What Should I Do if an Unmarked Police Car Attempts to Pull Me Over?
If you’re driving and an unmarked police car flashes its blue and red lights in your rear view mirror: you are getting pulled over. Being pulled over by an unmarked car can be even more scary, especially if you cannot tell whether the car is driven by law enforcement or an impersonator. Below are some important safety precautions to remember.
Evaluate: Is This an Unmarked Police Car Driven by Law Enforcement?
First, keep in mind that all of our area’s unmarked police cars have permanent red and blue lights built in. The light should not be a temporary or movable one. Second, no one pulling you over in an unmarked police car will ever be wearing a ski mask. If you are being approached by someone you thought was from an unmarked police car, but they’re wearing a ski mask, call 911 and drive away. Third, all sworn officers within the department have proper identification on them when driving an unmarked vehicle. If you’re concerned about the legitimacy of the car pulling you over, it is well within your right to call the police station or 911 to inquire. You should provide your name, location, make and model of your car, and ideally the make and model of the unmarked car attempting to pull you over. The Police Department Dispatch Center will be able to verify if a police officer is making the traffic stop.
Consider: What to Do if You’re Pulled Over?
You do need to pull over for a police car – marked or unmarked. Since it can be difficult to tell if the unmarked car pulling you over is legitimate, you also have the right to look out for your own safety. Generally, it is safest to pull into a public area like a gas station or hospital parking lot while you call dispatch to verify if a police officer is making the traffic stop. Police officials who drive the unmarked vehicles said that they almost never pull people over. The only time they do is when they see a serious traffic violation that puts others in danger.
