New Low-Profile Light Bar for Police Cars

[Scott in Houston]

I know many of the Houston lightly marked, stealthy patrol cars used for traffic law enforcement are paid for by the insurance companies.
The city gets a "win" by getting free vehicles to help generate new revenue all in the name of safety while the insurance companies get to claim that they're just trying to keep us safer too... While at the same time, they get to raise premiums on all their clients who get snagged by one of these cars.

It seems like a conflict of interest to me.

It's one of those "follow the money" things.
Yay government.

[ELB]

That silly poster with the Eurocop and the whinging about the paint job on American police cars is laughable. The Europeans were into pretty much automated traffic fine collection for decades. Cameras plastered all over the place, including mobile units that are hauled around in plain vanilla vans to be deployed along side the road. And when your picture gets taken, boom the fine demand arrives in the mail, pay it or else.

Or in my case, two fullfledged cops (not "meter maid" types in their proudly marked green and white "cucumber" police cars showed up at my door to collect a 10 DM fine (that was about $4.00). Fine collection/revenue generation was important enough that they assigned policemen to drive door-to-door to collect.

The fact that American cops actually have to chase you down and catch you in person. and face you in court if you contest it, must seem so backwards and quaint to those highly marked Eurocops.

[mojo84]

I know many of the Houston lightly marked, stealthy patrol cars used for traffic law enforcement are paid for by the insurance companies.
The city gets a "win" by getting free vehicles to help generate new revenue all in the name of safety while the insurance companies get to claim that they're just trying to keep us safer too... While at the same time, they get to raise premiums on all their clients who get snagged by one of these cars.

This is the first I've heard of this. Can you provide a source? I'd like to address it with some insurance companies with which I work.

[Scott in Houston]

I know many of the Houston lightly marked, stealthy patrol cars used for traffic law enforcement are paid for by the insurance companies.
The city gets a "win" by getting free vehicles to help generate new revenue all in the name of safety while the insurance companies get to claim that they're just trying to keep us safer too... While at the same time, they get to raise premiums on all their clients who get snagged by one of these cars.

This is the first I've heard of this. Can you provide a source? I'd like to address it with some insurance companies with which I work.

I was told by a very experienced defense attorney in Houston. I can't confirm otherwise, but trust him.

[talltex]

Yea those leds use less power but i find them to be more blinding at night which i don't see how that improves officer safety. Their is many articles about how these light bars are way to bright at night.

Too bright for the officers or the person getting pulled over?

I think the folks driving by and passing the patrol cars that are stopped on the side of the road. Some of the lights are blinding.

I have excellent night vision, but you get within a couple of blocks of some of the new LED bars and it's difficult to see anything in the immediate vicinity of the patrol vehicle and anyone else close by. It's extremely distracting to other drivers as they approach the area. I've also driven by one parked on a side street a couple of blocks from the road I was on and when you suddenly get hit with that bright pulsing light at the intersection it's just about impossible to not reflexively turn your head and look to see what the source is.

[Jusme]

Yea those leds use less power but i find them to be more blinding at night which i don't see how that improves officer safety. Their is many articles about how these light bars are way to bright at night.

Too bright for the officers or the person getting pulled over?

I think the folks driving by and passing the patrol cars that are stopped on the side of the road. Some of the lights are blinding.

I have excellent night vision, but you get within a couple of blocks of some of the new LED bars and it's difficult to see anything in the immediate vicinity of the patrol vehicle and anyone else close by. It's extremely distracting to other drivers as they approach the area. I've also driven by one parked on a side street a couple of blocks from the road I was on and when you suddenly get hit with that bright pulsing light at the intersection it's just about impossible to not reflexively turn your head and look to see what the source is.

I have seen that the Texas DPS vehicles have a way to turn off the backward facing portion of their light bar to prevent being blinded while approaching from behind. They have just a few subdued flashing lights toward the rear with full brightness to the front. I don't know which brand it is, but it definitely helps drivers approaching a stopped vehicle to not lose their night vision so easily.

As far as whether it is ethical to have a "stealth" police vehicle, or whether having a clearly marked vehicle deters crime, I used to drive a bright white vehicle with a fully visible light bar, and bright markings all over. people simply don't pay attention one way or the other. A few years ago the city of Arlington, placed an unmanned police car on I-20, for a while it helped slow down traffic, but as people began to realize it was unmanned, they began going back to their normal way of driving. One day they put a police officer with a radar gun at the same location, and stopped a huge number of people, who complained that it was somehow entrapment. There are speed limit signs, that should be enough warning for everyone.

[Soccerdad1995]

Doesn't anyone see the connection between a stealth police car and a concealed handgun?
The purpose of the stealth car is to catch the lawbreaker without giving prior warning just like the purpose of the concealed handgun is to provide protection without giving advanced warning to the lawbreaker.
There are some people that will not obey the traffic laws unless they thing they may get caught. The stealth car provides that "may" ...
There was a day when I pushed the limits, used a radar detector and a CB radio to locate the smokies. Then I got older. I am one of those aggravating people that drive right at the speed limit (though usually not in the fast lane).

Let's hope it's more like "never in the left lane" since that will be a violation in 99% of the circumstances (barring situations where there are extremely slow moving vehicles in all other lanes, or all other lanes are closed). Left lane is for active passing only. This has got to be my #1 complaint about other drivers behavior, and it is extremely dangerous when they force people to pass them on the right.

[LucasMcCain]

::BEGIN SARCASM::

If "stealth" cruisers are preferable and lead to more effective law enforcement, then why are police officers still wearing uniforms? I mean, clearly they would bust more criminals if they wore plain clothes all the time. Sure, they wouldn't deter crime. Sure, someone who needed help wouldn't be able to identify them as an officer. Sure, people wouldn't have that indication that they are actually law enforcement and not somebody that's just claiming to be. But that stuff isn't really important, right?

::END SARCASM::

[WildBill]

::BEGIN SARCASM::

If "stealth" cruisers are preferable and lead to more effective law enforcement, then why are police officers still wearing uniforms? I mean, clearly they would bust more criminals if they wore plain clothes all the time. Sure, they wouldn't deter crime. Sure, someone who needed help wouldn't be able to identify them as an officer. Sure, people wouldn't have that indication that they are actually law enforcement and not somebody that's just claiming to be. But that stuff isn't really important, right?

::END SARCASM::

Actually I had the same thought.

[Abraham]

Maybe, ok, no doubt, I'm a weirdo.

I drive the speed limit.

It's kinda like having a policy of telling the truth.

You never have to worry about keeping up with your lies or in this case, trying to get away with speedng...

Am I a paragon of virtue?

No. Not only no, but heck no.

I just don't want the ticket or humiliation I brought on myself if caught speeding...

[Soccerdad1995]

Maybe, ok, no doubt, I'm a weirdo.

I drive the speed limit.

It's kinda like having a policy of telling the truth.

You never have to worry about keeping up with your lies or in this case, trying to get away with speedng...

Am I a paragon of virtue?

No. Not only no, but heck no.

I just don't want the ticket or humiliation I brought on myself if caught speeding...

As long as you avoid the left lane like the plague I see nothing wrong with always driving the speed limit.

It definitely makes you weird, but that's not a bad thing, I am very weird in a lot of ways. Personally I prefer the terms Unique, Original, or One of a Kind, to Weird, but they all mean the same thing.

[Pariah3j]

I thought I had heard there as a law on the books that prevented the stealth cop cars being used for ticketing/patrol in Texas. Never saw an actual statute or law, but it kinda made sense why League City does white lettering/markings on a white car. So far in the Houston area, I haven't seen any departments using any stealth/unmarked so just curious if it was some sort of county thing or what.

[WTR]

I thought I had heard there as a law on the books that prevented the stealth cop cars being used for ticketing/patrol in Texas. Never saw an actual statute or law, but it kinda made sense why League City does white lettering/markings on a white car. So far in the Houston area, I haven't seen any departments using any stealth/unmarked so just curious if it was some sort of county thing or what.

They use "stealth " cars here all the time. Dark Mustang with dark City designation, no light bar. What is the difference than a Motorcycle patrolman hiding behind a column and peeking out to shoot you or a lone Officer standing on an overpass shooting you and having marked squad cars lined up on the entrance ramp ready to give chase. I just set the cruise 5 mph over and forget it.

[mojo84]

I thought I had heard there as a law on the books that prevented the stealth cop cars being used for ticketing/patrol in Texas. Never saw an actual statute or law, but it kinda made sense why League City does white lettering/markings on a white car. So far in the Houston area, I haven't seen any departments using any stealth/unmarked so just curious if it was some sort of county thing or what.

I am thinking there is something about unmarked cars. However, since these are marked, even with same color markings, they are getting around it.

[Liberty]

The thing is this is about Kemah. Real big on speedtraps and silly low speed limits. Does anyone remember the KEmah Clown controversy or when they arrested the guy for unintentional failure to conceal. This department isn't respected by the surrounding law enforcement departments .. They bring in revenue and I guess to some towns that is all that matters