I Got Stopped By Police In The Most Miss Mercedes Way..

"Mercedes Streeter" (smart) 10/02/2020 at 11:06 • Filed to: School Bus, miss mercedes skoolie

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So I just got stopped by the police in the most me way. I came outside to take the bus to work and see two police cars, one parked behind the bus, one blocking the path of exit. One of the officers is slowly walking around the bus, peering into the windows.

The officer asks me if I’m the owner of the bus, then upon hearing it’s owned by a private individual she laughs and said somebody called them saying they’re concerned because “some kids might be in trouble”. T hey’ve never seen a school bus just parked in a neighbourhood before. The cops laughed it off, noted down that said school bus is not a problem, and rolled away. The management for the condo association also had a good laugh and gave me the ok. A good laugh to start my Friday. Whew, I’m certainly awake now!

In other news, I’ve removed the droopy exhaust pipe. Still quiet enough, but now with more turbo sounds! In bad news, it looks like one of the transmission lines sprung a leak. Thankfully it’s a slow leak and double thankfully, as it’s a freaking bus there’s a ton of room to work on it. :)

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > Mercedes Streeter 10/02/2020 at 11:13

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Wow. Great laugh...

Makes you wonder when “seeing a school bus” became “probable cause for a traffic stop”.

Be safe!

vondon302 > Mercedes Streeter 10/02/2020 at 11:14

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I bet this won't be the only time this happens. 

Mercedes Streeter > vondon302 10/02/2020 at 11:15

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Agreed, which is why I’m definitely going to paint it a different color now. You’d think the private plates and the blacked out district identifier would be enough to differentiate it from a bus that’s actually in service, but I guess not.

Mercedes Streeter > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish 10/02/2020 at 11:17

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I’m betting it’s because it’s still yellow and I guess vaguely looks like it could still be in service. Though it’s weird because pretty much all my neighbors know a school bus is definitely within my MO. lol

I suddenly understand why so few skoolies remain yellow.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > Mercedes Streeter 10/02/2020 at 11:20

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I double-dare you to find one of these...

Sovande > Mercedes Streeter 10/02/2020 at 11:21

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I’m just happy you commute in this thing...

PS9 > Mercedes Streeter 10/02/2020 at 11:22

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Why do you have a bus?

benn454 > Mercedes Streeter 10/02/2020 at 11:23

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 Technically, it's illegal in many places to have a bus painted School Bus Yellow that isn't an actual in service school bus. Couldn't tell you if it's actually enforced all that often.

My bird IS the word > Mercedes Streeter 10/02/2020 at 11:23

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You should do something fun with the exterior lights. Or maybe put mock kc covers over them

Beefchips > Mercedes Streeter 10/02/2020 at 11:24

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Lol I would have been calling the city non stop... round here people buy school buses and campers to live in on the street. And then they have all the trash, drugs, fights etc etc

Mercedes Streeter > benn454 10/02/2020 at 11:28

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Looked up the law and sure enough, such is the case here in Illinois. The cops didn’t seemed at all concerned with the legality, just wanted to confirm if the bus was indeed harboring some children. lol

Mercedes Streeter > PS9 10/02/2020 at 11:29

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Present from my girlfriend. We’re building it into a camper!

Mercedes Streeter > Beefchips 10/02/2020 at 11:33

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But would you call the city on someone who clearly isn’t a homeless person hoarding trash and drugs? Bit of a different situation here. lol I mean, it’s literally parked next to my apartment.

Mercedes Streeter > My bird IS the word 10/02/2020 at 11:34

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They actually still work!!! I accidentally activated them while trying to figure out what each switch does. lol

I love this idea, though. :D

benn454 > Mercedes Streeter 10/02/2020 at 11:36

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  I've seen a few around here in Southern Illinois that were repainted black and turned into party buses. You can tell they were former school buses though since they still have the red and yellow 4 ways.

Mercedes Streeter > benn454 10/02/2020 at 11:38

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My planned color is going to be a turquoise and white. Running out of warm days to paint it so I guess I should do that sooner rather than later!  

ibRAD > PS9 10/02/2020 at 11:40

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Perhaps you should ask yourself why you DON’T have a bus!

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > Mercedes Streeter 10/02/2020 at 11:44

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And, it’s clearly “out of service” with the markings blacked over. So, there’s no reason to call the rozzers on this one. None.

BTW, does your fine state require a CDL to drive one of these?  I’m looking at an Airport Type Shuttle Bus for a similar conversion, but am never sure on where the dividing line is for CDL requirement.

benn454 > Mercedes Streeter 10/02/2020 at 11:48

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 Eh, it's Illinois in the fall. One day it's 30, the next it's 80. ¯\_()_/¯ 

Mercedes Streeter > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish 10/02/2020 at 12:04

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I know one of the condo association people has an axe to grind with me because of my Gambler cars. He reports ANY vehicle that’s not as pretty as his truck and it annoys everyone. Association bylaws do not state anything about car condition other than “has to run and drive”, so his powers are weak outside of annoying everyone. Wouldn’t be surprised if the report actually came from him.

Illinois is *slightly* more strict than other states. You’re limited to 16,000 pounds on a standard Class D. That number jumps to 26,000 if the vehicle is a rental. Otherwise, to exceed 16,000 or a certain number of seats will require at least a Class C, CDL or non-CDL . CDL requirements are entirely waived for any vehicle with an RV registration. Illinois has a tough process to turn a bus registration into an RV registration, s o the first thing people will do is get an RV registration from Vermont.

Beefchips > Mercedes Streeter 10/02/2020 at 12:05

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True, no I guess not.  I do admire the kind hearts of your neighbors who assumed some kids were in trouble

Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer > Mercedes Streeter 10/02/2020 at 12:06

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You bought a school bus?  I’ve not been paying close attention obviously. Does seem like the next logical step in ecclectic automotive tastes.  Might I suggest half-camper half mobile gambler and bike collection garage?  because that would be f’n BOSS. 

Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer > Mercedes Streeter 10/02/2020 at 12:08

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needs “D anger Acid Rock” painted on the side. 

Mercedes Streeter > Beefchips 10/02/2020 at 12:12

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Same! Though a part of me wonders if “kids are in trouble” is just a cover for “can I get the police to tow this thing out of here?”

I have the blessing of the condo association to park it there until my storage spot is ready, so they can shove it. lol

Mercedes Streeter > Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer 10/02/2020 at 12:14

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My girlfriend bought me it for my birthday! Well, she worked out a deal where I traded the $900 Harley for it, anyway.

Funny enough, those are roughly my exact plans! Rear section of the bus will hold motorcycles and tools, while the rest will be a camper and tow rig for my Gamblers.

Granted, given the weaker transmission this bus has I’ll have to be careful not to make it tow a car that’s too heavy.

Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer > Mercedes Streeter 10/02/2020 at 12:21

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I had a hunch.   Good deal, you can’t camp IN a harley,  but a harley can camp in a bus. 

flatisflat > Mercedes Streeter 10/02/2020 at 12:26

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When I realized just now that the “bought a school bus” post the other day was by Miss Mercedes. 

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > Mercedes Streeter 10/02/2020 at 12:26

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This is very cool. Though I’m surprised the whoever sold it to you wasn’t required to remove the “school bus” placards first. They’re just screwed on there, right?

Mercedes Streeter > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind 10/02/2020 at 12:31

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Looking at both IL and WI state law, you’d be correct. I guess he thought he could get away with simply blacking out the school district name. The cops this morning didn’t have any problems with it, so we’re good for now, I guess.

Cé hé sin > Mercedes Streeter 10/02/2020 at 12:41

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A bus? This is an, er, interesting purchase. Can you drive that on a  car licence there? I’d need a course of lessons, a medical, an online exam and an actual test.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Mercedes Streeter 10/02/2020 at 13:02

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Could scratch off letters and  make the rear the “ cool bus”

Captain of the Enterprise > Mercedes Streeter 10/02/2020 at 13:04

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Where are you going to keep it? Also I’ve seen some sweet camper conversions in these, should be cool!

My bird IS the word > Mercedes Streeter 10/02/2020 at 13:06

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I was trying to think of something else but when it comes to flashing lights you get into trouble real fast.

Kiltedpadre > Mercedes Streeter 10/02/2020 at 13:11

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Might be a good idea to paint over where it says school bus above the rear door. Maybe the busybody couldn’t be bothered to look at the side to verify that it was decommissioned.

Then the next logical step is post online for local graffiti artists to do a bitchin mural on the sides for you. Well, it may not be logical but would look cool as hell. Maybe a wizard on a scooter jumping a fleet of smarts Evel Knievel style?

Mercedes Streeter > My bird IS the word 10/02/2020 at 13:22

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Oh that’s very much true. My friends with their skoolie only play with the flashing lights when they arrive at camp. Puts on a good show, for sure! lol

Mercedes Streeter > Kiltedpadre 10/02/2020 at 13:23

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Ooh you have neat ideas!! We’re definitely going to paint the whole bus a different color ASAP as it seems yellow attracts unwanted attention.

Mercedes Streeter > Captain of the Enterprise 10/02/2020 at 13:24

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Storage facility down the street. :)

Mercedes Streeter > Cé hé sin 10/02/2020 at 13:26

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Us here in the land of freedom (sarcasm, lol) do things a bit worse differently.

So long as you register your massive vehicle as a recreational vehicle you do not need anything resembling a commercial license.

Americans can pilot gigantic palaces on wheels with just a standard license because of this. The RV industry works hard to make sure such will never change.

Kiltedpadre > Mercedes Streeter 10/02/2020 at 13:32

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I figure people love a good street van with a cool mural, and you’ve got an extra 30ft of canvas to work with.

I have plenty of awesome or potentially terrible ideas. You could do a western design with the stage coach replaced by a smart towed by scooters, a trijet morphing into a dragon, well I guess off the top of my head I have two more ideas, but I’m happy to brainstorm more.

Manny05x > Mercedes Streeter 10/02/2020 at 13:47

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Spray the letters until it says “Cool Bus”

i86hotdogs > Kiltedpadre 10/02/2020 at 15:42

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The easy solution is paint over the “S” and “H” and make it say “C OOL BUS”

Textured Soy Protein > Mercedes Streeter 10/02/2020 at 17:19

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This livery will help reduce future police interactions.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > Mercedes Streeter 10/03/2020 at 17:22

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My sports cars are registered in Montana... my RV’s registered in Vermont.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Mercedes Streeter 10/28/2020 at 14:35

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Did I ever tell you about how I drove a school bus when I was 18 and kept it and dailied it?

Jim Spanfeller > Mercedes Streeter 10/28/2020 at 19:04

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Heck, if it’s basically a $900 bus, you could chop out the middle, weld the ends back together, sell the excess for scrap, and race that sucker at the 24 hours of Lemons.