New York, NY - Police May Introduce New Vehicles As An Incognito Weapon In The War on Speeders

New York, NY - The New York Police Department is considering introducing a new weapon in its war on speeders, illegal turners, and driving cell phone users.

Drivers glancing into their rearview mirrors will not be able to distinguish the NYPD's new cars from the rest of traffic - until they break a law. Then the lights in the windshield start up with the same intensity as the familiar V-formation of red and blue flashers fastened to the roofs of regular patrol cars.

Police officers call the new cruisers "slick tops" because their roofs are smooth, like typical passenger vehicles. The cars are clearly marked with police decals, but lack the clunky and easily recognizable shape of ordinary patrol cars.

"These offer us the ability to be low-key," an NYPD spokesman said. "It's a variation on the traditional police car that has a number of advantages during patrols for officers."

Police Compstat reports show that summonses issued for moving violations already are up by 9.7% this year compared with the same four-month period last year.

After a pilot program that lasted several months, the NYPD is considering whether to make two dozen slicktop Chevrolet Impalas a permanent part of the fleet of precinct cruisers that patrol neighborhoods.