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News Brief

June 19, 2025 |  By: Gavin McGough

Missouri State Highway Patrol introduces Ghost Graphics

Ghost graphics on Missouri State Highway Patrol

Rachel Hays/ Missouri State Highway Patrol

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is introducing so-called Ghost Graphics into it's fleet. 20 new vehicles are being added to the state's fleet of patrol cars, all with hidden and subdued markings, making them dificult to differentiate from standard vehicles. The first cars hit state roadways around Memorial Day, and more are on the way. They remain a small portion of the total patrol fleet, less than 10 percent. Lieutanent with the Patrol's Public Information Division Eric Brown says they will be doing standard business.

Lieutanent Brown says, "Working traffic operations, traffic crashes, responding to stranded motorists. They are going to be used just as any other patrol vehicle is use don a day-to-day business."

The vehicles are being rolled out across the entire state, but Brown says they're focused on certain areas.

"Most of these ghost graphic vehicles are being assigned to areas that have that higher number of reports, higher numbers of dangerous activity.", Brown stated. 

The Patrol announced the new cars in a Facebook post in early May. It drew a range of comments, from support, to criticism, to sarcasm, with some calling the troopers 'pirates.'
But Brown said the Patrol is not trying to hide. Drivers who are violating the law change behavior when they see a police car. The new graphics, he said, could help prevent that.

Brown says, "It gives our troopers an opportunity to curb some of that behavior before someone recognizes the trooper and changes what they do. In essence, if you are not breaking the law you should have no concerns whatsoever about any police vehicle being out on the roadway."

The cars are still equipt with lights and flashers, so during emergency situations they will be highly visible.