Any actual serving police persons on here?

[Bobthebeard]

Reason for asking is that I have had conflicting advice about using the now copified* Mercury on the road.

Only driven it home from the signwriters so far but got grumbled at by a real cop. Is it legal to drive an historic and clearly foreign Police car in the UK? No flashing lights fitted or such silly stuff... Just a replica 1993 NYPD cop car.

Didn't get into bother, but the police chappy suggested that it was illegal and should be on a trailer!

I disagree, many other such cars exist and are driven, but would welcome any advice or wisdom!

[KruJoe]

I think BenjyP [sp?] is with North Yorks traffic, I may be wrong.

[worldofceri]

Pretty sure you have to cover up the POLICE wording and cover/remove the lights.  Otherwise ILLEGAL!

[Bobthebeard]

Pretty sure you have to cover up the POLICE wording and cover/remove the lights.  Otherwise ILLEGAL!

Lights not fitted ever on the road.... The POLICE wording is the worrying bit. Some say yeah, some say no.

[dugong]

It isn't the policeman's job to interpret the law - that's a court's job.

 

It's either illegal or it isn't. Where are you based, BDB? Still in Lancashire? I'm surprised JQL could see it in the torrential rain.

[Bobthebeard]

It isn't the policeman's job to interpret the law - that's a court's job.It's either illegal or it isn't. Where are you based, BDB? Still in Lancashire? I'm surprised JQL could see it in the torrential rain.

Yep. Still in Lancashire...

[Bobthebeard]

It isn't the policeman's job to interpret the law - that's a court's job.It's either illegal or it isn'.

Strangely enough that is exactly the answer I got when I emailed the local police....

The court will decide.

 

I don't actually want to go to court thankyou! Just want some advice from the Police... No advice has been offered.

[eddyramrod]

I have quietly looked into this before, some years ago.  IIRC you're not allowed the word "Police" on the car, nor blue lights.  Lights are easy, you just shove the bar in the trunk, but the wording needs to be dealt with at the graphic-planning stage really.  It would seem that "Sheriff," "State Trooper" or "Highway Patrol" should be ok.

[Lacquer Peel]

It's a crime against taste and decency.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Yes, I thought the same as WoC. Blue lights even if not wired up are a no no, people usually seem to get away with putting covers over them, although technically they are supposed to be removed completely. The word Police is not allowed either, covering with tape or a magnetic taxi type door sign seems common, perhaps you could get some made up advertising your services to kill 2 birds with o1 stone.

All the NYPD and Protect and Serve type bollocks is OK though.

[dugong]

Strangely enough that is exactly the answer I got when I emailed the local police....

The court will decide.

 

I don't actually want to go to court thankyou! Just want some advice from the Police... No advice has been offered.

I've asked a plod-spec friend of mine over on THE OTHER SIDE in Yorkshire; if she doesn't know she'll ask someone who does.

Asked Lancs 5-0 press office on your behalf, too.

 

Also, I believe Bren is one of GMP's finest.

[Bobthebeard]

I have quietly looked into this before, some years ago.  IIRC you're not allowed the word "Police" on the car, nor blue lights.  Lights are easy, you just shove the bar in the trunk, but the wording needs to be dealt with at the graphic-planning stage really.  It would seem that "Sheriff," "State Trooper" or "Highway Patrol" should be ok.

Ahh. Hmmm. The light bar is in the boot/trunk, but the Mercury has POLICE writ large on all sides.... Am going to contact the graphics guys to see if they can make a slim magnetic cover sign that just says NYPD to go over the POLICE bits whilst on the road.

[eddyramrod]

Ford Crown Vic, replica Michigan State Police cruiser.  I saw this at the M61 services, so it obviously goes out on the road.

We need to get you guys together!

[Bobthebeard]

It's a crime against taste and decency.

Lol... Here we go....

 

[plasticvandan]

you cant have police written on it,i know the minor panda guys have to cover them up or remove them if being used on the road.

[Bren]

I think signs covered up (you can get magnetic covers) and preferably lightbar in boot while you are on the move.

[garbaldy]

Change it to polite.

[Bobthebeard]

Change it to polite.

No. Never ever.

[nick]

Change it to polite.

 

The horse rider jackets do that and it looks ok.................. from a distance!

[Craig the Princess]

I think for the price of two squares of magnetic stuff to cover it over, it would be worth doing to avoid the arguement.

[vulgalour]

Just tape over the O,L and C. Then it just reads PIE

[alf892]

Leave POLICE on.........in most areas the increased presence should be welcomed.

 

I think you might be in bother if you start to charge for patrolling though........

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

Change it to LICE and start scratching yourself frantically when pulled over.

[Uncle Jimmy]

Police

Poultice

Poultry

Political

Politburo

Pol Pot

Polonium....

[UltraWomble]

I thought American cop cars had red flashing lights?

[vulgalour]

Police

Poultice

Poultry

Political

Politburo

Pol Pot

Polonium....

Polonez!

 

That's numberwang.

[Junkman]

I thought American cop cars had red flashing lights?

 

They can have either, even a combination.

 

[UltraWomble]

They can have either, even a combination.

 

 

 

 

I dont watch a lot of telly these days so all I remembr are red ones, like the one Kodak used to have on his car.

 

Who loves ya baby?

[Junkman]

These guys had a red one, too:

 

 

But that doesn't mean it was the rule.

 

 

 

 

[Mr A Lawrence]

you'd have to be pretty stupid and probably need your licence taken away if you confuse this

 

With this.