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In our county, agencies never work traffic in unmarked units. There are some without lightbars but they have the lights the OP mentioned that are not visible until,turned on. The standard policy is if an officer in an unmarked unit needs to stop someome they call for a marked unit unless immediate action is needed. The Sheriff and Police Chief both have policy against working traffic in an unmarked unit.

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).

Some good discussion on the subject here.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_ ... 5160740968

FCH wrote: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).

An interesting analogy.
I consider a LTC to be for self defense, not catching a law breaker or preventing crime.
What do you think of the red light cameras?
I don't like them any more than I do "stealth" police vehicles.

koine2002 wrote:

Smokey613 wrote:Well, this one is definitely NOT stealth. :)

http://youtu.be/cqhoRGS4PvY

That sounds like a 70s muscle car.

Back around 1986 the California CHP started using Ford Mustangs for their "pursuit" cars.

Texas had a fleet of them too.

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.

winters wrote: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?

WildBill wrote:

winters wrote: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.

WildBill wrote:

FCH wrote: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).

An interesting analogy.
I consider a LTC to be for self defense, not catching a law breaker or preventing crime.
What do you think of the red light cameras?
I don't like them any more than I do "stealth" police vehicles.

I agree that the LTC is for self defense. That is what I meant by saying "provide protection". If I have to use my concealed handgun, I will not be concerned about catching the law breaker or preventing crime, only protection. I would further contend that there was a crime being committed or I wouldn't need protection.

I don't like red light cameras but my experience is very limited. I'm under the impression they are simply a money maker for both the private companies that run them and the cities that install them. Several years ago, my adult son got a ticket in Dallas. According to him, it was late at night. He stopped at the light, then executed a turn. According to the light camera, he did not come to a complete stop. Probably true, but with the complete absence of other traffic, I doubt if he was being unsafe.

FCH wrote:

WildBill wrote:

FCH wrote: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).

An interesting analogy.
I consider a LTC to be for self defense, not catching a law breaker or preventing crime.
What do you think of the red light cameras?
I don't like them any more than I do "stealth" police vehicles.

I agree that the LTC is for self defense. That is what I meant by saying "provide protection". If I have to use my concealed handgun, I will not be concerned about catching the law breaker or preventing crime, only protection. I would further contend that there was a crime being committed or I wouldn't need protection.

I don't like red light cameras but my experience is very limited. I'm under the impression they are simply a money maker for both the private companies that run them and the cities that install them. Several years ago, my adult son got a ticket in Dallas. According to him, it was late at night. He stopped at the light, then executed a turn. According to the light camera, he did not come to a complete stop. Probably true, but with the complete absence of other traffic, I doubt if he was being unsafe.

Oh, I can understand that your son got a ticket for that in Dallas. I bet he DID come to a complete stop, but the light camera isn't "smart enough" to understand that a right-on-red is legal after stopping first; it issues the ticket anyway. I'll leave you to guess how I know about that sort of situation concerning those cameras in Dallas.

Lufkin has red light cameras at certain intersections. No right on red tickets are issued in Lufkin. All citations are reviewed by an officer before being approved or disapproved. Lufkin also has a zero tolerance policy for it's employees who get a red light camera ticket. I for one am not in favor of this system but the good thing is these tickets do not go on your driving record. In Angelina County if you have unpaid RLC tickets this will prevent getting your vehicle registration renewed pursuant to the Texas "scofflaw" program. This was a hot topic here a couple of years ago but has since faded from the headlines. Not all counties in Texas participate in this program.

I now return you to your regularly scheduled topic.

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.

Scott in Houston wrote: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.