[FedCom] FBI

Wed, 17 Apr 2002 13:14:02 -0700

This is fairly common for most any law agency... federal, state or
local.

For routine "non-undercover" work the various agencies generally use
plain old gov't issue type sedans, usually with passenger-car-series
license plates from the state where they're assigned.   Same as with
most police departments, they don't particularly "advertise" that
they're police cars, but they don't knock themselves out trying to be
sneaky.  May even have one or two non-descript antennas.  Joe citizen
may never make them as law enforcement vehicles, but cops, crooks,
scanner hobbyists, and other street-wise people can usually spot them a
mile away.

On the other hand, cars assigned to more sensitive duties like
surveillance and such will usually be MUCH more discreet, perhaps
sporty, usually two-door rather than four-door, with either disguised or
entirely concealed antennas.  For particularly important or risky
investigations, they'll sometimes own or at least borrow vehicles like
taxicabs, delivery vans & such.  The "fine line" that must be walked, of
course, is to not make any of these vehicles TOO unique, such that if a
crook sees the same car/truck two or three times he's gonna know
something's up... and somebody... cop, crook, victim or bystander could
get hurt or seriously killed.

In smaller towns... well they will often borrow coppers from distant
agencies, sometimes with their own personal cars.

But don't tell anybody.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Arthur-Bryan E. Phelps" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, April 17, 2002 09:30
Subject: [FedCom] FBI

> This may be a totally off the wall question, but does anyone know what
make of
> vehicles they currently use?  The past few days as I was leaving
work -- I'm
> only a block away from where the FBI is headquartered, I've noticed
several
> cars coming out of the lot, each with two antennas.  I'm wondering if
I'm seeing
> FBI Agents or US Postal Inspectors!!!! Just curious.
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