As drivers, most of us try to abide by the laws and drive safely as much as possible while on the roads. But there are times when we drive a little quicker than allowed, act a little rasher than we should, and we always hope to not be caught in the act.

Sometimes, right at the moment when we decide to speed up a little, we peek at the corner of our eye someone on a white bike, and have our hearts threatening to burst out of our chest only to realise that it is just a normal motorcyclist…

The fact is, with the enforcement vehicles from the various authorities on the road such as the Traffic Police, Police, LTA and various others, we don't really always know what we are looking at, and what their job on the road entails. Here's an explainer so you don't get confused on the roads.

Traffic Police bikes can be identified by their number plate with the 'TP' prefix

Traffic Police expressway patrol cars are white with fluorescent orange and blue graphics and 'QX' prefix number plates

Traffic Police bikes and expressway patrol cars

These are the ones that you have to be really afraid of bumping into if you driving over the speed limit! Expressway patrol cars are white with fluorescent orange and blue graphics, with the Police crest and wordings. Along with their QX number plate, there's no way you would mistake these cars for anything else.

In recent times, 'stealth' Traffic Police bikes in black have been added to the fleet

Prowling the roads alongside the expressway patrol cars are Traffic Police outriders, typically white bikes with blue and red stripes and Police wordings. There are also Stealth Traffic Police outriders with black bikes, black jackets and white or black helmets. One thing that all the traffic police bikes share are their unique number plate with 'TP' prefix.

The Traffic Police expressway patrol cars and bikes enforce road traffic rules to maintain law and order on the roads. They also investigate road traffic accidents, injuries and serious traffic violations.

What they do: Pull you over and charge you for traffic violations (i.e. speeding, using phone why driving, etc), assist and investigate in the event of accidents.

Police patrol cars are the vehicles driven by your friendly neighbourhood policemen

Police patrol cars

These are the 'normal' police cars that you see on the road, their number plates also start with QX, but instead of the fluorescent orange stripes on the Traffic Police expressway patrol cars, these will have blue and red stripes along with the Police crest and wordings. Some are also dark blue or black with white stripes.

While their primary job scope isn't to catch traffic regulations offenders, you still wouldn't want to be driving excessively recklessly around them. At the end of the day, they still have the power to enforce the law and charge you for traffic offences.

What they do: Respond to emergency situations, crimes, and etc. Traffic offences aren't under their core purview.

LTA Enforcement bikes are among the scariest sights for road users with illegally modified vehicles

LTA Enforcement bikes

The LTA Enforcement bikes are the Traffic Police outrider equivalent of the LTA - their main purpose on the road is to catch errant motorists who are operating vehicles with illegal modifications, overloaded trucks and unsafe vehicles.

If your car or bike has been modified with illegal components such as illegal exhaust systems, non-compliant window-tint, license plates, lighting systems and others, these are the bikes on the road that you don't want to run into.

They have the authority to get you to follow them back to LTA's facility to have your vehicle thoroughly inspected should they suspect illegal modifications on your car.

What they do: Enforce vehicle regulations, catching vehicles with illegal modifications, overloaded trucks and unsafe vehicles (i.e. excessively worn tyres).

Auxiliary Police riders works together with LTA to marshal traffic and respond to traffic incidents

Parking wardens are typically also part of Auxiliary Police forces and their bikes could sometimes bear LTA markings as well

LTA/Auxiliary police Traffic Marshals and parking enforcement bikes

Not all bikes with LTA wording on them are part of the LTA Enforcement team. There are also Auxiliary police riders such as those from Certis Cisco and Aetos Holdings who are working together with LTA, - these riders could usually be seen marshalling traffic, responding to incidents to ensure smooth traffic flow or escorting heavy and oversized vehicles.

Additionally, there are also Auxiliary police riders working with LTA, usually on smaller bikes and scooters whose job are to enforce parking regulations. If your car is parked illegally, you should be worried when you see these guys!

What they do: Traffic marshalling duties, heavy and oversized vehicle escort duties, parking enforcement

Auxiliary Police outriders might not have any LTA markings on their bikes - these Auxiliary Police officers are usually hired by companies for security and valuables escorting services

Auxiliary Police outriders

So, what about the Auxiliary Police riders on the road without any LTA markings? Unlike Police officers and Traffic Police officers, their job scope does not typically involve investigations into crimes and general law enforcement.

Auxiliary Police forces are private companies with police-like powers and authority, supervised and licensed by Singapore Police Force. These companies are typically engaged for infrastructure security and cash-in-transit purposes.

What they do: Cash-in-transit escort duties, security for private companies

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