Why are the majority of American police cars black and white?

Question

What is the significance?

Answer 1

nostalgic
symbolic
easily recognized

Answer 2

This was a standard that was selected much like the fact that fire engines are red. The black and white police car was distinctive and easily distinguished from other vehicles. The presence of a police car is often a deterrent to crime. For example, if you are going down the freeway a little over the speed limit and you spot a police car parked up ahead somewhere what do you do? The car may or may not have anyone in it but it has achieved the purpose.

Answer 3

Americans, generally, have the expectation and perception of black and white peace officer vehicles drawn off films from a certain Southern California area where the largest number of such cars were also found. Verily a match made in heaven. Gone were the somber solid colors seen in pre-
war 'G-Man and Gangster' epics. Uniformity was important
in the post-war years and as The Cold War began. People
'knew' what such vehicles were 'supposed' to look like.

Answer 4

The Crown Vics with the police package are now being churned out of the factory in black and white. The police package means a beffier suspension, reinforced panels, motor mods, etc....and black and white cars.

Answer 5

Actually most law enforcement fleet vehicles in the US are not black and white. Most are factory white with applied colored graphics. LAPD championed the black and white paint scheme originally...and over the years it was very common. In more recent years, many agencies have gone to the factory white color for financial reasons: it's cheaper to get it in white and then apply the department's graphics. As a matter of fact, there are awards for best police car appearances and best police uniforms.

Answer 6

African-human beings are not particularly susceptible to criminal acts. Its jsut that whites may have the funds for more beneficial useful attorneys. And that whites have the regulations rigged of their want. Stealing $one hundred from a convenience save receives you 10 years in reformatory. Embezzling a million$ million and ruining dozens --or thousands of lives receives you 18 months in a rustic club reformatory (in the not likely journey you get convicted)--except that its frequently whites who've the area to dedicate those crimes. And no cops bypass knocking dwn the doorways in the fantastic center-classification suburbs to nail the overall public of the drug consumers--the "good" whites. and so on.

Answer 7

as public servants; to be seen & distinguishable from other traffic. to be seen & act as a deterrent .
the LAPD was the bigest PD to use the color scheme, it use to be White front and rear with black in the center.
but the ACLU & the NAACP were offended by this. it was equated to the man putting the thumb on the brother.
so the colors were changed to black front & rear with white in the center (like an oreo). now whitey can't get the upper hand any more.

Answer 8

Studies have shown that cars with alternating light and dark colors are more visible in low light or high illumination. Having cruisers painted black on the hoods, trunks and fenders will make them more visible, both to other drivers and the department's helicopter.

Answer 9

Because in Law Enforcement, everything is black and white. There is not supposed to be such things as gray areas.

Answer 10

Because cops think black and white.