What's the strangest undercover police vehicle you've seen?

"RPM esq." (rpm3) 03/18/2014 at 16:32 • Filed to: None

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Today I saw a late-model Toyota Highlander Hybrid, in black, blast through a downtown Seattle intersection (heading toward the helicopter crash, I'd guess, based on the time and location) with red-and-blues flashing behind the grill and in the rearmost side windows. It actually took me a few seconds to stop mentally cursing the soccer mom running a red light, realize that it was a police vehicle, and get the hell out of the way.

I'd never seen such a thing, although now that I look into it, it looks like some tonier municipalities have adopted the Highlander as a police vehicle:

But the unmarked (or ghost-marked) police vehicles here—from the city cops to the county sheriff to the state patrol to the feds—usually seem to run a very typical range: several Panther platform sedans, American SUVs and vans, newer Chargers, the occasional Prius for some around-town duties (the state motor pool has a lot of them for state agencies to use), etc. The Panthers and SUVs come in several colors for maximum stealthiness, although every unmarked Panther I've ever seen has cop steelies, which is a bit of a giveaway.

So: what's the most unusual unmarked police vehicle you've run into (hopefully not literally)?

ddavidn > RPM esq. 03/18/2014 at 16:33

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That's weird... I heard Seattle is getting a lambo soon.

jkm7680 > RPM esq. 03/18/2014 at 16:38

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Ford Mustang, completely unmarked in Delaware. Scared me shitless, Haha.

Goggles Pizzano > RPM esq. 03/18/2014 at 16:42

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RPM esq. > jkm7680 03/18/2014 at 16:42

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That's a pretty good one. I had a similar scare from an unmarked white California Highway Patrol Camaro once...

RPM esq. > Goggles Pizzano 03/18/2014 at 16:43

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In what country? And do they sell them cheap at auction when they're done with them? Asking for a friend.

jariten1781 > RPM esq. 03/18/2014 at 16:44

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In college there were cops that rode around in these things to enforce bicycle/pedestrian violations. Thing was, the landscape guys also drove them around so they were everywhere. Many kids going too and from class got stop sign, riding on the side walk, and jaywalking violations from those guys.

jkm7680 > RPM esq. 03/18/2014 at 16:45

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Those things were mean. I hear that there are one or two of them still in service.

Now, whenever I go to Delaware, I have to manage to differentiate a civilian Mustang from a Trooper, Haha.

EL_ULY > RPM esq. 03/18/2014 at 16:46

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Houston Police pulled my sister over and gave her a ticket on horseback... DOWNTOWN!!!!

RPM esq. > jariten1781 03/18/2014 at 16:47

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That's a dirty trick.

RPM esq. > EL_ULY 03/18/2014 at 16:48

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Not exactly undercover but I'll bet she was surprised...

Goggles Pizzano > RPM esq. 03/18/2014 at 16:54

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Canada. It's not like there are enough to show up on auction radar. I've only seen one and that was 7 years ago. I've also seen a Nissan Maxima, so I get the feeling each city in the area gets one or two oddballs to play with and that's it.

SynchroMess (K.S.O.F.M) > RPM esq. 03/18/2014 at 17:02

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I was in Vegas last year around this time and out of nowhere a biege Toyota Sienna lights up and takes off in traffic. Total stealth.

area man > RPM esq. 03/18/2014 at 17:45

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This weekend I saw an undercover NYPD Honda Pilot light up like a Christmas tree and nail someone for running a red. Both the car and the fact that the NYPD was giving a traffic ticket were surprising.

The Ghost of Oppo > RPM esq. 03/18/2014 at 17:58

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PA State Troopers have a light green Taurus. Profile looks like an Accord from far away.

Rico > RPM esq. 03/18/2014 at 18:54

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Saw an undercover cop speeding down a One Way, in the opposite direction no less, in a gray 2006 Honda Accord with flashers in the windshields.

Also saw 4 cops hop out of an unmarked white Chrysler Town and Country and search 2 guys.

I can think of other random cars but those stood out the most. That's NYC for you.

Marcus > Rico 03/18/2014 at 20:15

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I'm in Manhattan too...I see everything. Toyota Sienna, Kia Sedona, Hyundai Sonata. Just drive past your local precinct and you'll see them all parked in front.

Rico > Marcus 03/18/2014 at 20:39

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Yeah man keeps you on your toes I can tell a DT car from the get!

Jacques L' Autre > RPM esq. 03/18/2014 at 23:04

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Believe it or not, I saw a first-gen Cadillac SRX that had pulled someone over on the Garden State Parkway a few years ago. I've also seen some undercover 300s in VA, and an Equinox in Greenville, SC.

jalopano > Jacques L' Autre 03/21/2014 at 12:40

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Yup...when I drove down to FL from Ottawa this winter in a silver 300 with a proper whip on the trunk, it sure was something seeing peoples reactions! Especially since I had my hacked GPS in the window reading out speed and satellite data in big characters. They'd get beside me, look over, hit brakes....drop back for a mile and finally notice the Ontario plate and take off. Later down in FL on I95, on en empty stretch a tropper got behind me from nowhere and threw his strobes on for a few seconds and then took off like balls, not sure what it was about....3am 10mph over and nobody but me.

Staying on TOPIC, years ago...95-97'ish Ottawa had a Ford Aerostar second gen (white if I recall? but unmarked). Haven't seen anything fun come close to that yet these days. They also got rid of the old Lumina fleet pretty quick, had a few unmarked.