Atlanta Police Car Lights (crime, rooftop, law)

[ajjam]

I have noticed the past several months all APD patrol cars are keeping their rooftop lights on while just regularly driving.....anyone know why this is?? I enjoy this BC I speed and know when to slow down....but usually police want to be undetected..... what’s going on?

[Miami Vice]

Many of the newer light bars have a "cruise" feature that allows the lights to go on at a dimmer mode and without flashing. Some departments or officers may feel like it's better for visibility and to deter crime.

[cwkimbro]

They've been doing this in Europe with the invention of LEDs on police cars.

Usually they stay solid blue and only on the two far sides of that bar across the roof. It isn't an 'emergency flash.'

But it is a... we're here, we're patrolling, flag us down if you need us.

The US has been slower to move into this, because so much of what US law enforcement is about active traffic stops and catching speeders and they want to passively monitor and not be as easily seen.

[MattCW]

It's not just the past few months, I've noticed it for a year or two. Dekalb County does the same. It's not real consistent though.

[PKCorey]

So far, Dekalb and Gwinnett seem to be the most consistent with using their cruise bars at night.

[VJP]

The idea is that it is a crime deterrent to announce patrol presence.