According to Wikipedia, The Thin Blue Line is a controversial symbol that Law
Enforcement Officers in the United
States use to identify other officers, their spouses and other family members.
Regarding its usage Wikipedia says The Thin Blue Line emblem is often seen on vehicles — near the rear license plate or rear window — with the assumption that the operator or owner is either an active or retired Law Enforcement Officer, or the relative of same. Presumably personal vehicles bearing the symbol will be treated with respect and personal courtesy that they otherwise would not be afforded.
Now obviously it’s a shame to think that you have to put a sticker on your car to be treated with respect and personal courtesy, but the real controversy is favoritism. I’m not naive I can see where a officer would want special attention/consideration given to himself/herself or their family member if pulled over for a traffic stop. Yet does it also mean that if you have this sticker on your car that you can drive with no regard for public safety.
Just this morning alone I saw three cars, all of which were displaying the Thin Blue Line sticker, make unsafe lane changes. Yes there are imposters who have reproduced these stickers and have no relation to law enforcement, but I don’t think that they are the only bad drivers.
Issue new stickers that show a serial number at the bottom that can link that sticker to a officers badge number. It might not cut down on the number of frauds, but when stopped and an officer runs that serial number then the frauds will be caught.