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Maybe you’ve had some pretty poor luck with the authorities in your taut, two-door sports car. Perhaps you notice an abundance of bright red pickup trucks pulled over by police officers. Either way, you might think law enforcement profiles vehicles based on their type, model, or color. But is the type of vehicle you drive a factor in your interactions with the police?

While it might feel that way, the type of vehicle you drive doesn’t directly impact your likelihood of being pulled over by police

I know I grew up hearing the home-spun logic of the adults in my life. “Don’t buy that car in red! What, do you want to get stopped by the cops?” Oh, and the much more prudent, “You’re going to get so many tickets in that old Camaro.” Full disclosure, I bought the Camaro anyway. But my family and friends were convinced that the type of vehicle you drive makes you more likely to be pulled over by the police. 

Well, despite the popular narrative, police officers don’t typically choose which motorists to pull over based on the type of vehicle they drive. According to FirstTimeDriver, motorists are much more likely to be pulled over by police due to their behavior rather than the make, model, and color of their preferred ride. 

I know, duh, right? A state trooper may look right past a Lamborghini Aventador or bleeding-edge sport bike to pull over a pickup truck. Still, certain types of vehicles can, let’s say, instigate your driving behaviors. For instance, a sports car or motorcycle with a ballistic power-to-weight ratio may prompt a motorist to break traffic laws. 

That said, white cars tend to end up in trouble with law enforcement more than any other color. However, there’s a good reason for that. It’s because white is the most popular car color in the country. In fact, white vehicles make up nearly 30% of total new car sales, per iSeeCars.

So, police officers don’t really profile cars by type, model, or color. It just feels that way sometimes.

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Staff Writer

Erik Sherman

Erik Sherman joined the MotorBiscuit team as an Autos Writer in 2022. An admitted petrolhead and an avid motorcyclist, Erik has owned everything from classic cars to motorcycles to modern driver’s cars. Erik also has extensive experience with military and emergency vehicles, ranging from ambulances and fire engines to MRAPs and M-ATVs. Erik is an eager car and motorcycle reviewer with experience covering everything from sports cars to pontoon boats and jet skis.

Erik holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations (IRG) from the University of Texas at Austin and has studied Chinese, Energy, and European Politics at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. Erik’s background is unorthodox; he is a United States Marine Corps (USMC) combat veteran, water survival practitioner, and a former firefighter/EMT. Additionally, Erik is a regular volunteer and former instructor with the American Red Cross (ARC).