Comedic Scarecrow Cop Prank Stuns Small Town Residents

An amusing image circulating on Reddit titled "There’s no cop in the car" has sparked a wave of laughter and intrigue among users. The photograph showcases a black sedan, seemingly a police car with its light bar mounted on top, parked in a space designated for accessibility. The car faces the camera directly, and a figure can be observed sitting behind the steering wheel. Notably, the car is stationed in front of a brick building with sizeable horizontal windows that reflect trees and the sky. The license plate partially visible reads “PT-7.”

One Reddit user humorously commented, “It’s a scarecrow but for humans,” capturing the essence of the prank where an empty police car or a mannequin inside it is used to deter speeding drivers. Another user shared a personal anecdote: “Our little town did something similar a few years back. An older lady went to the Police station to complain about the ‘rude’ officer who wouldn’t acknowledge her repeated taps on the window. Further investigation showed she was letting him know she hit the police car and to be more careful…”

The consensus among the comments reveals that this tactic isn’t entirely new but continues to be effective. “Quite common where I grew up for state police to park empty cruisers on the highway. You never knew if it was occupied or not, so everyone slowed down,” noted another user, emphasizing the strategy's success in regulating traffic speed.

Adding to the humor, one commenter quipped, “That sir is an exemplary cop. No unnecessary tickets, no excessive force suits, just keeps traffic going smoothly.” Such remarks highlight the blend of humor and practical effectiveness found in this strategy.

This practice has a long history, as indicated by a user who mentioned, “This has been a thing for over 30 years. Car was just empty back then.” Another person pointed out the modern twist: “We call them cardboard cut outs,” indicating the evolving methods used to create the illusion of police presence.

Interestingly, similar tactics have been employed in various places, including military bases and casinos. One comment read, “I work as a cop on a military base and we had the same thing for a while. Back office put a training mannequin in a car on a road everyone sped on. We started getting calls about an officer asleep in his car, we all thought it was comedic.”

This image and the ensuing thread of comments have not only provided a good laugh but also shed light on a widely used, effective measure to promote road safety. Whether it's a scarecrow for humans or a mannequin cop, the ingenious idea continues to make roads safer while giving residents something to chuckle about.