Do you drive a police vehicle?

"Metal-maro" (metal-maro)
02/27/2018 at 20:41 • Filed to: Police, Charger, Explorer, Crown Victoria

Today a black Charger came up behind me at a reasonably fast rate. I assumed it was a Wichita Police Patrol car. Once he caught up to the car beside me I could tell it wasn’t a cop. This reminded me of something I was told by another Crown Victoria owner. Having a former or same model vehicle as the local police isn’t fun. I always thought that traffic would move and part around you, but I was told they do the opposite (or at least drivers would behave).

Owners of current or former types of police vehicles, I was wondering what your experiences were with driving them in traffic? Is it not as entertaining as I hope?

DISCUSSION (21)

vondon302 > Metal-maro
02/27/2018 at 21:21

It’s been fun a few times mostly late at night watching drunks panic. Mostly every one slows down especially when it’s clean and I’m wearing something dark and sunglasses. Then they give you the stink eye when you pass them.

Kinja'd!!!

Put some snow tires on it and it’s one of the best snonuts car I’ve ever had. Good fun in the dirt too.

f86sabre > Metal-maro
02/27/2018 at 21:43

I had a BMW R1150RTP police motorcycle for 10 years. Sold it Sunday to a friend. People tended to get out of my way pretty well on the bike. It was large and wore distinctive black and white paint.

MM54 > Metal-maro
02/27/2018 at 21:45

It’s 50/50, definitely better on the highway than around town. Makes it easier to pass when there’s 2 lanes, but if not, be prepared to perpetually do 5 under the speed limit any time someone is in front of you, more focused on their rear-view mirror than the road in front of them.

Fortunately, there are very very few crown vics still in service here these days, so it’s been getting better.

Quadradeuce > Metal-maro
02/27/2018 at 21:46

I had a Ford explorer approach me on the freeway in traffic at night. I recognized the headlights from a half mile away and assumed it was a cop. It started tailgating me, but I couldn’t get out of the way unless I sped up to speeds that might get me a ticket. So I just plodded along until the it was clear to get over and let him pass. That’s when I found out it wasn’t a cop. Any other car that did that and I would have sped up a bit to try to get out of their way.

Once they passed they ended up going about 2mph faster than I had been going. Kind of pissed me off that he tailgated me so aggressively over such a small speed difference in urban freeway traffic.

Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch > Metal-maro
02/27/2018 at 22:36

Oh look, another Wichitoppo.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Metal-maro
02/27/2018 at 22:46

Wichita? Champagne F-body? Pretty sure I’ve seen you around.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > vondon302
02/27/2018 at 23:11

I don’t even like P71's but that picture is fantastic.

NKato > Metal-maro
02/27/2018 at 23:17

A couple of weeks owning my Crown Vic Interceptor, and I’ve only had one instance of traffic actually moving the hellfuck out of the fast lane on I-5.

Most folks in the Puget Sound area aren’t as dumb as the chucklefucks out east - they won’t really care if a cop is in an unmarked vehicle, they just go with the traffic flow.

It’s reckless driving (weaving in and out of traffic like a dolt) that gets you nailed.

Of course, ever since my dark jacket lost its zipper, I’ve been wearing my “caution-orange” colored jacket. Also have a crappy dashcam mounted under my rear view mirror so the silver ring of the camera is a pretty dead giveaway that I’m not a po-po.

Frankly, I prefer it that way - having traffic part before my Interceptor would be nice, but it would draw unneeded attention to a relatively greenhorn driver.

I imagine the circumstances would be different if I drove the car in Pierce County, where the paint matches the Sheriff Department’s.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Metal-maro
02/27/2018 at 23:18

Is a P71 the best car for a teen driver to have then? All the drivers around them will be extra cautious.

Jayhawk Jake > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
02/27/2018 at 23:20

There’s hundreds of champagne fbodies around

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Jayhawk Jake
02/27/2018 at 23:37

Yeah but I’ve seen like, hundreds + 1

NKato > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
02/27/2018 at 23:39

I honestly wouldn’t buy the Vic for the “safety aura”. More like, the Panthers are a very, very forgiving platform for a beginner, and still has the horsepower for having fun with. Just be prepared to spend quite a bit on rehabilitating the car from a lifetime of abuse.

Drive train, transmission, engine, and suspension are all things you want to watch out for.

NKato > Quadradeuce
02/27/2018 at 23:40

You’ll be happy to know that I actually hate tailgating so much that I put twice as much space between me and the car in front as the average driver. It’s mainly so I have room to work with if there’s an accident.

NKato > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
02/27/2018 at 23:44

Got some love for P7B’s? (Hint: They’re basically the same thing, just model years 2010, 2011, and 2012.)

Kinja'd!!!

vondon302 > NKato
02/28/2018 at 06:23

I didn’t know that cool!

vondon302 > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
02/28/2018 at 06:25

Thanks! I’m shocked how well it came out so I use it as much as I can.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > NKato
02/28/2018 at 07:24

Interesting I never knew it got a different code those years. Sorry Ford PI’s are one car that I just can’t bring myself to like. Though I do respect the amount of rugged car they are for the money.

Metal-maro > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
02/28/2018 at 12:34

Could be, but mine stays in the garage lot unfortunately. Since I notice the ones that looks like mine, there are quite a few champagne (pewter, actually) f-bodies around.

Metal-maro > Quadradeuce
02/28/2018 at 12:49

I think that’s a universal annoyance for all drivers, cop or not. Especially if someone is tailgating me and I’m stuck behind someone else.

I’ve been tempted to try not passing the car that was blocking me once it moved over, then slowed back down just to annoy the guy behind me. Then let him go. No brake checking, no gestures or anything aggressive, but enough get them into trouble if a cop is down the road. But you never know what would set someone off...

Metal-maro > NKato
02/28/2018 at 12:53

I have the frustration that if you leave enough room to stop when following a car, that someone else who has to pass everyone will cut into that spot.

jkm7680 > Metal-maro
02/28/2018 at 13:00

Kinja'd!!!

Speaking of which, a police department near where I used to live still had a couple of these a few years ago. Seeing one in your rearview mirror didn’t really do anything till it was too late.