St. Paul police are putting the mystery cars on the sidelines. The department announced Friday that, for now, routine traffic stops across the city will be handled only by clearly marked squad cars. The move comes as a surge in federal immigration enforcement in the Twin Cities has residents on edge about unmarked vehicles, and city officials say the shift is meant to cut down on confusion and keep both drivers and officers safer during stops.
According to the TwinCities Pioneer Press, the department said on social media that routine traffic contacts will be carried out only in vehicles that clearly show SPPD insignia. That includes the familiar black and white cruisers and marked traffic squads. The post also urged residents to report any suspicious, dangerous, or unlawful activity right away, and to call 911 if they are unsure about what they are seeing.
Federal agents have been fanning out across Minneapolis-Saint Paul as part of what media outlets have dubbed “Operation Metro Surge.” Reporting has documented the use of unmarked vehicles and plainclothes officers during immigration enforcement actions, a combination that has fueled anxiety and confusion on local streets. The heightened federal activity, along with several high-profile incidents tied to it, has triggered protests and legal challenges from city and state officials. The New York Times has detailed the resulting lawsuits and the broader political fallout.
Why St. Paul Is Changing How It Pulls People Over
St. Paul’s traffic patrol policy already leans heavily toward visible, above-board enforcement, and the department has framed Friday’s directive as in line with that philosophy rather than a radical departure. The city’s online policy manual states that officers should favor conspicuous patrols in marked vehicles and avoid off-street observation except in unusual situations, a guideline that helps explain the current emphasis on clearly identified cars. For more on that framework, see the SPPD policy manual…