July 19: Love those graphics

 Remember the good old days? No, you probably don't, at least in the way, I'm thinking this morning. The old days I'm referring to, are the days when the police cars had unimaginative signage. After all, they were utilitarian cars used for one function only and that was police work. No need to make them interesting, just order them black, slap on some identification, a few lights, put an officer behind the wheel and voila', you have a police car ready to do its duty. Maybe also, have a panel or two painted white, if the department was a little more daring.

That was then, but now is now and it seems like the cop shops go out of their way to create rolling billboards for the local sheriff, city police, state trooper, provincial police or whatever. Before I get into this, I'm going to ask you to remember that, what was old is new again. Read on.

Keep in mind that these cars have to be resold, so it's best to simply add graphics that can be peeled off at auction time.

The RCMP were one of the early agencies to get creative with their cars' id.........

......note the bright stripes (how could you miss them?), the buffalo/crown emblem, the Canadian flag and the musical ride decal. All the best features of Canada's national police summed up in a few graphics. It works and has been like this for over twenty years. A long time. 

Many other agencies get creative on a semi regular basis and if you compare the various cars, you can see themes developing. There are a handful of departments that, are using graphics similar to what Ford has developed for their police car presentations.........

See the similarity to the way this Dodge Charger has been painted? Basic black (always in fashion), with this simple, but effect signage shouting POLICE for all the offenders to see.

Another trend is some form of red and blue stripes, like on this recent York Regional car (York seems to modify this theme every few years) and the patriotic car below it........

I've also noticed that some police change the graphics to suit the lines of their cars, as on these Windsor, Ontario Charger and Crown Vic..........

 

And then some police are going to very interesting city graphics, which actually started with the Detroit police, as a way, I believe, to add some pride to their force.......

This has now shown up on the Orlando, Florida cars. In my opinion, they should have featured Disney World graphics with maybe a big Mickey Mouse on the hood. Thoughts?

But the comment about what was old is new again, is starting to show up more and more. The California Highway Patrol has always had black and whites, as on the '50's Dodge.........

.......and to this day, they adhere to this colour scheme, whenever they place their large fleet orders. Now, these are the standard police car colours from the past. Even Bruce Springsteen referred to them in Out on the Street, ".....the black and whites they cruise by......."..Everyone knew what he meant. Now it seems that there is a minor trend towards going back to those standard colours of days gone by. Our Ontario Provincial Police is one of the latest converts........

Classic, like a simple black cocktail dress, always in style. And nothing says POLICE like a black and white.

But on the other hand, nothing says interesting like a creatively graphiced up cop car.........

Pull me over officer and let's check out your ride.

Whichever way the police graphics go these days, it's usually interesting and nothing so boring as a simple badge placed on the door of a black car. Well, maybe somewhere, but I haven't seem them. Let's keep up the creativity and continue to check out these cars.......but from safe a distance.

Until next time......