North Carolina Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) State Practice Exam

What is the term for catching a criminal in the act using unmarked cars with low visibility?

1. Covert patrol

2. Inconspicuous patrol

3. Undercover patrol

4. Visible patrol

The correct answer is: Inconspicuous patrol

The term that describes the practice of catching a criminal in the act using unmarked cars with low visibility is known as covert patrol. This approach involves law enforcement officers operating in vehicles that do not have obvious markings or identifiers that would signal their presence as police. The main goal of such tactics is to enhance the element of surprise, allowing officers to observe criminal activity without alerting offenders to their presence. Covert patrol techniques are particularly effective in situations where open law enforcement presence may deter criminal behavior or when officers need to catch suspects in the act to gather evidence. This type of patrol is characterized by its emphasis on secrecy and subtlety, which can lead to more successful interventions in criminal activity. The correct option accurately captures this concept through its definition and practice, focusing on the effectiveness and strategic purpose of low-visibility operations in policing.