Police confusion

[Mr Mercer]

Oh about a couple of weeks ago I was asked to park my Monaco at a local Blue bro gig .
So on the way home our provincials finest decides to pull me over . I was asked why am I impersonating a police officer . Now if this officer just came out of a 35 year coma , I would of understood this allegation . 10 min later now there's 3 cruisers behind me with the lights a blazing . ( wish I had the camera )
She didn't know what to do or charge me .
The other officers understood what I was all about and one of there fellow alumni was in the band I just had a photo shoot with . Which I brought to her attention that he didn't arrest me or any others had a problem with my paint scheme . So to make short story longer the final verdict was to make this magnetic sign and if not my car next time I will be arrested . Never had a problem in the 6 yrs its been these colors . I have been stopped numerous times to get pictures of it by her fellow officer's through out Canada and the USA . I posted these pics and tell me if there's a difference .
Its pretty tough to figure out .

Thanks , Chris .

[TK826]

So, when are they going to start arresting the "Geek Squad" people?

[Mr Mercer]

Originally Posted by TK826

So, when are they going to start arresting the "Geek Squad" people?

Yes , I brought that to there attention too .

[Cropper Classic]

So true!

[Bismo]

Great story, in its own annoying-at-the-time way! Funny how some agencies are so cool with it and others get so worried about it.

[Elwood72]

How could someone honestly mistake a 35 year old car for an active police?I don't care how nice the paint is it has that look to it.No new cars have that boxy style to them.If it was me,I would've ended up getting arrested.

[cheoperative]

Originally Posted by Elwood72

How could someone honestly mistake a 35 year old car for an active police?I don't care how nice the paint is it has that look to it.No new cars have that boxy style to them.If it was me,I would've ended up getting arrested.

You'd be amazed. When I'm out cruising around, ALOT of people automatically slow down, thinking im a cop. Then they realize what they're looking at and give me a nice **** eating grin!

You get cool cops, and then you get that one cop. It happens.

[Mr Mercer]

Originally Posted by Bismo

Great story, in its own annoying-at-the-time way! Funny how some agencies are so cool with it and others get so worried about it.

I talked to my local agency that night and they laughed about that saying you cant be arrested unless you are in the act of impersonating . They also just went to a black / white , but all doors not just the front . ( in picture ) She was telling me , look you have the sheriff star , to serve and protect and numbers on the car plus police on the back . My response was its a star with no words in it , plus Sheriff does not mean a thing in Canada ( we don't have them ) and my letters and numbers mean nothing in reality . Police is not that visual on the deck .

[Mr Mercer]

Originally Posted by Elwood72

How could someone honestly mistake a 35 year old car for an active police?I don't care how nice the paint is it has that look to it.No new cars have that boxy style to them.If it was me,I would've ended up getting arrested.

Believe me , I kept my cool . I was way out numbered , but the few that were there were on my side . They kept telling me its her call and they have to honor that . They do have a active 79 Plymouth they take to shows ( pic ) and he also didn't have a problem with mine . Ontario Provincial Police ( OPP ) is like a state trooper here in Ontario . Then you have local / city like everybody else .

Still think I should of went over her head , but should just let it go . Don't need anymore unwanted attention .

[takkuneg]

LOLwut

Maybe she came from a really small town where they're too poor to use anything newer than what you've got.

[Bismo]

Keeping cool's definitely important, we had issues with that Back In The Day when we'd get hassled on occasion. You definitely want them on your side!

In MA the word "POLICE" is verboten, so I've made sure it's the one truly illegible word on my Crown Vic (in "keep away police dog", the only place it shows up). I think it helps I have "BLUES2" vanity plates as well, so there's no doubt what they're looking at. Hoping to go with "BLUES1" when we get the Monaco dressed, but only if Shotgun concurs... I still have our old MA "BDR529" plate from 25 years ago, but for reasons I don't fully grok they won't let you create a vanity plate with that type of "standard" or random pattern any more. Was probably our fault, actually!

[TK826]

In MA the word "POLICE" is verboten.

Funny thing about that...

Quite often I see newer Crown Vics that have the little "Police Interceptor" tag, on the back of the car.

For example:
http://media.motortopia.com/files/10...85f/P71-01.jpg

It seems the law applies to some... but not others.

(Kinda' like Corvettes not needing a front license plate even though our state, and many others, require them)

[Mr Mercer]

Hey Bismo , I tried to get BDR 529 . Was told its a common issue so they wont even look if it in use . I applied for "MALLKILR" and was denied , even with a full explanation of its meaning . Still thinking of something else maybe " IH8ILNZY " or " COP 440 " ?


Takkuneg , I have no idea what her problem was . Maybe little (wo)man syndrome .

[Elwood+]

Dude that had to be frustrating. But I'm sorry, that's pretty damn funny!

[Neums]

Crown Vics do not come with "POLICE INTERCEPTOR" badges on them. Only P71 Police Interceptors get the badge (the words Crown Victoria are nowhere on these cars). They are two different cars. The only oddball car is the P71 Police Interceptor with the street appearance option which comes with a chrome grille and Crown Victoria badges. In fact, I allways thought that the POLICE INTERCEPTOR badge put on a car that didn't originally have it looks stupid and cheasy. Especially on box body LTD's.
I have allways put a sign in the window of my Bluesmobile which says: NOT IN SERVICE, MOVIE CAR. When I have been pulled over and the officer sees the sign, they just excuse themselves and let me go on my way. Its no big deal driving with a sign displayed and well worth it to avoid hassles.

[TI4438]

Originally Posted by Elwood72

How could someone honestly mistake a 35 year old car for an active police?I don't care how nice the paint is it has that look to it.No new cars have that boxy style to them.If it was me,I would've ended up getting arrested.

It's called stupidity.

[Steam McQueen]

The light was yellow, sir! Haha, maybe that's when it all went bad, when you called her SIR!

The last female cop I called "Sir" cracked me in the *** with her beating club. I only have one **** now! LOL.

[cheoperative]

Originally Posted by Steam McQueen

The light was yellow, sir! Haha, maybe that's when it all went bad, when you called her SIR!

The last female cop I called "Sir" cracked me in the *** with her beating club. I only have one **** now! LOL.

Hahahaha!

[SCMODSFL]

Originally Posted by Mr Mercer

Oh about a couple of weeks ago I was asked to park my Monaco at a local Blue bro gig .
So on the way home our provincials finest decides to pull me over . I was asked why am I impersonating a police officer . Now if this officer just came out of a 35 year coma , I would of understood this allegation . 10 min later now there's 3 cruisers behind me with the lights a blazing . ( wish I had the camera )
She didn't know what to do or charge me .
The other officers understood what I was all about and one of there fellow alumni was in the band I just had a photo shoot with . Which I brought to her attention that he didn't arrest me or any others had a problem with my paint scheme . So to make short story longer the final verdict was to make this magnetic sign and if not my car next time I will be arrested . Never had a problem in the 6 yrs its been these colors . I have been stopped numerous times to get pictures of it by her fellow officer's through out Canada and the USA . I posted these pics and tell me if there's a difference .
Its pretty tough to figure out .

Thanks , Chris .

I think the "Out of Service" sign makes it worse as to appear that at some point it will be "In service" (They put you in an unwarranted situation, so I figured I'd just go with their logic). In Florida as I'm sure in most places you cannot have the word "Police" anywhere on the vehicle. I would suggest painting out the rest of the "I" and that should do it. That's what I did and I haven't had any problems.

[76Bluesmobile]

I have been followed and eyed up by 6 seperate police departments - 4 locals, a county sheriff and a Pennsylvania State Trooper. None has ever pulled me over but the state boys did eye up the car pretty good. I just glanced over in my hat and glasses and waved. The "POLICE" on the back of my car is somewhat faded out but is still kind of legible.

Here is what my personal understanding of the law regarding police cars is (at least in the U.S. - other countries could be different). If you have a car with decals or department placards or anything that has the word "police" in it, it must be covered up while the car is in transit. Just a plain star with no words or pictures SHOULD NOT be an issue. Usually putting "show car", "parade vehicle" or "out-of-service" should be just fine. Also, squad cars should have no working flashing lights or sirens. They should be disabled while the car is in transit. Some areas require light bars be removed from the vehicle (a quick-disconnect plug makes short work of this).

Other than that, as long as there are no indentifying dept. markings, the paint scheme should not matter - just know your local laws and when you are pulled over, be calm, explain to the cop anything they want to know (they most likely need a refresher course anyway), then move on. If they decide to issue a citation and make fools of themselves in front of a judge - let them. Don't really know what any one of use could be given a citation for anyway.

Or it could all be just that the cop is pissed that you have a better car than they do.

[scatpack01]

cover up the decals with magnets. cheap and easy to do

[Stien529]

I got pulled over in my 1982 Chevy El Camino by a Pepperell MA cop. Now I understand you can't imagine a El Camino being mistaken for that. He said he didn't like the star on my door...... Gave me stern warning...... Thats messed up....


Jake

[Ghostbluesman]

I have a different take on that...meaning no disrespect to the coppers and ex-coppers here on the site, but if there is no law in your state against having a star symbol on your car, then to heck with the officers who pull you over and threaten citations, or else; if it's not law, then it cannot be enforced, no matter what the officer's likes or dislikes, or opinions....but, I like to argue, so that's just me....
Rob

[TK826]

He said he didn't like the star on my door.

He said He didn't like it?

Pulled you over because of his personal opinion?

That's probably the point where I would have gotten myself in trouble.

[Shotgun Blues]

Back in the day of our first Bluesmobile, there was a cop in the next town over who just didn't like our car. He kept saying that you "just can't have it" like that (black and white, obliterated markings, etc.) His name was Doke. I think he knew there was nothing he could do about it, and it just stuck in his craw. He probably thought that because I was a kid, he could get away with it. I understood, but I knew there were no markings or no "Police" badges anywhere. That's before we had the pics of the wording on the trunk. It WILL be on our new Bluesmobile; if I have to cover it with magnetic signs, so be it. But it will be there.