A police car is an emergency vehicle used by police for transportation during patrols and responses to calls for service . A type of emergency vehicle , police cars are used by police officers to patrol a beat , quickly reach incident scenes, and transport and temporarily detain suspects.
70-443: Police vehicles, like other emergency vehicles, usually bare livery (markings) to distinguish them as such. They often use emergency lights (usually blue, red or blue and red colored) and sirens to warn other motorists of their presence, especially when responding to calls for service. Police cars usually contain communication devices, weaponry, and a variety of equipment for dealing with emergency situations. The first police car
140-468: A field gun or howitzer . The actual length of the barrels of a long gun is subject to various laws in many jurisdictions, mainly concerning minimum length, sometimes as measured in a specific position or configuration. The National Firearms Act in the United States sets a minimum length of 16 inches (41 cm) for rifle barrels and 18 inches (46 cm) for shotgun barrels. Canada sets
210-570: A tablet or a dashboard-mounted laptop installed in the car. Suspect transport enclosures are typically located at the rear of the vehicle, taking up the rear seats or rear compartment. The seats are sometimes modified to be a hard metal or plastic bench. Separating the transport enclosure is often a partition, a barrier between the front and rear compartments typically made of metal with a window made of reinforced glass , clear plastic, or metal mesh or bars. Some police cars do not have partitions; in these instances, another officer may have to sit in
280-419: A ward . From this core meaning, multiple extended or specialist meanings have derived, mostly related to exterior graphic designs on vehicles. Examples include: The term "livery" is now rarely applied in a military context, so it would be unusual for it to refer to a military uniform or the painting design of a military vehicle. The modern military equivalent for "livery" is the term "standard issue", which
350-683: A SWAT vehicle, tactical vehicle, or rescue vehicle, is an armored vehicle used in a police capacity. They are typically four-wheeled armored vehicles with similar configurations to military light utility vehicles , infantry mobility vehicles , internal security vehicles , MRAPs , or similar armored personnel carriers , that lack mounted and installed weaponry. As their name suggests, they are typically used to transport police tactical units such as SWAT teams, though they may also be used in riot control or to establish police presence at events. A mobile command center, also known as an emergency operations center, mobile command post, or mobile police station,
420-417: A clear road, "wail" (a long up-and-down unbroken tone) is often used, whereas in heavy slow traffic or at intersections, "yelp" (essentially a sped-up wail) may be preferred. Other noises are used in certain countries and jurisdictions, such as "phaser" (a series of brief sped-up beeps) and "hi-lo" (a two-tone up-down sound). Some vehicles may also be fitted with electronic airhorns . A wide range of equipment
490-439: A device or badge sewn on), but the ways in which they were combined varied with rank. Often the colours used were different each year. In addition to embroidered badges, metal ones were sewn on to clothing, or hung on neck-chains or (by far the most prestigious) livery collars . From the 16th century onwards, only the lower-status followers tended to receive clothes in livery colours (whilst the higher status ones received cash) and
560-524: A great political concern in England. "In the Black Book of 1483, it was laid down that each person should receive '... for his Livery at night, half a chet loaf, one quart of wine. one gallon of ale; and for Winter livery...one percher wax, one candle wax...'" "Edmund Spenser noted in 1596 that '... the liverye is sayd to be served up all night, that is theyr nyghtes allowances of drinks...'" In
630-617: A handgun, making the long gun more expensive to transport, and more difficult and tiring to carry. The increased moment of inertia makes the long gun slower and more difficult to traverse and elevate , and it is thus slower and more difficult to adjust the aim. However, this also results in greater stability in aiming. The greater amount of material in a long gun tends to make it more expensive to manufacture, other factors being equal. The greater size makes it more difficult to conceal, and more inconvenient to use in confined quarters, as well as requiring larger storage space. As long guns include
700-562: A higher temperature. This is usually accomplished through installing heavy duty suspension , brakes , calibrated speedometer , tires , alternator , transmission , and cooling systems . The car's stock engine may be modified or replaced by a more powerful engine from another vehicle from the manufacturer. The car's electrical system may also be upgraded to accommodate for the additional electronic police equipment. Police vehicles are often fitted with audible and visual warning systems to alert other motorists of their approach or position on
770-513: A highway patrol car, traffic enforcement unit, speed enforcement unit, or road policing unit , is a police car tasked with enforcing traffic laws and conducting traffic stops , typically on major roadways such as highways . They are often relatively high-performance vehicles compared to patrol cars, as they must be capable of catching up to fast-moving vehicles. They may have specific markings or special emergency lights to either improve or hinder visibility. Alternatively, some traffic cars may use
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#1732801003168840-473: A marked patrol car, featuring markings that are either similar colors to the vehicle's body paint, or are reflective graphics that are difficult to see unless illuminated by lights or viewed at certain angles. Ghost cars are often used for traffic enforcement, though they may also be used in lieu of unmarked cars in jurisdictions where they are prohibited or have their enforcement capabilities limited, such as being unable to conduct traffic stops. In these instances,
910-755: A minimum of 18.5 inches (47 cm) for either. In addition, Canada sets a minimum fireable length for long guns with detachable or folding stocks 26 inches (66 cm). In the United States, the minimum length for long guns with detachable or folding stocks is 26 inches (66 cm) with the stock in the extended position. Examples of various classes of small arms generally considered long arms include, but are not limited to shotguns , personal defense weapons , submachine guns , carbines , assault rifles , designated marksman rifles , sniper rifles , anti-material rifles , light machine guns , medium machine guns , and heavy machine guns . Almost all long arms have front grips (forearms) and shoulder stocks, which provide
980-420: A police dog on board, typically just the agency's standard markings with the added notice. A decoy car is a police car used to establish a police presence, typically to deter traffic violations or speeding, without a police officer actually being present. They may be older models retired from use, civilian cars modified to resemble police cars, or demonstration vehicles. In some instances, a "decoy car" may not be
1050-460: A range of different noises. Different models and manufacturers have distinct siren noises; one siren model, the Rumbler , emits a low frequency sound that can be felt through vibrations, allowing those who would not otherwise hear the siren or see the emergency vehicle to still know it is approaching. Different siren noises may be used depending on traffic conditions and the context. For example, on
1120-440: A riot suppression vehicle or simply a riot vehicle, is an armored or reinforced police vehicle used for riot control . A wide array of vehicles, from armored SUVs and vans to dedicated trucks and armored personnel carriers, are used by law enforcement to suppress or intimidate riots , protests , and public order crimes ; hold and reinforce a police barricade to keep the scene contained; or simply transport officers and equipment at
1190-500: A secluded location and instead can wait until they reach somewhere safer. In the UK, officers must be wearing uniforms in order to make traffic stops. Motorists can also ask for the officer's badge and identification or call an emergency number or a police non-emergency number to confirm if the police unit is genuine. A ghost car, also known as a stealth car or semi-marked car, is a police car that combines elements of both an unmarked car and
1260-547: A stock that is braced against the shoulder, the recoil when firing is transferred directly into the body of the user. This allows better control of aim than handguns, which do not include stock, and thus all their recoil must be transferred to the arms of the user. It also makes it possible to manage larger amounts of recoil without damage or loss of control; in combination with the higher mass of long guns, this means more propellant (such as gunpowder ) can be used and thus larger projectiles can be fired at higher velocities . This
1330-488: A stretcher. The car's first assignment was to pick up a drunken man at the junction of Main and Exchange streets. Ford introduced the flathead V8 in the 1932 Ford as the first mass-marketed V8 car; this low-priced, mass-marketed V8 car became popular with police in the United States , establishing strong brand loyalty that continued into the 21st century. Starting in the 1940s, major American automakers, namely
1400-518: A sword. On other formal occasions, a 'semi-state' dress is worn: a scarlet tail coat, black trousers and a white stiff shirt and bow tie. Normal day-to-day dress (as worn by footmen on duty in the palace, except on special occasions) consists of a black tail coat and trousers, white shirt and black tie and a scarlet waistcoat with gold trimming. Pages wear similar daily, semi-state and (very occasionally) state liveries, but in dark blue rather than scarlet. The uniform clothing issued to full-time royal staff
1470-494: A valuable tool in catching criminals in the commission of a crime or by surprise. The resemblance an unmarked police car has to a civilian vehicle varies based on their application: they may use the same models as marked patrol cars, and may be virtually identical to them aside from the lack of roof-mounted emergency lights, with pushbars and spotlights clearly visible; alternatively, they may use common civilian vehicle models that blend in with traffic, with emergency lights embedded in
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#17328010031681540-552: A vehicle at all, but rather a life-sized cutout or sign depicting a police car. Use of decoy cars is intended to ensure crime deterrence without having to commit manpower, allowing the officer that would otherwise be there to be freed up for other assignments. In the United Kingdom, decoy liveried police cars and vans may be parked on filling station forecourts to deter motorists dispensing fuel then making off without payment , also known as "bilking". The use of decoy cars
1610-569: Is a police car used for surveillance purposes. Usually SUVs, vans, or trucks, surveillance cars can be marked, unmarked, undercover, or disguised, and may be crewed or remotely monitored. They are used to gather evidence of criminal offenses or provide better vantage points at events or high-traffic areas. The surveillance method used varies, and may include CCTV , hidden cameras , wiretapping devices, or even aerial platforms . Some surveillance cars may also be used as bait cars , deployed to catch car thieves. A police armored vehicle, also known as
1680-415: Is a police car used for display and community policing purposes, but not for patrol duties. These are often performance cars, modified cars, classic police cars, or vehicles seized from convicted criminals and converted to police cars that are used to represent the agency in parades, promote a specific program (such as the D.A.R.E. program), or help build connections between law enforcement and those that
1750-424: Is a truck used to provide a central command center at the scene of an incident, or to establish a visible police presence or temporary police station at an event. A bomb disposal vehicle is a vehicle used by bomb disposal squads to transport equipment and bomb disposal robots , or to store bombs for later disposal. They are often vans or trucks, typically with at least one bomb containment chamber installed in
1820-402: Is an identifying design, such as a uniform, ornament, symbol or insignia that designates ownership or affiliation, often found on an individual or vehicle. Livery often includes elements of the heraldry relating to the individual or corporate body featured in the livery. Alternatively, some kind of a personal emblem or badge, or a distinctive colour, is featured. The word itself derives from
1890-413: Is carried in police cars, used to make police work easier or safer. The installation of this equipment in a police car partially transforms it into a desk. Police officers use their car to fill out different forms, print documents, type on a computer or a console, and examine different screens, all while driving. Ergonomics in layout and installation of these items in the police car plays an important role in
1960-827: Is common to the point that armed police vehicles are necessary; for example, the Iraqi Police received technicals during the Iraq War , and the National Police of Ukraine used armed vehicles during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine , including the STREIT Group Spartan and a modified BMW 6 Series with a mounted machine gun. These should not be confused with police vehicles that have turrets but do not have guns, which are often just police armored vehicles or, if less-lethal munitions are used, riot control vehicles. A riot control vehicle, also known as
2030-631: Is entirely up to the agency, though in 2005, the Virginia General Assembly considered a bill that would make decoy cars a legal requirement for police. The bill stated in part: "Whenever any law-enforcement vehicle is permanently taken out of service ... such vehicle shall be placed at a conspicuous location within a highway median in order to deter violations of motor vehicle laws at that location. Such vehicles shall ... be rotated from one location to another as needed to maintain their deterrent effect." A surveillance car
2100-517: Is often used to describe unmarked cars. However, this usage is erroneous: unmarked cars are police cars that lack markings but have police equipment, emergency lights, and sirens, while undercover cars lack these entirely and are essentially civilian vehicles used by law enforcement in undercover operations to avoid detection. The close resemblance of unmarked cars to civilian cars has created concerns of police impersonation . Some police officers advise motorists that they do not have to pull over in
2170-454: Is one of the main reasons for the use of long guns over handguns—faster or heavier projectiles help with penetration and accuracy over longer distances. Shotguns are long guns that are designed to fire many small projectiles at once. This makes them very effective at close ranges, but with diminished usefulness at long ranges, even with shotgun slugs they are mostly only effective to about 100 yd (91 m). In historical navy usage,
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2240-455: Is tailor-made, but the seldom-worn full-state dress is not bespoke ; the usual practice is to select individuals whose height fits the existing ceremonial coats held in storage. Pages of Honour to the king wear scarlet (or, in Scotland, green) frock coats with blue velvet cuffs, edged all round with gold lace, with white breeches and hose, a short sword and other accoutrements. Scarlet
2310-585: Is the livery collar . William, Lord Hastings the favourite of King Edward IV of England had a "Coller of gold of K. Edward's lyverys" valued at the enormous sum of £40 in an inventory of 1489. This would have been similar to the collars worn by Hastings' sister and her husband Sir John Donne in the Donne Triptych by Hans Memling (described in Sir John Donne ). Lords gave their servants lead or pewter badges to sew onto their clothes. In
2380-548: Is the livery colour of the sovereign and of the royal court. Elizabeth II also had a family livery colour, however, known as 'Edinburgh Green', which she and the Duke of Edinburgh chose in 1948. Five years later, at her coronation, while the Queen's attendants wore scarlet the page in attendance on the Duke wore a green livery edged in silver. Subsequently, Edinburgh Green became the colour used for their private cars and carriages (whereas
2450-433: Is the responsibility of police within that jurisdiction. Some utility vehicles can be used for transporting teams of officers and occasionally have facilities to securely detain and transport a small number of suspects, provided there is enough seating space. A police dog vehicle, also known as a K-9 vehicle or a police dog unit, is a police car modified to transport police dogs . The models used for these vehicles range from
2520-663: Is used when referring to the colors and regulations required in respect of any military clothing or equipment. Early uniforms were however regarded as a form of livery ("the King's coat") during the late 17th and early 18th centuries in the European monarchies. During this period, officers of the French Garde du Corps (the Royal Bodyguard) successfully petitioned to not be required to wear uniforms while on duty within
2590-802: The Big Three , began to manufacture specialized police cars. Over time, these became their own dedicated police fleet offerings, such as the Ford Police Interceptor and Chevrolet 9C1 . In the United Kingdom , Captain Athelstan Popkess , Chief Constable of the Nottingham City Police from 1930 to 1959, transformed British police from their Victorian era foot patrol beat model to the modern car-based reactive response model, through his development of
2660-457: The French livrée , meaning dispensed, handed over . Most often it would indicate that the wearer of the livery was a servant, dependant, follower or friend of the owner of the livery, or, in the case of objects, that the object belonged to them. In the late medieval phenomenon of bastard feudalism , livery badges worn by the "retainers" of great lords, sometimes in effect private armies, became
2730-636: The emergency lights on the vehicle. These lights are used while responding to attract the attention of other road users and coerce them into yielding for the police car to pass. The colors used by police car lights depend on the jurisdiction, though they are commonly blue and red. Several types of flashing lights are used, such as rotating beacons , halogen lamps , or LED strobes . Some agencies use arrow sticks to direct traffic, or message display boards to provide short messages or instructions to motorists. The headlights and tail lights of some vehicles can be made to flash , or small strobe lights can be fitted in
2800-512: The livery markings on the vehicle. Police vehicle markings usually make use of bright colors or strong contrast with the base color of the vehicle. Some police cars have retroreflective markings that reflect light for better visibility at night, though others may only have painted on or non-reflective markings. Examples of markings and designs used in police liveries include black and white , Battenburg markings , Sillitoe tartan , and "jam sandwich" markings . Police vehicle markings include, at
2870-475: The "Mechanized Division", which used two-way radio communication between police command and police cars. Under Popkess, the Nottingham City Police began to use police cars as an asset that police tactics centered around, such as overlaying police car patrol sectors over foot patrol beats and using police cars to pick up foot patrol officers while responding to crimes. Increased car ownership in
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2940-604: The 15th century, European royalty sometimes distributed uniform suits of clothes to courtiers, as the House of Fugger , the leading bankers, did to all employees. This practice later contracted to the provision of standardized clothing to male servants, often in a colour-scheme distinctive to a particular family. The term most notably referred to the embroidered coats , waistcoats, knee breeches and stockings in 18th-century style, worn by footmen on formal occasions in grand houses . Plainer clothing in dark colours and without braiding
3010-569: The Spanish court which prescribes red. At the British royal court, scarlet state livery is still worn by footmen , coachmen and other attendants on state occasions. The full-dress scarlet coats are handmade, and embroidered in gold braid with the royal cypher of the monarch. Gold buttons and other trimmings are of designs and patterns which date from the 18th century, and the full state dress worn by footmen includes scarlet breeches, stockings and
3080-1212: The car instead; for example, Norwegian Police Service officers are issued handguns, but they keep them in a locked compartment in their car that requires high-ranking authorization to access. Less-lethal weaponry and riot gear may also be stored in the trunk. Rescue equipment such as first aid kits , dressing , fire extinguishers , defibrillators , and naloxone kits are often kept in police cars to provide first aid and rescue when necessary. Tools such as barricade tape , traffic cones , traffic barricades , and road flares are often kept in police cars to secure scenes for further investigation. Recording equipment such as dashcams and interior cameras are installed in some police cars to make audio and video recordings of incidents, police interactions, and evidence. Detector devices such as radar speed guns , automatic number-plate recognition , and LoJack are used in some police cars, typically in traffic enforcement, to detect speeding violations, read multiple plates for flags (such as warrants or lack of insurance) without having to manually check, and track stolen cars, respectively. Livery#Modern usage A livery / ˈ l ɪ v ər i /
3150-430: The comfort and safety of the police officers at work and preventing injuries such as back pain and musculoskeletal disorders. Police radio systems are generally standard equipment in police cars, used to communicate between the officers assigned to the car and the dispatcher . Mobile data terminals are also common as alternative ways to communicate with the dispatcher or receive important information, and are typically
3220-491: The early inventories of households, in the chambers there are a large number of "Livery Cupboards" recorded, presumably used for storing the Livery. During the 12th century, specific colours denoting a great person began to be used for both his soldiers and his civilian followers (the two often overlapped considerably), and the modern sense of the term began to form. Usually two different colours were used together (and often with
3290-540: The grille or capable of being hidden and revealed, such as Japanese unmarked cars having retractable beacons built into the car's roof. Unmarked cars typically use regular civilian license plates, occasionally even in jurisdictions where emergency vehicles and government vehicles use unique license plates, though some agencies or jurisdictions may be able to use the unique plates anyway; for example, American federal law enforcement agencies may use either government plates or regular license plates. The term "undercover car"
3360-671: The markings on ghost cars may be sufficient to legally count as marked police cars, despite the markings being difficult to see. A utility vehicle is a police car used for utility or support purposes as opposed to regular police duties. Utility vehicles are usually all-wheel drive vehicles with cargo space such as SUVs, pickup trucks, vans, utes, or off-road vehicles. They are often used to transport or tow assets such as trailers, equipment, or other vehicles such as police boats ; they are alternatively used for or are capable of off-roading , especially in fleets where most other vehicles cannot do so. They can also be used for animal control , if that
3430-727: The official vehicles are painted in a royal livery colour of maroon (or ' claret ') and black). The Queen, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Princess Royal, the Queen of Spain and Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands wore outfits with the shades of Edinburgh Green at a thanksgiving service for the duke in 2022. At the Belgian court liveries in traditional colours are still used at state occasions. The coats are red, and have black cuffs with golden lace. Royal cyphers are embroidered on
3500-456: The organization of the law enforcement agency , the class of vehicle used as a police car, and the environmental factors of the agency's jurisdiction, many of the types below may or may not exist in certain fleets, or their capabilities may be merged to create all-rounded units with shared vehicles as opposed to specialized units with separate vehicles. A patrol car is a police car used for standard patrol. Used to replace traditional foot patrols,
3570-488: The palace at Versailles, since this livery suggested that they were servants rather than aristocrats. Long gun A long gun is a category of firearms with long barrels . In small arms , a long gun or longarm is generally designed to be held by both hands and braced against the shoulder, in contrast to a handgun , which can be fired being held with a single hand. In the context of cannons and mounted firearms, an artillery long gun would be contrasted with
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#17328010031683640-407: The patrol car's primary function is to provide transportation for regular police duties, such as responding to calls, enforcing laws, or simply establishing a more visible police presence while on patrol. Driving a patrol car allows officers to reach their destinations more quickly and to cover more ground compared to other methods. Patrol cars are typically designed to be identifiable as police cars to
3710-511: The post- World War II economic expansion led to police cars becoming significantly more common in most developed countries, as police jurisdictions expanded farther out into residential and suburban areas, car-oriented urban planning and highways dominated cities, vehicular crimes and police evasion in cars increased, and more equipment was issued to police officers, to the point that vehicles became practically necessary for modern law enforcement. Various types of police car exist. Depending on
3780-628: The public and thus almost always have proper markings, roof-mounted emergency lights, and sirens. A response car, also known as a pursuit car, area car, rapid response unit, or fast response car, is a police car used to ensure quick responses to emergencies compared to patrol cars. It is likely to be of a higher specification, capable of higher speeds, and often fitted with unique markings and increased-visibility emergency lights. These cars are generally only used to respond to emergency incidents and may carry specialized equipment not used in regular patrol cars, such as long arms . A traffic car, also known as
3850-647: The rear of the vehicle, and ramps to allow bomb disposal robots to access the vehicle. Bomb disposal vehicles are generally not explosive-resistant and are only used for transporting explosives for disposal, not actively disposing of them. An armed police vehicle is a police vehicle that has lethal weaponry installed on it . These are often technicals or light utility vehicles with machine gun turrets , and may or may not lack emergency lights and sirens. Armed police vehicles are very rare and are usually only used in wartime, in regions with very high violent crime rates, or where combat with organized crime or insurgencies
3920-545: The rear or sides, making them appear unmarked when viewed from the front. Another unofficial passive visual warning of police vehicles can simply be the vehicle's silhouette if its use as a police car is common, such as that of the Ford Crown Victoria in North America, or the presence of emergency vehicle equipment on the vehicle, such as a pushbar or a roof-mounted lightbar. Active visual warnings are
3990-448: The rear to secure the detainee, or a dedicated transport vehicle may be called. Weapons may be stored in the trunk or front compartment of the vehicle. In countries where police officers are already armed with handguns , long guns such as rifles or shotguns may be kept on a gun rack in the front or in the trunk, alongside ammunition. In countries where police are not armed or do not keep their guns on them, handguns may be kept in
4060-429: The road. In many countries, use of the audible and visual warnings affords the officer a degree of exemption from road traffic laws (such as the right to exceed speed limits, or to treat red stop lights as a yield sign) and may also suggest a duty on other motorists to yield for the police car and allow it to pass. Warning systems on a police vehicle can be of two types: passive or active . Passive visual warnings are
4130-482: The same as patrol cars to dedicated SUVs, pickup trucks, or vans. To provide sufficient space for the police dog, there is usually a cage in the trunk or rear seats with enough space for the dog, though some agencies may put the cage in the front passenger seat, or may lack a cage entirely and simply have the dog in the rear compartment. There may or may not be space to transport detainees or additional officers. Police dog vehicles almost always have markings noting they have
4200-468: The same models as patrol cars, and may barely differ from them aside from markings, radar speed guns , and traffic-oriented equipment. An unmarked car is a police car that lacks markings and easily-visible or roof-mounted emergency lights. They are generally used for varying purposes, ranging from standard patrol and traffic enforcement to sting operations and detective work. They have the advantage of not being immediately recognizable, and are considered
4270-402: The scene in a manner safer than what could be achieved with a standard police car. Common modifications include tear gas launchers, shields, and caged windows. Some riot control vehicles also include less-lethal weaponry and devices, such as water cannons and long-range acoustic devices . A community engagement vehicle, also known as a liaison vehicle, demonstration vehicle, or parade car,
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#17328010031684340-494: The shoulders. The breeches are of yellow fabric. The semi-state livery worn for less formal occasions has black breeches. At the Dutch court the full state livery is blue ( nassaublauw ). The breeches are yellow, and cuffs are red. The phrase "to sue one's livery" refers to the formal recognition of a noble's majority, in exchange of payment, for conferring the powers attached to his title, and thereby freeing him from dependence as
4410-462: The specifications required by the purchasing police service. Several vehicle manufacturers provide a "police package" option, which is built to police specifications from the factory. Agencies may add to these modifications by adding their own equipment and making their own modifications after purchasing a vehicle. Modifications a police car might undergo include adjustments for higher durability, speed, high-mileage driving, and long periods of idling at
4480-468: The term "servant", previously much wider, also began to be restricted to describing the same people. Municipalities and corporations copied the behaviour of the great households. The term is also used to describe badges , buttons and grander pieces of jewellery containing the heraldic signs of an individual, which were given by that person to friends, followers and distinguished visitors, as well as (in more modest forms) servants. The grandest of these
4550-407: The user the ability to hold the firearm more steadily than a handgun. In addition, the long barrel of a long gun usually provides a longer distance between the front and rear sights , providing the user with more precision when aiming. The presence of a stock makes the use of a telescopic sight or red dot sight easier than with a handgun. The mass of a long gun is usually greater than that of
4620-713: The vehicle appeals to. Some cars can be visibly marked but not fitted with audio or visual warning devices. These are often used by community liaison officers, administrative staff, or high-ranking officers for transport to meetings, engagements, and community events. Some vehicles are produced by automotive manufacturers with police markings to showcase them to police departments; these are usually concepts, prototypes, or reveals of their police fleet offerings. Emergency vehicle equipment manufacturers such as Federal Signal , Whelen , and Code 3 also use unofficial police cars to demonstrate their emergency vehicle equipment. Police cars are usually passenger car models which are upgraded to
4690-452: The vehicle lights. Audible warnings are the sirens on the vehicle. These sirens alert road users to the presence of an emergency vehicle before they can be seen, to warn of their approach. The first audible warnings were mechanical bells, mounted to either the front or roof of the car. A later development was the rotating air siren , which makes noise when air moves past it. Most modern police vehicles use electronic sirens, which can produce
4760-697: The very least, the word " police " (or a similar applicable phrase if the agency does not use that term, such as " sheriff ", " gendarmerie ", " state trooper ", " public safety " etc.) and the agency's name or jurisdiction (such as " national police " or " Chicago Police "). Also common are the agency's seal, the jurisdiction's seal, and a unit number. Text is usually in the national language or local language, though other languages may be used where appropriate, such as in ethnic enclaves or areas with large numbers of tourists. Unmarked vehicles generally lack passive visual warnings, while ghost cars have markings that are visible only at certain angles, such as from
4830-542: Was an electric wagon used by the Akron Police Department in Akron, Ohio , in 1899. The first operator of the police patrol wagon was Officer Louis Mueller, Sr. It could reach 16 mph (26 km/h) and travel 30 mi (48 km) before its battery needed to be recharged. The car was built by city mechanical engineer Frank Loomis. The US$ 2,400 vehicle was equipped with electric lights, gongs, and
4900-544: Was worn by footmen, chauffeurs and other employees for ordinary duties. For financial reasons, the employment of such servants, and their expensive dress, died out after World War I except in royal households. Most European royal courts still use their state liveries on formal occasions. These are generally in traditional national colours, and are based on 18th-century clothing with fine gold embroidery . Only male royal servants normally wear livery. Knee breeches are worn, normally with white silk stockings; one exception being
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