Image via Complex Original
You’re driving around – perhaps a bit quicker than allowed – and you see a car in the rear view mirror that looks like it means business. Is it a cop car or is it just Bill from accounting trying to get home after a long day of work?
We’ve pulled together a few tips to help you distinguish between the general public and unmarked cop cars in the hopes that it might keep you off the cold shoulder and out of the Five-0’s sneaky clutches.
RELATED: The Coolest Police Cars in the World
Bars Between Front and Rear Seats
Even undercover cops need a bit of added security. These bars are commonplace in everyday police cruisers, and many undercover cars keep them handy just in case perps get a bit unruly.
Riding on Steelies
You'd be hard-pressed to find an unmarked car with hubcaps. We're not saying it doesn't happen, but most unmarked vehicles sport the black and silver steelies.
Antenna Clusters on the Roof or Trunk
Some departments can be very sneaky with their undercover vehicles, while others seem to have more antennas plastered all over than a cell phone tower. These newer puck-style antennas are a bit harder to spot though. He's not listening to XM in there...
Civilian Plates vs. Municipal Plates
Most police departments slap on municipal license plates to their unmarked cars, making them easy to spot. Look for license plates composed solely of numbers, with the word "official" at the bottom, or containing any odd designs. This rule doesn't apply in some states, which allow officers to use their civilian cars and plates. Then you're just screwed.
An American Sedan With a Heavy Window Tint
It's no surprise that cops want some anonymity in doing their undercover business. But sometimes excessive window tinting makes an unmarked car pop out too much. If the badge is from the Big Three and the windows are dark, there's a good chance it's a cop car.
Light Bars in the Windows and Front Grille
Look for light bars in the front or back window of presumed cop cars. In vehicles with heavy tint, they can be harder to spot, however, flashers recessed into the grille can be a good indicators.
Crown Vic With a Searchlight
This one should be obvious. If you see a Ford Crown Victoria – SLOW DOWN. The venerable Crown Vic has been used as a police interceptor for two decades; chances are if you see one, it's a cop. Look for a searchlight on the driver's side door as a dead giveaway.
Anything out of the ordinary
Does it have funky license-scanning equipment on the front and back? Is it parked in a suspicious place on the side of the road? Are there any odd badges at the end of its nameplate? Does it have a bull bar? If it looks a bit out of the ordinary (we're not talkin' tuner out of the ordinary here), it very well could be an undercover cop car. Use your judgment and keep it between the lines.
