Was the ID put there for the sake of a news photo?
If the dick tracies are really concerned about bringing a witness without said witness being seen in a police car, the ID would be foregone as well.
The permission asking protocol at least assures the car is put on the ticket writers’ short list before the go ahead is given to use the car. The answer to the request would never be “no” but it might be “wait till we update the computer.”
“Was the ID put there for the sake of a news photo?”
Could be.
Can’t speak for the NYPD, but everywhere else, one routinely runs the plate of the car being impounded. Don’t have any idea how many normal detective cars are issued with phony plates. Those are usually reserved for undercover types, but maybe NYPD issues them to all detective cars. Point being, under normal circumstances the plate would be an “exempt” govt plate.
I suspect that they’ve asked the dicks, in the past, to improve their parking practices and have gotten zero response.