MoCo Police Deploy 'Subdued Profile' Cruisers For Traffic Enforcement

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — The Montgomery County Police Department is deploying two new versions of its marked police cruisers that the department hopes will give its officers a better chance of catching drivers who are speeding or driving aggressively or distracted.

The two new cruisers, rolled out by the police department’s Traffic Operations Division, will have lights placed inside the car, not mounted on the roof. The new versions are the department’s standard “slick-top” cruiser and a “ghost graphic” slick-top cruiser.

The ghost graphic cruisers have the Montgomery County Police Department's standard decal but will be displayed in what is referred to as “ghost graphics,” where the markings are a subdued gray and white instead of the standard black and gold lettering seen on most department-issued patrol cars. These graphics are faint during the day but are highly reflective at night, the police department said.

The two new types of cruisers are part of Montgomery County’s Vision Zero traffic safety plan to help with enforcement of all traffic violations, especially those that contribute to serious and fatal collisions like impaired driving, speeding, and aggressive and distracted driving, according to the department.

The more "subdued profile" of these vehicles, according to the police department, will make it easier for officers to observe drivers in traffic who may be speeding, texting while driving, not wearing seatbelts, driving impaired or driving aggressively. Studies show that officer interaction with drivers is an effective way to conduct education and change driving behavior.

The cruisers will be driven by Central Traffic Unit officers who will be wearing full Montgomery County Police Department-issued uniforms, the department said.