Friday, March 14, 2008
Fake police car is street-legal, officials say
LAS VEGAS, New Mexico (AP) -- Jessie Vigil isn't a police officer, but the car he drives sure makes him look like one.
Vigil painted his 2007 Ford Mustang black and white, added a red-and-blue emergency bar across the top and painted the word "police" on the doors.
The decorating started last summer, in an effort to make the car look like the police cruiser in the "Transformers" movie because his 7-year-old son, Thomas, was a fan.
"My intent was to re-create the movie car," said Vigil, a 35-year-old disabled veteran from the war in Iraq. "When I came back from Iraq, I tried to spoil him. I wasn't the best dad before."
Law enforcement agencies say what he's done with his car isn't illegal as long as he doesn't act like a police officer...
...Vigil did take some liberties with his design. Instead of the familiar slogan "To protect and serve," the car carries the words "To punish and enslave" on the side. Instead of telling people to dial 911 for emergencies, the Mustang advises them to "dial 411 for theater information."
Oh sure, I'd rather have an Optimus Prime truck, but it'd do.
I don't know about New Mexico, specifically, but that red light bar is illegal in most states. Non-LE / non-emergency vehicles and vessels can use amber lights, but not red or blue.
It's hard to tell exactly, but I don't think they're real lights if you look close.