Unmarked Police Car Laws by State 2025

State
Unmarked Police Car Laws
Illinois Flag
IllinoisUnmarked vehicles (including motorcycles) and “semi-marked” vehicles can patrol and make arrests. That said, 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.
Pennsylvania Flag
PennsylvaniaUniformed police in unmarked vehicles can watch traffic but should radio marked vehicles to complete most traffic stops. The only exception is when a crime threatens public safety, in which case the officer must use visual/audio signs (lights/sirens) and display identification upon request.
Nevada Flag
NevadaThough unmarked cars are rare in Nevada, officers wearing an official uniform are allowed to patrol and enforce traffic laws while driving unmarked cars.
Washington Flag
WashingtonThe state police do use unmarked vehicles; local police must use marked cars for traffic patrol, according to the Spokane Police.
Kansas Flag
KansasState police officers can pull motorists over in unmarked cars. “Unmarked” patrol cars still have state police door shield decals. Only special (non-traffic) units can do away with these door decals.
Minnesota Flag
MinnesotaState police officers can pull motorists over in unmarked cars, if authorized by the Commissioner of Public Safety. “Unmarked” patrol cars still have door shield “Michigan State Police” decals. Only special (non-traffic) units can do away with these door decals.
Oregon Flag
OregonPolice squads must request special permission to operate unmarked vehicles on traffic patrols or other undercover investigations. If granted, they can run unmarked cars with standard-issue license plates.
Missouri Flag
MissouriPolice officers in unmarked cars can pull motorists over but must always use both a red flashing light and siren for a traffic stop.
South Dakota Flag
South DakotaPolice officers in unmarked cars can complete traffic stops.
Florida Flag
FloridaPolice officers can pull motorists over in unmarked cars.
Massachusetts Flag
MassachusettsPolice officers can pull motorists over in unmarked cars.
Maryland Flag
MarylandPolice officers can pull motorists over in unmarked cars if they use both lights and sirens.
Delaware Flag
DelawarePolice 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.
Hawaii Flag
HawaiiPolice officers can pull motorists over in both marked and unmarked cars. Officers can even enforce traffic laws in their personal vehicles, when equipped with blue lights.
Colorado Flag
ColoradoPolice officers can pull motorists over in both marked and unmarked cars.
Alabama Flag
AlabamaPolice officers can patrol and pull motorists over in unmarked cars.
Arizona Flag
ArizonaPolice officers can patrol and pull motorists over in unmarked cars.
Arkansas Flag
ArkansasPolice officers can patrol and pull motorists over in unmarked cars.
Mississippi Flag
MississippiPolice officers can patrol and pull motorists over in unmarked cars.
Utah Flag
UtahPolice officers can patrol and pull motorists over in unmarked cars.
Vermont Flag
VermontPolice officers can patrol and pull motorists over in unmarked cars.
North Dakota Flag
North DakotaPolice officers can patrol and pull motorists over in unmarked cars–if they 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.
Kentucky Flag
KentuckyPolice officers can patrol and pull motorists over in unmarked cars–if they use sirens/air horns and keep their emergency lights on for the entire traffic stop.
Wisconsin Flag
WisconsinPolice may use an unmarked vehicle for traffic patrol and stops if it is equipped with both red and blue flashing lights.
Wyoming Flag
WyomingPolice 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.
Idaho Flag
IdahoPolice may not use an unmarked vehicle for either routine or official traffic control. Idaho State Police are currently proposing a less strict policy.
California Flag
CaliforniaPolice may not use an unmarked vehicle for either routine or official traffic control.
Oklahoma Flag
OklahomaPolice may not use an unmarked vehicle for either routine or official traffic control.
South Carolina Flag
South CarolinaPolice may not use an unmarked vehicle for either routine or official traffic control.
West Virginia Flag
West VirginiaPolice may not use an unmarked vehicle for either routine or official traffic control.
Connecticut Flag
ConnecticutPolice 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.
New Jersey Flag
New JerseyPolice in unmarked vehicles can patrol and watch traffic but should radio marked vehicles to complete traffic stops. Generally, an officer can make an exception when public safety is threatened.
New York Flag
New YorkPolice in unmarked vehicles can patrol and observe traffic but should radio marked vehicles to complete traffic stops. Generally, an officer can make an exception when public safety is threatened.
Ohio Flag
OhioOfficers 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.
Nebraska Flag
NebraskaOfficers in unmarked vehicles can patrol, but the best practice is radioing marked vehicles to complete traffic stops. In emergency circumstances, an officer in an unmarked vehicle can pull a driver over.
Alaska Flag
AlaskaOfficers 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.
Michigan Flag
MichiganOfficers in unmarked patrol cars patrolling for distracted drivers are relatively common, as part of “Operation Ghostrider.” That said, they radio a trooper in a marked vehicle to initiate the traffic stop.
Montana Flag
MontanaOfficers in unmarked cars cannot pull you over for petty traffic offenses; only police on undercover investigations or otherwise confidential duties can drive unmarked cars.
New Mexico Flag
New MexicoOfficers in unmarked cars cannot pull you over for petty traffic offenses; only police on officially licensed undercover investigations can drive unmarked cars.
Maine Flag
MaineOfficers in unmarked cars can patrol and pull motorists over but not engage in continuous pursuit.
Georgia Flag
GeorgiaOfficers 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.
Tennessee Flag
TennesseeNo limitations on how police use unmarked cars.
New Hampshire Flag
New HampshireIt is not only legal for police officers to enforce traffic laws in unmarked patrol cars, but it is becoming the norm.
District of Columbia Flag
District of ColumbiaIn Washington D.C., police in unmarked cars cannot pull you over for petty traffic offenses; only officers on undercover investigations or otherwise confidential duties can drive unmarked cars so it is rare they enforce traffic laws.
North Carolina Flag
North CarolinaIn certain circumstances, officers can use unmarked vehicles for a pursuit. But 83% of highway patrol vehicles must be fully marked.
Iowa Flag
IowaEven though the Iowa State Patrol technically allows unmarked patrol vehicles, most of its police vehicles are currently marked.
Texas Flag
TexasA 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.
Indiana Flag
IndianaA 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.
Louisiana Flag
LouisianaA police officer in an official uniform may use an unmarked vehicle for traffic enforcement and stops.
Rhode Island Flag
Rhode IslandA police officer in an official uniform may use an unmarked vehicle for traffic enforcement and stops.
Virginia Flag
VirginiaA police officer in an official uniform may use an unmarked vehicle for traffic enforcement and stops.