Fake LEO enounter?

[ecoboostsho]

So I know there are a few cops on this board and I have to admit I am a little hesitant to post this but I thought I would anyway and get some feedback.

I was driving home from work today with my wife in the SHO.  I was on the Interstate going 78 in a 70...so admittedly speeding but nothing I consider excessive.  I pass a couple of cars and next thing I know one of them was an older and very crappy Chevy Impala who then proceed to jump on my rear end...and when I say close I mean within a foot or two.  Needless to say I was not happy.  I can't pull over right away as there are traffic/cars to my right and I'm none too happy about how close this guy is so I get on it a bit thinking I'll pull over and let him go by...I get to about 85 pulling away quickly and next thing I know I look back and there are "lights" flashing away.  I gulped and slowed down...pulled over as soon as I could and the guy goes buy and looks over but keeps going.  End of encounter he just keeps driving fast.

Here's the thing though...the impala is vintage 2001 with some rust spots on it.  It does have the GPS puck on the trunk, but the lights hidden in the grille were dim and all red (no alternating red/blue/led strobe etc...)  Let's just say that after it passed me it looked less than official and a little too much like a wanna be.

I almost wanted to follow him and see what the hell his deal was but didn't think that would be the best idea.  I realize there are serious penalties for impersonating an officer so I don't know what to think.  I was prepared to get a ticket (probably deserved one to be honest) so I don't know if he was being cool or was actually a total d!ck.  Thoughts?

 

[noidster]

You never know. It could have been a undercover. What you need to do is check your state laws regarding unmarked vehicles used for traffic enforcement.

Here in California they cannot use unmarked cars primarily for traffic enforcement unless it's serious. i.e. reckless, DUI, hit and run etc...... Also in California they have to be in uniform to initiate a traffic stop.

Also keep in mind ( at least in California ) a cop is a cop no matter where he is within the state.

 

[mjhpadi]

You should have gotten the license and contacted an agency to check it out...anyone can get the lighting to appear like LEO.

 

[FracaSHO]

Sound shady.  I'm sure there are idiots out there who pick up used impalas and crown Vic's at police auctions, throw a couple cheap red and/or blue lights, and drive around acting like cops.


Brad
2010 SHO with PP
170* T-Stat
NGK LTR7IX plugs, gap at 0.030
BOV VTA
MyCal LMS Stage 4+
Sent from my iPhone

 

[JimiJak]

Well...I hate to post this, because it makes us look bad; but there needs to be accountability for stuff like this. What happened to you today is complete and utter BS...there is no excuse for it whatsoever...and it's a blatant abuse of privilege.

For those of you who don't know me, I am a firefighter; and damn proud of it. I would and do protect my profession with my life and there isn't a job in the world I would rather have (...except maybe porn star or race car driver. )

I am not familiar with the laws where you are, but what it sounds like to me is a paid on call firefighter with ruffled feathers. The term "volunteer" is still used, but a true volunteer department is hard to come by these days, if for no other reason, because of liability issues. So, departments that are not large enough to be full-time, have a part time, on -call staff that respond to each call as needed. The majority of these departments allow their firefighters to use POVs (Personally Owned Vehicles) to respond either directly to the scene, or to the station. They are allowed to affix emergency lights to their vehicle  to use only in direct response to a high priority call. In most states, these lights are only allowed to be red, and blue is reserved for police.

I have unfortunately had the disappointment of being involved in this very same issue, only my guy actually tried to pull me over by forcing me off the road...(it didn't go well for him)

I am very disappointed that you had to deal with this today. There is no excuse for some wannabe cop to abuse the privilege his public has entrusted him with, just to exact some road rage, or look cool to his buddies. With privilege and trust comes responsibility.

If you're in an area that has a paid on call fire department, I would give the chief a phone call, or shoot him an email just asking if he has any guys with a '91 impala and red grill lights...
This guy does not deserve to keep them, and I'm sure the chief will agree, since it's his reputation on the line when people abuse it. 

-Jack

 

[ecoboostsho]

Thanks for your post.  I have the utmost respect for what you do and appreciate your service.  I read the MN statute and all red means either a volunteer firefighter or paramedic....or just some guy who decided to put lights on his car.  He got off at my exit and I live in a pretty small town/area.  What I find most disturbing is that I wasn't messing with this guy in any way before hand other than passing him.  I'm sure I will see him again eventually and I will be paying a little more attention to the car and maybe get a plate.  If it had been an actual LEO I would have had no problem with getting a ticket for speeding (well okay I wouldn't be happy about it but it would have been my fault) but this guy was pretty aggressive to say the least and I don't believe he was a LEO.

 

[TSS]

Sounds like an impersonator to me (all red lights - rust - 6th generation vehicle (current Impala is 9th generation)  etc). I have been a moderator on an Impala forum for about 4 years (used to have an 09 SS). We get guys on there all the time trying to make their cars look like undercover police cruisers. If they actually state their intent to impersonate, we ban them. We have many LEOs and FD personnell on the site because their service vehicles are Impalas - they do not take kindly to impersonators...to say the least. 

Somebody did something similar to me many years ago in MA on the Mass pike.  Also with red lights only.  I, however, turned the tables and pursued the pursuer and called 911 and followed until a cruiser came and pulled him over.  The guy claimed to have "accidentally" turned on the lights........    I was 22 at the time.... I would not do that again, I would just call 911 and let the LEO do their jobs.

 

[dalum]

I had them pegged as a "volunteer" fire/ems the second you said all red.  An impersonator would likely have blue as well and maybe strobes not just wig wags behind the grill.

 

[TSS]

not necessarily. Even having blue lights on your car in Michigan is illegal. If the police see blue lights, even if they are off, they would pull you over. They will not pull you over if they see red lights.

 

[JimiJak]

not necessarily. Even having blue lights on your car in Michigan is illegal. If the police see blue lights, even if they are off, they would pull you over. They will not pull you over if they see red lights.

True story, but if you're intentions are to truly impersonate an LEO, then you're probably trying to come as close to looking like a real cruiser as possible. If you have all red, you probably had them on there for another reason, like for your fire department.

Also, I see ecoboostedsho is in MN, I'm not sure what the laws are over there. Here in MI, only police are allowed to use blue, like you said. But in other states, paid on call personnel are ONLY allowed to use blue lights; Regardless, most POVs lights are only legally 'courtesy lights' and don't actually require you to yield the right of way, they're merely asking nicely for you to get out of the way...unlike true emergency apparatus.

 

[68_GT]

maybe he had a fire to go to and you were in the way ?! lol

LEO should have blue / red. I would guess it was some a hole who plugged up lights on a retired LEO vehicle. If that tried to pull me over I'd have to pull over at a police or fire station before I'd stop. I've been in the CJ field since 98 and have seen numerous wanna be impersonators and a rapist / impersonator. I tend to be an a-hole right back. I would have got his info and found / out complained.

 

[geswek]

I can't help it my car is black, blacked out, and looks like an unmarked cruiser.

It does get people out of my way though.

BAHAHAHA

I honestly thought about buying the clear LED lights they use on the interceptor for car shows this year. By shows, I mean the big sanctioned corporate ones where I could put the car on display inside a convention center. I thought it'd be cool to have red/blues flashing in front/rear windshields, but then that's money and time I don't care to invest--plus I'd have to set them up so I could remove them when I'm not at a show.

 

[BiGMaC]

I don't want any more lights... I want a stealth paintball gun (or 2!) that fires straight ahed every time some fool cuts across three lanes of traffic in front of me and triggers my collision avoidance!

 

[geswek]

I don't want any more lights... I want a stealth paintball gun (or 2!) that fires straight ahed every time some fool cuts across three lanes of traffic in front of me and triggers my collision avoidance!

What is Collision Avoidance? LMAO

I'm so glad I got the PP!

 

[BiGMaC]

CA... I think you may have it on the PP and it's just off....

Regardless of distance from an object/car straight in front of me, the car calculates my speed of closure/approach.  Regardless of my speed, if the car perceives I am potentially going to hit the object I'm approaching (ie, may not be able to stop  in time soon)... the windshield flashes red... bells go off... and the car brakes down as hard as it calculates to be necessary.  It will actually stop the car... I tested it with a cardboard box...I know, sounds like a nuisance... but it has saved me at least twice from having a custom front clip... gave me the 0.1 sec or so I needed to get my attention back on the driving.

Sensitivity is adjustable, and it can be turned off.

I suppose I could just carry a PB gun and lean out the window.... Bam!

 

[geswek]

CA... I think you may have it on the PP and it's just off....

Regardless of distance form an object/car straight in front of me, the car calculates my speed of closure/approach.  Regardless of my speed, if the car perceives I am potentially going to hit the object I'm approaching (ie, may not be able to stop  in time soon)... the windshield flashes red... bells go off... and the car brakes down as hard as it calculates to be necessary.  It will actually stop the car... I tested it with a cardboard box...I know, sounds like a nuisance... but it has saved me at least twice from having a custom front clip... gave me the 0.1 sec or so I needed to get my attention back on the driving.

Sensitivity is adjustable, and it can be turned off.

I suppose I could just carry a PB gun and lean out the window.... Bam!

LOL; CA isn't available on the PP cars. I knew what it was, just being a dork.

 

[BiGMaC]

CA... I think you may have it on the PP and it's just off....

Regardless of distance from an object/car straight in front of me, the car calculates my speed of closure/approach.  Regardless of my speed, if the car perceives I am potentially going to hit the object I'm approaching (ie, may not be able to stop  in time soon)... the windshield flashes red... bells go off... and the car brakes down as hard as it calculates to be necessary.  It will actually stop the car... I tested it with a cardboard box...I know, sounds like a nuisance... but it has saved me at least twice from having a custom front clip... gave me the 0.1 sec or so I needed to get my attention back on the driving.

Sensitivity is adjustable, and it can be turned off.

I suppose I could just carry a PB gun and lean out the window.... Bam!

LOL; CA isn't available on the PP cars. I knew what it was, just being a dork.