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Otto_Maddox
Otto_Maddox Reader
8/4/10 10:09 a.m.

Back in the '80s my good friend had a Texas highway patrol Malibu. It had none of the cop stuff remaining on it. We had some sort of emergency flashlight that would flash in red. We pulled over lots of people, usually people we knew. That was OK, right?

The rear doors couldn't be unlocked from the inside, nor could you roll down the rear windows. But, at least there was one solid huge piece of vinyl covering the seat. That was all great during a hot Alabama summer.

Lugnut
Lugnut HalfDork
8/4/10 10:21 a.m.
internetautomart wrote: 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

This is my understanding as well.

When I had my P71 I would never cop people out on purpose, but there was one time I pulled over to the hard shoulder to take an emergency work support call, and I guess an unmarked white Crown Vic on the side of the road suggests to other drivers that they should slow down. When I finished my call and pulled back on, traffic parted for me like the Red Sea. And I didn't even have the spotlight!

P71
P71 GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
8/4/10 10:37 a.m.

When I bought mine it still had the stripes and numbers all over it! The only equipment they take out here is the actual "State Police" lettering, the shield, and the lights/sirens. I have a working spotlight, the Interceptor badge (and a do-not-use-OD during pursuit sticker on the dash), the push bumpers, steelies, plastic back seat, etc, etc. Heck they do so little I found a live shotgun shell rolling around!

The story is sensationalism BS, but if the idiot did install flashers and sirens he's guilty.

On another note, why can motorcycles have strobing lights?

16vCorey
16vCorey SuperDork
8/4/10 10:57 a.m.

Back in high school a friend of mine had an early-mid eighties black Trans-Am a that he equipped with the Knight Rider style wheels/hubcaps and the little red light in the nose. He got pulled over and ticketed one night for impersonating an emergency vehicle.

Grtechguy
Grtechguy SuperDork
8/4/10 11:02 a.m.
P71 wrote: On another note, why can motorcycles have strobing lights?

It's a notice-ability thing. a modulating light is much more noticeable than a fixed beam

car39
car39 Reader
8/4/10 12:43 p.m.

I used a regular Crown Vic to go from CT to VA. The passenger and I wore collared shirts and sunglasses. No spot lights, no push bar, no antennas. It was amazing how fast you could move cars out of the fast lane. They'd look in the mirror, see two guys in a Vic, and pull right over, hoping we didn't give them a ticket. It was like that Simpson's episode where Homer gets into the "club"

P71
P71 GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
8/4/10 1:06 p.m.
Grtechguy wrote:
P71 wrote: On another note, why can motorcycles have strobing lights?
It's a notice-ability thing. a modulating light is much more noticeable than a fixed beam

It's also illegal and makes them look like emergency vehicles or UFO's invading Earth depending on how bright they make the suckers.

Otto_Maddox
Otto_Maddox Reader
8/4/10 1:15 p.m.

In reply to P71:

I've often wondered why certain motorcycle riders think the best way to avoid an accident is to blind oncoming traffic.

pilotbraden
pilotbraden Reader
8/4/10 1:38 p.m.

Most county airports in Ohio have a courtesy car for visiting pilots to drive into town for meals or whatever. Most of these cars are retired cop cars that are owned by the county. Several that I have driven still had all of the lights but most had only the spotlights. 2 guys wearing pilot shirts with the stripes on the shoulder, government plate and lights gets everyone out of your way or slows them down enough to be annoying.

mad_machine
mad_machine GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
8/4/10 2:14 p.m.
car39 wrote: I used a regular Crown Vic to go from CT to VA. The passenger and I wore collared shirts and sunglasses. No spot lights, no push bar, no antennas. It was amazing how fast you could move cars out of the fast lane. They'd look in the mirror, see two guys in a Vic, and pull right over, hoping we didn't give them a ticket. It was like that Simpson's episode where Homer gets into the "club"

in the very early 90s.. my father had a grand marquis. baby blue with a white vinyl roof . VERY pretty.

At night, if you pulled up behind somebody on the highway, they would get out of your way

internetautomart
internetautomart SuperDork
8/4/10 6:15 p.m.
16vCorey wrote: Back in high school a friend of mine had an early-mid eighties black Trans-Am a that he equipped with the Knight Rider style wheels/hubcaps and the little red light in the nose. He got pulled over and ticketed one night for impersonating an emergency vehicle.

Red light on the front is what did it.

porksboy
porksboy Dork
8/4/10 7:05 p.m.

If he is judged inocent he wont have too worry about becoming a cop for any money when his lawyer finishes with the city.

oldopelguy
oldopelguy Dork
8/4/10 7:49 p.m.
P71 wrote:
P71 wrote: On another note, why can motorcycles have strobing lights?
It's also illegal and makes them look like emergency vehicles or UFO's invading Earth depending on how bright they make the suckers.

Actually, in some states, like SC for one, pulsing headlights on a motorcycle is specifically allowed for visibility. Depends on the state. Usually it's the back-and-forth lights that'll get you in trouble.

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