Regarding the legality of unmarked Police cars.
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Are Unmarked Police Cars Legal?
By Aditi Mukherji, JD on July 15, 2013 11:53 AM
Unmarked police cars are used for a variety of traffic law enforcement purposes, ranging from catching drivers committing violations to promoting traffic safety.
But are unmarked police cars legal?
The answer may depend on factors such as which state you're in, what time of day it is, and what the unmarked vehicle is being used for.
Common Uses
Generally speaking, a police car is considered unmarked if it doesn't have fixed, visible flashing lights, a siren that emits a loud signal, or prominent markings that identify it as a police vehicle.
In many states, unmarked police cars are regularly used for the routine stopping of drivers for traffic violations like speeding. In New York, for example, unmarked state police SUVs are now being used to catch texting drivers.
Police officers also use unmarked cars to stop drivers suspected of a penal law violation or whose behavior presents a threat to public safety.
Restrictions
In some states, however, police officers in unmarked cars have specific rules they must follow. These differ from the rules for other police vehicles, both at the state and city levels.
"The troopers that are issued unmarked cars are given extra instructions on just that thing," a veteran trooper with the Iowa State Patrol told USA Today. Such special restrictions may include only using the unmarked cars during daylight hours.
Other states like New York place few, if any, restrictions on the use of unmarked police cars. States like Ohio, on the other hand, require all police vehicles to be "marked in some distinctive manner" and equipped with a flashing or rotating colored light.
California Laws Concerning Police Cars
By Carrie Glossmanz, eHow Contributor
Read more :
http://www.ehow.com/facts_7619412_california-laws-concerning-police-cars.html
Unmarked Cars
Unmarked cars are legal in California and undercover officers have the authority to pull drivers over, which they usually do using hand signals. As part of California Vehicle Code Section 40804, any officer whose primary duty is maintaining traffic and enforcing the vehicle code must be in a marked car and in uniform. If the officer in charge of enforcing vehicle code is not in a marked car, their citation will not be valid and they may not be a witness in a trial for any citation they issue while in the unmarked car.
Misconceptions
Section 40804 of California vehicle code is sometimes interpreted as meaning that no officers in unmarked cars can issue traffic citations, including speeding offenses. (ref4) This is not true, as officers in unmarked cars can perform this duty as long as their primary law enforcement duty is something other than enforcing the vehicle code.
Read more :
http://www.ehow.com/facts_7619412_california-laws-concerning-police-cars.html