The Harris County Sheriff’s Office in Houston, Texas is deploying a fleet of brand-new Chevy Camaro “ghost cars,” which are equipped with subtle “ghost decal” graphics along the flanks intended to keep the vehicles unnoticed in traffic. The new Chevy Camaro police cars are also equipped with lights and and a siren that are hidden from view, without the traditional roof-mounted light bar.
Y’all be safe out there Harris County, Texas Sheriffs cars with “ghost” decals. pic.twitter.com/rpgYfOpK58
— Lil choo choo the TRI/UCKER 🦂🇹🇹🇺🇸 (@BruceAllmiighty) June 6, 2021
The new Chevy Camaro patrol cars were recently posted to Twitter. Per a recent report from the Houston Chronicle, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office states that the “ghost decals” are part of its “multi-pronged efforts to get dangerous drivers off our streets so that we might ultimately shed our region’s dubious distinction for having the nation’s deadliest roads.”
Among citizens, the reaction to these new undercover Chevy Camaro police cars has been mixed. Some have voiced support for the new cars, saying that they could result in more cautious driving among motorists uncertain if a police vehicle was nearby.
Others have expressed frustration, saying that the cars were nothing more than a means to bring in revenue, and that drivers would continue to drive recklessly without the presence of a clearly marked police vehicle. The subtle police markings could also lead to distrust among motorists uncertain if they are being pulled over by a legitimate police officer, or an imposter.
“When did police become a source of revenue? This whole ghost decal isn’t right in anyway. You’re hiding from the people you’re supposed to protect!” writes one critic in a post to social media.
The use of “ghost decals” is also somewhat questionable. If the aim is to make a police vehicle less visible in traffic, no markings whatsoever seem to make more sense, while the use of barely visible markings falls in some odd middle ground.
Nevertheless, the new Chevy Camaro patrol vehicles are now in service on Houston roads.
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Comments
Who buys white muscle cars? Should have ordered them in black or silver.
I did.
Bought a new 2018 Camaro 1SS 1LE, then traded and ordered 2SS 1LE…and both white. Much nicer to be just warm, instead of just cooking yourself on a hot FL summer day.
You a cop? LOL
Translation: designed for revenue gathering. If the concern was traffic safety, they’d use marked cars. Who speeds or runs stop signs in front of a marked car?
Having been a police officer for about 10 years in the past, I’m going to say this and surely get a lot of grief I’m sure. But this is how I truly feel.
Police work and everything surrounding it must be completely overhauled. The old strong arm tactics and mine is bigger (cars or guns) or faster (cars) than yours is very outdated. How many decades (or more) have the police been using bigger and more powerful cars and now trucks/SUV’s in a failed attempt to force compliance? Same with the guns! We allow mass killing weapons to be sold to the public, so then the police departments want bigger weapons. It doesn’t work. The second the police vehicles are nowhere to be found, drivers go about driving in the very aggressive manners they do. Having higher powered sports cars on the street in plain clothing will not change this. Putting weapons in the hands of police that were designed for wars and killing only creates more people attaining bigger and more deadly weapons. Police work is still trying to gain compliance with force, brute and scare tactics. It’s time to bring law enforcement into the 21st century and police in a smarter way. This is not one of those ways.
“It’s time to bring law enforcement into the 21st century and police in a smarter way”
(In OCP’s Bob Morton’s voice) It’s time for Robocop.
…queue in Robocop’s theme song.
lol.
Mr Berning: What is your suggestion to help keep us safe. Surely you must agree that the threat of getting caught speeding or driving recklessly by an officer in a car you would not recognize is a deterrent.
The only weapon police have that was designed for war are sniper rifles and mraps. AR15s would not last long on a battlefield.
you dont know what you are talking about, the m4 is an ar15 based designed -sincerly an enlisted soldier.
If their attempt at having a “faster car” is a basic Camaro with (at most) a 6.2L V8 pushing out 455, I’d say they have a long way to go. From an intimidation standpoint, that’s pretty weak.
don’t worry, they will catch your SUV. Did you ever her the term, Nothing faster than Motorola, you’ll find out.
Lol you asshat, thinking that because I disagree that this is an attempt at “intimidation” I’m therefore running from the cops in my muscle car.
“Police work is still trying to gain compliance with force, brute and scare tactics.”
You left out entrapment.
I like them…I know there are some unmarked muscle cars (Challenger’s and Camaro’s) in Florida. I saw some while on vacation a few months ago on I-4 near Orlando and they were in yellow and bright blue colors. I know there are comments out there about revenue collection…but it’s very simple…if you don’t want to provide the revenue, don’t drive like an a-hole. Near me, the speed limit is 70mph. Everyone knows that our state troopers don’t bother you if you are cruising at 80mph. But with less traffic on the roads during the pandemic (and similarly less patrol coverage), people were routinely traveling between 85-100mph. You are holding up traffic if you are doing just 80mph. It’s crazy. This year, our troopers are writing more tickets for drivers over 90mph, and some over 110mph, then they ever have. If it takes more tickets to bring traffic speeds down, then so be it. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
Since when did 80-90-100 mph become the norm
Why are cars and trucks trying to push other vehicles out of the way at 70-80-90mph
Just not right ……
Something HAS to be done
What happened to humanity on the roads????
It is one more indicator of a society that has, over the past 25 to 30 years, become more vulgar, loud, pushy, and selfish. Courtesy and manners are look upon – at best – as being quaint, or at worst, a sign of weakness.
I am truck driver I go to Houston a lot how can police use these cars when they dont obey the speed limits I know I45 is 60 I do the speed limit i had radar on truck tells me how fast an far away someone is in front of me many times police cars an motorcycle police pass me doing 70 or 80 no lights matter fact everyone driving that fast in 60 mph zone so how can they give tickets when they break law like everyone else
If the real intent were to make drivers nervous about being watched and then hypothetically drivers would drive more responsibly – then police ought to be using whatever is the most popular vehicle in the region as their stealth vehicle. In Texas that would probably be more like a blue Ford F-150.
I am with the other readers who feel more conspicuous police vehicles are more effective at than ghost cars generating compliant behavior. Ghost cars are better if the intent is to lure drivers into misbehaving and generating got-cha revenue.
Conspicuous police cars will reduce traffic violations, but it will also reduce revenue.
This ‘ghost’ nonsense is nothing more than a money grab. If LE wants drivers to be “more responsible” due to police presence in traffic, why on Earth not use TRADITIONALLY-MARKED cars?
I have a feeling this will do little more than cause an increased rift between LE and the public, something that’s not exactly on good standing anyway these days. And what about the possibility of a motorist having no idea that a police officer in one of these cars is actually LE and not some road-rager or an imposter with police lights and siren?
Worst idea ever…………..good grief.
As a retired highway patrol officer, I can say this tactic has been used successfully in other jurisdictions and I guarantee it will work. Violators, like many of those posting negatively here, don’t like it one bit – proof in itself that it is an effective method, especially when combined with other enforcement vehicles. The police will also find enthusiastic support from many “car-guys” who love these cars. However, officers will have to be very careful how they operate these vehicles. They can expose any aggressive driving tendencies you might have lurking below the surface.
“However, officers will have to be very careful how they operate these vehicles. They can expose any aggressive driving tendencies you might have lurking below the surface.”
Like one officer is going to write up another officer? LEO please…!
/for the record, my traffic record has been spotless for 19 years, and in 56 years of driving, my number of tickets can be counted on the fingers of one hand and still come up with left over fingers.
Officers do write other officers, these are not the bad old days. The brotherhood is not what it once was, thank you. Most police are honest stop watching T.V.
Sorry, I was referring to positive public relations. But, although the police have the authority in most jurisdictions to break certain traffic laws in certain circumstances, you should know they have been charged outside those circumstances. Granted, it’s not common. They have a job to do, and they need the authority to do it.
Congrats on your great driving record. But, does that mean you have committed absolutely no offences in 19 years, or that you just haven’t been caught. If it is the former, you are an exceptional driver.
I regularly go 175 mph here on I 26 with my Chrysler minivan and used to go 140 in my 2 litre Gremlin and never got caught.
And, I’m making that up.
In fact, I stay with the traffic, drive smoothly, and was taught to drive by someone who had a total of three tickets and no accidents between 1937 and 2011. There ARE some of us out here who drive properly. From the viewpoint of some LEOs, “you just weren’t caught”.
Full disclosure: I violated a carpool lane and got pulled over. I explained to the officer that, in fact, I was not alone; that I was a schizzo and had four of my personalities riding with me. He replied that my excuse was so creative that he’d let me go with a verbal warning.
For me I live in a small town and come from a bigger city now where I live now wagoner ok. There are only 16 police officers they are the most crooked people I’ve ever seen they try and intimidate people that isn’t doing anything wrong in the first place they drive however they want with no repercussions hell they do whatever they want and nothing anyone can do about it really more Tulsa ok has got a little better except for the graveyard shift for the most part but when are we gonna take our country back this is ridiculous I’m all for following the law but the police themselves are the biggest violators they are the biggest gang in the nation basically robbing people it’s crap and this is what we have allowed as a nation and it will continue to get worse until we do something to stop it
They need to add a small plaque underneath every speed limit sign that says ‘that white car may be a police officer’. That will give rowdy drivers something to think about.
It seems to me that the presence of “marked” police cars, announced radar traps and traffic cameras keeps drivers from driving recklessly. If the idea is to make the roads safer, why identify those Camaros? If the object is to make money, might I suggest a ticket for speeding enter the violator in a raffle to win a brand spanking new…Camaro.
Cops breaking the law speeding, no problem.
Billy Bob gets hit for 5 over the limit, easy $100.00 fine with points.
Out here in Slohio, on the Interstate they will let you run 5 over. Anything over 5 and it’s revenue time.
Point being is that cops are lenient here, but they get away with running over the limit when there is no need.
Except when Dunkin Donuts or Hortons has an alert for a fresh batch! Balls to the walls!!!
State does not have unmarked cars for patrol, some cities do.
Usually run with traffic & things go ok.
Driving is not an “inalienable right”, especially under the Constitution…it’s a fantastic privilege that we all can share; provided we follow the basic constructs of the laws we (some begrudgingly) entertain thus far…we do have laws of self preservation (inner guide, nurture, God) that sometimes conflict with our inner/outer display of self (ego)-the same happens behind the wheel! All that power in these two little hands? yeeeesh! Good luck “navigating” that! If you care about anything in this life besides yourself you would embrace the concept of all of us getting ‘er done TOGETHER as ONE RACE (human) instead of “missing the mark “(sin).
We allow the Police to police ALL of us as a society here in America, and we can influence one another with our actions. That is not a high bar to reach for; that s/b the ground starting point for the LEVEL playing field!! We got a lot of work to do, especially for our younger humans…just hope we ain’t too late! sorry about the philosophical whine 🙂 Does all of this reek of being too free? like social media’s effect on communication?
‘Bama.
I justdrove on I75 from tampa to Leesburg, at least ten hotspots with police pulling over cars etc .. And STILL idiots doing 80+++ and weaving AND tailgating … I understand ghost cars for police even though its sneaky = its needed …. to get those idiots off the roads …
If your doing nothing wrong then don’t worry about, if you are they should get you off the road. Unmarked cars have been around along time. My unit had two unmarked Cadillacs, loved it. If your worried about it not being police pull over in a well light and occupied area. Once again if you did nothing, than nothing to worry about. Get the idiots off the roads. Note enough officers and insurance companies could go along way to help. For example, phones. Insurance companies just need clause in the policy that states if you are involved in an accident while on the phone or devise is in use your not covered. Go ahead, take that chance, you could lose everything. See it’s all about the money so shut up and drive within the law.
Give me access to your emails, internet history and purchase history and location, if you arent doing anything wrong you have nothing to lose. shut up bootlicking drone, dont you have a wife to beat?
numb nuts for sure, usual millennial loser, Ill bet on it. What happen did you get a ticket because your a goof now we are pissed. LOL , Someone states the truth and the babies can’t handle it. Go back to your basement.
The only way this is revenue grabbing is if the public allows it to be. Drive within reason, and you will never “see” the Ghost Camaro pulling you over. Pretty simple really
Why ghost or unmarked cars over marked? There is a lot data to show that marked police cars reduce crime, no question it does. The difference to some degree is in traffic enforcement. A marked police car momentarily keeps traffic in check, for the time that the marked car is in view. What happens when the marked car pulls off the street? Speeds and stupid driving increase immediately. Unmarked police traffic cars in a community do affect driving habits in a positive way, at least by the locals that are aware of it. If you know where the cops are, you drive like you need to avoid getting pulled over. We all do it. However when you don’t know where the cops are because they drive unmarked or ghost cars, the tendency is drive smarter. Especially when the word is out that they exist in the community and drivers see unmarked police cars making traffic stops, this can change the negative driving habits of entire section of a roadway.
This is good, cops can’t be every where so the fear of not knowing encourage safer driving as more fools get pulled over by ghost cars they will stop driving reckless overall.
Locally police ghost cars are Chargers and Challengers. They catch a lot of speeders. When I was in college I bought my Uncle & Aunts Caprice Classic, it was a 4 door hardtop in maroon very close to the State patrol car colors. Realized very soon on the highways and interstates, few people tried to pass me until they saw it was a 4 door hardtop, and not the State Impala sedan. From then on heading any where was fun seeing how much traffic was staying behind at the speed limits posted, lol.
People always talk about what police officers get away with and I use to fall for it. I know plenty of teachers and administrators that have gotten away with plenty. If the school walls could talk, there would be so many teachers and administrators fired and in jail. From deleted text to teachers beating the snot out of some kid because he got under the teachers skin, so much is being swept under the rug. I have to worry about the dealership ripping on me, the mechanic over charging, ID theft or some dirty teacher doing something to the kids that honestly the police are the least of my worries on a daily basis. The police are just the media’s favorite wiping boy because they bring the ratings. Most are being duped, some want something out of it and others just hate authority. What would TV be without the cops? The cops bring the ratings for tv, Hollywood and the news. I mean, wasn’t COPS like the first reality TV show? Come on folks, stop falling for the media propaganda.
finally someone on this site with brains.
Well at least someone’s getting some Camaros!
Good Idea ! !!
Looks like a regular Camaro, but will catch the “Sleepy Joes” in their Vettes thinking the highways are their personal racetracks. Sick of the idiots who zoom zoom past me on the “Left” while I’m on the “Right”.
Melania agrees!
There is nothing wrong with police departments having effective vehicles. I my self . was a Highway Patrol Trooper in the state I reside, when I first was given my assignment my car was a 5.0 Mustang LX Police Interceptor, and it was white. I loved those models they are perfect for remote areas where I was often assigned.
After the 5.0 Mustangs were retired some of us were given the Ford Taurus interceptor and those were great pick up but also had traction for the different elements.
Some had Dodge Chargers, being Highway Patrol you need something that can handle what is thrown at it but something that has a level of comfort.
When I moved into Search and Rescue we used Chevy Tahoe Police Special editions for its performance and all terrain capabilities and endurance. Some also had Ford F150 Police Responder models.
I never had these but alot of police officers who served in city or county had Crown Victorias and Chevy Caprices and they talked about how durable and great performance for there Police purposes. In Police work cars are part of your POlice equipment and is very very important,.
Now the level of Police I am in currently we drive Chevy Suburbans.
Jersey?
To blackedout6thgen, Why is it so amusing that i chose Law Enforcement as my career?.. I don’t get why you find it so funny that I am in Law Enforcement. Do you find all “LEO” funny?. I am glad that my being in “Law Enforcement” makes you laugh.