Well, ever sense igot my lightbars installed, i just cantstop TURNING THEM ON! i just cant help it… im pretty sure its agenst thelaw, but i just want to hear some peoples stories about their lightbars on their ectomobiles and their run ins with the law. THANKS DUDES!
My run-ins: Don’t do it.
You can run them wherever you want but it’s not legal. I’ve asked around and with most things it really depends on your area and the cop pulling you over. Lights or not, a cop can pull you over and if they aren’t in a good mood that day or don’t like you for a particular reason they can write you up.
You can run them on back roads or sidestreets, I don’t recommend them on main streets or highways it increases the risk.
Run them in parking lots or in front of friends houses.
ha, i know but its SO tempting! well…what about the LED scrollign marquis? are those legal to have scrolling while im driving? i have to have something light up while im driving this thing around!
Don’t do it!
(I got a light bar today! The thing has strobes, take downs, flashers and offcourse rotator lights.. I really want to hook it up and use it on something for fun too.. but it is pretty illegal unless you have a legitiamate need to use it.. and Ghostbusters ain’t one.)
Allow me to refer you to policeposers.com
LEO impersonation is a fairly serious problem, and being labeled a whacker by your local cops isn’t going to land you in any fun situations.
Hm. I’ve seen Ecto Vehicles here on Long Island using Amber lights (They were ON on Sunrise Highway; TRLIGBs had them on their Ecto-XB) and I don’t believe the Po-Po had any problem with it.
However I’m going to double check with Suffolk and Nassau county Police offices.
Guys,
The basic majority about Lightbars.
If you are STATIONARY, turning them on is fine, just becareful about creating a large crowd for the Local Police to deal with.
If you are in motion, you can NOT be on a PUBLIC access road. That means any road way that has people going up and down on them. If there is a Street sign of any sorts, it’s probably a PUBLIC roadway.
Hope this clarifies some of the misgivings about Lightbars.
-Robert
Why dont police concentrate on stuff that actually matters and could help people and save lives?
I know somebody who was stopped for apparently being on mobile phone whilst driving… After my friend informed them that he didnt own a mobile phone, they replied with
“well, you can have a fixed penalty for not wearing your seatbelt then.”
Jobsworths!!!
Lawrence
Interesting that you put it that way.
Watching out for the public and making sure someone doesn’t get assaulted or killed by someone that misrepresents themselves as someone of the LE or some type of Emergency branch, is our concern.
Just like any job in the world, you have people that are exceptional at what they do and you have ones that tarnish the image.
Laws are in place for those that wish to cause harm to the general public, before you spout about how no one is doing any harm with running lights, place yourself in the general public. If you saw someone running down the street with multiple color lights, would you give the right of way? No, you probably would freeze up and cause an accident.
Those that do have the right to display lights, still come across people not paying attention or is mesmerized by the lights and cause accidents.
So, be thankful someone was looking out for the public and stop things before they happen. Most Emergency services rather be pro-active then re-active when something happens.
Puts away his soapbox
Sorry for the lecture.
-Robert
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Another thing one must realize are police are just people. People working a job.
It’s their job to interpret the law, and just like all people they can have good or bad days.
To pull you over or write you up is up to them, if they don’t particularly like your car or when they pull you over they don’t like how you deal with them.
Driving like a lunatic in an emergency with the lights on is a good way to have the wrath of your local police brought down on you for good reason.
In the grand scheme of things there are more important things police offers could be going after. But remember it’s just a job like any other. There are bosses, there are quotas and there are people who you have to keep happy.
To this all up lol. It’s up to the police to decided what’s illegal in their mind and what’s worth pursuing.
So if you do use them, just stay frosty and be prepared for the worse cast scenario.
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When i finally get an Ecto i will have a blue light bar, but will make some Blue soft plastic covers for it just to strap over when driving. Then atleast you still get the impression of it being there and it can be removed when needed.
I think that would kinda keep everyone happy…
Lawrence
i just want to let everyone know, that in NO WAY was i saying or suggesting that running red lights or pulling people over with my lightbar or doing anything of that nature is good. i was speaking more in the manner of, once i turned down the street i live on, or the street of a friends house, turning them on and pulling in(as if i was going there to actually bust ghosts or the paranormal!). i can say that on a few occasions, during stop lights, people were literally shouting at me to turn them on, which i did for about 2 seconds. but thank you for everyones input! im new to this site and its GREAT to get feed back from fellow ghostbusters fans!
Well here in the UK we can use Amber lights if we are travelling under 20mph. (as far as i can make out that is, laws are confusing)
I would only want blue lights on my ecto, even if i didnt get to use them… I think its a big detail i wouldnt want to miss! and if it meant the police would take away my car or give me 3 points on my license… then i just simply wouldnt turn them on.
Lawrence
I used to think the same way, but it’s completely impractical. Blue lights even just having them on your car is illegal. Cops can look the other way in cases where a ghostbusters car is an exact replica. The fact of the matter is tho, it is up to the cops to look the other way. they can write up even the original ecto-1 if they wanted to because it is NOT an emergency vehicle. At least with amber lights you can run them even only at limited times. Plus those are not illegal to have just illegal to run in certain situations.
Watch the first 30 seconds of this, and you will understand completely.
http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/191901/
Public trust, man. Public trust.
HOWEVER, I think that certain LEOs sort of set themselves up for confusion. If we had say, a national light law that regulated what colors go on certain vehicles, this wouldn’t happen. In my town, amber is used by everything from towtrucks to comcast, but there are also police cars fitted with amber lights that have the same authority and duties as regular red/blue squad cars. I think that’s silly.
A cop car with Amber lights!?! I don’t know about you but with all the crazies out there today,I’m not pulling over and stopping for amber lights–Cop or not.Seems really stupid to me.
I’m sure if it’s a Cop you will stop, if not intially then after they are joined by a fleet of law enforcement who intend to stay in hot pursuit.
haha “Our lady of blessed acceleration, don’t fail me now!”
I think the local bylaw enforcement uses amber lights.
btw I like your chev, it makes a good ecto! I don’t have the guts to do that to my chebby, lol! 