How to spot an unmarked police car

[TVR-190]

Ive become quite good at spotting UC's around my general area so i figured i'd share my knowledge.

O.k the most commonly used Undercover cars are:
Holden Commodore
Ford Falcon
Mitsubishi 380
Ford Territory
Some Holden and Ford utes

Things to look for:
Basic ugly spare tyre rims
CB radio antennae
Phone Antennae (See picture 1)
Hidden Lights (See Picture 1 and 2)

Tyres:
Most UC cars i have seen are running on the ugly basic rims which resemble the spare tyre rims.

CB Radio Antennae:
Not on all UC cars but on others, usually positioned on front drivers side or rear passenger side of car, Small black and not much different to a AM/FM radio antennae

Phone Antennae:
Smallantennae usually attached to rear window for added phone reception / hands free system. See picture 1

Lights:
Most UC cars have lights for when they are responding, these can usually be found in the centre of the dash (Picture 2, 3), on the grille (Picture 3), or in the rear window(picture 1)

Picture 1


Picture 2

(Usually in centre of dash)

Picture 3

(Lights in grille and in front of rear vision mirror)

[Shounak]

PARKING SENSORS. If you see a Commo/Falcon with parking sensors, check the model of the car. If it's an executive, it's most likely a cop car. I then proceed to check for lights, antenna's, etc.

That's always my first sign.

Although, I'm just waiting for the million and one responses saying "you shouldn't be looking for cop cars, your attention should be on the road and following the rules, it shouldn't matter what car's a cop car". You've opened yourself up for it.

But if you're doing something wrong, the undercover cop car will usually spot you before you spot them. Don't think that this now means you can drive around at 180kmh, unless you have very quick reflexes.

Also, I've never seen an unmarked cop car with grille lights here. Only unmarked Vicroads cars, the only cop car I've seen with grille lights is the 300c that used to get around.

Anyway, this is all most likely common knowledge for a forum of car enthusiasts and will probably only come in handy when driving behind one. They're almost impossible to spot in a rear view mirror, where you'd most likely get done anyway.

[TVR-190]

I dont condone unsafe driving nor do i spend all my time looking for them. i occasionally look in the rear view and see lights. im just paranoid of the cops cause im on my P's and i know theyll pick me up for anything.

[nicko]

could have used this tonight when i got pulled over and fined for having a faded number plate. $90 what a joke lol. dam sister not looking after her car

[Stretchomatic]

i went for a trip to pick up my doors for my car in vic today and saw a VE unmarked cop car...looked stock as...proper rims, really well hidden lights, they didnt stick up any higher than the dash...i thought it was a commodore driver helping another car till i got up close and saw the lights flashing...around griffith theres a mini van getting around aswell...i havent seen it but aparently its like a kia carnival style car, grey, thats about it...so they are getting more common.

id look for lancers too, ive seen a marked lancer floating around, wouldnt be surprised if they are unmarked next...

EDIT: the best way to spot them is to drive 15kms over the limit and look for blue and red lights lol.

[nicko]

EDIT: the best way to spot them is to drive 15kms over the limit and look for blue and red lights lol.

Classic

[TVR-190]

i have amber lights in my car, sits just in front of my rear view

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...7/DSCF0345.jpg

[adamc11]

Sometimes i see them in Subaru Foresters. Also most cop cars are clean. As stated though, antenas (but not always the case), lights on the centre of the dash at lower part of the windscreen, lights at the rear windows.

[Kikki]

What is the point of this thread? IF your a safe driver then you shouldn't need to worry what or where they are driving.

There you go Shounak, theres the one... now just wait for the millions lol.

[Shounak]

could have used this tonight when i got pulled over and fined for having a faded number plate. $90 what a joke lol. dam sister not looking after her car

Would the above knowledge have prevented you from getting a ticket?

Don't worry Christie, I'm keeping count.

[nicko]

nah i just felt like a whinge.

[Joey_21]

ive seen a few vyss cop cars still floating around and older xr6's also seen couple of unmarked wagons chasing some people and sitting on the side road

[BANKS]

Add to the list a policeman sitting in the drivers seat.

Every 2nd car could be a closet coppa here on the coast, sneaky mofo's

But yeah make it 2 responces now shounak lol

[Morton]

Some QLD cop cars are undetectable They have stock mags, they remove the white HQ scanner from the front windscreen, and they keep a blue light on the passenger seat. I get the feeling they're detectives, though. I've seen them pull up a few pedestrians and utilities around Wynnum, but never seen one pull over someone for traffic offenses.

[STEALTHY™]

There pretty easy to spot in SA. Most (not all) have a window louver(if thats even how you spell it...) aswell.


Saw on today, light blue VZ, tinniest little lights on each side of the dash, then when he went past, aerials and lights on the back. Both people were wearing suits, so the cop uniform doesn't always work.


Also, i doubt many of us here will be driving our cars to america, so the ford taurus pic is useless to us (hence the 'texas' number plates.....)

[VicCop]

Here in Victoria we call them Q cars.

Note that the features you have pointed out (being antennas, parking sensors and rear dash lights) are only visible from the rear. That won't help you detect the one that's sitting behind you in traffic or the one up ahead that's so innocently parked on the side of the road with a laser trained on your front bumper.

These cars are simply around to blend in that little bit. The cars used by our detectives in particular so that they don't get flagged down by bystanders. There are all sorts of reasons for the use of these cars. Of course some will be noticed for what they are on close inspection.

There are however plenty of other 'specials' cars that are undetectable. I've seen one recently and it was an Astra. Even walking right up to it and looking inside it, you couldn't tell. The radio was stashed in the glove box.

[VrWagz1]

Also, i doubt many of us here will be driving our cars to america, so the ford taurus pic is useless to us (hence the 'texas' number plates.....)

lol, was wondering what that peice of scrap was.

[TVR-190]

lol, was wondering what that peice of scrap was.

i used that pic to illustrate where they put the lights because i couldnt find a holden.

[adamc11]

Here in Victoria we call them Q cars.

Note that the features you have pointed out (being antennas, parking sensors and rear dash lights) are only visible from the rear. That won't help you detect the one that's sitting behind you in traffic or the one up ahead that's so innocently parked on the side of the road with a laser trained on your front bumper.

With cop cars behind you it is possible to see the dash lights, i spot them all the time. Not sure if all cop cars have them sitting on the dash though... is it necessary for the cop cars to have lights at the front and rear of the car?

Also just remembered... cops use those sun visors that stick to your windows to cover up their lights.

[STEALTHY™]

i used that pic to illustrate where they put the lights because i couldnt find a holden.

You couldn't find any because they don't exist.

Only marked cars have them on nudges bars etc.

[TVR-190]

ive seen them on a terriotry they use

[jatsvl]

There pretty easy to spot in SA. Most (not all) have a window louver(if thats even how you spell it...) aswell.


Saw on today, light blue VZ, tinniest little lights on each side of the dash, then when he went past, aerials and lights on the back. Both people were wearing suits, so the cop uniform doesn't always work.


Also, i doubt many of us here will be driving our cars to america, so the ford taurus pic is useless to us (hence the 'texas' number plates.....)

I'm pretty sure it is a ford crown victoria Nath, also louvre! j'ks lol....

[STEALTHY™]

ive seen them on a terriotry they use

Hardly worth mentioning it as a way to spot them when 'few' have them.

Not a single one in SA has them, nor have i seen any pictures of ones interstate with them.

[TVR-190]

ur right, i should stop contributing

[batemada]

Here in NZ with the new VE's on the road some are very hard to spot due to them looking bog stock they even have a few calais as part of the rolling stock.
The only way to tell is by looking for the lights in the front grill as they have none on the dash and the rear ones have been built into the rear tail lights some how, also the antenna has been installed int o the rear glass so no more huge antenna on the boot lid.