Unmarked Vehicles
Unmarked law enforcement vehicles have been used by the Metropolitan Nashville Davidson County Police Department for over 20 years. It is our belief that unmarked vehicles are a valuable tool in providing safe, efficient, and proactive law enforcement services to the citizens of Nashville. We use a limited number of unmarked vehicles for a variety of activities and have found them to be an effective tool to address many community concerns such as traffic enforcement, neighborhood patrols, crime reduction initiatives (such as street robberies and residential burglary), fugitive apprehension, drug enforcement and other activities. These unmarked vehicles may be a vehicle, van, truck or a utility vehicle and may display standard license plates or government plates.
Emergency Lights
Although state law allows the use of blue or the combination of blue and red for law enforcement vehicles, the MNPD uses ONLY blue flashing lights. Under state law and Metropolitan Code, only law enforcement officers may utilize blue lights. Therefore, to avoid confusion, all of our vehicles are equipped with BLUE emergency lights, both in the front and rear, and may be combined with flashing headlights or additional blue or white warning lights. We use these multiple lights to improve officer and citizen safety. This allows our citizens to recognize our official vehicles. Additionally, every unmarked vehicle is equipped with an audible emergency siren.
Stopping For Police Vehicles
The use of unmarked vehicles continues to be successful in addressing a variety of community concerns, we however do recognize the concern that some people may feel uncomfortable when being stopped by an unmarked law enforcement vehicle and can offer the following suggestions:
- Feel free to activate your vehicle's four-way hazard lights. This tells the officer that you are aware that they are there and that you are intending to comply with his or her request to pull over. Do not drive erratically, speed up, or attempt to elude the officer.
- Drive safely to the nearest public area or police station. If it is nighttime, look for an area that is well lit.
- Keep your doors locked and turn on your dome light, keep your hands visible and wait on the officer to approach.
- Look for an authentic law enforcement uniform. If still unsure or the officer is wearing plain clothes, the citizen should request to see official credentials including a law enforcement identification bearing a photo of the officer and accompanying law enforcement badge. It is our policy that an officer will display their credentials if requested. If still concerned, explain your concern and ask to have a uniformed officer in a marked vehicle respond.
- Only roll down the vehicle window enough to hear the officer and pass documents. Drivers should never exit their vehicle until told to do so by a law enforcement officer.
- If you have a cell phone, dial 911 and ask the dispatcher to verify that an officer attempting to pull you over. If the 911 operator verifies your vehicle description and your location, stop immediately for the officer. If the 911 situation you describe occurs, explain to the call taker that an unmarked vehicle is attempting to stop you and ask for a marked unit to respond.
To ensure you have accurate and complete information, we would also like to provide you with references to the applicable law regarding the use of emergency equipment and the duty of a driver upon approach by an emergency vehicle.
Tennessee Law (TCA 55-8-132), requires drivers to immediately yield to authorized emergency vehicles that are making use of their visual and audible signals and that drivers “shall yield the right-of-way and shall immediately drive to a position parallel to, and as close as possible to, the right-hand edge or curb of the roadway clear of any intersection, and shall stop and remain in that position…”. You must remain in that stopped position until the emergency vehicle has passed or until you are directed to move by a police officer. You must still proceed with caution; there may be other emergency vehicles coming.
When an emergency vehicle, marked or unmarked, approaches, please remember that the MNPD uses emergency equipment not only to conduct traffic stops, but also to assist motorists and to respond to calls for service involving emergency situations. In order to ensure a safe and timely response, please safely and lawfully yield the right of way to these vehicles.
Impersonation of a Police Officer/Illegal Use of Blue Lights
Although the occurrence of these may be rare, the illegal use of emergency lighting (blue lights) or impersonating an officer is against state law and, when reported, is vigorously investigated and prosecuted.