How far can you go when restoring a SSP in NC?

[BarryBum]

I am wanting to restore a SSP Mustang back to the original NC black and silver paint scheme. I am planning on doing the state trooper and state seal on a magnet so they can only be applied at shows. I am wanting to know how far I can go without crossing the impersonating an officer line. I would like to do the wig wags, strobes, antennea whip, and fake (old) radio and scanners. I called the NC attorney generals office today and I am awaiting a return call in hopes that some of my questions will be answered. How about you guys, what can ya'll tell me??
Oh yea, new guy here....from Western NC.........glad to be here....

[ImEvil1]

Welcome Barry.

Here's a link to the NC General Statutes. I checked briefly, but I didn't find the sections on prohibited lights, color schemes, etc. and I'm otd for a few. I'll look again for you when I get back, if you don't find something first.

Please post up some pics of your car when you can, too (don't see many NC cars).

http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/Statutes/StatutesTOC.pl

[86NeSSP]

Here's 1 from a quick search.

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.

(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.)

[BarryBum]

ok, that covers the light deal............no blue or red lights.
Now, I wonder about the "State Trooper" and state seal on the door??
I know the color scheme is probably ok, and the antennea whip would probably be ok.....but I am curious about the wording.
Here is a pic, not of the actual car, but what I want the finished product to be:

[FHP813]

If you want to be safe, just cover the lights and put the decals on magnets or cover them up and you should be ok. I don't think any state allows civilians to have "police" or "trooper" wording on any car.

[ImEvil1]

I'll echo what Bernie and Matt said (and be careful...the statute above refers to POSSESSING blue lights, not just display).

The only other one I could find was this:

http://www.ncleg.net/EnactedLegislat..._20-137.2.html

§ 20‑137.2. Operation of vehicles resembling law‑enforcement vehicles unlawful; punishment.
(a) It is unlawful for any person other than a law‑enforcement officer of the State or of any county, municipality, or other political subdivision thereof, with the intent to impersonate a law‑enforcement officer, to operate any vehicle, which by its coloration, insignia, lettering, and blue or red light resembles a vehicle owned, possessed, or operated by any law‑enforcement agency.
(b) Violation of subsection (a) of this section is a Class 1 misdemeanor. (1979, c. 567, s. 1; 1993, c. 539, s. 362; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).)

Key words above in bold. I think you'd be fine with the decals covered, "Show Car" signage, etc. No crime if there's no ill-intent.

[DJP55]

The third post quoting the law even says "Install"...so installing lights and covering them probably won't fly.

[ImEvil1]

Originally Posted by DJP55

The third post quoting the law even says "Install"...so installing lights and covering them probably won't fly.

If it's unlawful to possess them, it's also unlawful to install them, so that sounds right.

[jarhed123]

You can always install the lights but put clear filters on them or green or amber filters. When you take the car to a show you change the filters to the colors you need.

If the car is going to be a DD I would not put the state seal on them nor would I put "State Trooper". If it is going to be only a show car then I would place all on it and cover it with the magnetic sign.

You should not have any trouble with just the color or the antenna. The way the law is worded even a white CV could fall into the bad category if it is used unlawfully.

Good luck with the resto.