit the vehicle under those circumstances could get you in a bit of trouble - depending on the officer.

I can't possibly cover every scenario, but it's within your right to request another officer to be present on scene, regardless of the situation. This is presuming a NORMAL situation.

PolkThug

Vr3MxStyler2k3 wrote:

To me, this just is not right.

I was going home today, got onto the road to get onto the highway. I was surrounded by 3 cops. 2 of which I didnt know was there, two were driving Dodge Chargers that had no police lights.

This happened to me this morning on the way to work!!! I was running a little late so I had my radar detector on and was driving the Stang in a "spirited" fashion. I see a new silver Charger in my rearview cutting through traffic. I get somewhat stuck behind a truck, so I gun it over into the passing lane and move on. Then the Charger flys up beside me, and my first impression is that he wants to race. Then he honks twice at me and I notice its a cop, roll down my window, and he says "That radar detector won't save you everytime. Your car sounds and looks great, drive safe and wear your seatbelt." Then he drives off. I could see some low profile light bars behind his back window. My heart nearly exploded but I survived.

TroyD

Not to point out the obvious but if you are obeying the laws of the land...it's really a moot point, no?

BDT

danger boy

you'd be suprised how many people speed every day, all day and never get caught. for some reason.. they always seem to catch the same people over and over again. thankfully, i'm not one of them.

polkatese

follow the flow, and don't make sudden move, and you'll be "speeding" without being noticeable.

MacLeod

Not exactly.

I was going no faster than anybody else thru Kentucky back in February AND I was in the slow lane and still got nailed for 66 in a 55. Of course I was the only one with a 25 foot long, 7 foot high solid white truck too. Pretty easy to zero in on I suppose.

polkatese

then, that's what they called "Selective Enforcement" or something like that...

brettw22

wingnut4772 wrote:

You are a little out of my jurisdiction...:p

In more ways than one....

danger boy wrote:

you'd be suprised how many people speed every day, all day and never get caught. for some reason.. they always seem to catch the same people over and over again. thankfully, i'm not one of them.

I'm one that does get caught......though i've been a little more 'gentle' in my driving as of late.....

wingnut4772

dorokusai wrote:

I can't possibly cover every scenario, but it's within your right to request another officer to be present on scene, regardless of the situation. This is presuming a NORMAL situation.

I have been a PO PO for 8 years. If I go up to a car and for officer safety reasons( in full uniform with my marked car mind you) I lawfully order someone to exit their vehicle and they do not or refuse to (unless they are physically unable to) they are not going to be happy with the results. Of course there is discretion and circumstances. I am not going to arrest the average American housewife nor probably would I feel it necessary to remove her from the car for my safety.

VR3

I can pick out cop cars. No problem. Unmarked or marked. I have a problem picking out a Dodge Charger though that is a cop...

That is just insane...

They are littered with decals that say Police... but I am more of an observant - slow from a distance kind of person. I see a Crown Vic, I slow down...

Theres another one they drive around here other than the Charger that is pretty easy to spot, but those also have lights....

And like I said in my first post, I really don't care if I get pulled over, I speed every single day and I know it.

But if a unmarked Police officer pulled me over, I would have to request for a uniformed officer or an officer in an actual Police Car to be present... because I dont know who the heck he is.

brettw22

Do you have a problem with his car bein unmarked or him being out of uniform? Either or, if you want to act like a smarmy little teenager when your'e pulled over, your chances of getting out of a ticket are less than zero.

nadams

So... you have a problem with the fact that they're not all using crown vics anymore?

venomclan

I love to speed, especially in Miami. I keep an Earthquake amp in the trunk, if Wing pulls me over I always have a bribe,

faster100

My guess, a cop pulls a 17 year old and he's asked to exit the vehicle.. (unlikely for a traffic stop) your getting yanked out or drawn down on.. cops don't mess around anymore or take chances, they don't know your harmless trey from club polk or trey the gang banger with a 9 in your lap.

Its like people coming out of a bar, they call it entrapment if a cop sits outside ready to watch someone drive away drunk.. I call it doing thier job, and like was mentioned, if your obeying the law you don't have to worry.. if your speeding, you wont be likely asked to leave your car.

you can't be mad that they drive unmarked cars that you the law abiding citizen can't detect.. the bad guys can't detect them either and that's how they get caught..

so relax, stop speeding.. speed kills and listen to what they tell ya if you get pulled over, like they say "it can be easy or it can be hard"

wingnut4772

venomclan wrote:

I love to speed, especially in Miami. I keep an Earthquake amp in the trunk, if Wing pulls me over I always have a bribe,

HA! No ticket for you!:D