cross-posted from: https://infosec.pub/post/42886604

Source

8-12 inch strip of dark tint at top windshield,
usually small triangle in the middle.

Lights hidden in tinted top strip, grill, bumper, side mirrors, headlights, etc

Also, most (though not all) are Fords. Look for a metal cage behind the driver, and wheels are often black with a central, circular, silver hub. Some will have an approximately 10in square plastic box on top.

Do they really bother with rigged up vehicles like this? I was under the impression they just drove regular vans.

Their funding is insane and they are getting both undercover cars and visibly indentifying cars.

I was under the impression they were using rentals but considering they crash vehicles intentionally and pretty regularly it must be quite the bill at the end.

Yes.

wheels are often black with a central, circular, silver hub.

Bingo, the tires are always the big giveaway for me. Virtually no other car on the road will have them, and if I'm not mistaken, sale of them is restricted as they're resistant to puncture (Spike Strips, etc.). The odd example that you see might simply be a discharged PD model sold at auction after its service life has elapsed, Impala, Crown Victorias, etc.

Absolutely they do, it's just that there aren't as many available for service to officers as rental agency vans/SUVs. It's expensive to rig up floor model vehicles that way, and they're typically sold from auto manufacturers to PDs/Sheriff's on special order (with a backlog to suit the additional modification time).

True. I hadn't considered their open check status.

This is true for basically all undercover and ghost lettered cop cars in Texas

IMO that’s what this post is for, for those of us that forget or don’t understand just how huge their budget is now.

We will certainly look back to their activity, training, arms, and equipment in 2025 as quaint compared to what is coming.

Updates like this at least inform people that their tactics are evolving.

Also visible from the front windshield is usually a laptop with laptop holder. You don't usually see those on civvy vehicles.

Another sign is an extra antenna

Oklahoma too

I drive my car too fast so I've been training on this since I was 16.

How fast does the zamboni go?

Small triangle is a cruise control/lane assist camera a lot of cars have. What's with the trim at the top of the windshield

Edit: police lights, missed it in the pic

The best sign....the license plate mounted directly to the body, no license frame

A lot of the paramilitary cars don't have license plates

It’s the whole fucking county. ACABs

Also ICE wasn’t using cars like this, they were using rental cars, even small Subarus and full size trucks with no modifications at all.

I fuckin' hate Illinois nazis

We will certainly look back to their activity, training, arms, and equipment in 2025 as quaint compared to what is coming.

We will certainly look back to their activity, arms, and equipment in 2025 as quaint compared to what is coming.

:)

That's what insurance is for, god dammit!

heh

Then there you go....no license plates

Sorry, but, this is useless.

This isn't going to help at all when they're rolling up in vans they borrow from local businesses.