When it comes to the vehicles police officers across the United States drive day in and day out, it’s clear they’re not like their civilian counterparts.
A casual glance might leave you thinking otherwise. But the reality is that officers’ cars, trucks, and SUVs are purpose-built for police work. Keep reading to see 16 fun facts you might not know about police vehicles.
Interiors Are Made With Police and Occupants in Mind
Police vehicles are purpose-built. One example is the Ford Police Interceptor, which was explicitly designed for police use. It features an ergonomic interior with a six-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and lumbar support. The foam in the front seats is designed to accommodate the utility belts worn by officers.
Wide-opening rear doors facilitate access to the second row of seats. However, the rear door panels do not contain cupholders or map pockets that handcuffed individuals might otherwise use to hide contraband.
Powertrains Designed for Pursuits
The Ford Police Interceptor—and other purpose-built vehicles designed for police departments—have engine and transmission tuning parameters programmed to accommodate pursuit driving.
The system is configured to automatically know when the police vehicle is in pursuit mode and engages accordingly.
Reinforced Suspension
Police vehicles also have reinforced suspensions, which include bigger stabilizer bars, springs, and shocks to handle heavy loads, rugged terrain, curbs, and other things the job demands.
Stealth Mode
Another fun feature about police vehicles you might not know about is the stealth mode that allows the driver to disable interior lights and external markers during low-visibility operations.
One example is the Ford F-150 Police Responder. When a police officer activates dark car mode, the vehicle switches off the interior lights but keeps the gear selector and instrument cluster dimply lit.
Some police operations require an element of surprise. Stealth mode in some police cars gives officers of the law one more tool to do their jobs. By the time the bad guys realize what’s happening, it’s often too late.
Bulletproof Features
Police vehicles may have bulletproof features, such as ballistic glass capable of stopping handgun rounds. One source says more police departments are adding side and front ballistic window protection to safeguard officers from possible gunfire when they’re in their vehicles.
License Plate Readers
Police cars are equipped with license plate readers. The equipment continuously scans license plates as the officers go about their duties. If the scanners pick up the license plates belonging to people whose driving privileges have been canceled or put on hold, the officers will get alerts that help them track down and apprehend the violators.
It’s a win for law enforcement to have license plate readers that proactively seek out drivers who shouldn’t be out on the road.
Built-In Radar
While you might still see police officers using hand-held radar guns to find drivers exceeding the speed limit, some police vehicles have radar guns integrated into the dashboards of police vehicles.
Camera Systems
While it might not surprise you that police cars are equipped with camera systems, the fact that dash cams and rear-facing cameras are always ready to record pursuits and interactions is interesting nonetheless.
Special Siren Modes
Police vehicle sirens aren’t one-trick ponies. They’re equipped with tech that can produce various siren tones to match the situation, whether they’re pursuing other vehicles or navigating through traffic. It’s a symphony of cacophony to capture attention and communicate what civilians are to do.
Riot-Ready Gear
Being a police officer means being ready for a wide range of situations, which is one reason some may have helmets, shields, and tear gas canisters in the trunk. Riot gear might be a must-have rather than optional if dispatched to deal with hazardous situations.
K-9 Units Have Unique Features
Police vehicles aren’t just for officers and the handcuffed people in the back. They’re also for police dogs that play a special role in helping their human handlers do everything from sniffing out contraband to giving noncompliant suspects a mess-around-and-find-out reality check.
Some police vehicles are outfitted with climate-controlled kennels and sensors to ensure the police dogs are okay.
Some Are Unmarked
You might already know that some police vehicles are unmarked, which means you may be in for a surprise if you have a heavy foot and don’t know there’s an unmarked cop car behind you.
Higher Idling Time
Car owners know they should limit unnecessary idling since it can lower fuel efficiency and even increase engine wear and tear. Police vehicles spend a lot of time idling, so they’re built with engines and batteries that are better suited to this activity.
Silent Running Tires
Some police cars are equipped with silent running tires. These tires can be godsends in stealth operations, where movements must be made in silence. The element of surprise is one tool in an officer’s arsenal.
Reinforced Brakes
Considering that the job often entails pursuing people who don’t wish to be stopped and detained, police need vehicles that can stop on a dime and handle everything that goes with high-speed pursuits.
Police vehicles come equipped with reinforced brakes to handle the rigors of police work.
Firearm Lockers
Police cars often have secure compartments where guns and other weapons can be safely stored until needed.
Police Vehicles Aren’t Like the Ones Regular Civilians Drive
Police cars are not the same as civilian cars. The former have features and technology necessary for police to patrol roadways and highways and deal with dangerous situations.
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