Police have been accused of purposely trying to fool the public after an undercover patrol vehicle was disguised as a family car using tactfully placed stickers.
A photo of the Hyundai i40 undercover car being used by Queensland Police has resurfaced online, reigniting discussion about whether such deceptive tricks are fair.
In a Reddit thread, many complained the brandishing of ‘My Family’ stickers across the patrol car’s back window was ‘effectively a lie’.
A photo of the Hyundai i40 undercover car (pictured) being used by Queensland Police has resurfaced, reigniting discussion about whether such deceptive tricks are fair
Two adult stickers and one child sticker were adhered to the corner of the window, with flashing blue and red lights the only things identifying it as a police vehicle.
Most road users were not comfortable with the lengths officers were going to in order to be incognito – some claimed police even installed P plates to fool drivers.
‘In my opinion having an unmarked car is fine. But this crosses the line into deliberate deception. They lose trust when they effectively lie,’ someone wrote.
Another thought expending on such seemingly menial items was a waste of taxpayer’s money.
Two adult stickers and one child sticker were adhered to the corner of the window, with flashing blue and red lights the only things identifying it as a police vehicle
Other unmarked Gold Coast police vehicles have been spotted disguised with P-plates, baby mobiles and roof racks with ladders
‘Surely the Queensland Police could find better things to spend taxpayers money on,’ they wrote.
Some were slightly more sympathetic and believed the onus was on motorists to drive carefully regardless of whether they thought a police car was near.
‘I’ve no problem with undercover cops and whatever they do to make them selves more undercover. More chance of catching the idiots on their phones weaving in their lane,’ a Reddit user said.
Someone else added, ‘first of all this is not ‘undercover’, it’s unmarked. Big difference…If your not driving around like a jerk, rest easy. If you are, screw you.’
Others thought it wasn’t the stickers that were the problem, but perhaps the make of the vehicle.
A photo of an unmarked police car patrolling with what appeared to be a broken tail-light was also shared online
The undercover police car was spotted pulling over unwitting motorists in the Gold Coast’s Upper Coometra
‘But an i40? That thing isn’t going anywhere in a hurry,’ a commenter wrote.
The controversial matter was first raised on Boxing Day 2015 when a driver spotted police patrolling in the small vehicle disguised as a family car.
Police were widely criticised after the photo went viral, shining light on a plethora of other tricks being used by officers to blend in with regular road users.
Unmarked Gold Coast police vehicles have previously been spotted disguised with P-plates, baby mobiles and roof racks with ladders.
Queensland Police told Daily Mail Australia a number of road safety methods were in place and undercover vehicles were one of the many things used.
‘There is nothing to stop over-enthusiastic police adding extra disguises to their cars,’ Gold Coast Road Policing Unit boss Senior Sergeant Bradyn said.
Reaction to Gold Coast police disguising their vehicles (truck far left) has been mixed on social media