Connecticut State Police - CSP Vehicles

CSP Vehicles

The CSP fleet includes the traditional patrol vehicles (Ford Crown Victorias), SUVs, and motorcycles. Most unmarked patrol cars are silver, although a few navy blue, black, maroon, and dark brown cars exist. The CSP has had a long history of using unmarked patrol cars on the state's highways, only identifiable as police vehicles by the red and blue light bars on the top. The words "State Police" are labelled on the center of the light bar. The colored lightbars are slowly fading out of use to the new crystal clear LED lightbars. Patrol cars are outfitted with LED warning lights on the roof and rear deck, 800 MHz Digital radio systems, Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs), and Mobile Video Cameras (MVRs). Some of the older vehicles have a "State Trooper" placard on the rear. The CSP has also had a long history of using non-traditional unmarked patrol cars for enforcement such as Chevrolet Camaros, Ford Mustangs, Ford Explorers, Grand Nationals, Ford F-Series pickup trucks, and most recently Dodge Chargers. These units are not equipped with light bars and instead utilize more low profile emergency lighting systems.

The CSP utilizes Radar, Lidar (Laser), and VASCAR (Visual Average Speed Computer And Recorder) for speed enforcement.

The few marked cars the CSP has in its fleet (1 at each Troop) are white with the CSP shield and the words "Connecticut State Police" on the doors underscored by a blue and yellow line that runs down the side of the car. These marked cars are generally not used for enforcing traffic laws but instead are utilized for visibility (parades and community patrols). The motorcycles are white with the words "State Police" in blue and yellow on the windshield. The CSP helicopter is blue with the CSP shield and the words "Connecticut State Police" on the side.

Marked vehicles driven by Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles Enforcement Officers are often mistaken for unmarked State Police cruisers, since they are the same color and bear the same light bar assembly as State Police unmarked cruisers. The difference lies in that the DMV Enforcement Officers' patrol cars bear the state seal and "Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles" on the doors. Additionally, the letters "DMV" are labeled on the center of the light bar instead of "State Police." DMV Enforcement Officers only have the authority to enforce statewide motor vehicle laws and focus primarily on enforcing federal motor carrier safety regulations by stopping trucks operating in an unsafe manner or having defective equipment.