If you have a P71, watch out!

http://news.yahoo.com/video/monterey-ksbw-18229918/soledad-man-makes-car-look-like-police-car-gets-arrested-21169991

Um.. Cant you buy those with the push bars and lights and "Police Interceptor" on it from auction?

Sounds like another classic case of police with nothing better to do combined with sensationalist reporting. "There's a possibility he may have tried to pull people over." Why? Because you think he might have? C'mon son. GettheberkeleyouttaherewiththatbullE36 M3son.

Yes, and no. Yes to the push bar, and the "police Interceptor" on the trunk lid (there's one parked in the lot down stairs) but a big no to lights. In LA the light bars are covered over when moving movie-cop cars from set to set. If he dioesn't have the ability to pulse-flash the lights on the car--and they all looked clear, I think it's a non-case. Here in CT, a non-factory red light anywhere on car gets lots of attention, and depending on the officer, a ticket.

That case is in CA, so, me thinks the DA is overzealous.

even here in texas, when the DPS mechanics are test driving the cars, they put a cover over the light bar that says "not in service"

watched the video, what a pile of crap. departments sell those things nearly exactly like that, minus the fog lights on the pushbar maybe, in government auctions all over.

the whole story says moron all over it.

I see a lot of Taxi Cabs that still have the police interceptor badge on the trunk, he could have bought it that way. And as long as you are not using a siren or red/blue lights, you are not doing anything illegal IMO.

Anyone else catch he's impersonating a 'peace' officer?

That's what we call cops here in CA

In reply to DukeOfUndersteer:

I was advised by a friend of mine that having intermittent flashing headlights while in motion is a violation on NC, and you could be charged with impersonating a police officer or an emergency vehicle, depending on your car. I have no idea if that is true or what the law is in California.

It also looks like I'm in the minority in thinking that this guy might have taken his mods a bit too far (having a siren? Really?). Ever since there were a few incidents of guys kitting out their cars like cops, pulling over and raping female motorists a few years back, I think it is better to err on the side of caution.

In his much younger days, my dad had a retired police car. The outline of the local PD's crest was still faded on the door. He proceeded to recreat the crest, but instead of the typical latin and blind justice chick and eagles and stuff, he painted porky the pig wearing a badge.

That lasted about 2 weeks before the anonymous threats became very real.

I call BS to the whole thing. We all know that the Police Interceptor badges come on most P71's, he didn't put those on there as the reporter stated. I surprised that they didn't say he installed the spotlight too.

Also, anybody else think that the "siren" they found is part of a car alarm?

Twenty five-thirty years ago, when I lived in Ca. a co-worker bought an ex-CHP car, a Dodge Diplomat. As he explained it to me, and many jurisdictions still do this, the best, nicest, "cop cars" have all the lights, radios, and antennas removed and are repainted "civilian" colors. His was a chocolate brown. When you see a cop car for sale that is still black and white....that car was/is in such poor shape, it wasn't worthwhile for the seller to re-paint it. And I occasionally see a cop car or two at a local truck auction yard near me.

Of course, back then, they weren't putting "bull bars" on the front of cop cars.

My friend did have a VERY long whip antenna installed on his Diplomat and he had a few radios and a mobile phone in his car (he was THE first electronics geek I would ever meet.) so ocassionally he would get cop cars slowing down in the next lane to see if the strange car was "friend or foe"/buddy or supervisor. He had no lights on his car, but it's stance and color suggested undercover cop so folks automatically moved out of his way when he sped into view.

Can you buy them with the bars on them from auctions...Yes Can you buy them with the Police Interceptor badging on them....Yes Can you buy them with the Lights on the A Pilar (disabled)...Yes

If he bought it that way, he should of stated so. It sounds like he wanted to be a cop and added the lights, push bar and other pieces himself. THat is why he got charged as he did. He blew it with the tint on the front windows being too dark.

I have a cousin like that. He was an MP in the army before getting out (general discharge.. ouch!) and could never get into the real police.. so he is a rent-a-cop who only drives ex cop cars that he fixes up to JUST this side of the line.

When he was a volunteer firefighter.. he even had an all blue lightbar atop his car

There's a local P71 that has something like "To (something) and oppress" on the rear quarters. I wish I could remember it, I am glad I saw it at a red light because I cracked up laughing.

If it has no lightbars on it, it's just a two tone car. Hell, the PDs are using one-color cars nowadays, since it's cheaper.

Did eny body else catch the corvette logo on the fenders??

Enslave and oppress. I remember now!

strobe lights in use while vehicle is on a public road is illegal (at least around here).
Red lights on a vehicle other than taillights or clearance lights are illegal
Blue lights on a vehicle are illegal
The rest is legit as long as you aren't trying to impersonate a cop.

So is my understanding of illinois and DOT rules and regs

Opus wrote: Can you buy them with the Lights on the A Pilar (disabled)...Yes

Are the tear drop spot light suposed to be non-functional when sold off?

neon4891 wrote:

Opus wrote: Can you buy them with the Lights on the A Pilar (disabled)...Yes

Are the tear drop spot light suposed to be non-functional when sold off?

nope they leave them working, i use mine for night work and occasionally to help light up deserted roads when there are lots of deer as my headlights suck.

patgizz wrote:

neon4891 wrote:

Opus wrote: Can you buy them with the Lights on the A Pilar (disabled)...Yes

Are the tear drop spot light suposed to be non-functional when sold off?

nope they leave them working, i use mine for night work and occasionally to help light up deserted roads when there are lots of deer as my headlights suck.

Thats what I thought. A guy at work has a P71 and I recal seeing him use the spot light once. His still has parts of the stickers on it, but body damage and random stickers make it very clear it's "retired"

Talkin' about the vanity plate here...

That's ridiculous. Him being arrested, I mean, not the guy's car.

I think this is another case of the internet with just part of the info. Did they arrest him because of the way the car looked or something he did with it. The fact that he put a siren on it leads me to belive he probably did something stupid to draw attention.

We have a bunch of ex-sheriff black and whites complete with push bars and spotlights running around here with no problems. But the neighbor kid did get pulled over for his blue lights in his windshield washer nozzles.

Why would a push bar be illegal?