Alright, I know, that it in fact ISN'T illegal to have a police siren and light installed in your car (contrary to popular belief and google searches)... However I have wondered the use, I know you can use them in parade's, as well as some car shows... However I wonder if you can use your flashing strobes when your broken down on the side of the road, pulled over, at the drag strip before you set off for launch, or if your in a parking lot and your friend says "hey man lemme see your strobes" (it can happen)...
I know there's laws against impersonating officers, but I'm not talkin bout screaming down the highway at 90 MPH talking on my cell phone driving with my knee while I use my laptop (I've seen it)... Just as a safety precaution when (which I inevitably will every month, as I have since I bought the car) break down on the side of the road, or to intimidate drag opponents/provide show, or just to dick around in a parking lot... So I just wonder, if for the purposes, strobe lights are perfectly fine...
[This message has been edited by jagojay (edited 10-02-2010).]
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10:49 PM
PFF
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84fiero123 Member
Posts: 29950 From: farmington, maine usa Registered: Oct 2004
I've seen people with cop car look a likes with working light bars and they say it's legal as long as their not trying to pull people over or otherwise impersonate an officer... Maybe it's just this town who knows
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11:01 PM
84fiero123 Member
Posts: 29950 From: farmington, maine usa Registered: Oct 2004
Movie cars on the set yes that is legal. On a public street NO, NO, NO Were you just on the show I was just watching on TV, Worlds Dumbest Criminals? Steve
------------------ Technology is great when it works, and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't. Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.
You know, just throwing this out there, but your not a very nice person, you may regard my question as dull or stupid, or think that I am wrong, in which case I'm glad you have submitted your thoughts, but there is no reason to lash out and insult someone for asking a question.
I know, for a fact, it's illegal to use them for cop-like things, and 100% illegal to be used while driving (as are most flashing under glow kits), but as I have talked to many people about this I've never heard of anyone getting in trouble for simply having them (police strobes) in their cars... There go I question when they can be used (other than parade's)
[This message has been edited by jagojay (edited 10-02-2010).]
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11:15 PM
Flamberge Member
Posts: 4268 From: Terra Sancta, TX Registered: Oct 2001
Sheriff Warns Police Imposters Sheriff Scott Walton sent out a warning this week to people who buy and use illegal red and blue lights in their personal vehicles. "If we catch someone with red and blues we're going to take the lights and cite them," said Walton. The Oklahoma Statues limit the use of red and blue lights to police and government vehicles and come specific exceptions such as tow trucks but lately there has been an up-tick in the number of private autos using red and blue lights. The penalty for having red and blue emergency lights in a private vehicle is up to six months in the county jail and a fine of up to $2,000.00
------------------ Technology is great when it works, and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't. Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.
I've seen people with cop car look a likes with working light bars and they say it's legal as long as their not trying to pull people over or otherwise impersonate an officer... Maybe it's just this town who knows
There not suposed to be working light bars and there suposed to be all white lights if there replacating a police car.
Rule of thumb (in PA)
Red light= paramedic or fire truck blue light= Firefigher/paramedic in rout to station (this does not give you the authorization to speed or run red lights You must have state authorization to have one as well) Yellow light = construction vehical ( this dosent authorize you for anything its just a marker light White strobe= School bus on duty (these are pointless and annoying ) Purple light= funeral car ( ability to lead a funeral pression through a red light during a chance cannot run a red light) Red white and blue lights= police officer.
If your state laws are like PA you are allowed to have working strobes, neons, LED rotating lights on your vehical, But may only be turned on when not on a public roadway (pretty much meaning a private drive parking lot or driveway) You cannot use any of them on a major highway or public street if you are you will be pulled over you will be cited for it and if the cops a d*ck head enough you will get an impersonating a police officer charge for it if you have the red whigh or blue strobes in use on a public roadway without authorization. Sirens are diffrent You can have them but they cannot go above a certan decible level and also cannot be used on a public roadway. Much the same as some states where you cannot put a fog horn on your car. The type of horn you have is dictated by the vehicals weight Semis to air horns as a car is to electric/small air horns. (and dont anyone try to contridict me on it, it is true.) So to answer your question yes you can have these lights on your car but you cannot use them on a public roadway.
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11:22 PM
WhiteDevil88 Member
Posts: 8518 From: Coastal California Registered: Mar 2007
I know many people who have strobes installed, show and glows are a big thing in the PT Cruiser crowd. Strobes are illegal if you use them on the street. I would assume that would include roadside, but off road shouldn't be a problem.
This also creates another problem, that regards red and blue strobes in Oklahoma, where if you go to Oregon strobes in general are illegal, some state laws may be different, but I've never known anyone in NC to get in trouble for having them (needless to say, we have a bunch of kick back cops too)
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11:27 PM
84fiero123 Member
Posts: 29950 From: farmington, maine usa Registered: Oct 2004
You know, just throwing this out there, but your not a very nice person, you may regard my question as dull or stupid, or think that I am wrong, in which case I'm glad you have submitted your thoughts, but there is no reason to lash out and insult someone for asking a question.
No I am not, neg me. You are the one who seems to think that it is legal. You said you knew even though you found it to be true on Google.
Just how old are you?
Steve
------------------ Technology is great when it works, and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't. Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.
[This message has been edited by 84fiero123 (edited 10-03-2010).]
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11:30 PM
PFF
System Bot
84fiero123 Member
Posts: 29950 From: farmington, maine usa Registered: Oct 2004
North Carolina General Statutes § 20-130.1 Use of red or blue lights on vehicles prohibited; exceptions
a) It is unlawful for any person to install or activate or operate a red light in or on any vehicle in this State. As used in this subsection, unless the context requires otherwise, "red light" means an operable red light not sealed in the manufacturer's original package which: (i) is designed for use by an emergency vehicle or is similar in appearance to a red light designed for use by an emergency vehicle; and (ii) can be operated by use of the vehicle's battery, vehicle's electrical system, or a dry cell battery. As used in this subsection, the term "red light" shall also mean any forward facing red light installed on a vehicle after initial manufacture of the vehicle. (b) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section do not apply to the following: (1) A police car; (2) A highway patrol car; (3) A vehicle owned by the Wildlife Resources Commission and operated exclusively for law‑enforcement purposes; (4) An ambulance; (5) A vehicle used by an organ procurement organization or agency for the recovery and transportation of blood, human tissues, or organs for transplantation; (6) A fire‑fighting vehicle; (7) A school bus; (8) A vehicle operated by any member of a municipal or rural fire department in the performance of his duties, regardless of whether members of that fire department are paid or voluntary; (9) A vehicle of a voluntary lifesaving organization (including the private vehicles of the members of such an organization) that has been officially approved by the local police authorities and which is manned or operated by members of that organization while answering an official call; (10) A vehicle operated by medical doctors or anesthetists in emergencies; (11) A motor vehicle used in law enforcement by the sheriff, or any salaried rural policeman in any county, regardless of whether or not the county owns the vehicle; (11a) A vehicle operated by the State Fire Marshal or his representatives in the performance of their duties, whether or not the State owns the vehicle; (12) A vehicle operated by any county fire marshal, assistant fire marshal, or emergency management coordinator in the performance of his duties, regardless of whether or not the county owns the vehicle; (13) A light required by the Federal Highway Administration; (14) A vehicle operated by a transplant coordinator who is an employee of an organ procurement organization or agency when the transplant coordinator is responding to a call to recover or transport human tissues or organs for transplantation; (15) A vehicle operated by an emergency medical service as an emergency support vehicle; and (16) A State emergency management vehicle. (c) It is unlawful for any person to possess a blue light or to install, activate, or operate a blue light in or on any vehicle in this State, except for a publicly owned vehicle used for law enforcement purposes or any other vehicle when used by law enforcement officers in the performance of their official duties. As used in this subsection, unless the context requires otherwise, "blue light" means any forward facing blue light installed on a vehicle after initial manufacture of the vehicle; or an operable blue light which: (1) Is not (i) being installed on, held in inventory for the purpose of being installed on, or held in inventory for the purpose of sale for installation on a vehicle on which it may be lawfully operated or (ii) installed on a vehicle which is used solely for the purpose of demonstrating the blue light for sale to law enforcement personnel; (1a) Is designed for use by an emergency vehicle, or is similar in appearance to a blue light designed for use by an emergency vehicle; and (2) Can be operated by use of the vehicle's battery, the vehicle's electrical system, or a dry cell battery. (c1) The provisions of subsection (c) of this section do not apply to the possession and installation of an inoperable blue light on a vehicle that is inspected by and registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles as a specially constructed vehicle and that is used primarily for participation in shows, exhibitions, parades, or holiday/weekend activities, and not for general daily transportation. For purposes of this subsection, "inoperable blue light" means a blue‑colored lamp housing or cover that does not contain a lamp or other mechanism having the ability to produce or emit illumination. (d) Repealed by Session Laws 1999‑249, s. 1. (e) Violation of subsection (a) or (c) of this section is a Class 1 misdemeanor. (1943, c. 726; 1947, c. 1032; 1953, c. 354; 1955, c. 528; 1957, c. 65, s. 11; 1959, c. 166, s. 2; c. 1170, s. 2; 1967, c. 651, s. 1; 1971, c. 1214; 1977, c. 52, s. 2; c. 438, s. 2; 1979, c. 653, s. 1; c. 887; 1983, c. 32, s. 1; c. 768, s. 6; 1985 (Reg. Sess., 1986), c. 1027, s. 50; 1989, c. 537, s. 2; 1989 (Reg. Sess., 1990), c. 1020, s. 2; 1991, c. 263, s. 1; 1993, c. 539, s. 361; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 719, s. 1; 1995, c. 168, s. 1; 1995 (Reg. Sess., 1996), c. 756, s. 16; 1999‑249, s. 1; 2005‑152, s. 1; 2009‑526, s. 1; 2009‑550, s. 3.) Sections: Previous 20-128 20-128.1 20-128.2 20-129 20-129.1 20-129.2 20-130 20-130.1 20-130.2 20-130.3 20-131 20-132 20-133 20-134 20-135 Next Last modified: March 28, 2010
------------------ Technology is great when it works, and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't. Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.
I will not neg you my friend, I just wish you'd be a bit kinder to someone who simply asks a question....
Do you believe everything you google? If you do I feel sorry for you... Most of those questions are answered by kids, or people who haven't even thought the question all the way through... Most of those questions answered say "strobes are illegal, period" when their not, another half say "Blue is illegal" another half say "blue is legal, but only when parked", there's many different answers out there, but the majority of the people who answer these questions think anything flashing and bright is illegal, when that's not true.
I'm sure lots of states have considered and banned possession of strobes, others certain colors, and others can be tolerant of it as long as their not used for the bad....
Ohhhhh, my paper back only updated lol sweet. Ok I'll read yours as well
[This message has been edited by jagojay (edited 10-03-2010).]
Ok, yours is more updated (who can blame it, mines been on a book shelf for ages, was my mothers after all)... From what I can read, you can still, technically have strobes, which still leaves my general question in the open, however blue lamp housings can be installed as long as no bulb or fuse, and you can make them operable only for events...
So in this written form, technically legal, technically not illegal... But my original question still stands regarding the strobe portion
[This message has been edited by jagojay (edited 10-03-2010).]
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12:07 AM
IMSA GT Member
Posts: 10720 From: California Registered: Aug 2007
Blue or Red strobes are illegal whether they are in the taillight/headlight housings or on the roof. You can get away with a clear strobe or amber strobe in the taillights and flashing amber parking lights up front but that would be for safety use only. Even if you have an all-clear police light bar on your roof, it would need to be covered until you are off-road.
So strobes are legal to use when broken down and dicking around in parking lots and blue is ok when at a a special event as long as registered with the DMV that I have em. <I've seen people use them in parades, so they can apparently be made operable for events in my town>
[This message has been edited by jagojay (edited 10-03-2010).]
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12:18 AM
Khw Member
Posts: 11139 From: South Weber, UT. U.S.A. Registered: Jun 2008
So strobes are legal to use when broken down and dicking around in parking lots and blue is ok when at a a special event as long as registered with the DMV that I have em.
Not really...
quote
c1) The provisions of subsection (c) of this section do not apply to the possession and installation of an inoperable blue light on a vehicle that is inspected by and registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles as a specially constructed vehicle and that is used primarily for participation in shows, exhibitions, parades, or holiday/weekend activities, and not for general daily transportation. For purposes of this subsection, "inoperable blue light" means a blue‑colored lamp housing or cover that does not contain a lamp or other mechanism having the ability to produce or emit illumination.
Well, I guess if you didn't do it on a vehicle you use for daily transportation it might be...
[This message has been edited by Khw (edited 10-03-2010).]
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12:42 AM
SCCAFiero Member
Posts: 1144 From: Boca Raton, Fl USA Registered: Apr 2006
State laws vary regarding strobes. I have 4 strobes (2 white and 2 red) in the back of my vehicle because I park on the side of the road, for hours at a time, and walk in the roadway / traffic to do site inspections on a regular basis. I use them if I am actively working in the area to alert others something is going on so pay attention. I don't use them if I am just parked on the side of the road and out of harms way. They are not a toy to amaze your friends with. They are a tool with a specific purpose. I have never been bothered by any police for the past 5 years all over this state. That said, if you are broken down on the side of the road, strobes will basically get you ignored by police, road rangers and tow companies alike unless they are specifically looking for you. They will all think you want to be on the side of the road, and don't need help.
Putting them on a car to use in a parking lot is ridiculous (to put it nicely). What do you want people to do, walk by and say,"Oh, look at your pretty lights" while winking at you? Not to mention why would you want to spend several hundred dollars (for real ones, not the parts store crap) on something you can't otherwise use.
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01:52 AM
MidEngineManiac Member
Posts: 29566 From: Some unacceptable view Registered: Feb 2007
The laws of any state can be found on the net on their own gov.net websites. Just Google your states abbreviation and add the word law.
If you think I was hard on you for asking a dumb question it may have been because you knew the answer to begin with but refused to believe it.
In your own state their website says
quote
Originally posted by 84fiero123:
Your own states laws.
(c) It is unlawful for any person to possess a blue light or to install, activate, or operate a blue light in or on any vehicle in this State, except for a publicly owned vehicle used for law enforcement purposes or any other vehicle when used by law enforcement officers in the performance of their official duties. As used in this subsection, unless the context requires otherwise, "blue light" means any forward facing blue light installed on a vehicle after initial manufacture of the vehicle; or an operable blue light which: (1) Is not (i) being installed on, held in inventory for the purpose of being installed on, or held in inventory for the purpose of sale for installation on a vehicle on which it may be lawfully operated or (ii) installed on a vehicle which is used solely for the purpose of demonstrating the blue light for sale to law enforcement personnel; (1a) Is designed for use by an emergency vehicle, or is similar in appearance to a blue light designed for use by an emergency vehicle; and (2) Can be operated by use of the vehicle's battery, the vehicle's electrical system, or a dry cell battery. (c1) The provisions of subsection (c) of this section do not apply to the possession and installation of an inoperable blue light on a vehicle that is inspected by and registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles as a specially constructed vehicle and that is used primarily for participation in shows, exhibitions, parades, or holiday/weekend activities, and not for general daily transportation. For purposes of this subsection, "inoperable blue light" means a blue‑colored lamp housing or cover that does not contain a lamp or other mechanism having the ability to produce or emit illumination.
I have been dealing with juvenile delinquents here in Maine for years doing community service for stupid things like you are talking about.
They also think they know everything, and the way you worded your original question just sounded so much like one of their own statement I was infuriated.
They just arrested someone here in Florida for using blue strobe lights to impersonate a police vehicle. He was pulling people over and asking for their driver's license. He also was on probation for doing the same thing before. http://www.myfoxorlando.com...ed-impersonating-cop
quote
Man arrested for impersonating cop, again Updated: Friday, 01 Oct 2010, 1:39 PM EDT Published : Friday, 01 Oct 2010, 1:39 PM EDT
PALM BAY, Fla. (WOFL, FOX 35) - A man was arrested for impersonating a police officer Friday morning. And it turns out it wasn¿t the first time the suspect has been arrested for the same crime.
The incident began around 1:00 a.m. Friday morning when a woman called 911 to report that she and another female had been pulled over by a gold Saturn sporting flashing blue lights.
According to the woman, the Saturn driver approached her and said he was an off-duty police officer. After asking for her driver¿s license he ordered her out of the car and told her to empty her pockets. The woman had been on the phone with her boyfriend just prior to the stop and soon he arrived on the scene.
As the man saw the boyfriend arriving, he released the female and her passenger.
Armed with the vehicle description and tag number, the fake officer was quickly located and arrested.
Sean Davis,21, was arrested and charged with impersonating an officer. He was also driving on a suspended license and a further background check later revealed that he was on probation from an earlier conviction of impersonating a police officer.
Davis remained in the Brevard County Jail Friday afternoon.
84fiero123 quoted you directly from your own states law webpage. If you want to stay out of trouble don't install or use any strobe lights on your car if you are going to be driving it on the street.
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11:17 AM
PFF
System Bot
turbotoad Member
Posts: 1392 From: Clarkston, MI Registered: Jul 2002
My son got a ticket for having "blue" foglights. He had replaced the bulbs with some "blue" hued lights, but that wasn't blue enough for him. So he disassembled the fog lights and actually painted the lenes blue! Drove around for almost a year (and 8 states) like that. Then after a cop was killed locally by someone who was apparently impersonating a security gaurd, it was only days before my son was ticketed. The cop who pulled him over even told him it was because they (cops) were now hyper-sensative (i.e. pissed) and targeting people with any colored lights not stock to the vehicle. BTW the fog lights looked kinda aqua-blue when on and not really deep blue like police lights. But they where blue enough to catch a pissed off officers attention.
The ticket was dimissed after restoring the lights (removed paint from lens) to factory clear and having a cop sign off that they were back to stock.
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12:06 PM
Marvin McInnis Member
Posts: 11599 From: ~ Kansas City, USA Registered: Apr 2002
... I know, that it in fact ISN'T illegal to have a police siren and light installed in your car ...
If you already "know," then why are you even asking on an Internet forum? If you really wanted an answer, then why do you argue so vehemently with the answers offered?
If you don't know (and it's OK not to know), then you need to be asking a lawyer or a law enforcement officer ... not some random collection of gearheads on the Internet. The law is what matters, not popular opinion.
[This message has been edited by Marvin McInnis (edited 10-04-2010).]
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12:41 PM
84fiero123 Member
Posts: 29950 From: farmington, maine usa Registered: Oct 2004
It's not that I don't want to listen, and it's not that I know it all... I listen very well considering... Not everyone is a hard headed teenager.
I googled and googled , my downfall in my google searches were that I didn't type in motor vehicle, I just kept searching NCDOT divisions/laws thinking (for some reason) that I'd find a link to hard laws there. And specific searches under blue lights came up with places like ask.com, etc etc. So I settled for an outdated physical copy of NC laws. That being said I thank you for linking me the laws, and helping me find them.
I understand how my question came off as an "I know it all approach", I was applying the fact that I've seen a Stringray with police strobes driven by a guy who has long retired from the world of car restoration, and other various cars with police strobes... Thus that makes the thought of "ok, they're legal in some sense". I simply wanted to know more about the legality of when one could use them
As it is illegal to have working blue lights, it's not illegal (as long as their ok'd by a DMV inspection) have the blue lamp covers, with wiring, and after talking to a cop this morning, their fine to make usable when at a car show, or at other such event that's scheduled (parades included), as long as their made inoperable by the time you hit the open road... So technically while they are illegal, they are legal in certain ways...
That being said I'd like to thank the ones who answered the portion of the question regarding when I can use general strobe lights... And to answer their questions
"Dicking around in parking lots" while yes, seems childish, that's how most street legal tuner/muscle/drag car shows start around here, some guy with a few friends dicking around in a parking lot, then a few more show up and next thing you know you have a wide array of cars sitting around with hoods popped... As seems to a custom throughout NC (least in the western portions).
The main reason for wanting strobes in general are because my car breaks down a lot. I've been on the side of the road my fair share of times, I keep every tool I need to fix it in my trunk. The only thing police do is show up, turn their lights on, shine a light in face, blinding me, and asking me if I'm ok, then they leave.
PS: I wasn't asking the legality of blues (which I figured were legal, as long as your not using on the road in the first place, now I know the specific legality), I was asking when it was legal to use blues or just strobes in general... And the reason I ask these forums is that it's a saturday night, no lawyer in town is going to be happy about anyone calling, I posted here figuring "it doesn't hurt to ask a question"
Also to add, as far as hurting feelings, no, I am no kid. I don't hurt that easily, but the reason I didn't like the hostility is because as a response to a question, it is poor. I mean I understand where you come from, my question could have been worded differently, and without a few words. Don't get me wrong I appreciate your response as well. But in todays society I see kids, teenagers, and even adults who have problems learning things because they fear asking questions, due to ridicule by their peers.
We both could have handled the beginning of this thread with much more adult attitudes
[This message has been edited by jagojay (edited 10-03-2010).]
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01:33 PM
Khw Member
Posts: 11139 From: South Weber, UT. U.S.A. Registered: Jun 2008
As it is illegal to have working blue lights, it's not illegal (as long as their ok'd by a DMV inspection) have the blue lamp covers, with wiring, and after talking to a cop this morning, their fine to make usable when at a car show, or at other such event that's scheduled (parades included), as long as their made inoperable by the time you hit the open road... So technically while they are illegal, they are legal in certain ways...
The law also says you cannot have them on a vehicle used for general daily use.
That doesn't fit with what you say here:
quote
The main reason for wanting strobes in general are because my car breaks down a lot. I've been on the side of the road my fair share of times, I keep every tool I need to fix it in my trunk. The only thing police do is show up, turn their lights on, shine a light in face, blinding me, and asking me if I'm ok, then they leave.
If your car breaks down alot, that implies that you use it alot. Which shows general daily use and would invalidate the use of blues on your car. You want to use green... purple... brown... Okay, best I can find there isn't a law against those colors but blue and red are regulated. You can't meet 2 or 3 of the 6 conditions of use, you have to meet them all.
[This message has been edited by Khw (edited 10-03-2010).]
When I say a lot, I mean on average, IE: if I take a car out 5 times in one year, and it breaks 4 out of 5 times, that to me is breaking down a lot
You need to learn how to maintain your car better. Or get a better car. My 86 SE has never broken down on the road. And it is a daily driver. Just what are you driving that is so undependable, a Fiat?
Steve
------------------ Technology is great when it works, and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't. Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.
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04:39 PM
Oct 4th, 2010
rogergarrison Member
Posts: 49601 From: A Western Caribbean Island/ Columbus, Ohio Registered: Apr 99
Here in Ohio, you can have them, but not use them on a public road. Ive seen a lot of replica police cars at car shows and they do turn on the lights and sirens in the show area. While in a parking lot or private property you can turn on blue or red strobes, flashers or underchassis lites....but not on the road. Ive seen reproductions of Andy Griffiths police car, Roscoe Coltrains, and Car 54 at all the local shows.
The real problem weve had here in the past is people (robbers and rapists) pull mostly girls over late at nite. You think theyre police and they take your money and jewelery or rape them. We even had one here they caught that had a wrecker and would intercept radio calls for brokedown cars. If they were a girl, he hauled her and her car to the woods somewhere secluded, but let her go afterward. They changed the law that all wreckers had to have company name on the side. Here you can buy complete ex police cars with only the radio gear and lights removed. You can buy the lites online. You can also buy a complete real police uniform locally. We had a guy in London, Oh who bought one and a uniform and was pulling people over to take their cash and credit cards.
