Vehicles half unmarked for stealth patrol

Only the right side of stealth vehicles displays ASP markings.

Three Arkansas State Police vehicles hit the streets in December as roving stealth patrol cars. These exclusive cars exhibit the familiar ASP star and markings on the right side front quarter panel and passenger door, with the left side unmarked.

“We believe a valuable enforcement tool, one that has the potential to save lives, is being provided to troopers who patrol interstate and controlled access highways,” said Maj. Les Braunns, commander of the department’s Highway Patrol Division, western region. “From a rearview mirror or looking ahead into traffic, a driver isn’t as quickly alerted to the presence of a state trooper imbedded within the flow of traffic.”

Stealth patrols are typically dedicated to spotting hazardous and unsafe vehicle operations by drivers traveling in congested divided highway environments.

“There are prescribed procedures we expect the troopers to use when operating the stealth patrol cars,” said Maj. Ed Wolfe, commander of the department’s Highway Patrol Division, eastern region. “The patrols will only operate during daylight hours and will not be used for enforcement operations along two-lane highways.”

Troopers on stealth patrol are required, whenever possible, to safely move alongside the left side of a violator’s vehicle, allowing the driver to make eye contact with the uniformed trooper and recognize the police markings on the right side of the patrol car, then fall back to trail the violator and execute the traffic stop.

High visibility blue emergency LED lighting is displayed in both the front and rear of the stealth patrol cars and is used to signal a violator to pull over, as well as to alert traffic approaching from the rear to move to the farthest lane from the traffic stop. Each vehicle is equipped with the standard department communications package, along with camera systems to record both audio and video of all traffic stops.

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