Connecticut Police Departments are Urging You to Remove Car Stickers ASAP

I have a preppy Vineyard Vines whale sticker on my back window, an NPT for Newport, Rhode Island, and a 4ocean sticker promoting a global movement to reduce plastic and trash in our oceans. So what does that say about me if you're driving behind me? Innocent enough, right? Nope. This is basically stranger danger but for adults.

A police detective once told me that although he'd love to have a decal of his police department and a thin blue line sticker on his personal vehicle it could be dangerous to do so. Bumper stickers and window decals can very easily let someone know where you stand politically, financially, and socially even if they're humorous, appear harmless, or simply show support for something you believe in.

This is why police around Connecticut and New York are urging you to remove all stickers from your car even if they don't seem controversial. This recommendation isn't new actually however in our tumultuous political climate this reminder from law enforcement officials not just in the tristate but around the country is making the rounds again. It's purely a safety thing as you never know who's driving behind you and decides to follow you home because of a sticker to see where you live or initiate road rage right then and there.

I don't mean to be dramatic of course and it's your call, however, we lock our cars and homes, have doorbell cameras and alarm systems, and have security at events just to name a few so clearly safety is key to most of us already.

According to Brightside, even the innocent family stick figure sticker has you giving criminals free information about your personal life. Even though bumper stickers and window decals are a fun way to express your personality, hobbies, and passions the innocent oversharing of your lifestyle may show criminals how many children you have and where they go to school, if you like to travel overseas often or have expensive hobbies.

Even the controversial pro-second amendment stickers indicate to thieves that you may have guns in your car or at home while a pro-life or equality sticker could trigger someone causing you danger. Simply put, it's just extra fuel for criminals.