6 Unmarked Florida Police Cars To Lookout For
It’s no secret that Tampa Bay has some of the worst drivers in the country. Every day there’s at least one major accident I pass or someone weaving through traffic in a car that looks like it belongs at a junkyard. One way law enforcement is combatting this issue is by using unmarked Florida police cars to blend in.
Gone are the days of undercover cops using tan Crown Vics with large antennas. They may have been unmarked, but everyone knew they were undercover cops. When Dodge Chargers and Ford Explorers came into play for law enforcement, they were a bit harder to spot since many Americans had the same vehicles.
Why is Law Enforcement Using More Unmarked Florida Police Cars?
Over the past few years, Florida has seen tremendous growth and with that, more drivers are hitting the road than ever. Traffic has gotten much worse and that’s when the traffic weavers come out to play. Law Enforcement isn’t targeting your everyday soccer mom going 5 mph over the limit. They’re hoping to blend in enough to catch the Dom Toretto wannabe blazing 95 mph down the shoulder of the Howard Franklin at rush hour.
Sergeant Michael Schade with the St. Petersburg Police Department said when talking about roadways like Gandy and Roosevelt and U.S. Highway 19, “We’re going after people doing egregious speeds [and] driving very reckless … They’re driving thinking an officer isn’t in the area. By having a vehicle like this, we’re able to curb that type of activity.”
Many people argue that unmarked police cars are just a way for the agencies to cash in on more ticketing, but Schade continues, “It’s not really a matter of more tickets. It’s going after a specific type of violator.”
Florida’s Unmarked Police Cars You Probably Haven’t Seen Across Tampa Bay
- TOYOTA CAMRY: This one may seem odd, but the practical daily driver for many Americans is one of the latest police cruisers. They look nearly identical to the base models found at dealerships.
- FORD MUSTANG GT: Most recently I spotted a blacked-out Ford Mustang GT (in the picture above) with tinted windows, a regular plate, and lights integrated into the head/tail lamps on the vehicle.
- TOYOTA RAV 4: The reliable and dependent family SUV has transformed into an undercover vehicle. We’re not sure what’s under the hood, but this one is sure to blend in with civilian vehicles.
- DODGE CHALLENGER: The counterpart to the infamous Dodge Charger, the Challenger adds another muscle car to the list of unmarked police vehicles. Either coming in with a Hemi v8 or a capable 6-cylinder engine, these Challengers are no doubt one of the hardest to spot.
- FORD F150 BASE: Joining alongside the Ford Explorer and Taurus, the Ford f150 is used in a base model edition for unmarked police vehicles.
- CHEVY CAMARO: Add the Chevy Camaro to the mix with another muscle car joining the list. Bumble might not be pulling you over much longer because 2024 is the last year Camaro will be made as far as we know.
What are the concerns with unmarked Florida police cars?
Unlike the unmarked police cars of the past, modern technology has made it possible for newer undercover officers to truly blend into traffic. Emergency lights are embedded into the exterior factory lights making them completely unnoticeable to the common eye until turned on.
Departments are opting for colors like red, yellow, and green instead of the traditional black, white, and silver. Since these vehicles look almost identical to many popular daily drivers in the United States, many worry that these unmarked cars bring in more opportunities for police impersonators. If you are getting pulled over by an unmarked car and want to ensure it isn’t an impersonator, put on your hazards, call 911, and have dispatch confirm if the cruiser is part of the department.
Have you seen any of these unmarked Florida police cars? Let us know on social media.
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