Unmarked Grapevine, TX. Police Car

Just saw a new (to me) unmarked police car in Grapevine. It was a bright red Dodge Charger with stealth strobes, and had stopped a car in a school zone. It was marked with an almost transparent Grapevine decal. This unit will make plenty of money for the city, no one expects a car this color to be a PD unit.

They have a few others like that in different colors.

I believe Grapevine put in a road rage task force several years ago. Might be part of it.

I wonder if they know its not a legal emergency vehicle.
Unless they changed the law there was a sub section in there that said to be considered an emergency vehicle a beacon had to be at the highest point of the vehicle and visible 360 degrees.

LOL please dont flame me.. i know these slick cars are allover but im just saying.

IAmSixNine said:

I wonder if they know its not a legal emergency vehicle.
Unless they changed the law there was a sub section in there that said to be considered an emergency vehicle a beacon had to be at the highest point of the vehicle and visible 360 degrees.

LOL please dont flame me.. i know these slick cars are allover but im just saying.

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Pay Attention to Subsection (f)

§ 547.702. ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR
AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLES. (a) An authorized emergency
vehicle may be equipped with a siren, exhaust whistle, or bell:
(1) of a type approved by the department; and
(2) that emits a sound audible under normal conditions
at a distance of at least 500 feet.
(b) The operator of an authorized emergency vehicle shall
use the siren, whistle, or bell when necessary to warn other vehicle
operators or pedestrians of the approach of the emergency vehicle.
(c) Except as provided by this section, an authorized
emergency vehicle shall be equipped with signal lamps that:
(1) are mounted as high and as widely spaced laterally
as practicable;
(2) display four alternately flashing red lights, two
located on the front at the same level and two located on the rear at
the same level; and
(3) emit a light visible at a distance of 500 feet in
normal sunlight.
(d) A private vehicle operated by a volunteer firefighter
responding to a fire alarm or a medical emergency may, but is not
required to, be equipped with signal lamps that comply with the
requirements of Subsection (c).
(e) A private vehicle operated by a volunteer firefighter
responding to a fire alarm or a medical emergency may be equipped
with a signal lamp that is temporarily attached to the vehicle roof
and flashes a red light visible at a distance of at least 500 feet in
normal sunlight.
(f) A police vehicle may, but is not required to, be
equipped with signal lamps that comply with Subsection (c).

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Exhaust whistle or bell, I wonder how long ago that part of the law was written? Thanks M_T.

Saved by Subsection F! I'm all for unmarked cars. If you speed in a school zone you NEED at ticket. PERIOD. And if you pass a school bus with the stop sign out and lights flashing, you should be dragged out of your car and beaten senseless! For the record; just joking on the last one, but you get my point!!!

letarotor said:

Saved by Subsection F! I'm all for unmarked cars. If you speed in a school zone you NEED at ticket. PERIOD. And if you pass a school bus with the stop sign out and lights flashing, you should be dragged out of your car and beaten senseless! For the record; just joking on the last one, but you get my point!!!

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I mainly see these cars on patrol on 121 looking for speeders. Can't say I have seen them in any school zones.

With all the construction in Grapevine I can see the need for a road rage unit. Every time I go through there something is either blocked or re-routed. The way they drive around here I'm surprized the barriers have the few marks they have. Any cop who works traffic out there has got to have a desire for quick advancement due to bravery or a death wish.

They also love to hide in the open on 360 south of 121, either on the highway itself or on the access road. Also, when they have people stopped, they usually turn their lights off.

Richardson has an un marked blue Charger. I saw it setting up on Central jus past the entrance ramp from 635. Couldn't figure what he was doing until I saw the stubby antenna on the roof.