The Corpus Christi Police Department has added a new unmarked vehicle to its fleet. They're calling it the "stealth car."
It looks like any car you would find on Corpus Christi streets until you see the lights and hear the siren go on.
"We want to change the behavior of unsafe driving," CCPD Lt. Maria Huerta Garcia said.
Garcia said the unit has been on patrol for a week and has already caught more than 100 drivers not following the rules of the road.
"We've conducted 137 stops and of those, 70 were speeding and 57 were distracted drivers that were on their cell phones, and 10 others," Garcia said.
The City passed an ordinance a few months ago allowing for the use of stealth patrol cars as a way to deter unsafe driving.
"The vehicle will only be used for traffic law enforcement, and we plan to stop speeders, people on their cell phone and other traffic violations that are happening while we're not in view with our actual P.D. unit," Garcia said.
The car is supposed to blend in with traffic. There are no logos on the sides -- nothing visible other than the short antennas on the trunk. Police say it's the only real away to catch unsuspecting bad drivers red-handed.
"Our goal is to decrease the number of traffic accidents and especially the number of fatalities that are happening, and we did have 40 last year, which is one of our highest," Garcia said.
So drivers, watch your speed, put down the cell phone and no texting.
"We will be watching you," Garcia said. "I mean, obviously you can tell it's not a police vehicle when the lights are off, but when the lights go on you'll automatically know it's a police officer following."
CCPD will only be using the stealth car during the day, and the officers will be in full uniform.
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