The Department of Public Safety has found a way to save thousands of dollars, and add more patrol cars to the streets.  It could be a big change for motorists.

For the first time in many, many years the Oklahoma Highway Patrol is buying a fleet of only black patrol cars as opposed to the traditional black and white.  They say it's a temporary way to help out in the state's tough economic times.  The change saves about $700 per vehicle, or $70,000 for the fleet.

Captain Chris West with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol said, "Our current procurement of vehicles is for 94 or 95 and this is going to give us an additional 4-5 cars, so we're stretching that dollar and trying to get more for our buck."

The new vehicles will be marked just like the previous ones.  Captain west says the black and white or solid black, the patrol car will look the same in your rear-view mirror.

"This is nothing about trying to be more sneaky," Captain West explained.  "We know that high visibility is just as important as actual enforcement, which is when you stop somebody."

OHP says this is a temporary fix, and they may go back to black and white next year.  Drivers will see the new patrol cars in a few months.  Captain West said that they considered purchasing a rainbow fleet, which would mean that OHP would have a few red, blue, black, and white cars.  But officials decided they wanted to keep the color uniformed.  Captain West also said that they will be able to get more money for the vehicles through their Resale Program.