6 Unmarked Florida Police Cars To Lookout For

It’s no secret that Tampa Bay has some of the worst drivers in the country. Every day there’s at least one major accident I pass or someone weaving through traffic in a car that looks like it belongs at a junkyard. One way law enforcement is combatting this issue is by using unmarked Florida police cars to blend in.

Gone are the days of undercover cops using tan Crown Vics with large antennas. They may have been unmarked, but everyone knew they were undercover cops. When Dodge Chargers and Ford Explorers came into play for law enforcement, they were a bit harder to spot since many Americans had the same vehicles. 

Over the past few years, Florida has seen tremendous growth and with that, more drivers are hitting the road than ever. Traffic has gotten much worse and that's when the traffic weavers come out to play. Law Enforcement isn't targeting your everyday soccer mom going 5 mph over the limit. They're hoping to blend in enough to catch the Dom Toretto wannabe blazing 95 mph down the shoulder of the Howard Franklin at rush hour. 

Sergeant Michael Schade with the St. Petersburg Police Department said when talking about roadways like Gandy and Roosevelt and U.S. Highway 19, “We're going after people doing egregious speeds [and] driving very reckless … They’re driving thinking an officer isn’t in the area. By having a vehicle like this, we're able to curb that type of activity.”

Many people argue that unmarked police cars are just a way for the agencies to cash in on more ticketing, but Schade continues, “It's not really a matter of more tickets. It's going after a specific type of violator.”

Unlike the unmarked police cars of the past, modern technology has made it possible for newer undercover officers to truly blend into traffic. Emergency lights are embedded into the exterior factory lights making them completely unnoticeable to the common eye until turned on.

Departments are opting for colors like red, yellow, and green instead of the traditional black, white, and silver. Since these vehicles look almost identical to many popular daily drivers in the United States, many worry that these unmarked cars bring in more opportunities for police impersonators. If you are getting pulled over by an unmarked car and want to ensure it isn't an impersonator, put on your hazards, call 911, and have dispatch confirm if the cruiser is part of the department.

Have you seen any of these unmarked Florida police cars? Let us know on social media.

Here are the top 10 vehicles targeted for catalytic converter theft in Florida. Throughout the state of Florida there is a new theft epidemic on the rise and that is catalytic converters. To be honest, it makes sense as there are nearly 22 million people living in Florida. It shouldn’t come as a surprise since some of the models on this list are the most popular cars in the state, but what are Florida lawmakers doing to help curb this?

There is a new law being proposed in Florida that would make it a third degree felony to buy, possess or sell any stolen catalytic converters. Thieves can take the “cats” (catalytic converter) in about a minute and this bill will head to the House for a vote.

Carfax  released the list of the 10 top vehicles targeted for catalytic converter theft in Florida and all regions of the United States.

Catalytic converters contain metals such as rhodium, palladium, and platinum which can be turned around and sold for thousands of dollars. To put this into perspective, currently (at the time of writing this) rhodium is selling for $4,200.00 and gold is selling for $1913.00. 

If someone does steal your catalytic converter, you’ll know immediately because it will be very loud! The catalytic converter passes air from the engine and out through the muffler. You may also experience darker exhaust and you will might a warning light on the dash telling you something isn’t right.

One of the best ways to keep you and your vehicle safe from thieves is to know your surroundings. Remember to park your vehicles in a well lit area especially if you have fleet vehicles for business. You can even install a catalytic converter anti theft device and if you want to take that extra step. Carfax suggests etching you VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) on the converter itself.

Now that we've given some background on what you can do to prevent your vehicles' catalytic converters from theft, lets get into this list on the top 10 vehicles targeted for catalytic converter theft in Florida.

One of the hottest rucks on the market for consumers at the moment. Be sure to park in a well lit area if you have a new Tacoma.

These big family vehicles are easy targets for thieves. Make sure you know your surroundings before parking these trucks.

The first of two Chevy's on this list .. welcome the Traverse. These are becoming more and more popular as a family adventure SUV. If you're taking a Travers eon a road trip make sure to park near cameras or lights in the hotel parking lot.

If you're parking this truck in your driveway, use a motion sensor camera to help keep it safe. If your truck sounds much louder you'll know if your catalytic converter was stolen.

One of the most popular SUVs in America and for law enforcement officers. Definitely watch where you park with this one!

If you own a business or use these vans for fleet, keep your eyes peeled on the jobsite. Fleet vehicles are among the highest targets for thieves.

The only Kia on the list, but coming in at number four, if you have one of these be sure to check your surroundings!

A very popular sedan in Florida and a daily commuter. Make sure you're parking in your garage if you have one or near a motion camera in your driveway.

Up 57 spots from 2021, the Outlander is the second most popular vehicle thieves target when stealing catalytic converters.

The number one selling truck in Florida tops another chart, but for being poplar for the wrong reason. If you have any F series trucks you'll want to remain on high alert and if you think you've had your catalytic converter stolen, turn the engine over and listen for a change in your exhaust sound.