BGR reports that an image emerged online earlier this week showing a parked SUV that looked nothing like a Google Streetview car, even though it had a Google Maps sticker on it. Discovered hiding in “the shadows” of the Philadelphia Convention Center, the car had two license plate readers on the front. Unsuspecting people who have never seen a Google Streetview car might confuse the SUV for an actual Google Maps car. But savvy internet users who can tell the difference knew better than that, realizing this was likely a law enforcement car disguised in a most unexpected way.
Soon enough, police confirmed the SUV belonged to its fleet. But authorities also denied any involvement in adorning the car with a Google Maps decal.
“We have been informed that this unmarked vehicle belongs to the police department; however, the placing of any particular decal on the vehicle was not approved through any chain of command,” told Motherboard, which first published the image above. “With that being said, once this was brought to our attention, it was ordered that the decals be removed immediately.”
Philly police are investigating the matter and so is Google.