What laws are there regarding being pulled over by an unmarked cop car/undercover cop?

Question

Although this has never happened to me, I've read and heard about people driving on the road and then being signaled (in some way, usually with reds and blues) to pull over for a ticket and the car doing this isn't the usual police car for that area but instead an unmarked car.

Are you legally required to pull over for this unmarked car just like you would for a regular police car? What laws mention or describe this situation (in any state)? If it is required, how are you to know if the police car is legitimate?

Answer 1

In most states you are required to pull over to the side of the road and come to a stop for any vehicle displaying flashing red and/or blue lights, whether oncoming or overtaking. If you don't you are guilty of a moving violation.1

If the vehicle with the lights then pulls in behind you the same law forbids you from moving your vehicle. So that's the law for being pulled over by an unmarked car.

If you are concerned that you were stopped in this manner by someone not authorized to do so (police impersonators have been known to do this) you should call 911 and get the dispatcher to confirm whether the apparent emergency vehicle is legitimate. In general, if you fear for your safety, you can stay in your car and ask to be escorted to a known police station before exposing yourself. E.g., here's the advice of one Ohio State Highway Patrolman:

If the area where you stop looks desolate, Miller said you don't have to stop there. In fact, he said, "Proceed to that well lit area or a public building, the fire department, hospital." [B]efore you even stop, if you don't feel safe, "Use your cell phone to dial 9-1-1 and talk to the dispatcher, let her know what's going on, give your location and have her guide you as to what she wants you to do."

There are some jurisdictions that restrict the use of "unmarked" cars by police.

Answer 2

Where I live you can call 911 and ask if the officer behind you is real before pulling over. The 911 operator will notify the officer of the situation and verify for you to pull over in a safe place out of traffic.

Answer 3

In most jurisdictions, it is illegal for anyone but a police officer (or other classes of first responders) to operate lights and sirens.

In other words, if the car has a light bar, or even a magnetic snap-on dome light, it is not "unmarked" in any reasonable sense of the word.

I guess the question, for me, is: what legal authority requires you to pull over when an ordinary police car pulls you over? Does that statute say, "But only if the car is a certain color?" If it doesn't, then what difference could it possibly make?

Answer 4

Washington state legislature states : " It is unlawful for any public officer having charge of any vehicle owned or controlled by any county, city, town, or public body in this state other than the state of Washington and used in public business to operate the same upon the public highways of this state unless and until there shall be displayed upon such automobile or other motor vehicle in letters of contrasting color not less than one and one-quarter inches in height in a conspicuous place on the right and left sides thereof, the name of such county, city, town, or other public body, together with the name of the department or office upon the business of which the said vehicle is used. This section shall not apply to vehicles of a sheriff's office, local police department, or any vehicles used by local peace officers under public authority for special undercover or confidential investigative purposes. ".

So, under the pretext of confidential investigative purposes, you can be pulled over by unmarked police vehicle, as interpret-ability of this law is very vague.

Answer 5

It seems that everyone, except a few are good little brain washed Americans that are willing to give up their rights as a citizen of a free nation. Nearly everyone says that if the vehicle has even one flashing light you are required to pull over. This is not farther from the truth. In the great democratic state of NY, we have courtesy lights. Be it red, blue or green, if you're a fireman or EMT you're permitted to use said light. No law says you need to stop, slow down or pullover for that vehicle. Assuming that a volunteer fireman has a blue 4dr Chevy Malibu with a red and blue bar light on his dash. Do you pullover? Which law says you need to? What happens if today it's a fireman and tomorrow an undercover officer? Law books need to be read in such a fashion as to protect the civilian. Because after all it's the government's responsibility to protect the average person.