We often encounter police officers cruising around in blue and white sedans, but did you know that the New York City Police Department (NYPD) actually employs a fleet of over 10,000 vehicles citywide? As you can imagine, keeping the chaotic jungle that is New York City safe is no easy feat, but “New York’s Finest” utilizes varied means of transportation to (miraculously) do the job, ranging from adorable smart cars and scooters to SWAT vans and cruisers.
Each type of vehicle serves a specific purpose in helping officers carry out their duties, whether it is used everyday on the streets or only for special occasions. As the largest police force in the United States, the NYPD makes use of over 1,500 motorcycles, 55 horses, an aviation unit consisting of helicopters and other anti-terrorism aircraft, and a harbor unit that patrols the city’s waterways. Listed below are 10 of the most unique and unconventional NYPD vehicles you may have encountered over the years:
10. NYPD Undercover Cabs
Although a yellow car may seem like the most conspicuous vehicle, it’s the best way to hide in plain sight in New York City. According to online reports and eye witness accounts, several of the NYPD’s approximately 899 unmarked cars are disguised as yellow taxi cabs. The cars look like any other taxi until their lights start to flash and their sirens start blaring. An Untapped Cities reader told us that while riding in a standard taxi, his driver was pulled over by an undercover NYPD cab and issued a ticket!
If you have a keen eye, you may be able to discern a police cab from the rest. According to taxi enthusiast and photographer, Herman Yung, the cars may be driven by undercover or uniformed officers, and have a license plate that starts with 2W or 6Y. There will likely be no plastic divider between the front and back seats, and the meter will be fake or nonexistent, but there may be a computer set up in the front of the car.