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State police ‘STOP’ hood sign

As troopers, we always get the question, “What is the story with the “STOP” placard on the hood of the Michigan State Police cars?” Many people question how practical the sign really is and wonder what we even use the sign for.

I can honestly say this is one of my favorite questions to answer as it relates to tradition for the Michigan State Police. The Plexiglas “STOP” placards on our Michigan State Police patrol car hoods are an imitation of similar, smaller signs that were on the front fender of MSP motorcycles used for highway patrol in the 1920s-1930s.

Back then, the motorcycle troopers often did “side stops.” A side stop was basically pulling up along a motorist to signal them to stop, since the overheard or emergency lights were not in use at that time on motorcycles. The driver then could look out their window and spot the “STOP” sign, even if the trooper was back a bit or hard to see.

MSP stopped using motorcycles in 1942 during World War II; however, it started putting the larger “STOP” placards on patrol car hoods around 1949. These placards had multiple uses: for side stops, just like in the days of the motorcycles; for blockades, when troopers would block intersections with their cars back in the day of checking for bank robbers (the hood signs made it unnecessary to keep red lights activated during daylight); and for nighttime response to investigations at homes.

Patrol car door shields were not reflective until 1954. This is also when MSP patrol cars changed from the color black to the current bright “MSP” blue with lightning bolt door shields. By using the lighted “STOP-State Police” hood signs, when troopers pulled into a driveway at a house, the troopers felt the residents could look out and see it was a police car and thus, feel safer. Today, the MSP door shields reflect when illuminated by light, but some troopers still use the hood light to notify residents of their presence.

So, yes, today the “STOP” hood placards are obsolete, but are still functional in some situations and are kept on our patrol vehicles or “Blue goose” for tradition. The MSP no longer trains troopers to do side stops; those ended in the early 1980s.

Ashley Simpson is a Community Service Trooper for the MSP Alpena Post. If you have a question for Trooper Simpson, you can email her at asktroopersimpson@gmail.com or mail them to Ask A Trooper, Michigan State Police – Alpena Post, 3283 W. Washington Ave, Alpena, MI 49707.

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