Any car marked with the words Police is not a private car, also
not considered unmarked car. Doesn't need to have blinkers. Escort
cars for Special Branch also dont have blinkers on top but have
portable ones.
An unmarked car is one that has no markings whatsover, and can
have private plates or QX. QX doesn't always mean Police, can be
SCDF, CPIB, CNB etc.
For TP operations, usually for expressway stops they will use a
marked car because of the higher speed.
For normal roads, they can use both, sometimes they even use
their own private cars or unmarked police motor cycles. But using
private cars is rare and done only during operations. Operations
are not daily affairs, only for set period.
As for private number plates on Govt vehicles, these numbers can
be rotated amongst cars. SB does this very often, for security
measures, so dont think 1 type of car will only use 1 number plate.
For TP to do this is rare, as they dont have a large fleet of
unmarked cars. Whatever you saw, is probably all they got.
Strictly speaking, if an unmarked car without siren or blinkers
wants to stop you they can, if the officers are on official duty.
The use of hazard lights, horns and coming along side you, flashing
their warrant cards can have the same effect of sirens and
blinkers. It's rare but legally if you challenge in court you're
bound to lose.
It's a bit grey area if they are in civvies, but if officers are
in uniform, you're legally bound to stop or follow any instruction
given to you. In civvies, the point is when the fact they have
identified themselves as police officers, you must obey.
