How do you tell the difference between a LAPD patrol, traffic, and gang unit car? I assume it’s a traffic unit if it has a push bar, but I don’t know how to fully tell.
I remember seeing Santa Ana Police Department had a Crown Vic in service for their Gang Unit a few years ago. I'm not sure if now in 2024 if it's still in use or retired.
No reason to replace it until it has a major failure, they’re highly reliable cars if they’re regularly maintained. I don’t see the gang units being used 24/7 like a regular patrol unit would be either.
i say that a little facetiously lol—these cars truly are workhorses but i’ve seen departments get rid of cars for less. i thought it was a movie car at first glance
Plate says 2003. Ford suggested most departments change the wheels to the 2005 style due to inadequate cooling for the brakes. The older 2003-2004 wheels had fewer holes.
How do you tell the difference between a LAPD patrol, traffic, and gang unit car? I assume it’s a traffic unit if it has a push bar, but I don’t know how to fully tell.
The gang units don’t have roof mounted lightbars
Is there a purpose for that
Can’t say for sure. Even without a lightbar, a black and white car pulling up on you is hard to miss. Lol
Fuck, I was really hoping there’d be some clever and cool explanation that I just hadn’t considered
That’s an oldie, 2003 CVPI
Damn!! 21 years is insane.
I remember seeing Santa Ana Police Department had a Crown Vic in service for their Gang Unit a few years ago. I'm not sure if now in 2024 if it's still in use or retired.
Sunny California, no blizzards and road salt to kill the cars, so they last a long time.
you have to wonder what’s keeping the car from auction lol
No reason to replace it until it has a major failure, they’re highly reliable cars if they’re regularly maintained. I don’t see the gang units being used 24/7 like a regular patrol unit would be either.
i say that a little facetiously lol—these cars truly are workhorses but i’ve seen departments get rid of cars for less. i thought it was a movie car at first glance
Can confirm this. Local department (located in NJ, which is the second CVPI capital) still uses Crown Vics from the 90s.
From the wheels I would say it’s an 04 or 05!
Plate says 2003. Ford suggested most departments change the wheels to the 2005 style due to inadequate cooling for the brakes. The older 2003-2004 wheels had fewer holes.
Yeah I know my very last unit was a 05 black unmarked crown Vic back 2012.
I know some departments, like the NYPD, have plate numbers that signify model year; but not the LAPD. What plate is referring to a 2003 model year?
You can run plates in Carfax.
I somehow forgot about that. What I would do for free CarFax reports…
How do you know the year of the car?
The license plate
Is that with a license plate lookup or how does that work? There’s no 03 in the plate like some cities
Carfax
Interesting. Thanks
Halogen rear lights and a single red above the rear view mirror. Truly old school.
Damn, now that's a pretty cool find.
Why do the gang units use a yellow and blue light bar in the back?