Police called out for sneaky unmarked cars tactic
Police have been called out for a sneaky tactic, after a photo of a police car with a rear window sticker emerged online.
Some have questioned whether it’s fair to include these kinds of details on undercover police cars, with claims the car with a ‘My Family’ sticker on the back “crosses the line”.
The photo was taken of a Hyundai i40 that is an undercover police car in Queensland.
The only thing that identifies it as a police car is the red and blue lights that can be seen in the window.
The photo was first shared to Reddit on Boxing Day in 2015 but has since re-emerged and sparked the debate once again.
Some people claimed that these tactics by undercover cops are “deliberate deception”.
“Having an unmarked car is fine. But this crosses the line into deliberate deception. They lose trust when they effectively lie,” one person wrote.
Another added: “Baiting people into doing stupid sh*t and bookin ’em, revenue raising at its finest. You know what stops people driving like idiots? Marked cars. If they just made an effort to get more marked patrol cars moving around in traffic, you’d catch the actual d**kheads.”
However, others believe that police are within their rights to use stickers and those who don’t break road rules shouldn’t have an issue with their tactics.
“I’ve no problem with undercover cops and whatever they do to make themselves more undercover. More chance of catching the idiots on their phones weaving in their lane,” one person said.
“Unmarked cars do things to look like unmarked cars. Omg, who would’ve thought?” another said.
A spokesperson from the Queensland Police told news.com.au that they utilise a “suite of strategies” to increase road safety.
“There is clear evidence that increasing the chance and uncertainty of detection is a powerful motivator in changing peoples’ driving habits,” the spokesperson said.
“The very nature of a covert vehicle is to ensure that it doesn’t stand out, that it is inconspicuous, and it looks like any other vehicle parked on the side of the road.
“Unmarked vehicles are used anywhere, anytime in Queensland to detect offences and enhance safety on Queensland roads.”
Other people have claimed to see undercover police cars with customised numberplates and paint decals.
Last year in NSW, an unmarked police car was spotted on the side of a highway disguised with P-plates.
The photo was uploaded of the undercover police car with the caption: “NSW undercovers busted trying to manipulate road users.”
Some suggested the P-plates were used to “fool the young ones and encourage street racing”.
What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.