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down_home's avatar
down_home
Explorer II
Jun 16, 2019

Plain Black Wrapper

In Michigan last week on I94 we saw a lot of Troopers. A one turn around was a Trooper and a Motorcycle.
The motorcycle bore no markings at all and the rider only displayed the Michigan State police seal or shield on the shoulder. He wore a subdued gold color helmet.
A white cub type car passed us but not at any great speed and the Motorcycle after we had passed cam out an chased the car down within less than an 1/8 mile. Then he turned on the take down lights.
The lights were flush and blacked out within the rest of the trim.
It was a high hp Susukie or Kawsaki 4 cylinder with quiet exhaust.
You would never recognize the cycle or rider at any distance, and maybe right next to them, as a State Trooper of a State Police motorcycle.
Maybe there was some markings I missed, I dunno.
nrapment?
In our state in a plain unmmarked car the Trooper has to wear his DI or campaign hat, or other insignia, if working. But with all windows, just about, blacked out on their vehicles these days who can tell.
In Middle Tn/Nashville and elsewhere they are in small Chevys with v8s
and ow becoming ubiquitous the Chryslers with 157mph capability and more.
Had a somewhat local Officer ask me about hopping up his Chrysler. I'm too old to fool with them anymore. Won't urpirse me to see the new Hemis 757 hp Chryslers as Police cars though their insurance already sky high, frowns on them using even confiscated left lane cars.

53 Replies

  • I can't see a un-marked bike or car as entrapment. Entrapment, to my understanding, is doing something to cause you to break the law.
    The issue I have is in this day and age, where everybody is certain criminals are everywhere and out to get them, and anybody can buy run flashing lights, do you stop for a un-marked car/bike?
    Last time I got stopped in my home town the first thing the officer heard as he approached my window was my "hands free" phone say "911, What is your Emergency?" "THERE IS A MAN WITH A GUN COMING TO MY CAR" There was a audio recording of the encounter that neither of us could edit.
  • Municipal agencies around these parts have gone with stealth / ghost markings.

    All the lights hidden, graphics are very dark gray against black paint. Still counts as a marked vehicle.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    There is usually a logo on teh "Curb side" of the Departmental semi-marked as I recall.. Though I've never seen a semi-marked Motor unit. Just patrols.

    Drove an Unmarked twice.. Technically 3 times but the 3rd time was like 50 feet n a parking lot. (actually the 1st). Both times it was an Administrative run not patrol.

    I now the Harley's the MSP use are sweet bikes... I know a trooper nicknamed Ponch (After the character on CHiPs) like Ponch he is Mexian/american. And well.. If two bikes go out and one comes back on the trailer.. It is his. Guaranteed it will be his... He just has all the luck.

    Once they were invetigating a car v/s light pole.. Everybody (Including highway dept and lighting engineers on sceen) agreed it was not going to fall but if it die it would be on the other side of the freeway from where the troopers were.

    Landed on "Ponch's" helmet (he was wearing it at the time) Bike to trailer "Ponh" to Receiving Hosp. (Inspected and sent home. no major damage)

    One of the best troopers I ever dispatched by the way . Just in case you are wondering.

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