Cops Let Man Get Away With Painting Car Like Police Cruiser
 

http://www.foxnews.com/images/351865...08_cruiser.jpg

Jessie Vigil's black-and-white car sports a red-and-blue emergency bar across the top and the word "police" painted on the doors.

Vigil, however, isn't a cop.

Law enforcement agencies say what he's done with his car isn't illegal as long as he doesn't act like a police officer.

He started decorating his 2007 Ford Mustang last summer to look like the police cruiser in the "Transformers" movie because his 7-year-old son, Thomas, was fond of the film.

See related article: Jessie Vigil's black-and-white car sports a red-and-blue emergency bar across the top and the word "police" painted on the doors.

Vigil, however, isn't a cop.

Law enforcement agencies say what he's done with his car isn't illegal as long as he doesn't act like a police officer.

He started decorating his 2007 Ford Mustang last summer to look like the police cruiser in the "Transformers" movie because his 7-year-old son, Thomas, was fond of the film.

See related article: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,337297,00.html

I'll give the guy credit for receiving approval (or at least checking with local LEOs) prior to doing this, but it's not the smartest thing to do, IMO.

Any criminal in the process of robbing the local convenience store he pulls into to get gas with his son in the car isn't going to care that he isn't LEO, that his lightbar isn't real, or that his decals say "punish and enslave". That may be a scenario that doesn't happen often, but it's just not worth the risk.

the guy is a wanna-be, and nothing he says to try and rationalize his actions will convince me otherwise. It's just another example of a guy that watches to much tv, and doesn't know the job but trys to play the part.

total nutjob ! :thumbsdown:

I'll second that motion!

I think the technical term for someone who paints their daily driver like a police car is "tool".

In California, he'd be cited everytime he hit the street. The impersonation law here DOES have teeth. The CHP made Best Buy repaint ALL their black-and-white VW Beetles because an officer in the Bay area started citing them for driving a police-similar vehicle. Now all Geek Squad vehicles in California only have a white top. The doors have been painted black. How's that for over-reaction...

While I totally agree with the impersonation laws, I think nailing the Geek Squad's Beetles was just a little overboard.

My .02

David

I agree.

It's interesting how some states really care about the paint schemes and others couldn't care any less.

I am not concerned about a two tone paint scheme.

the fake light bar and the word police on the car gets him arrested......if he drives on the street in my jurisdiction.

http://smileys.sur-la-toile.com/repo...it-mdr-168.gif:thumbsup: