This bill mandates that any municipal police vehicle purchased on or after January 1, 2025, must be clearly marked and labeled as a police vehicle to be eligible for use in traffic law enforcement. The use of stealth or ghost lettering, which is not clearly visible, is deemed insufficient for such purposes. However, the bill does not restrict the use of unmarked vehicles or those with stealth or ghost lettering for activities other than traffic law enforcement.
The bill also specifies that law enforcement officers may still conduct traffic stops in unmarked vehicles or vehicles with stealth or ghost lettering if they have reasonable suspicion of serious offenses such as reckless driving, driving under the influence, or in situations posing an immediate threat to public safety. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2025. The fiscal note attached to the bill indicates that there is no fiscal impact on state, county, and local expenditures or revenue as a result of this bill. No agencies were contacted for the fiscal note.