What was the former name of a patrol car: from the “Black Maria” to the traffic police “Volga”

Patrol cars are an integral part of road infrastructure, but their names have changed along with eras. In the USSR and post-Soviet Russia, these machines were called differently: from official terms to popular nicknames. Today we will figure out how the designations of patrol cars have evolved, why "Volga" became a symbol of the traffic police, and what models were used for law enforcement services in different decades.

Interestingly, many of the names were rooted in the specifics of the work of the traffic police or the design features of the cars. For example, the term "prisoner's van" was strongly associated with the transport of detainees, and "traffic police Volga" — with highway patrolling. Let's figure out what other names were in use and why they disappeared or were transformed.

Official names of patrol cars in the USSR

In Soviet times, patrol cars did not have a single standard name in regulations. In documents of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) they were most often designated as:

• 🚔 Traffic police official cars - a common name for all traffic inspection vehicles.
• 📜 Patrol vehicles (PPA) - a term from the orders of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, denoting vehicles for service on routes.
• 🚐 Escort vehicles - used to escort convoys or transport groups of detainees.
• 🔦 Rapid response vehicles — equipped with flashing lights and sirens for quick arrival at the scene of an accident.

It is important to note that in Charter of the police patrol service (1970) there was no clear division by type of machine. All cars assigned to the traffic police were considered "police vehicles", and their specific purpose was determined by internal instructions. For example, GAZ-24 "Volga" could be both a patrol car and a vehicle for transporting documents.

An interesting fact: in the 1980s, the concept of "off-road vehicle for traffic police", which meant UAZ-469 And UAZ-452. These cars were used in rural areas and on bad roads, where sedans like "Volga" were useless.

Popular nicknames: from “Black Maria” to “garbage trucks”

Official terms rarely took root in colloquial speech. Soviet citizens gave patrol cars their own, often ironic or scary names. The most common:

• 🖤 "Black Maria" - prisoner's van, usually GAZ-51 or ZIL-157 with bars on the windows. The name comes from American slang «Black Maria», which in the USSR was assigned to vehicles for transporting prisoners.
• 🚓 "Garbage Truck" - an ironic nickname for UAZ-452 (“loaves”), which were used to transport detainees for minor offenses.
• 🔵 "Blue Camel" - that’s what patrol officers were called in the 1990s "Volga" GAZ-3102 is blue (less often dark green).
• 🚨 "Flasher" - any traffic police vehicle with a flashing light, regardless of the model.

Some nicknames had regional characteristics. For example, in Leningrad patrol officers "Volga" called "blue arrows" due to the specific color, and in Moscow - "traffic cop taxis", emphasizing their omnipresence on the roads. In rural areas UAZ-469 often referred to simply "traffic cop jeep", without additional epithets.

⚠️ Attention: The term "black Maria" is still used in criminal jargon, but it has never been recorded in official documents. In the protocols of the Ministry of Internal Affairs such vehicles were designated as “special vehicles for transporting persons in custody”.

Interestingly, in the 1970–1980s in the USSR they tried to introduce a single standard for the coloring of patrol cars - white with blue stripes. However, due to a shortage of paint and regional characteristics, many cars remained gray, green or even burgundy, which gave rise to new nicknames.

Evolution of models: from GAZ-M1 to modern patrol cars

The change in the names of patrol cars is closely related to the model range used by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Let's look at the key stages:

Period	Main models	Folk names	Features
1930–1950s	GAZ-M1, ZIS-5, GAZ-51	"Emka", "Black Maria"	The first traffic police cars, often converted from civilian versions. Prison vans at the base GAZ-51.
1960–1970s	GAZ-21 "Volga", UAZ-452	“Gaishnaya Volga”, “Loaf”	Mass implementation "Volga" as a symbol of the traffic police. The appearance of the first specialized vans.
1980–1990s	GAZ-24 "Volga", UAZ-469, VAZ-2105	"Blue Camel", "UAZ"	Transition to more modern models, but maintaining "Volga" as the main patrol car.
2000s - present	Ford Focus, Lada Priora, Renault Duster	"Ford State Traffic Safety Inspectorate", "Duster Police"	Refusal "Volga" in favor of foreign cars. Introduction of new painting standards.

The only model that was used by the traffic police for more than 40 years in a row (from 1956 to the 1990s) was the GAZ-24 Volga. It has become so recognizable that among the people the phrase “traffic policeman Volga” has become a common noun.

In the 1990s, with the collapse of the USSR, the transition to foreign cars began. The first foreign patrol cars were Ford Sierra And Opel Vectra, purchased for the Moscow traffic police. This caused a wave of criticism: citizens were indignant that “traffic cops drive foreign cars, and we drive Lada cars.” However, by the 2000s, foreign models had firmly entered the traffic police fleet.

Regulations and standards: what were the traffic police cars officially called?

In Soviet regulations, patrol cars were mentioned in the following documents:

• 📄 Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR No. 0019 of 1970 - introduced the concept "patrol vehicle (PPA)" as the main vehicle for service.
• 📋 Instructions for organizing traffic (1985) — determined the equipment of patrol cars: flashing lights, loudspeakers, walkie-talkies.
• 🚗 Technical regulations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (1987) — established paint requirements: white with a blue stripe and inscription "Police" or "GAI".

It is curious that in Code of the RSFSR on Administrative Offenses (1984) patrol cars were referred to as "vehicles of internal affairs bodies", without specific names. This created confusion: for example, UAZ-469 could be both a patrol car and a messenger car.

⚠️ Attention: Until 1993, there was no single standard in the USSR for designating patrol cars in protocols. In some regions they wrote "traffic police car", in others - "police official car". This made it difficult to maintain statistics and investigate accidents involving inspectors.

The situation changed only in the 2000s, when the traffic police introduced vehicle classifierwhere the patrol cars received the code «01» (passenger cars) and «02» (special ones, for example, vans). However, even today in some protocols you can find outdated formulations like "DPS car" instead of official "traffic police car".

Pay attention to the coloring (there should be blue stripes and the inscription “Police”)

Make sure there is a flashing light (red or blue)

Check if there is a telephone number for the duty station on board

Do not stop if the car does not give signals (flashing lights, siren) -->

Why the Volga became a symbol of the traffic police: technical and cultural reasons

GAZ-24 "Volga" It is not by chance that it is associated with the Soviet traffic police. This model had several key advantages:

1. Reliability: engine ZMZ-24 it was unpretentious to fuel and could work in any climatic conditions - from Siberia to Central Asia.
2. Spacious salon: The car comfortably accommodated 4-5 inspectors with equipment, and the trunk allowed the transport of cones and signs.
3. Prestige: “Volga” was one of the most high-status Soviet cars, which emphasized the authority of the traffic police.
4. Ease of modernization: based GAZ-24 they created armored versions for transporting money or VIPs.

Cultural trace "traffic cop Volga" gained a foothold through movies and jokes. For example, in the film "Beware of the car" (1966) the traffic police inspector drives exactly GAZ-21, and in comedy “Ivan Vasilyevich is changing his profession” (1973) the patrol car becomes part of the plot. In jokes of the 1980s "Volga" often appeared as a symbol of the all-seeing eye of power:

An example of a joke about the "traffic police Volga"

- Why do traffic cops have such sad faces?

- Yes, because they drive a Volga all their lives, but dream of a Zhiguli...

Technically GAZ-24 She served in the traffic police the longest - from 1970 to the 1990s. She was replaced GAZ-3102, but she was not able to dislodge the legendary image of the “Volga” from the mass consciousness. Even today, when the traffic police fleet consists mainly of foreign cars, you can hear in conversations: “Again this traffic police Volga is around the corner!” - although in fact it may be Renault Logan.

What are patrol cars called today: from traffic police to ambulances

Since 2011, after the reform of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the terminology has changed again. Now patrol cars are officially called:

• 🚔 Traffic police patrol cars - the main designation in regulations.
• 🚨 Rapid response vehicles — equipped with sirens and beacons for emergency trips.
• 📡 Mobile traffic police posts — cars with video recording and radar systems.
• 🚑 "Staff Police Ambulance" - an ironic nickname for cars that respond to accidents (similar to a medical ambulance).

In the 2020s, new models entered the traffic police fleet:

• 🚗 Lada Vesta — the main patrol car in the regions.
• 🏔️ Renault Duster — for work in mountainous areas and off-road.
• 🔌 Hyundai Solaris And Kia Rio — in large cities (Moscow, St. Petersburg).

It is curious that in 2023 the traffic police began testing electric cars in the patrol service - for example, Nissan Leaf in Moscow. This may lead to a new nickname, e.g. "silent police", since electric cars move almost silently.

Myths and legends about patrol cars

There are many myths associated with patrol cars, some of which are based on real facts:

1. “Traffic police officers in the Volga could run a red light” — partly true. In the 1970s and 1980s, inspectors were allowed to drive through intersections when the siren was on, but only if it did not create an emergency situation. Today it is prohibited Traffic regulations (clause 3.1).
2. “There were secret compartments for weapons in the trunks of Volgas” — myth. Standard GAZ-24 did not have hidden compartments, but such solutions were used in armored versions for the KGB.
3. “UAZ-469 could drive over any snowdrift” — true. This vehicle was famous for its cross-country ability and was used by the traffic police for off-road patrols.
4. "Patrol cars never break down" — myth. In the 1990s, due to a shortage of spare parts, many "Volga" And "UAZ" sat in garages for months.

One of the most persistent myths is that “traffic police Volgas had special engines”. In fact, under the hood there were the same ZMZ-24 or ZMZ-402, the same as the civilian versions. However, in some cars they installed dual circuit brakes and reinforced suspension for driving on bad roads.

FAQ: answers to frequently asked questions

Why were patrol cars in the USSR white with a blue stripe?

The color scheme was introduced in the 1970s for better visibility on the road. The color white was associated with purity, and the blue stripe with the police. In addition, white paint was cheaper and faded less in the sun.

What was the very first patrol car in the USSR?

The first patrol cars appeared in the 1930s based on GAZ-A And GAZ-M1. They did not have a special color, and the identification mark was a plate "GAI" on the door.

Is it true that in the 1990s the traffic police used Zhiguli cars?

Yes, during the economic crisis, traffic police entered the park VAZ-2105 And VAZ-2107. They were called “traffic police pennies,” but due to their low reliability they quickly failed.

Why was the UAZ-469 called the “goat”?

This nickname comes from the slang word “goat” - this is how any off-road vehicle was called in the USSR (including GAZ-69). "UAZ" was associated with rural areas where there were practically no roads.

What patrol cars are used today in other countries?

In the USA it is Ford Crown Victoria And Chevrolet Tahoe, in Germany - Mercedes-Benz E-Class And BMW 5 Series, in Japan - Nissan Skyline. Unlike Russia, cars with hybrid engines are often used abroad.