Hey all:
After Dave Brubakers question about putting a warning light on a restored MV
I started thinking about warning lights and the general lawlessness of some
of the participants in this hobby
While I am the first to restore a vehicle to factory condition, even if it
does not meet current safety standards (I.e.single tail lights, no reverse
lights, no seat belts...) I really take objection to people who put blue or
red or amber warning lights, sirens, or the markings including the words
POLICE, AMBULANCE (i.e. Military police, Security Police...)
Besides having been a member of the public safety community, I am in the
business of building and equipping emergency vehicles, and have been for
almost 20 years, in four states. Each state has laws that specify what
type/color of warning device can be displayed by what type vehicle. While
the Military is generally exempt from there regulations; we, as Military
Vehicle collectors are not.
I have at least two people in my club that are blatant violators with
illegal colored lights, and I can not even count how many members have
sirens mounted and operational on their vehicles. It is one thing if we were
to trailer these vehicles to shows, park them on the line and trailer them
home, but most of us drive to and from, drive in parades and generally tool
about town in our HMVs. The temptation to sound the siren is great: It is
fun, for a change you are on the other side of the siren switch, It get
peoples attention, lets the nit-wit who cut you off know that you are
someone "important", it also gets you noticed my the local (or not local)
law enforcement communality. It may be fun rationalize that we are slow
moving vehicles with poor rear lighting and, and to drive around with the
amber beacon rotating , but it confuses civilian drivers, and could add more
danger than it averts.
Bear in mind that even mounting a light/siren on a vehicle in many cases is
illegal: The blue light does not have to be illuminated for you to be
charged with criminal impersonation, it just need to me mounted on the
vehicle.
Some suggested guidelines:
1- Check your States motor vehicle laws and other applicable statutes (i.e.
impersonation of Police officer...) before mounting lights.
2- If it is legal to mount a light (probably an amber one), check to see
when you can legally operate it. (i.e. only if you are moving; stopped at an
accident; moving less than 10 MPH....)
3- If you are worried about being rear ended in you MV, instead of the
revolving light, hook up and use
4 way flashers (Permanent or magnetic) (Though using them while moving on a
vehicle under a certain weight is illegal in some states like NH )
4- Make canvas covers for the lights for when you are operating on public
ways.
5-If you have a MP Jeep/ M43 ambulance, make blank magnetic strips to
obliverate the word Police/ Ambulance on the vehicle while you are
opperating in public.
6- If you mount a siren on the vehicle, do not hook it up. We are not
emergency vehicles, we do not have the right/need to clear traffic...
7 If you do hook it up, DO NOT use your siren in a parade: It is becoming
the standard for emergency service to use the siren as a signal to clear the
parade route for a REAL emergency..
I know that these views will generate some hatred and flames, but think
about it; does the hobby need a bad reputation based on the illegal actions
of a few putzes?
Respectfully submitted,
Hank
(Waiting for Ron with his counter view<G>)
Stay tuned; tommorows topic: Fake or real guns on HMVs: What are you
thinking?
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Mon Oct 08 2001 - 10:58:56 PDT