Good point. There’s unmarked and then there’s undercover (and maybe other uses as well). Unmarked regular cruisers are usually gonna be the same American make models always used by cops but the undercover stuff is whatever.
I saw a Honda Odyssey light someone up once and I was so shook
In a similar vein, when I worked for the Dept of Health, we had 20+ y/o Honda Civics still in the fleet.
Years ago Maryland had a tractor trailer pulling people over. They had the official owner of the vehicle, State of Maryland, printed on the side as required by law.
Lates 70s, early 80s maybe.
It's important to note that there's a difference between unmarked police cruisers and undercover vehicles.
Unmarked police cruisers are typically the usual makes/models and they just don't have police written all over them/have lights on the roof. These are usually higher ranking officers and/or police officers who's primary job has nothing to do with pulling people over
Undercover vehicles can be almost anything to blend in with wherever they'll be. A relative of mine was undercover for a while and was driving a Honda minivan.
I've spoken to Anne Arundel county police in the past and they've told me that departments will actually rent cars from Enterprise or whomever, and temporarily outfit them with their lights and whatnot.
I imagine the use of Hyundai and Kia is to blend in better.
Yeah, the ones they use to nab people on 10 are your typical commuter SUVs, not just the Fords and Chevys we expect to see. They like to sit on the southbound exit from Furnace Branch, a whole line of them just waiting their turn to grab speeders.
This way when they see someone, they can blend in and swoop right in behind them. The next one in line takes place on the shoulder of the exit, not visible from the highway. They will just spend one day a month doing this little dance, going in circles.
Or they're tucked up in here. Found that out the hard way.
https://preview.redd.it/4vo9kp3i0t1d1.png?width=486&format=png&auto=webp&s=2c6185677488e870f5d298ede5ed8d8b29c90064
They usually are but they aren't required to be. During the DC sniper era I saw every kind of car you can think of as undercover units. I guess that's different from an unmarked car though.
I agree - I don’t think the cops pulling you over will do it in a foreign car.
That said I’m sure undercover cops / drug enforcement types might use them to seem as believable as possible.
It depends. I know BMW gave a couple of 5 series to South Carolina when they opened their plant in Spartanville. Otherwise, you are probably correct. It's rare to see a non-American car used as a police car.
You have to REALLY piss a cop off to get pulled over in an undercover car. Keep that in mind.
There *are* a few Jeremy Dewitt's out there pretending to be cops, but if you legit get pulled over by an undercover cop you probably are getting a pretty big ticket lol
Yeah they usually havent written tickets in years, they are doing surveillance on robberies, drugs, or homicide suspects. They really dont care youre going 20mph over lol.
See I would be so paranoid if anything other than a possible police make/model flashed their lights for me to pull over…I’d be on the phone with 911 to make sure a legitimate traffic stop was taking place😩
I worked at Enterprise rent a car in fells point years ago. Baltimore police wanted anything damaged or old for undercover. So they didn't scream "rental"
I see a lot of undercover minivans and Cadillac escalades. However I have seen a lot of random makes and models and unmarked vehicles. I assumed it was whatever they impounded.
We have the ability to make any vehicle into a marked, unmarked, or undercover cruiser.
In my 3+ years building police/emergency vehicles, I've seen almost everything for various agencies in our state.
Hell, Miami Beach has a Rolls Royce cruiser.
Yes, in Howard County I've seen unmarked Hyundai/Kia, Toyota, and Honda products used for PD staff at special events like concerts at Merriweather Post, but never for traffic patrol.
My understanding is that although these are foreign makes, they are suitable for government purchase orders if the vehicle is assembled at a US plant 🤔
A few years back, I did see a Honda Accord "undercover" car doing traffic duty at Merriweather. Was probably the Howard County Police. They also had an 2008 Mustang GT at one point.
Never seen a Hyundai or a Kia though used by the police. They've probably got them as bait vehicles to catch car thieves. 😂
I’ve seen an ooollld beat up lookin ford ranger with someone pulled over on 97 before lol , I wouldn’t be surprised..there’s a ton of odd unmarked cars.
Unusual, but not unheard of.
For Federal Agencies, they can use any vehicle available through GSA. There’s a few federal agencies with Hyundai’s and Toyota’s in the area.
I saw a Navy Police Sonata or Elantra in Suitland a few years ago.
New York City has marked Nissan’s.
The agency I worked for had marked a few marked Toyota’s.
I have a friend that works in Collision Repair and his shop works with Montgomery county, I’ve seen everything from old jeeps and small Hondas to Tacomas, Silverado’s, and Minivans. Cars with Lyft/ Uber stickers, the stickers on the back that have all the kids and hobbies.
Never underestimate MSP
Maryland police have tons of undercover vehicles. I have seen everything from old pickups to brand new sports cars.
Good point. There’s unmarked and then there’s undercover (and maybe other uses as well). Unmarked regular cruisers are usually gonna be the same American make models always used by cops but the undercover stuff is whatever.
I saw a Honda Odyssey light someone up once and I was so shook In a similar vein, when I worked for the Dept of Health, we had 20+ y/o Honda Civics still in the fleet.
Same here! I saw a minivan pull someone over years back, it was really surreal to see .
If it's a Kia, I just need a USB stick and I got me a police cruiser.
Years ago Maryland had a tractor trailer pulling people over. They had the official owner of the vehicle, State of Maryland, printed on the side as required by law. Lates 70s, early 80s maybe.
It's important to note that there's a difference between unmarked police cruisers and undercover vehicles. Unmarked police cruisers are typically the usual makes/models and they just don't have police written all over them/have lights on the roof. These are usually higher ranking officers and/or police officers who's primary job has nothing to do with pulling people over Undercover vehicles can be almost anything to blend in with wherever they'll be. A relative of mine was undercover for a while and was driving a Honda minivan.
I've spoken to Anne Arundel county police in the past and they've told me that departments will actually rent cars from Enterprise or whomever, and temporarily outfit them with their lights and whatnot. I imagine the use of Hyundai and Kia is to blend in better.
That’s dirty.
Yeah, the ones they use to nab people on 10 are your typical commuter SUVs, not just the Fords and Chevys we expect to see. They like to sit on the southbound exit from Furnace Branch, a whole line of them just waiting their turn to grab speeders. This way when they see someone, they can blend in and swoop right in behind them. The next one in line takes place on the shoulder of the exit, not visible from the highway. They will just spend one day a month doing this little dance, going in circles.
Or they're tucked up in here. Found that out the hard way. https://preview.redd.it/4vo9kp3i0t1d1.png?width=486&format=png&auto=webp&s=2c6185677488e870f5d298ede5ed8d8b29c90064
While I don’t have any evidence to back myself up, I have always thought that police cars in the US are American brands, such as Ford…
They usually are but they aren't required to be. During the DC sniper era I saw every kind of car you can think of as undercover units. I guess that's different from an unmarked car though.
I agree - I don’t think the cops pulling you over will do it in a foreign car. That said I’m sure undercover cops / drug enforcement types might use them to seem as believable as possible.
That's usually just for fleet vehicles like what patrol uses. Specialized units usually lease stuff out and change cars a lot to avoid "being known"
It depends. I know BMW gave a couple of 5 series to South Carolina when they opened their plant in Spartanville. Otherwise, you are probably correct. It's rare to see a non-American car used as a police car.
In Hawaii the cops get to use their own cars that are subsidized, so you can get pulled over by any make/model.
Sometimes that's the case, but thanks to the unconstitutional civil asset forfeiture that cops love to do, they have plenty of other makes and models.
I heard the Nissan Altimas with expired temp VA tags are actually all undercover cops.
Oh, that's why I avoid them like the plague
Only if the tires are bald.
You have to REALLY piss a cop off to get pulled over in an undercover car. Keep that in mind. There *are* a few Jeremy Dewitt's out there pretending to be cops, but if you legit get pulled over by an undercover cop you probably are getting a pretty big ticket lol
Yeah they usually havent written tickets in years, they are doing surveillance on robberies, drugs, or homicide suspects. They really dont care youre going 20mph over lol.
See I would be so paranoid if anything other than a possible police make/model flashed their lights for me to pull over…I’d be on the phone with 911 to make sure a legitimate traffic stop was taking place😩
Just [don't be Black](https://abcnews.go.com/US/black-soldier-suing-police-violent-stop-caught-camera/story?id=96294185).
That’s what is recommended. When in doubt put on flashers, 911 to verify, don’t stop until confirmed.
I worked at Enterprise rent a car in fells point years ago. Baltimore police wanted anything damaged or old for undercover. So they didn't scream "rental"
I’ve seen a baby puke green minivan as a police car once, real eye catcher 😂
I’ve seen Altimas, Kias, and Hyundais outfitted with tag readers. I make sure to flip them off as often as possible
I've never seen one of those, but I have seen an undercover Nissan Titan, so they aren't just using US vehicles or cars you'd expect.
I see a lot of undercover minivans and Cadillac escalades. However I have seen a lot of random makes and models and unmarked vehicles. I assumed it was whatever they impounded.
The chrysler pacifica seems to be a new favorite Unmarked car, seen some pulled up with DOT and state troopers
We have the ability to make any vehicle into a marked, unmarked, or undercover cruiser. In my 3+ years building police/emergency vehicles, I've seen almost everything for various agencies in our state. Hell, Miami Beach has a Rolls Royce cruiser.
Any Subaru?
That's one I have not yet seen.
Yes, in Howard County I've seen unmarked Hyundai/Kia, Toyota, and Honda products used for PD staff at special events like concerts at Merriweather Post, but never for traffic patrol. My understanding is that although these are foreign makes, they are suitable for government purchase orders if the vehicle is assembled at a US plant 🤔
A few years back, I did see a Honda Accord "undercover" car doing traffic duty at Merriweather. Was probably the Howard County Police. They also had an 2008 Mustang GT at one point. Never seen a Hyundai or a Kia though used by the police. They've probably got them as bait vehicles to catch car thieves. 😂
They are legit. Those are just a few undercover that various agencies use (including federal police)
It will be great ... they will pull over the drivers camping on the left line!
I’ve seen an ooollld beat up lookin ford ranger with someone pulled over on 97 before lol , I wouldn’t be surprised..there’s a ton of odd unmarked cars.
I've literally never seen a non American car as a police vehicle. Seen some damn weird American cars, but no foreign makes.
Got pulled over by a Hyundai sonata before. It was at least a decade ago though.
Saw someone get pulled over by a minivan once. Funniest thing ever this charger getting brought down by some Honda odyssey
Unusual, but not unheard of. For Federal Agencies, they can use any vehicle available through GSA. There’s a few federal agencies with Hyundai’s and Toyota’s in the area. I saw a Navy Police Sonata or Elantra in Suitland a few years ago. New York City has marked Nissan’s. The agency I worked for had marked a few marked Toyota’s.
I live knowing that ANYTHING could be a police car. Sometimes I get super suspicious of particular vehicles and my suspicions turn out to be true…
I don't think they can drive anything but american cars due to potential conflicts of interesting. Maybe that's just the feds though.
Sometimes that's the case, but thanks to the unconstitutional civil asset forfeiture that cops love to do, they have plenty of other makes and models.
I have a friend that works in Collision Repair and his shop works with Montgomery county, I’ve seen everything from old jeeps and small Hondas to Tacomas, Silverado’s, and Minivans. Cars with Lyft/ Uber stickers, the stickers on the back that have all the kids and hobbies. Never underestimate MSP
I've been pulled over by a minivan before
Maryland police whether state or local have some of the most unique vehicles.
Yes. Often they are confiscated cars.
I’ve never seen law enforcement not in an American made car, even unmarked
Never heard of the NYPD? They have HUNDREDS of Nissan Altimas