How Do You Spot Unmarked Police Cars??

[huwj]

Like most on here I'm pretty good at sticking to the limit in 30's and 40's but not quite as good at sticking to the NSL on dual carriageway's and motorways. Most people I know who have been caught on these kinds of roads have been pulled by unmarked police cars following them.

So are there any tell tale signs for spotting unmarked cars?? The only way I would be able to spot one is if an uniformed officer was in the driving seat!!

[lazyitus]

Also look out for extra aerials and two rear view mirrors (one for passenger cop).

[deltaf]

Giveaways are more than one antenna on the car, keep an eye out for the usual screen/dash mounted cameras, lights behind grilles, and the makes of the cars too, usually volvos, senators, bmw etc all fairly quick motors.
Oh and the blue uniform is also a giveaway!

[plotloss]

mungo said:

When you are looking in the mirror - Check the area where their rear view mirror is. If there is a big black object there, chances are it's a camera attached to the middle of the windscreen. If that area is empty you are safe. Someone tell me if I am wrong

That certaintly used to be the case but I remember a post from that stated these cameras have now been minaturised so much that you wouldnt notice them inside the car.

Aerials perhaps? Surely going to be more aerials on an unmarked car than a normal one?

[pmanson]

Most of the time they usually match your speed and keep a nice safe breaking distance between you and them.

2 guys in white shirts can be a give away.

Theres a unmarked black Omega in Bournemouth with a camera on the parcel shelf facing backwards.

[Big_M]

Their number plates don't have any other lettering apart from the number ie no dealers identification at the bottom.

[trackdemon]

HOW DO YOU SPOT UNMARKED POLICE CARS?

"...and driving past all traffic with a minimum of +40mph speed differential is sure to draw the attention of unmarked police cars, they will follow and pull you over giving you a chance to have a close look and memorise the model, type, colour & registration number. Eventually you will know all of them personally...."

Your welcome.

[Fat Audi 80]

In my experience all of the things people have mentioned, plus dark colours and generally being driven very steadily. If you are keeping your eyes open you can usually spot them quite easily. I always work on the basis that if I am going quite fast they will usually appear in front of me , I usually slow down if the car fall into the any of the above catergories...

[edc]

If you're busy hawke-eyeing out police cars it might be a bit harder to drive very fast anyway. It's much harder when congested - as I got stopped buy a white unmarked Mondeo in a town centre and upon closer inspection nothing much gave it away apart from the bagdes in their pockets.

[plotloss]

I feel an unmarked police car register coming on...

[tim_s]

when i was followed and pulled by an unmarked omega it was pretty obvious that it was police although i didn't click at the time. for example at this rounabout there was only enought room for me to pull out because the car behind me would have had to give way to his right - it didn't give way and i saw the chap in my review mirror wave a badge or something to the driver who he just pulled out on. just before being pulled it came storming up behind me tailgated me for a few seconds then puts its blues & siren on (i was doing 38 in a 30, my speedo read 45). no points just a lecture!

i always see it nowadays in wycombe, cryers hill, hazlemere and surrounding areas - stands out a mile! i saw some unlucky chap in a max power nova get pulled by it in hughenden a few months back! haha

>> Edited by tim_s on Tuesday 15th July 15:39

>> Edited by tim_s on Tuesday 15th July 15:45

[Alan420]

Throw donuts out the passenger window and see if it swerves to collect them.

[mel]

Big_M said:

Their number plates don't have any other lettering apart from the number ie no dealers identification at the bottom.

Doesn't that make them illegal ?

I thought it was now a legal requirement to show the plate manufacturers name and postcode minimum.

[loaf]

Alan420 said:

Throw donuts out the passenger window and see if it swerves to collect them.

:coffeemeetsmonitormoment:

Harsh...but fair

[pmanson]

Alan420 said:

Throw donuts out the passenger window and see if it swerves to collect them.

nowwheredidiputmyhomersmiley?

[swilly]

Unmarked cop cars tend to look too normal.

Most people personalise their motors to a degree in terms of colour, trim etc.

Cop cars tend to stand out for being too basic for the usual higher model cars they are.

Also if the car behind is staying with me or catching me up its got to be a copper

[Mad Dave]

lazyitus said:

Also look out for extra aerials and two rear view mirrors (one for passenger cop).

Aerials are often difficult to spot though, as theyre placed in a straight line down the car - so when youre directly behind/in front, it can appear as one aerial!

[Westy Carl]

Usually look for 2 interior rear veiw mirrors.

[ledfoot]

Look for the 'Unmarked Police Car' lettering on all the body panels. It usually gives the game away.

Often dark coloured cars like BMW, Omega, Volvo, and have extra aerial mounted on offside rear wing is a good indication.

[TonyRec]

Big_M said:

Their number plates don't have any other lettering apart from the number ie no dealers identification at the bottom.

Even our marked cars have dealer/garage names on them now!