OK, finally I understand

[winterbadger]

I've seen this flag/badge on cars an AWFUL lot over the years and never known what it was. I saw a magnetic ribbon of the same colours on a car the other day, so I finally got a bit more traction--it's some sort of solidarity thing.

Turns out it's for police officers. According to this site, it is a sign to mark a police officer's car, or the car of a family member, especially someone who is mourning a fallen police officer, and is now being used by people just to show support for law enforcement officers.

Comments

[redactrice.livejournal.com]

Ah yes, shy_kat and I were discussing those just the other day. I always thought they were S&M emblems (you know, "black and blue"). But she told me they were police things ("the thin blue line").

That makes sense. I'd kind of wondered why there were so many S&M folks around.

[winterbadger]

The one you are thinking of is this one. You see it around here too, but not quite as much. :-)