Undercover Stangs: Indiana police to use unmarked Mustangs
Being a cop just got a little more fun for state troopers in the state of Indiana. The police department just purchased 18 brand new black Ford Mustang GTs for traffic patrol, with one being sent to each district. The Mustangs look completely stock and only have a light bar inside the top of the windshield - not even antennas usually found on unmarked vehicles. A few troopers took the opportunity to test out their new pony cars at O'Reilly Raceway Park last week and found them to handle "differently" than the Crown Vics. We would hope so.
[Source: FlyerGroup.com via MustangBlog.com]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
MajorGeek 11:03AM (5/22/2008)
Awesome. Until some whack job puts a light bar in his Mustang and starts pulling people over. Wait for it.....
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Reality_check 11:30AM (5/22/2008)
And thanks to Autoblog and Drew Phillips for crashing Indiana's Police efforts to make the roads safer.
NOW EVERY FOLK IN THE STATE OF INDIANA, WOULD BE LOOKING OUT FOR BLACK STOCK MUSTANGS (EASY TO FIND, C'MON IS A STOCK MUSTANG)
Some things just aren't meant to be public, again, thanks autoblog.
Kumar 11:58AM (5/22/2008)
The state police has been doing this for years in Indiana. Most people that drive 465 (the loop around Indianapolis) know of or have seen the mustangs and camaros they have used in the past. It's common knowledge and written about in the papers when they upgrade. Don't forget, it's the midwest too, and everybody and their brother/sister either has a mustang or wants one. ;)
Now, if they REALLY wanted to sneak up on people, motor around in an EVO or Subi sti.
Tony2X 12:01PM (5/22/2008)
Isn't modern policing about prevention rather than enforcement? I'd rather be aware of a black Mustang in my rear view and control my speed than have one take me by surprise.
srivendel 12:02PM (5/22/2008)
"Some things just aren't meant to be public, again, thanks autoblog."
Dude, the story appeared first in the NEWSPAPER. How, exactly, has Autoblog blown the cops' cover?
Richard 12:17PM (5/22/2008)
I used to travel between Columbus and Indy with an occasional blast to my home office in Chitown. Blue Z 28s were the bane of my existence! But, back then, you just paid the fine and didn't worry. You only got points if you didn't pay w/in 30 days or something like that.
I don't have too big a problem with this except that driving across northern Indiana is sleep-inducing at best. Several studies have indicated that for those kinds of drives, higher speed is actually safer as it is easier to stay awake and focused.
But, Kumar, your suggestion of Evos or STi's is just plain mean-spirited. I get Highway Patrolmen in 'Merican iron and am always careful around those cars (even here in RI where they have chargers that are unmarked and window-tinted). But to get a race-baited ticket from an STi would be totally wrong - even if they assemble Subies in IN.
Berto 12:27PM (5/22/2008)
@Reality_check: Yeah damn autoblog for compromising the safety of people!
Never mind the fact that this was first reported on the local paper and that the police department itself did a press release and gave quotes for the story...
http://www.flyergroup.com/archivesearch/local_story_137165444.html
Torrent 12:34PM (5/22/2008)
Good, because Whenever I go to Indiana, I'm renting a Black Mustang!
No light bars, however. I'm not completely stupid......
Or am I. //_-
R 2:42PM (5/22/2008)
@Reality_check
Your comment almost implies there should be a secret police. Please move to Russia or China, you've totally missed the point of American-style law enforcement.
geo.stewart 11:05AM (5/22/2008)
unmarked cars should be illegal.
too easy to fake and too hard to spot.
but if i was one of the troopers getting to take it home, way cool.
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Bah 11:36AM (5/22/2008)
I've got no problem with hard to spot. Well, I would love it if cops all drove pink vans so I'd never get another ticket, but I don't fault them for wanting to catch people who are technically breaking the law.
The big problem is that it is sooo easy to fake this. I suppose someone could fake a fully badged cop car too, but that's easily detected by real cops too. Single women driving alone in these areas: beware!
geo.stewart 1:07PM (5/22/2008)
the whole point should be enforcement through prevention, not enforcement to get fines.
similarly, I want a car that will help me avoid an accident (capable, nimble,...), not one that is designed completely around surviving the accident without a scratch.
But hey! thats just crazy talk, I shouldnt spout common sense like that.
Austin 11:06AM (5/22/2008)
Crazy, and scary. Glad I don't live in one of those areas that allows unmarked cars because I would be watching out for all the Mustangs!
On a side note the coolest thing I've seen around here (Columbus, Ohio) is the Charger police car.
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Allan 11:18AM (5/22/2008)
Charger police cruisers are pretty popular actually. We even have one in our crappy little town in NY here.
mattydread 2:34PM (5/22/2008)
RE Allen:
I've seen a bunch of un-marked Dodge's in my area in the past year. You can tell their cops becuase in Maryland you're not allowed to tint car windows too black (but SUV's can for some reason), and the unmarked cop cars all have the windows tinted as black as they can be. Plus they have little hockey puck antennas on the trunk lid.
RE anyone who doesn't want police to have unmarked cars -
I think their great because it's probably the only way PD can catch people tail-gating, not using turn signals, and doing things they shouldn't be while driving. Marked cars are only good for speed traps IMO.
sparkyDJ 9:47PM (5/22/2008)
RE mattydread
"I think their great because it's probably the only way PD can catch people tail-gating, not using turn signals, and doing things they shouldn't be while driving."
Those are all things the police do here.
I drive better than every cop I've seen in this town.
rndmnme 11:08AM (5/22/2008)
I never understood this.
Official Reason for Mustangs: To make sure the highways are safe, and people don't do dumb things.
Now, when's the last time you saw a marked police car and thought it was a good idea to speed?
Real Reason for Mustangs: So the state can make a buck by catching speeders off guard.
I mean, speeders are guilty either way, but don't marked police cars cause people to drive safer just by being there?
Even better, how many people are going to drive faster because a car with lights and no identification is tailing them?
Shrug. It all seems kinda silly to me.
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Chris 11:17AM (5/22/2008)
Perfectly stated! It makes no sense at all.
Richard 12:08PM (5/22/2008)
As ever...follow the money!
Torrent 12:37PM (5/22/2008)
Maybe Indiana has too much Tax revenue?