Color vs. Cops

[DavidI]

Randy, just to throw another wrench in the equation consider night time. It is far more difficult to see a color when it is dark outside. In addition, lighting conditions during night time would also be a factor. In the agencies in SoCal, motorcycle cops (most are strickly traffic enforcement) only work during daylight hours.

Just some more factors to think about...

Great discussion, David

[copper]

Randy

I'd be interested in hearing some of the facts since you have the document, like the most common color. Although this wouldn't tell us about tickets/traffic stops, it would give us an idea of the popularity of different colors.

I myself prefer the "unique" colors, those you don't see on every second car. Like my Blood Orange.

In my opinion, there are too many black, white and red cars around. Seems to be all they're making...

Then you get the ricers with some bizarre paints. But that's another story.

Jim

[copper]

What are you driving Randy? You've got no tagline/signature.

Jim

[klaucke]

My emerald green targa with stainless roll bar and trim has cops staring all the time. Its not even that "bright" just something you never see as far as color goes. Luckily I almost never speed and never drive aggressively.

[rcm]

Threw this out to buddy who is a State Trooper (18 years of interstate). He says color of car really does not matter to him. Over 80 mph, driving style and conditions at that time are taken into consideration.

He is the master at finding drugs. If he dosen't find them the dog will. 2lbs of weed and an ounce of blow last week.

Like I say "don't break the law when your breaking the law"

These days all the car makers are putting out bright colors anyway.

[}{arlequin]

I have a theory about color but not enough money to try it out...

A sedan is best b/c the shape doesn't really announce itself. It doesn't stand out of a group of cars like a 911 shape or a TT, vette etc.
Obviously if you're weaving and darting in every direction then you'll still attract attention.

Back to the color, I like to call it "old people color." It's a mix of metallic gold/champagne/beige... the kind that old people in Florida have on their Buicks and Olds. For me at least, it's the kind of color that simply *disappears* on the road. I know I don't even notice it. My eye doesn't slow down and stop on the car, especially w/ it's uninteresting shape.

So, for fun and quick commute, I'd like an M3 (for this purpose it can't be an E30) that looks like a 3 series, or a supercharged 330 (mmmm), or a 5 series, in gold/champagne paint, lowered w/ a sport suspension and stock wheels w/ sticky tires. I favor the 3 series over the 5 and over the audis b/c it's smaller and there's just so damn many of them. It's common and therefore does not stand out.

[gregk1]

I had a cop tell me in front of my house that mine sticks out like a sore thumb and would be watching me (1966 brite Yellow 911)

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by gregk1

I had a cop tell me in front of my house that mine sticks out like a sore thumb and would be watching me (1966 brite Yellow 911)

my friend's car is like a respected thumb. He kinda drives with no patience so it's a good match to his car.. + his age and dress looks the official role.

He drives a black Ford 4-door sedan with the obvious police package, looks like a vhf/uhf antenna placed in the pro spot of the car, PD package tires & wheels, smoked windows, and his personalized lic plate was ordered somewhat similar to the NYC Feds. The PD almost pull over to let him pass.

[}{arlequin]

Originally posted by RoninLB
my friend's car is like a respected thumb. He kinda drives with no patience so it's a good match to his car.. + his age and dress looks the official role.

He drives a black Ford 4-door sedan with the obvious police package, looks like a vhf/uhf antenna placed in the pro spot of the car, PD package tires & wheels, smoked windows, and his personalized lic plate was ordered somewhat similar to the NYC Feds. The PD almost pull over to let him pass.

LOL that's awesome. I'd love to cruise around in a crown vic or a marauder that looks like that.

[DavidI]

I prefer to drive my P-car to my police car. The police car feels boxy and bulky-although it changes personality with the lights and siren.

Last Saturday, our police station got shot up! We called helicopters, additional stations, and were on top of the roof with AR-15's. Luckily, nobody was hit.

Who wants to trade jobs? Ha ha ha

David

[Randy Webb]

If he dosen't find them the dog will.

-- This is up for decision by a Court right now - the Supremes I think. There are questions about whether it violates the Constitution. We'll see.

The Ford idea is a good one, but would only work for us 911 types in Germany...

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by DavidI

Who wants to trade jobs? Ha ha ha

I could probably get you an observer July 4th roof assignment in Harlem.

You won't be bored.

[RSBob]

Not to debunk the 'color doesn' t matter' thread, but here's the story. I have a friend who used to drive from Seattle to Portland every weekend in 2.25 to 2.50 hrs where driving 5 MPH over the limit will do it in 3.0. She was driving a first generation, beige Camry. She was not a lane changer or tailgater. She just got in the left lane and kept it at 90 MPH. I rode with her a couple of times and we flew by the State Police sitting on the side of the interstate like we had a cloaking device. Since her boy friend was in Portland, she made this trip for 3 years without a ticket. Simply amazing. When she finally sold her car (not to me unfortunately) she bought a bright red Jeep Cherokee. You guessed it, on her first trip down with the new Jeep - bamo! Cited for doing 85 in a 60. Maybe her luck just ran out, but the timing is a little too much of a coinky dink.

[}{arlequin]

That's exactly what I'm talkin' about. Yeah, I bet beige will work

[Dantilla]

Right beside a local hiway there used to be an old building that was used for traffic court on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

On those days there was ALWAYS a bunch of red cars in the parking lot.

[Hetmann]

My car is irish green and previously it was forrest green. Both colors are fairly dark. I drive with gusto and haven't got a ticket in the p-car yet. That's over 9 years. I always thought it was because I just blended in.

[rob justice]

Heard a rumour over here traffic police tend to play a game along the lines of snooker when on duty - i.e. along the same scoring lines - one point for a red up to seven points for a black. At the end of the shift, totals are compaired.
If there is any truth in this - if you own a red or black car - thats bad news!!!
Yellow, green, brown, blue and pink - fairly safe.
Don't know how much truth there is in this but heard it many times.

[RarlyL8]

So whatareya tellin' me? This wasn't a good choice for a sleeper?

[}{arlequin]

LOL, well, rarly, between the meets wrapped around the rear wheels, and that wing.... you might have a losing battle on your hands.

[copper]

Rarly,

how about this one?



Jim