Marked police cars with no lightbars

[Richard.Lee]

I often see marked police cars without any audible warning system, or light bars. What is the purpose of these vehicles?

[WellAdvised]

In my area, they are used by detectives, who do not wear uniform. The previous Chief Con thought it was a good idea to be visible. They are being phased out where I work.

[m19ark]

We use our high mileage patrol cars for parking enforcement. Light bars are removed since theyre being driven by non sworn Police Assistants.

[drkknght]

I often see marked police cars without any audible warning system, or light bars. What is the purpose of these vehicles?

I have seen some of these in WA also. I do not know the exact answer but I think they have the lights in the car around the windows instead of using a light bar on the top of the car. I am not sure though this is just my guess:D

[Valor55]

There are some agencies using "Slick Tops" for service. They have the same paint and colors as the marked cruiser but instead of lightbars on top they have elaborate LED and strobe systems placed inside the windshield, grills, light assemblies, and side mirror assemblies. The slick top is harder to pick out in traffic without the large lightbar giving it away, however it is still safe to use with the markings and lights. I've even seen a black cruiser with "stealth" graphics. You couldn't see them straight on but in headlights they would reflect and glow providing more visibility.

[Richard.Lee]

Thanks, that makes sense.

[TXCharlie]

There's an unmarked car I've seen around North Dallas that looks unmarked, but the light bar is attached on the underside of the roof and almost totally hidden by window tinting.

Like Valor says, when they hit the switch it lights up like a Christmas tree, and every light receptacle on the car seems to have strobe lights behind it.

[wcso234]

Slick top cruisers get better fuel mileage because there is less wind drag.

We have several because we went replaced some Dodge Intrepids and Crown Vics with Impalas and the lightbars were too big to fit on them.

[Drummadude]

My department has only a few slicktops. Most of the cars are marked w/ lightbars or unmarked cars. There's only like two CVs, because the majority are Impalas. <--- :mad:

[Rhinod56]

Our small fleet varies, but at the present we only have 2 units with a full light bar on top of the roof. All vehicals are fully marked with decals, striping, LED's, strobes, flashers, you name it otherwise, just no roof bar. And 1 vehical has no outside markings what so ever (but that's the chiefs car)but has full lights and strobes.
They are just as visable for the most part when taking down a stop or trying to get people out of the way, but if your running radar, and facing head on, takes longer to realize what/who it is. But maybe thats just me

[Switchback]

There are a lot of slick-tops in service with the municipals and troopers here.

FYI, You can't "see" an audible system. The peakers and lightpackages in these vehicles, like most fed vehicles, are secreted away underneath the hood and in factory light housings.

[Drummadude]

The higher up's that don't do patrol work anymore, in my department, have unmarked cars, with civilian plates, and no visible interior lights. The chief has like a Honda SUV, which I do think is a department-bought vehicle, but doesn't resemble a police car at all.

But like many have said, for a stealthier approach, there are " unmarked slicktop cars".

In my department (and most of the surrounding cities):

They do have government plates.
But they have no markings and have interior lights.

My advisor is a uniformed officer that rides in an unmarked car. The detectives, in plain-clothes, use unmarked slicktops also.

Some sergeants and a few "higher ups" have marked slicktops. They have no lightbar but have the same decals as the other cars while still having interior lights and sirens.

[JakeLock]

There are a lot of slick-tops in service with the municipals and troopers here.

FYI, You can't "see" an audible system. The peakers and lightpackages in these vehicles, like most fed vehicles, are secreted away underneath the hood and in factory light housings.

Peakers? I arrested a peaker once... lol

[NYCAPO]

Here in NYC, the NYPD calls these police vehicles "slicktops". They are used by the Highway Patrol unit, and are mostly used for catching speeders.

[Nick331]

I have a few pictures of a marked New York State Trooper cruiser with no light bar.