just HOW illegal is it to have police lights installed on your truck?? (hehe)

[NewbieVet]

Came across this website and am feeling a little giddy. Is it illegal to have them installed on your vehicle, or just to actually USE them? I know Solisimo is going to yell at me about this one but COME ON I want some grille cop lights sooooooo baaaadddddd!!!!!

 

[2000eb]

im sure it depends on your state and county but last i checked it was just to use them.

 

[panda24619]

VERY!!! only time you are allowed to use them, as far as i know, is off road or in a show. if your caught with them and are not a cop of any kind you can go to jail for impersonating an officer. thats a nice fine and i think a few years.

 

[GAINMOB]

actually its not illegal...ONLY if you use them as such (emergency)...OR try to impersonate an officer of 1st responder...

 

[ELVATO]

That's how I understand it as well. Security and construction personal have lights in their vehicles, so it's not uncommon to see light housings in grilles.

Soooo, my take is they aren't illegal until you use them. But, if you're not going to use them, what's the point of having them? Just get some dead/broken LED lights and mount them in there.

 

[NewbieVet]

i was thinkin' have them, enjoy knowing you have them, and use them ONLY on private property!!

 

[SOLISIMO]

I dont know what state laws you guys have but that is very illegal. Not even security personal are allowed to have red or blue, they have to be yellow. Its not worth getting them bc your gonna wanna use them and all it takes is one phone call and your done.

 

[tallsville]

as far as construction vehicles. we have strobe lights in the head and tail light(reverse area) and we use the yellow lights. at least in cali. as far as i know you cant have red or blue lights.

 

[ELVATO]

Ah ha, found it. Yep, I stand corrected, no blue lights in the car, even when not in use (at least in FL). I suppose that makes sense, since wildlife officials have blues and they routinely go off road.

http://www.flhsmv.gov/CASES/ago.html

Didn't really look into red, but I thought those were "fine" as long as they didn't alternate when flashing, and weren't visible from the front. I know some of the newer MBs and Audis flash the rear lights when they detect a following car is approaching too quickly.

 

[NewbieVet]

I dont know what state laws you guys have but that is very illegal. Not even security personal are allowed to have red or blue, they have to be yellow. Its not worth getting them bc your gonna wanna use them and all it takes is one phone call and your done.

Booooo, hisssssssss, hisssssssss, boooooooooo!!!

I want cop lights damnit! Just don't want to have to go through the academy to get them!!!!!​

Solisimo does that mean they are illegal to own and install, or just to use? i.e in theory could I have strobes installed under my grille, never ever use them and be just fine???? eh? eh? ehhh?

 

[GAINMOB]

it would be job security if you did!!!

 

[NewbieVet]

Ah ha, found it. Yep, I stand corrected, no blue lights in the car, even when not in use (at least in FL). I suppose that makes sense, since wildlife officials have blues and they routinely go off road.

http://www.flhsmv.gov/CASES/ago.html

Didn't really look into red, but I thought those were "fine" as long as they didn't alternate when flashing, and weren't visible from the front. I know some of the newer MBs and Audis flash the rear lights when they detect a following car is approaching too quickly.

Just read the opinion of the attorney you quoted. He figures its illegal to ever install the blue lights on his vehicle, but thats just his civilian opinion. The actual statue states Section 316.2397(2), Florida Statutes, expressly prohibits "any vehicle or equipment, except police vehicles, to show or display blue lights.".....doesn't say anything about just having them there!!

 

[panda24619]

as far as i know. BLUE is a no no no!!! red is okay from the rear, if used for brake lights. and amber is okay anywhere. i know i got pulled over just for haveing blue halo rings around some old off road lights i had. the cops saw the blue and let me go as long as i never use them, hear anything about someone pulling people over, or if i just take them out. the switch ended up breaking so i took them out. haha still have them i think some where. hhaa

 

[VTfireftr]

Those lights are LED's and will show clear until turned on.

On my Ex, I have a pair of Whelen Ion's (red) in the grille and a pair of Whelen LIN 3's (red and clear) on the tailgate (one on each side of the license plate). Inside the back window, I have an 8 head traffic advisor (all red). I also have a 100 watt Whelen siren installed.

But I do have a permit for all those "toys". I had to apply to the State of Vermont's Department of Motor vehicles for the permit. Both the wife and I volunteer on the local ambulance squad, and I am on my town's fire department, so we qualify for the permit.

On my F-250, I have a full Whelen light bar, and numerous Whelen LED's and strobes, and a 200 watt siren driving two speakers in the grille. The F-250 is my primary response vehicle and is often parked at accident and fire scenes, since I rarely "make a truck" because I live so far from the firehouse.

On a side note, since I am medically trained, I stop at accident scenes on the interstate when I travel. I ALWAYS activate all of my warning lights (read and clear) on the back of my vehicles. I have never been questioned or bothered by any LEO's for using the lights. Most times they thank me for stopping and helping out.

Marc

 

[JUST4FUN]

i had a blue light in my car for years, right on the dash and a opi
com to control the red light. firemen got those to get to the station

 

[SOLISIMO]

I still dont understand why you want them if your not gonna use them Especially in Florida where we use unmarked Expeditions. All you need is to be stopped just bc he suspects somethings up and your in for a world of trouble. As a matter of fact Ive stopped guys driving old crown vics that put a hat on the dash that says sheriff. I then ask for their credentials, if they dont have it then I take the hat. I hate guys that are wannabees. Not saying you are bc this is not the case, but you get my drift.

The law can say one thing, but in the end its in the eye of the officer, and while your case might get thown out, it does not beat the ride or the fact that youve had to go to traffic court 2-3 times to plea your case.

 

[NewbieVet]

I still dont understand why you want them if your not gonna use them Especially in Florida where we use unmarked Expeditions. All you need is to be stopped just bc he suspects somethings up and your in for a world of trouble. As a matter of fact Ive stopped guys driving old crown vics that put a hat on the dash that says sheriff. I then ask for their credentials, if they dont have it then I take the hat. I hate guys that are wannabees. Not saying you are bc this is not the case, but you get my drift.

The law can say one thing, but in the end its in the eye of the officer, and while your case might get thown out, it does not beat the ride or the fact that youve had to go to traffic court 2-3 times to plea your case.

Mostly just playing around here Sol (= Just came across the site and thought "wow, that would be fun!" but I get your drift. We don't want lunatics (Like walnuts) driving around pretending to be LEOs....that could lead to all kinds of trouble for the civilian population!!!!

 

[SOLISIMO]

Mostly just playing around here Sol (= Just came across the site and thought "wow, that would be fun!" but I get your drift. We don't want lunatics (Like walnuts) driving around pretending to be LEOs....that could lead to all kinds of trouble for the civilian population!!!!

I mean If you wanna play around just get hideaway led strobes in your lights, just not blue. Im telling you, your gonna get pulled over by that one tool box who memorized the book and your done

 

[SOLISIMO]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqwW2Rx9WhM

 

[alaskanexpy]

i have a few diff set-ups on my trucks. my plow truck has 4 interior mounted strobes along with 2 beacons on top all amber LED. my explorer has amber LED hideaways in the backup lights. then my excursion has a voltex 6 head LED bar amber/white. i follow enough slow moving equipment and am parked on the side of the road that i use them a good bit. the f-250 has the strobes running almost all winter long since i plow snow also.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXHZIixuLGQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoIgXhYYryA&feature=player_embedded