Civilian car that looks exactly like a police car...how close can it replicate?

[jblomenberg16]

On our way home tonight we were coming up I65 just about where it changes from 55mph to 70mph. It was dusk, so headlights were on but visibility was kind of tricky as eyes adjusted to the lighting. Traffic sped up and in my mirror a ways back I saw a White Dodge Charger with a light bar, push bar, antenna, etc. that from the front looked identical to a state police car with the addition of the push bar.

I was doing about 74 and in the right lane and held my speed. A car with Florida plates passed me in the left lane doing probably 76 or so and the Charger was behind it. The car from Florida starts to slow down when they see what they think is the police car. I'm coming up on a slow moving semi in my lane so slow down, with the intent to merge behind the Charger. As I come flush with him, I look out my window an see it isn't an actual marked police car, but a car carrying signage for RCS communications. I let him pass so I could merge behind and noticed regular "civilian" KY plates. Otherwise the car was a dead ringer for a state police car.

Lights / Sirens Motorola Two Way Radio Dealer Kentucky and Southern Indiana RCS Communications

My wife googled them on her phone and looks like they do quite a bit of work for law enforcement with lights, coms, and other upgrades. This was probably a show car / demo unit. However, at night it was indistinguishable from a real police car until you could see the door markings, so the good folks in the car from Florida backed it down to about 60MPH in the 70MPH zone. He was flashing his brights at them (which is the correct way to signal you want to pass), and that only made things worse. Rather than pull to the right, they just kept going slower and slower in the left lane. I'm, sure they were worried they were going to get pulled over and were having a minor panic attack. I finally just passed them on the right as the slow moving semi had opened up a gap now. I think once I did that they figured I was going to be pulled over if anyone was, so they pulled right and let the Charger pass. He passed and then matched my speed and kept a normal following distance, eventually pulling off at the Scottsburg exit.


I presume its ok to have a demo vehicle look like that so long as he doesn't activate the red / blue lights like an actual law enforcement vehicle, correct?

 

[CathyInBlue]

The only limitation on ownership of police vehicles by non-police private owners is that if you buy a surplus police vehicle that's painted in a distinctive two-color color scheme, you have to repaint it to a color(-scheme) that's not distinctive to police vehicles before you can legally drive it on a public thoroughfare. If you buy a car that's not painted in a two-color color scheme and then paint it to a two-color color scheme, no foul. Add police radioes, if you're a ham, cool. Add red and blue light bar… Not so fast.

IC 9-19-14
Chapter 14. Special Equipment for Emergency Vehicles
IC 9-19-14-5.5 Red and white, red and blue, red, or amber lights
Sec. 5.5. (a) Except for a:
(1) vehicle utilized in a funeral procession; or
(2) funeral escort vehicle bearing markings as described in IC 9-21-13-0.7;
a vehicle that is not described by sections 2 or 5 of this chapter may
not display a red and white lamp or a red and blue lamp.
(b) A person who:
(1) possesses a vehicle with equipment described by sections 2 [all emergency vehicles] or 5 [police vehicles] of this chapter; and
(2) is not authorized to display a red and white or red and blue lamp upon the vehicle;
shall immediately remove the red and white or red and blue lamp from the vehicle.
(c) A funeral escort vehicle, other than an authorized emergency vehicle used in a funeral procession or as a funeral escort vehicle, may display only red and white, red, or amber lights.
As added by P.L.99-1991, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.80-2012, SEC.2.

IC 9-19-14-6 United States Department of Transportation regulations; classification of violations
[…]
(c) A person commits a Class C misdemeanor if the person knowingly or intentionally violates section 5.5 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.7. Amended by P.L.80-2012, SEC.3.

IC 9-21-7
Chapter 7. Vehicle Equipment
IC 9-21-7-10 Lights visible from front of vehicle; prohibition
Sec. 10. This section does not apply to a vehicle required or authorized under this title to display a red, red and white, or red and blue light that is visible from the front of the vehicle. A person may not drive or move a vehicle or equipment upon a highway with a lamp or device on the vehicle or equipment displaying a red, red and white, or red and blue light visible from directly in front of the center of the vehicle or equipment.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.99-1991, SEC.3.

The use of green lights is governed under IC 9-19-14.5 Special Equipment for Private Emergency Vehicles. The use of amber lights is governed under IC 9-21-13 Funeral Processions, IC 9-21-14 Marching Bands, and prolly others. The use of red lights is also governed under IC 9-19-13 School Bus Design and Equipment, and prolly others.

Of course, if you order a Whelan LED light bar with some other color, pink, purple, etc. then this prohibition doesn't matter, and as long as you're not flashing lights while in motion, you're still legally able to have those lights installed. Just don't "display", i.e. illuminate, them. If I were of a whacker mindset, I'd still install an electro-mechanical interlock so that the whacker lights couldn't even operate unless the transmission was in park.

Are you sure the various strobes you saw installed were red and/or blue? LED strobes are generally water clear until energized. Even if he's a KY car, in order to drive into IN, he'd have to abide by the above IN law. Although, I'd expect some form of "professional courtesy" in overlooking what would otherwise be a clear C-misd if you weren't servicing the policing industry.

 

[Frank_N_Stein]

The only limitation on ownership of police vehicles by non-police private owners is that if you buy a surplus police vehicle that's painted in a distinctive two-color color scheme, you have to repaint it to a color(-scheme) that's not distinctive to police vehicles before you can legally drive it on a public thoroughfare. If you buy a car that's not painted in a two-color color scheme and then paint it to a two-color color scheme, no foul.

It isn't a foul if the color scheme doesn't mimic those used by Indiana LE agencies for their vehicles. So no black & white or brown & tan cars for non-supercitizens.

IC 5-22-22-9
Disposal of law enforcement vehicles
Sec. 9. (a) If a purchasing agency disposes of a law enforcement vehicle that is a model year of 1994 or after and is painted in a color scheme of more than one (1) color by transferring the vehicle to:
(1) a person who will operate the vehicle on a public highway in Indiana, the person must repaint the vehicle in:
(A) a monochrome color scheme; or
(B) a color scheme that does not duplicate the color scheme of an Indiana law enforcement vehicle;
before the vehicle is operated on a public highway in Indiana;
(2) a person who will sell or otherwise transfer the vehicle to another person who will operate the vehicle on a public highway in Indiana, the person must repaint the vehicle in:
(A) a monochrome color scheme; or
(B) a color scheme that does not duplicate the color scheme of an Indiana law enforcement vehicle;
before the vehicle is sold or otherwise transferred to the other person to be operated on a public highway in Indiana;
(3) a person who will sell or otherwise transfer the vehicle to another person who will not operate the vehicle on a public highway in Indiana, the person is not required to repaint the vehicle before the vehicle is sold or otherwise transferred to the
other person; or
(4) another governmental body, the governmental body is not required to repaint the vehicle before the vehicle is operated on a public highway in Indiana.
(b) Before a purchasing agency disposes of a law enforcement vehicle that is painted in a color scheme of more than one (1) color, the purchasing agency must provide a copy of this subsection to the prospective purchaser of the vehicle.
(c) A person who violates this section commits a Class C infraction.
As added by P.L.49-1997, SEC.1.

 

[KG1]

So can I drive around in a White Charger with a "K-9" sticker on it with my German Shepherd?

 

[Mr Evilwrench]

I had an 86 Mustang that was just as unmarked as the ISP were using, though it had a couple of antennae. I used to ride the center lane traffic on 465 sometimes, and pop out behind someone that was going fast in the left lane. Their reactions were precious, and I didn't need to do anything with lights.

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

A little off topic but since we're talking about people driving decomissioned police cars: Thursday, I saw a guy driving one of those Crown Vics zipping through Mitchell. He nearly rear ended a PT Cruiser as he made a passing maneuver between me and that car that would make a NASCAR driver smile. Then, at Mitchell's 2nd stop light, he cut a guy off who was making a left hand turn onto IN-60. I fully expected to see a on-duty cop running him down--he was flying.

 

[IndyDave1776]

This reminds me of a sergeant who worked in a correctional facility where I worked quite a few years ago. "Bumperjack" had a dark blue Caprice (we are in the 90's) with lights, antennae, and presumably a radar device. No one was sure if the radar was truly functional but it did set off people's radar detectors. His hobby in transit was pulling people over, lecturing them, and 'letting them off' with a verbal warning. The one time too many, he pulled someone over who was observant enough to notice that his uniform was marked Department of Correction rather than being issued by a law enforcement agency, and proceeded to beat the living sh*t out of him with, you guessed it, a bumper jack. Bumperjack went to the hospital and the guy who administered the beating was given an offer he couldn't refuse: No battery charges in exchange for allowing the situation to go away very quietly. After this, Bumperjack was not allowed to take or wear uniforms home and had to come to work in his street clothes and change there.

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

This reminds me of a sergeant who worked in a correctional facility where I worked quite a few years ago. "Bumperjack" had a dark blue Caprice (we are in the 90's) with lights, antennae, and presumably a radar device. No one was sure if the radar was truly functional but it did set off people's radar detectors. His hobby in transit was pulling people over, lecturing them, and 'letting them off' with a verbal warning. The one time too many, he pulled someone over who was observant enough to notice that his uniform was marked Department of Correction rather than being issued by a law enforcement agency, and proceeded to beat the living sh*t out of him with, you guessed it, a bumper jack. Bumperjack went to the hospital and the guy who administered the beating was given an offer he couldn't refuse: No battery charges in exchange for allowing the situation to go away very quietly. After this, Bumperjack was not allowed to take or wear uniforms home and had to come to work in his street clothes and change there.

We had "Deputy Dog" at our plant. I'm not sure that he ever got a beat down but I heard he liked pulling people over, especially pretty young ladies. I think he had one of those beacons that he'd slap on top of his roof when he wanted to "make a contact".

 

[hopper68]

Police Chief city of Petersburg non official car

 

[CathyInBlue]

It isn't a foul if the color scheme doesn't mimic those used by Indiana LE agencies for their vehicles. So no black & white or brown & tan cars for non-supercitizens.

That's only for buying a car that actually was a police vehicle. That's no impediment for a whacker buying a similar make and model and then painting it to a color scheme that exactly matches an IN LE agency livery.

 

[eldirector]

LE are civilians. For the time being, at least.

So, is this legal?
Personal vehicle

While it is obviously not a current LE vehicle, it does still have the markings and lights that are not allowed.

 

[Redtbird]

View attachment 39012View attachment 39013

Police Chief city of Petersburg non official car

Thanks for the pics of the Studebaker! My first car was a '52 Studebaker, 2-door. Would turn 87 in a 1/4 mile. Paid a whole $50 for it! That was in 1965...

 

[jblomenberg16]

Thanks for the information everyone. I really don't know what color the light bar was...as you said, hard to tell until the actual lights are one, which they weren't. As it as about 9:30pm and nearly dark, I could clearly see it was a light bar, with several strobes mounted in the push bar on the grill, as well as in the back glass.

I am assuming it was all on the up and up since this company appears to upfit these items as part of their normal business. So this was most likely a display vehicle they take from place to place to show off. But it sure did make that car from Florida nervous!

 

[CTS]

I used to own a Crown Vic back when they were in common LE use. It was just gray, but it was pretty awesome how the seas of the interstate would part when it was dusky out.

 

[KellyinAvon]

It isn't a foul if the color scheme doesn't mimic those used by Indiana LE agencies for their vehicles. So no black & white or brown & tan cars for non-supercitizens.

IC 5-22-22-9
Disposal of law enforcement vehicles
Sec. 9. (a) If a purchasing agency disposes of a law enforcement vehicle that is a model year of 1994 or after and is painted in a color scheme of more than one (1) color by transferring the vehicle to:
(1) a person who will operate the vehicle on a public highway in Indiana, the person must repaint the vehicle in:
(A) a monochrome color scheme; or
(B) a color scheme that does not duplicate the color scheme of an Indiana law enforcement vehicle;
before the vehicle is operated on a public highway in Indiana;
(2) a person who will sell or otherwise transfer the vehicle to another person who will operate the vehicle on a public highway in Indiana, the person must repaint the vehicle in:
(A) a monochrome color scheme; or
(B) a color scheme that does not duplicate the color scheme of an Indiana law enforcement vehicle;
before the vehicle is sold or otherwise transferred to the other person to be operated on a public highway in Indiana;
(3) a person who will sell or otherwise transfer the vehicle to another person who will not operate the vehicle on a public highway in Indiana, the person is not required to repaint the vehicle before the vehicle is sold or otherwise transferred to the
other person; or
(4) another governmental body, the governmental body is not required to repaint the vehicle before the vehicle is operated on a public highway in Indiana.
(b) Before a purchasing agency disposes of a law enforcement vehicle that is painted in a color scheme of more than one (1) color, the purchasing agency must provide a copy of this subsection to the prospective purchaser of the vehicle.
(c) A person who violates this section commits a Class C infraction.
As added by P.L.49-1997, SEC.1.

No Blues Mobile? BOO!!


HOWEVER, this covers former LE vehicles. If I buy a white or black and Crown Vic and take it to Earl Schieb??

 

[jsharmon7]

Why anyone would intentionally make their car look like a police car is beyond me. I understand those who buy retired police cars on the cheap, but I'm talking about the ones who add stuff to further the trickery. Driving a marked car is a pain in the butt when you're just trying to get from A to B. Brake tapping and 5-10mph under the speed limit sure is fun when you just want to get home.

 

[IndyDave1776]

No Blues Mobile? BOO!!


HOWEVER, this covers former LE vehicles. If I buy a white or black and Crown Vic and take it to Earl Schieb??

You'll get a crappy paint job done cheap.

 

[Denny347]

LE are civilians. For the time being, at least.

 

[Frank_N_Stein]

That's only for buying a car that actually was a police vehicle. That's no impediment for a whacker buying a similar make and model and then painting it to a color scheme that exactly matches an IN LE agency livery.

I'd like to see that scenario play out in court after the citation is issued.

 

[CathyInBlue]

What citation? With what could someone be cited for painting a black CV with white doors?