# Why are spotlights on USA police cars but not on Toronto cop cars? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 3, 2009, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-spotlights-on-usa-police-cars-but-not-on-toronto-cop-cars/519785 "2009-12-03T00:38:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dandmb50](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ba9def/32.png) [@Dandmb50](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dandmb50)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-spotlights-on-usa-police-cars-but-not-on-toronto-cop-cars/519785/1 "2009-12-03T00:38:32Z")
I’ve always wondered this and I guess I should ask the Toronto police but never have. I wanted to know why American police cars always have the [SPOTLIGHT](http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j83/dandmb50/DSC_0026-1-1.jpg) near the side mirror of the drivers side of the car? Here in Toronto none of the police cars have the spotlight? Are they just afraid to get out of the cars in the USA at night? And our cops aren’t? I don’t get it, they should have them here too. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-spotlights-on-usa-police-cars-but-not-on-toronto-cop-cars/519785/2 "2009-12-03T01:05:55Z")
I asked a friend who used to be a uniformed patrol officer (not in Toronto) and he said the light is useful during a traffic stop since you can leave your vehicle without the person being detained seeing you. I’m guessing the people of Toronto got tired of cops shining spotlights at them during traffic stops so they could sneak up on them. ---
**Author:** ![Oglomott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oglomott/32/3543_2.png) [@Oglomott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oglomott)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-spotlights-on-usa-police-cars-but-not-on-toronto-cop-cars/519785/3 "2009-12-03T01:14:08Z")
> [@Dandmb50](#): > > I’ve always wondered this and I guess I should ask the Toronto police but never have. I wanted to know why American police cars always have the [SPOTLIGHT](http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j83/dandmb50/DSC_0026-1-1.jpg) near the side mirror of the drivers side of the car? Here in Toronto none of the police cars have the spotlight? Are they just afraid to get out of the cars in the USA at night? And our cops aren’t? I don’t get it, they should have them here too. Lots of police cars in the USA don’t have spotlights either. It seems to be a preference depending on the specific agency. For example, the city of Miami police cars largely don’t have spot lights. Maybe some do, but most I have seen don’t. However, to the north in Fort Lauderdale, almost all police cars have them. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-spotlights-on-usa-police-cars-but-not-on-toronto-cop-cars/519785/4 "2009-12-03T02:06:25Z")
I’ve never had the spotlight shined on me during a traffic stop. Instead, I see the spotlight being used when checking out dark places, or looking for people on darker, residential streets. ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-spotlights-on-usa-police-cars-but-not-on-toronto-cop-cars/519785/5 "2009-12-03T06:46:15Z")
Um, I can remember being stopped by usually 23 or 52 or traffic division, and the side mounted lights depended on the cruiser, some had and others did not. Declan ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-spotlights-on-usa-police-cars-but-not-on-toronto-cop-cars/519785/6 "2009-12-03T14:51:44Z")
> [@Dandmb50](#): > > Are they just afraid to get out of the cars in the USA at night? That’s a rather unkind supposition. How about they want to be able to read house numbers, see what’s down dark alleys, etc., and need a light that’s stronger than what they can reasonably carry by hand? ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-spotlights-on-usa-police-cars-but-not-on-toronto-cop-cars/519785/7 "2009-12-03T14:56:08Z")
We always have to keep reminding Torontonians the world isn’t divided into U.S.A. - Toronto. Some police cars here have spotlights, some don’t. I’m sure it’s the same in many other cities. ---
**Author:** ![Cerowyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/82dd89/32.png) [@Cerowyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerowyn)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-spotlights-on-usa-police-cars-but-not-on-toronto-cop-cars/519785/8 "2009-12-03T17:58:11Z")
> [@HongKongFooey](#): > > We always have to keep reminding Torontonians the world isn’t divided into U.S.A. - Toronto. Your prejudices aside, I think we can reasonably assume that the OP meant “why do police cars in the U.S. [i.e., that I see on TV] have mounted spotlights and not the ones where I live?” It’s not that big a stretch. ---
**Author:** ![qazwart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/5fc32e/32.png) [@qazwart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qazwart)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-spotlights-on-usa-police-cars-but-not-on-toronto-cop-cars/519785/9 "2009-12-03T18:39:43Z")
> [@HongKongFooey](#): > > We always have to keep reminding Torontonians the world isn’t divided into U.S.A. - Toronto. You mean that, technically, Canada isn’t part of the United States? ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-spotlights-on-usa-police-cars-but-not-on-toronto-cop-cars/519785/10 "2009-12-03T18:47:30Z")
> [@Declan](#): > > Um, I can remember being stopped by usually 23 or 52 or traffic division, and the side mounted lights depended on the cruiser, some had and others did not. Yes, I’m in Toronto and have seen patrol cars with the spotlights mounted on the driver’s side. Some have them, some don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Dandmb50](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ba9def/32.png) [@Dandmb50](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dandmb50)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-spotlights-on-usa-police-cars-but-not-on-toronto-cop-cars/519785/11 "2009-12-03T19:44:52Z")
Meant no disrespect just always wondered why they don’t have them in the Toronto Police Service. I have noticed they do have them in the surrounding communities and I think it is a great idea. I must admit I do see them all the time on TV cop shows and that is kinda one of the reasons I asked. But I also notice a lot of smaller towns in the USA only have one cop on patrol at night like recently in Seattle during that take down of the guy who killed four Police. I know in our city they always have 2 officers at night except on traffic cars and supervisors. But I think it’s a good idea to have them and all cars should have two [Officers](http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j83/dandmb50/Photo166.jpg) especially at night. Daniel … Toronto, Canada ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-spotlights-on-usa-police-cars-but-not-on-toronto-cop-cars/519785/12 "2009-12-03T22:04:50Z")
> [@Dandmb50](#): > > …But I also notice a lot of smaller towns in the USA only have one cop on patrol at night like recently in Seattle during that take down of the guy who killed four Police. It sounds like you are saying that you think Seattle only has 1 cop on patrol at night? Am I reading that right? ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-spotlights-on-usa-police-cars-but-not-on-toronto-cop-cars/519785/13 "2009-12-03T22:11:03Z")
> [@RaftPeople](#): > > It sounds like you are saying that you think Seattle only has 1 cop on patrol at night? Am I reading that right? Ignore that post. I just realized you meant in the patrol car. ---
**Author:** ![Kid\_A\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Kid\_A\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kid_A_1)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-spotlights-on-usa-police-cars-but-not-on-toronto-cop-cars/519785/14 "2009-12-03T22:15:28Z")
Can’t say for Toronto…but the cop cars in Durham region (Eastern suburb of Toronto) definitely have spotlights. I was searching for my insurance and couldn’t tell if I’d pulled out the right piece of paper because the light was so bright. ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-spotlights-on-usa-police-cars-but-not-on-toronto-cop-cars/519785/15 "2009-12-03T22:37:45Z")
> [@Dandmb50](#): > > Daniel … Toronto, Canada I don’t know if you’ve ever seen this, but I believe I’ve also seen handheld spotlights they can shine out either the driver or passenger side window. There are usually cop cars near my office. I’m in the financial district where TONS of people make an illegal turn so the cops sit out front of my building to ticket them. I’ll ask next time I see them (if I remember). ---
**Author:** ![Dandmb50](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ba9def/32.png) [@Dandmb50](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dandmb50)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-spotlights-on-usa-police-cars-but-not-on-toronto-cop-cars/519785/16 "2009-12-03T23:19:03Z")
> [@RaftPeople](#): > > It sounds like you are saying that you think Seattle only has 1 cop on patrol at night? Am I reading that right? No no, I meant that the cop cars at night in Seattle only have one officer in each car as opposed to here in our city, each car patrolling at night have 2 officers. I’m not sure if all cars in Seattle at night have 1 officer I was just referring to the incident a few days ago when a cop killed the guy wanted for murdering 4 police officers at a coffee shop. I have always thought it is best to have 2 officers in each police car while they patrol at night. From what I have seen a lot of smaller towns in the US and I’m sure in [Canada](http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j83/dandmb50/DSC_0398.jpg) only have one officer because of financial reasons. ---
**Author:** ![foolscap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9a140/32.png) [@foolscap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolscap)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2009, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-spotlights-on-usa-police-cars-but-not-on-toronto-cop-cars/519785/17 "2009-12-06T00:55:15Z")
> [@qazwart](#): > > You mean that, technically, Canada isn’t part of the United States? Were trying to break it to them slowly. So as not to cause a panic.😃 ---
**Author:** ![futurecopper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@futurecopper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/futurecopper)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2011, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-spotlights-on-usa-police-cars-but-not-on-toronto-cop-cars/519785/18 "2011-07-21T20:43:01Z")
Their Spotlights are actually on there light bars i have seen them use it a couple of times at night and one time i was stopped by a police car with those spot lights on their actually really bright and cover the front back left and right, i might post a video of them using them on youtube check CovertOPSDragunov ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2011, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-spotlights-on-usa-police-cars-but-not-on-toronto-cop-cars/519785/19 "2011-07-21T21:34:27Z")
> [@qazwart](#): > > You mean that, technically, Canada isn’t part of the United States? No, it actually is part of the United States, but we like to play nice with the Queen and so we let them think that they are still British. They pay Washington an annual tribute of 10 tons of quality Montreal poutine, 100 beaver pelts, and 5 tons of Malpeque oysters, and permit us to draft up to 50 drunken Nova Scotians per year into the US Army because we can’t find anyone down here who can play the bagpipes right. ---
**Author:** ![ryan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a8b319/32.png) [@ryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ryan)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2011, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-spotlights-on-usa-police-cars-but-not-on-toronto-cop-cars/519785/20 "2011-07-21T23:34:07Z")
Current NYC patrol cars also have their floodlights mounted on the roof light bar. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-spotlights-on-usa-police-cars-but-not-on-toronto-cop-cars/519785.md?page=2)