WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California drivers may soon find it harder to spot the California Highway Patrol (CHP) on the road. The CHP has begun rolling out a fleet of new patrol cruisers designed to blend in with everyday traffic, making it easier for officers to identify and stop dangerous drivers before they even know they’re being followed.
This week, three of the new vehicles will hit the roads in Hayward, Martinez, and San Jose, with more scheduled to arrive across the Bay Area later this summer.
An Exclusive Look at the New Stealth Patrol Cars
KTVU’s Henry Lee got an exclusive first look at the new cruisers during a visit to the CHP Academy in West Sacramento. The featured vehicle? A Dodge Durango—a departure from the more familiar Dodge Chargers many California drivers are used to seeing on the highways.
While the Durango might look like any other SUV in traffic, it’s a high-powered law enforcement tool equipped with a unique set of features designed for discreet policing.
Designed to Blend In: A New Approach to Traffic Enforcement
CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee explained that the Durangos are equipped with a “360-degree concealed” light package, which means the traditional rooftop light bars and visible law enforcement markers are absent. These vehicles appear to be regular SUVs—until they’re not.
“The idea is to blend in a bit more with traffic,” Duryee said. “These vehicles allow officers to better detect and stop reckless drivers without immediately tipping them off.”
The new design gives officers the upper hand, especially when pursuing aggressive drivers or monitoring distracted driving and other violations that might be hidden by the time a clearly marked cruiser approaches.
A Fleet of 400 Stealth Vehicles Rolling Out Statewide
The CHP is deploying a total of 400 of these new patrol vehicles throughout California.
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200 Durangos will retain the traditional black and white law enforcement look.
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100 vehicles will be all white.
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The remaining 100 units will feature unusual or low-profile colors, including “Destroyer Gray” and a dark tone called “Night Moves.”
The goal? Reduce the visibility of law enforcement vehicles in order to improve enforcement tactics and discourage reckless behavior.
What’s Inside These New Cruisers?
Despite their toned-down appearance, these Durangos are anything but ordinary.
Each cruiser is equipped with:
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On-board dash cameras
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Advanced pursuit-rated engines
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Integrated sirens
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Modern communication systems
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Pursuit-rated handling and safety features
Commissioner Duryee even took reporter Henry Lee out for a test drive in one of the new cruisers to showcase its capabilities.
“How’s the handling on this thing, compared to some of the other vehicles?” Lee asked.
“It’s actually really, really good—especially for an SUV. You wouldn’t expect that level of responsiveness in this kind of vehicle,” Duryee replied.
Bay Area Deployments Begin This Week
As part of the first wave, three Durangos are being assigned to Bay Area CHP offices in Hayward, Martinez, and San Jose. An additional 12 vehicles are expected to be delivered to other Bay Area locations by the end of the summer.
CHP says the deployment is part of a broader strategy to improve road safety by catching offenders in the act—especially those who tend to behave better once they see a marked police car.
Stealth Enforcement as a Modern Policing Strategy
The use of low-profile or unmarked vehicles in law enforcement isn’t new, but this particular rollout represents a shift in how the CHP approaches everyday enforcement.
“We’re not hiding,” one CHP official noted. “We’re evolving. We’re using modern tools to adapt to modern driving behaviors.”
As roadways grow more congested and distracted or aggressive driving increases, the agency believes these cruisers will help officers respond more effectively without giving advanced warning to violators.
What Drivers Should Know
While these new Durangos might not look like a typical CHP cruiser, they still hold the same authority. The CHP reminds the public that if a vehicle with flashing red and blue lights attempts to pull you over, you should treat it like any other traffic stop. When in doubt, drivers are encouraged to call 911 to confirm the legitimacy of the stop if they feel unsafe.
Looking Ahead
As law enforcement agencies adapt to the changing landscape of modern traffic safety, the line between everyday vehicles and patrol cruisers is beginning to blur. For CHP, these new Durangos represent the next generation of smarter, more effective policing on California’s highways.
And with more of these cruisers expected to hit the roads in the coming months, drivers would be wise to remember: just because you don’t see a black-and-white car doesn’t mean you’re not being watched.
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