Regarding them stealthy Explorer police Interceptors

Kinja'd!!! "Dusty Ventures" (dustyventures)
10/05/2016 at 17:48 • Filed to: None

Kinja'd!!!14 Kinja'd!!! 56
Kinja'd!!!

There is, in fact, a quick, nearly foolproof way to tell if it’s a soccer parent on the way from the gym or a cop/municipal/government vehicle, even if the car is fitted with the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! (or even if it just has headlight/taillight wig-wags). It’s not about what the car has, but what it’s missing.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Kinja'd!!!

Roof rails. While the cross bars are an option the roof rails that run the length of the vehicle come standard on every Explorer trim level. However, all units built for fleet sales come without the rails so they can’t interfere with the installation of a light bar or any other roof equipment.

Kinja'd!!! Kinja'd!!!

This also works for the Chevy Tahoe.

Kinja'd!!! Kinja'd!!!

DISCUSSION (56)


Kinja'd!!! Tristan > Dusty Ventures
10/05/2016 at 17:51

Kinja'd!!!2

Sweet! Now I can differentiate a cop car from the average soccer mom rocking steelies with center caps!


Kinja'd!!! vicali > Dusty Ventures
10/05/2016 at 17:51

Kinja'd!!!0

Also reinforced steel wheels..


Kinja'd!!! PS9 > Dusty Ventures
10/05/2016 at 17:54

Kinja'd!!!5

The wheels are also a super dead giveaway. I’ve yet to see a civilian Explorer with black salad shooters like that.


Kinja'd!!! Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Dusty Ventures
10/05/2016 at 17:54

Kinja'd!!!0

Well in Cincinnati all on duty cops have blue and red lights illuminated at all times. Now if only the UK fans didn’t drive around with blue headlight bulbs...


Kinja'd!!! for Michigan > Dusty Ventures
10/05/2016 at 17:54

Kinja'd!!!0

That works for the trucks with hidden lights, but I’ve found that at night, it’s very hard to differentiate between the newer low profile light bars and a roof rack when you’re looking through a dimmed rear view mirror.


Kinja'd!!! Dusty Ventures > vicali
10/05/2016 at 17:54

Kinja'd!!!0

Usually true, but some departments put the factory wheels back on when they want the car to be particularly covert. No way to put the rails back on though.


Kinja'd!!! Dusty Ventures > PS9
10/05/2016 at 17:55

Kinja'd!!!6

I haven’t seen a civilian car with those steelies, but I have seen undercover cars without them. Factory wheels are no longer a guarantee.


Kinja'd!!! Chariotoflove > Dusty Ventures
10/05/2016 at 17:58

Kinja'd!!!0

Well I learned something new today. But, I kinda feel like if the car gets close enough for me to tell if it has roof rails, it’s already too late. ;)


Kinja'd!!! RazoE > Dusty Ventures
10/05/2016 at 18:02

Kinja'd!!!1

I kinda like how they have “INTERCEPTOR” on the hood instead of “EXPLORER”


Kinja'd!!! jkm7680 > Dusty Ventures
10/05/2016 at 18:03

Kinja'd!!!2

You can order them with the civillian spec alloys.


Kinja'd!!! Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > PS9
10/05/2016 at 18:04

Kinja'd!!!2

Some of our officer’s Explorer’s have wheel covers. There are civilian ones also with the same hubcaps.


Kinja'd!!! Alfalfa > Dusty Ventures
10/05/2016 at 18:06

Kinja'd!!!0

In Utah the license plate is a dead giveaway. A solid alpha-numeric string rather than 2 groups of three characters, and the EX vertically at the end of all state registered vehicles.


Kinja'd!!! Dusty Ventures > RazoE
10/05/2016 at 18:09

Kinja'd!!!2

Kinja'd!!!


Kinja'd!!! sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Dusty Ventures
10/05/2016 at 18:11

Kinja'd!!!0

Basically the phrase “slicktop” applies to roof racks as well.

Counterpoint: I have seen undercover Expeditions with lights integrated into the roof rack.


Kinja'd!!! Levitas > Dusty Ventures
10/05/2016 at 18:12

Kinja'd!!!0

As some other people are mentioning, this applies only to the OEM-built vehicles. Someone here posted a Mustang interceptor the other day; that is built entirely by the department and aftermarket retrofitters.

Somehow the Indiana State Police has an all black ~12MY Mustang GT, all lights hidden, no extra antennas, and a regular plate/registration. Even with lights on, I couldn’t believe it was a cop.


Kinja'd!!! 404 - User No Longer Available > PS9
10/05/2016 at 18:17

Kinja'd!!!0

I’ve seen people put winter tires on those steelies. Because Canada.


Kinja'd!!! sonicgabe > Dusty Ventures
10/05/2016 at 18:18

Kinja'd!!!1

And they always have those wheels.

Pretty much if you see a plain looking sedan, SUV, or whatever (saw a police issue Dodge Magnum wagon the other day), with those crappy wheels, and darker tint than legally allowed, it’s a cop.


Kinja'd!!! Dusty Ventures > sonicgabe
10/05/2016 at 18:21

Kinja'd!!!0

As I said in another comment, I’ve been seeing more and more cop cars without the “hey! I’m a cop!” wheels lately


Kinja'd!!! leicester > Dusty Ventures
10/05/2016 at 18:22

Kinja'd!!!4

Kinja'd!!!


Kinja'd!!! Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Dusty Ventures
10/05/2016 at 18:24

Kinja'd!!!0

And the search light on it.


Kinja'd!!! Dusty Ventures > Levitas
10/05/2016 at 18:24

Kinja'd!!!0

Did you intend to reply to someone else? I was giving a specific tip for the Explorer/Tahoe. Wouldn’t work on the Mustang regardless because the Mustang doesn’t have roof rails.


Kinja'd!!! Dusty Ventures > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
10/05/2016 at 18:26

Kinja'd!!!1

Those are optional and not always there. The roof rails thing works 99.999% of the time


Kinja'd!!! Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > Dusty Ventures
10/05/2016 at 18:32

Kinja'd!!!0

What I’m interested in is, how can I quickly differentiate a civilian Explorer from a cop Explorer pacing me, in my mirror, at night.

Previously it was plausible to exercise caution if I see any Crown Vic headlights behind me. But civilian Explorers are much more common than civilian CVs, so it could become tiresome.


Kinja'd!!! Dusty Ventures > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
10/05/2016 at 18:33

Kinja'd!!!0

Night’s tough for sure. I don’t have an answer there. Fog lights maybe?


Kinja'd!!! Tristan > Dusty Ventures
10/05/2016 at 18:34

Kinja'd!!!0

My local department tried to be sneaky by installing cheap plastic AutoZone hubcaps on their brand new undercover Chargers. They aren’t very effective.


Kinja'd!!! f86sabre > Dusty Ventures
10/05/2016 at 18:38

Kinja'd!!!0

Do people actually use roof rails on SUVs?


Kinja'd!!! shop-teacher > Dusty Ventures
10/05/2016 at 18:38

Kinja'd!!!0

Good call! Thanks!


Kinja'd!!! Dusty Ventures > f86sabre
10/05/2016 at 18:42

Kinja'd!!!1

I’d say probably not for most, but since they screw into the roof itself and therefore can’t be installed aftermarket they’re made a standard item just in case the car ends up owned by a kayaker/cyclist/one of those people who has too many kids and needs a roof cargo box/etc.


Kinja'd!!! shop-teacher > Dusty Ventures
10/05/2016 at 18:42

Kinja'd!!!1

Fog lights works for Taurus Interceptors. None of them have fog lights, but the civilian ones all do. Not sure on Explorers though.


Kinja'd!!! DynamicWeight > f86sabre
10/05/2016 at 18:47

Kinja'd!!!2

I use my roof racks. So useful for sports equipment. Mine are on a truck, not an SUV, though. Many don’t but the ones that clamp to your roof really suck and damage the car so it’s good to have them factory installed.


Kinja'd!!! scoob > Dusty Ventures
10/05/2016 at 18:52

Kinja'd!!!2

Well now they know we know what they thought we didn’t know!


Kinja'd!!! Takuro Spirit > f86sabre
10/05/2016 at 18:55

Kinja'd!!!0

I do. Gotta tie down that freshly-ish cut holiday tree to SOMETHING.


Kinja'd!!! e36Jeff now drives a ZHP > Dusty Ventures
10/05/2016 at 18:55

Kinja'd!!!1

Only thing you can do is fog lights & xenons. Cop cars usually have neither. But you can’t really know until they pass you or hit the lights.


Kinja'd!!! MrDakka > RazoE
10/05/2016 at 18:56

Kinja'd!!!2

Interceptors you say?


Kinja'd!!! Takuro Spirit > Dusty Ventures
10/05/2016 at 18:56

Kinja'd!!!0

My problem is that my roof slopes back so far in the 3 that I can’t SEE the roof of an Explorer behind me. Drives me nuts.


Kinja'd!!! Levitas > Dusty Ventures
10/05/2016 at 19:04

Kinja'd!!!1

Nope, was just commenting on the difference between different types of police interceptor models OEM or otherwise since I’ve seen different posts here/abroad about this topic.


Kinja'd!!! FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Dusty Ventures
10/05/2016 at 19:07

Kinja'd!!!1

Kinja'd!!!

This is good advice! However, pre-refresh Explorer PI’s are now old enough that they are being auctioned off and sold to civilians (I saw this one a few months ago). So there is a decent mix of ones without roof racks that you don’t have to worry about and do.


Kinja'd!!! daender > Dusty Ventures
10/05/2016 at 19:27

Kinja'd!!!1

If one is following me, I look in the mirror to spot the white LEDs in the grill. I’ve done it with Tahoes in the city of Columbia, SC. Also, look at the regular 2016 Explorer’s mirrors!

Kinja'd!!!

The regular Explorer’s mirror-mounted turn signal indicators are located in the bottom-third of the mirror. Police interceptors have them located in the top-third of the mirror.


Kinja'd!!! wafflesnfalafel > Dusty Ventures
10/05/2016 at 19:28

Kinja'd!!!0

I still get paranoid - I glance in the mirror and I can’t really immediately tell if it’s a roof rack or the low light bar. If it’s passing the wheel are the dead giveaway but I still jump out of my skin when I have one of those “sport” versions behind me and it turns out to be a family rather than a county mountie.


Kinja'd!!! Dusty Ventures > daender
10/05/2016 at 19:35

Kinja'd!!!0

The local police here didn’t get the grille LEDs in their unmarked units. The mirror tip is a good one though!


Kinja'd!!! Dusty Ventures > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
10/05/2016 at 19:38

Kinja'd!!!1

I’ve seen that too. Those bastards are sneaky. Fortunately they usually don’t do traffic stops, at least around here


Kinja'd!!! RazoE > MrDakka
10/05/2016 at 21:57

Kinja'd!!!0

One of my favorite episodes


Kinja'd!!! TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Dusty Ventures
10/06/2016 at 03:07

Kinja'd!!!0

also fog lights. cop versions dont have them.


Kinja'd!!! Dusty Ventures > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time
10/06/2016 at 07:33

Kinja'd!!!0

No guarantees on that one

Kinja'd!!!


Kinja'd!!! Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Dusty Ventures
10/06/2016 at 08:11

Kinja'd!!!0

Tank u 4 dis.


Kinja'd!!! they-will-know-my-velocity > Dusty Ventures
10/06/2016 at 11:21

Kinja'd!!!0

Yeah, undercover cars don’t make traffic stops here in Texas. We’ve had scares of guys robbing people with “undercover” cruisers so most officers tend to avoid making stops if not in a marked cruiser. In fact most officers advise to not stop for an unmarked vehicle and to either go to a nearby police station or call 911 and ask for a marked unit to come out.

So glad I don’t live in places like VA that have unmarked minivans and such.


Kinja'd!!! Dusty Ventures > they-will-know-my-velocity
10/06/2016 at 12:18

Kinja'd!!!0

Up here it’s not unusual to get pulled by an unmarked Taurus or Explorer (and New Hampshire has a few unmarked Mustangs on highway patrol), but the big unmarked trucks and SUVs are specialty vehicles with specific tasks (SWAT, crime scene, commercial truck code enforcement, etc), unless there’s an immediate threat to someone’s safety they won’t interact outside the duties of their category.


Kinja'd!!! TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Dusty Ventures
10/07/2016 at 00:13

Kinja'd!!!0

Ive never seen one here in MI and we have new chargers tahoes taurus and explorers


Kinja'd!!! Dusty Ventures > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time
10/07/2016 at 09:53

Kinja'd!!!0

Just means Michigan didn’t order them that way, doesn’t mean it’s true everywhere. Most if not all Massachusetts State Police Explorers have fog lights. And I know this for certain because I just passed two in a construction zone


Kinja'd!!! TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Dusty Ventures
10/07/2016 at 12:33

Kinja'd!!!1

haha yea and luckily we dont have many undercover cops either here


Kinja'd!!! Dusty Ventures > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time
10/07/2016 at 15:02

Kinja'd!!!0

That’s very fortunate since I’ll be traversing the state next week


Kinja'd!!! TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Dusty Ventures
10/07/2016 at 16:04

Kinja'd!!!0

State cops are always easy to see here


Kinja'd!!! Dusty Ventures > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time
10/07/2016 at 16:48

Kinja'd!!!0

Yep. Love them gumball machines


Kinja'd!!! TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Dusty Ventures
10/07/2016 at 17:31

Kinja'd!!!1

Kinja'd!!!

One of my favorite State police vehicles


Kinja'd!!! Viggen > Dusty Ventures
10/07/2016 at 20:11

Kinja'd!!!0

Dusty I haven’t been home to MA for a decent time in four years. What’s the MSP’s fleet like today?


Kinja'd!!! Dusty Ventures > Viggen
10/07/2016 at 20:35

Kinja'd!!!0

Mostly Explorers Interceptors, largely in the standard MSP colors though there are some unmarked (and some unmarked with striped reflective tape on the rear), a few Crown Vics still running around. Haven’t seen any Taurus Interceptors.