Unmarked Police Car Laws by State 2024

Unmarked police cars, often the subject of intrigue and debate, play a significant role in law enforcement across the United States. These vehicles allow officers to conduct surveillance, respond to emergencies, and enforce traffic laws with a degree of stealth. However, the use of unmarked police cars raises concerns regarding accountability, as they may be less visible to the public and could potentially be mistaken for civilian vehicles. Moreover, debates surround the appropriate circumstances for their use, with some advocating for stricter regulations to prevent misuse or abuse of authority, while others argue for their necessity in certain law enforcement operations.

State	Unmarked Police Car Laws
Alabama	Police officers can patrol and pull motorists over in unmarked cars.
Alaska	Offices in unmarked vehicles can patrol, but best practice is radioing marked vehicles to complete traffic stops. In emergency circumstances, an officer in an unmarked vehicle can pull a driver over.
Arizona	Police officers can patrol and pull motorists over in unmarked cars.
Arkansas	Police officers can patrol and pull motorists over in unmarked cars.
California	Police may not use an unmarked vehicle for either routine or official traffic control.
Colorado	Police officers can pull motorists over in both marked and unmarked cars.
Connecticut	Police in unmarked vehicles can watch traffic, but should radio marked vehicles to complete traffic stops. Generally, an officer can make an exception when public safety is threatened.
Delaware	Police officers can pull motorists over in both marked and unmarked cars. That said, most unmarked cars in Delaware are driven by detectives and not used for traffic stops.
District of Columbia	In Washington D.C., police in unmarked cars cannot make stops for petty traffic offenses. This is rarely a hindrance, as only officers on undercover investigations or otherwise confidential duties are permitted to drive unmarked cars.
Florida	Police officers can pull motorists over in unmarked cars.
Georgia	Officers can do traffic stops in unmarked cars, but unmarked cars cannot be used solely for traffic duty and patrol. Therefore, most unmarked cars belong to non-traffic units.
Hawaii	Police officers can pull motorists over in both marked and unmarked cars. Officers can also enforce traffic laws in their prersonal vehicles if vehicles are equipped with blue lights.
Idaho	Police may not use an unmarked vehicle for either routine or official traffic control. Idaho State Police are currently proposing a less strict policy.
Illinois	Unmarked vehicles (including motorcycles) and "semi-marked" vehicles can patrol and make arrests. Officers in such vehicles must defer to officers in marked vehicles during a pursuit. Whenever possible, an unmarked vehicle should not be the “primary unit” during a high-speed pursuit.
Indiana	A police officer in an official uniform may use an unmarked vehicle for traffic enforcement and stops. A plain-clothes police officer must use a fully marked vehicle for traffic stops.
Iowa	The Iowa State Patrol technically allows unmarked patrol vehicles, but most of its police vehicles are currently marked.
Kansas	State police officers can make traffic stops while driving unmarked cars. "Unmarked” patrol cars still have state police door shield decals. Only special (non-traffic) units can do away with these door decals.
Kentucky	Police officers may make traffic stops while driving unmarked cars, but must use sirens/air horns and keep their emergency lights on for the entire traffic stop.
Louisiana	A police officer in an official uniform may use an unmarked vehicle for traffic enforcement and stops.
Maine	Officers in unmarked cars can patrol and make traffic stops but may not engage in continuous pursuit.
Maryland	Police officers can make traffic stops while driving unmarked cars but must use both lights and sirens.
Massachusetts	Police officers can make traffic stops while driving unmarked cars.
Michigan	Officers in unmarked patrol cars patrolling for distracted drivers are relatively common, as part of "Operation Ghostrider." However, officers in unmarked vehicles cannot initiate a traffic stop and must radio a trooper in a marked vehicle to do so.
Minnesota	State police officers can make traffic stops in unmarked cars if authorized by the Commissioner of Public Safety. "Unmarked" patrol cars still have "Michigan State Police" door decals. Only special (non-traffic) units can do away with these door decals.
Mississippi	Police officers can patrol and make traffic stops while driving unmarked cars.
Missouri	Police officers make traffic stops while driving unmarked cars, but must always use both a red flashing light and siren for a traffic stop.
Montana	Officers in unmarked cars cannot pull you over for petty traffic offenses; only police on undercover investigations or otherwise confidential duties can drive unmarked cars.
Nebraska	Officers in unmarked vehicles can patrol, but the best practice is to radio a marked vehicle to complete traffic stops. In emergency circumstances, an officer in an unmarked vehicle may make a traffic stop.
Nevada	Though unmarked cars are rare in Nevada, officers wearing an official uniform are permitted to patrol and enforce traffic laws while driving unmarked cars.
New Hampshire	Police officers are permitted to enforce traffic laws while driving unmarked patrol cars. In fact, it is becoming the norm.
New Jersey	Police in unmarked vehicles can patrol and watch traffic but should radio marked vehicles to complete traffic stops. An officer driving an unmarked vehicle can make an exception when public safety is threatened.
New Mexico	Officers in unmarked cars cannot make traffic stops for petty traffic offenses. Only officers on officially licensed undercover investigations may drive unmarked cars.
New York	Police in unmarked vehicles can patrol and observe traffic but should radio marked vehicles to complete traffic stops. Exceptions are permitted when public safety is threatened.
North Carolina	In certain circumstances, officers can use unmarked vehicles for a pursuit. But 83% of highway patrol vehicles must be fully marked.
North Dakota	Police officers in unmarked cars can patrol and make traffic stops, but must use sirens/air horns and keep their emergency lights on throughout the traffic stop. These lights must be red and white and visible for five hundred feet.
Ohio	Officers primarily on traffic patrol and enforcement must use marked cars. Investigation/undercover officers in unmarked cars can pull over drivers for violations–if they encounter them.
Oklahoma	Police may not use an unmarked vehicle for either routine or official traffic control.
Oregon	Police squads must request special permission to operate unmarked vehicles on traffic patrols or other undercover investigations. If granted, they can operate in unmarked cars with standard-issue license plates.
Pennsylvania	Uniformed police in unmarked vehicles can watch traffic but should radio marked vehicles to complete most traffic stops. An exception is permitted when a crime threatens public safety, in which case the officer must use visual/audio signs (lights/sirens) and display identification upon request.
Rhode Island	A police officer in an official uniform may use an unmarked vehicle for traffic enforcement and stops.
South Carolina	Police may not use an unmarked vehicle for either routine or official traffic control.
South Dakota	Police officers in unmarked cars can complete traffic stops.
Tennessee	No limitations on how police use unmarked cars.
Texas	A police officer in an official uniform–or displaying a badge–may use an unmarked vehicle for traffic enforcement and stops when they witness or suspect a traffic violation. If the driver flees, a marked vehicle must be called to initiate the pursuit.
Utah	Police officers can patrol and make traffic stops while driving unmarked cars.
Vermont	Police officers can patrol and make traffic stops while driving unmarked cars.
Virginia	A police officer in an official uniform may use an unmarked vehicle for traffic enforcement and stops.
Washington	The state police do use unmarked vehicles; local police must use marked cars for traffic patrol, according to the Spokane Police.
West Virginia	Police may not use an unmarked vehicle for either routine or official traffic control.
Wisconsin	Police may use an unmarked vehicle for traffic patrol and stops if it is equipped with both red and blue flashing lights.
Wyoming	Police may patrol in an unmarked car but may only conduct traffic stops in an emergency situation. Even an unmarked car must have both red and blue flashing lights.

State

Unmarked Police Car Laws

Alabama

Police officers can patrol and pull motorists over in unmarked cars.

Alaska

Offices in unmarked vehicles can patrol, but best practice is radioing marked vehicles to complete traffic stops. In emergency circumstances, an officer in an unmarked vehicle can pull a driver over.

Arizona

Police officers can patrol and pull motorists over in unmarked cars.

Arkansas

Police officers can patrol and pull motorists over in unmarked cars.

California

Police may not use an unmarked vehicle for either routine or official traffic control.

Colorado

Police officers can pull motorists over in both marked and unmarked cars.

Connecticut

Police in unmarked vehicles can watch traffic, but should radio marked vehicles to complete traffic stops. Generally, an officer can make an exception when public safety is threatened.

Delaware

Police officers can pull motorists over in both marked and unmarked cars. That said, most unmarked cars in Delaware are driven by detectives and not used for traffic stops.

District of Columbia

In Washington D.C., police in unmarked cars cannot make stops for petty traffic offenses. This is rarely a hindrance, as only officers on undercover investigations or otherwise confidential duties are permitted to drive unmarked cars.

Florida

Police officers can pull motorists over in unmarked cars.

Georgia

Officers can do traffic stops in unmarked cars, but unmarked cars cannot be used solely for traffic duty and patrol. Therefore, most unmarked cars belong to non-traffic units.

Hawaii

Police officers can pull motorists over in both marked and unmarked cars. Officers can also enforce traffic laws in their prersonal vehicles if vehicles are equipped with blue lights.

Idaho

Police may not use an unmarked vehicle for either routine or official traffic control. Idaho State Police are currently proposing a less strict policy.

Illinois

Unmarked vehicles (including motorcycles) and "semi-marked" vehicles can patrol and make arrests. Officers in such vehicles must defer to officers in marked vehicles during a pursuit. Whenever possible, an unmarked vehicle should not be the “primary unit” during a high-speed pursuit.

Indiana

A police officer in an official uniform may use an unmarked vehicle for traffic enforcement and stops. A plain-clothes police officer must use a fully marked vehicle for traffic stops.

Iowa

The Iowa State Patrol technically allows unmarked patrol vehicles, but most of its police vehicles are currently marked.

Kansas

State police officers can make traffic stops while driving unmarked cars. "Unmarked” patrol cars still have state police door shield decals. Only special (non-traffic) units can do away with these door decals.

Kentucky

Police officers may make traffic stops while driving unmarked cars, but must use sirens/air horns and keep their emergency lights on for the entire traffic stop.

Louisiana

A police officer in an official uniform may use an unmarked vehicle for traffic enforcement and stops.

Maine

Officers in unmarked cars can patrol and make traffic stops but may not engage in continuous pursuit.

Maryland

Police officers can make traffic stops while driving unmarked cars but must use both lights and sirens.

Massachusetts

Police officers can make traffic stops while driving unmarked cars.

Michigan

Officers in unmarked patrol cars patrolling for distracted drivers are relatively common, as part of "Operation Ghostrider." However, officers in unmarked vehicles cannot initiate a traffic stop and must radio a trooper in a marked vehicle to do so.

Minnesota

State police officers can make traffic stops in unmarked cars if authorized by the Commissioner of Public Safety. "Unmarked" patrol cars still have "Michigan State Police" door decals. Only special (non-traffic) units can do away with these door decals.

Mississippi

Police officers can patrol and make traffic stops while driving unmarked cars.

Missouri

Police officers make traffic stops while driving unmarked cars, but must always use both a red flashing light and siren for a traffic stop.

Montana

Officers in unmarked cars cannot pull you over for petty traffic offenses; only police on undercover investigations or otherwise confidential duties can drive unmarked cars.

Nebraska

Officers in unmarked vehicles can patrol, but the best practice is to radio a marked vehicle to complete traffic stops. In emergency circumstances, an officer in an unmarked vehicle may make a traffic stop.

Nevada

Though unmarked cars are rare in Nevada, officers wearing an official uniform are permitted to patrol and enforce traffic laws while driving unmarked cars.

New Hampshire

Police officers are permitted to enforce traffic laws while driving unmarked patrol cars. In fact, it is becoming the norm.

New Jersey

Police in unmarked vehicles can patrol and watch traffic but should radio marked vehicles to complete traffic stops. An officer driving an unmarked vehicle can make an exception when public safety is threatened.

New Mexico

Officers in unmarked cars cannot make traffic stops for petty traffic offenses. Only officers on officially licensed undercover investigations may drive unmarked cars.

New York

Police in unmarked vehicles can patrol and observe traffic but should radio marked vehicles to complete traffic stops. Exceptions are permitted when public safety is threatened.

North Carolina

In certain circumstances, officers can use unmarked vehicles for a pursuit. But 83% of highway patrol vehicles must be fully marked.

North Dakota

Police officers in unmarked cars can patrol and make traffic stops, but must use sirens/air horns and keep their emergency lights on throughout the traffic stop. These lights must be red and white and visible for five hundred feet.

Ohio

Officers primarily on traffic patrol and enforcement must use marked cars. Investigation/undercover officers in unmarked cars can pull over drivers for violations–if they encounter them.

Oklahoma

Police may not use an unmarked vehicle for either routine or official traffic control.

Oregon

Police squads must request special permission to operate unmarked vehicles on traffic patrols or other undercover investigations. If granted, they can operate in unmarked cars with standard-issue license plates.

Pennsylvania

Uniformed police in unmarked vehicles can watch traffic but should radio marked vehicles to complete most traffic stops. An exception is permitted when a crime threatens public safety, in which case the officer must use visual/audio signs (lights/sirens) and display identification upon request.

Rhode Island

A police officer in an official uniform may use an unmarked vehicle for traffic enforcement and stops.

South Carolina

Police may not use an unmarked vehicle for either routine or official traffic control.

South Dakota

Police officers in unmarked cars can complete traffic stops.

Tennessee

No limitations on how police use unmarked cars.

Texas

A police officer in an official uniform–or displaying a badge–may use an unmarked vehicle for traffic enforcement and stops when they witness or suspect a traffic violation. If the driver flees, a marked vehicle must be called to initiate the pursuit.

Utah

Police officers can patrol and make traffic stops while driving unmarked cars.

Vermont

Police officers can patrol and make traffic stops while driving unmarked cars.

Virginia

A police officer in an official uniform may use an unmarked vehicle for traffic enforcement and stops.

Washington

The state police do use unmarked vehicles; local police must use marked cars for traffic patrol, according to the Spokane Police.

West Virginia

Police may not use an unmarked vehicle for either routine or official traffic control.

Wisconsin

Police may use an unmarked vehicle for traffic patrol and stops if it is equipped with both red and blue flashing lights.

Wyoming

Police may patrol in an unmarked car but may only conduct traffic stops in an emergency situation. Even an unmarked car must have both red and blue flashing lights.