I feel duped.

"sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
08/03/2014 at 16:35 • Filed to: None

I was cruising on I-80 today, minding my own business and going only a little over the limit, when suddenly, a wild state trooper appeared in my rear view mirror. Now, a NE state trooper Dodge Charger, from the front, looks like this:

All black, no logos, just the bull bar, light bar, and mirror searchlights to tell you it's a cop. So of course, I backed down to exactly the speed limit, moved over one lane, and assumed that 5 over was not going to get me stopped. However, when he blew by me, I immediately noticed something; he had chrome aftermarket rims. And, as it turned out, a standard citizen's plate on the rear (NE requires front plates, which he ain't got). No security company logo, no nothing, just a car identical to the one above in every way, apart from some fancy wheels. If it took me that long to figure out he wasn't a cop, I think he could probably pull over some random person, and they wouldn't know he wasn't the real thing. Hell, every single car on the highway slowed down and got out of his way. Ironic, because I don't think anything on his car could be considered "impersonating an officer", unless his behavior was.

DISCUSSION (27)

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/03/2014 at 16:39

If he didn't have a required front plate and the State Trooper don't have to have them, then I think that is grounds to report it at least.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
08/03/2014 at 16:40

I didn't get his plate #. I feel dumb.

Actally, I think some state trooper vehicles DO have front plates, but not all of them. Either way, he had to have them.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/03/2014 at 16:43

I don't think lightbars are legal to even have unless they're Amber.

Racescort666 > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/03/2014 at 16:43

If I had a vehicle like that, the only time I would mess with someone would be if I thought they were drinking and driving.

Also, I think Chicagoland may have desensitized me to speeding on the highway. In the last 2 weeks, I haven't even clicked off my cruise from 15 over when seeing cops come up from behind me.

JGrabowMSt > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/03/2014 at 16:44

A light bar would have been grounds for impersonating a cop. Very not legal to have one unless youre a first responder, even lights in the grill will be a world of trouble. The A-pillar lights are kosher, as is the bull bar.

The license plate would have been very identifiable though. SP, SG, MP, it would have a specific plate to what jurisdiction they have. Even "undercover" cops have this 95% of the time.

claramag, Mustaco Master > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/03/2014 at 16:44

Was the light bar externally mounted? Seems like the diver could get in some trouble for that

Still, pretty sure we've all thought of picking up a crown vic and doing the same at one point or another, this is just the next evolutionary step

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
08/03/2014 at 16:45

These were white. The problem with an LED light bar is, it only has any color when the lights are on. They could be amber, but if they aren't on, amber and red/blue look exactly the same.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Racescort666
08/03/2014 at 16:46

I have been in a car that was stopped for doing 78 in a 75.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > JGrabowMSt
08/03/2014 at 16:47

Unfortunately, amber light bars are legal here. And if it's an LED light bar, which this was, ambers and red/blues both are just white when off, so you can't tell then apart.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > claramag, Mustaco Master
08/03/2014 at 16:48

Roof mounted. However, due to a loophole in the law, it is legal here.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/03/2014 at 16:51

I would still call up or visit the actual troopers and tell them about it. They might have some fun with that douchebag.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/03/2014 at 16:52

Could always just tip that someone might be trying to impersonate and to be on the lookout for an unmarked Charger without a front tag in said area.

JGrabowMSt > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/03/2014 at 16:56

well, its still likely that it was a cop. Not all cop cars have steelies. It may have been waiting for new wheels, tires, or something else.

Or some jackass mounted a light bar onto a retired cruiser they bought, and got themselves a 'do whatever they want' pass.

I had a friend with a retired crown vic. He started wearing polos with a crew cut, and became a left lane hog. He just waved at state police in the median and kept going. Never had a problem once, but it was hard to break the habit when he got rid of the car.

SkilletHead > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/03/2014 at 17:03

In most places, it's legal, at least with a license.

Last I checked here in GA, you're supposed to pay 10 or 15 bucks a year for a license to have one on your car. You have to need it for a legitimate reason, which can include often driving below the speed limit or having to park on the side of the road often. Common for construction vehicles and wreckers to have them around here, but nothing about the law limits them to such vehicles.

I'd be surprised if anyone ever got charged for not having their license, though.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > JGrabowMSt
08/03/2014 at 17:04

When I say chrome wheels, I mean like this:

not this:

JGrabowMSt > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/03/2014 at 17:08

well thats awkward

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/03/2014 at 17:11

Such a rebel

Slow4o > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/03/2014 at 17:27

Somewhat related anecdote: Mario Williams still owns a house here in Houston, and among his ridiculous collection of sexy cars, he has a Camaro in matte black with a bull bar and long tube headers with the license plate "CNSTBLE". After the first time I saw it, a couple days later I saw a news article that said he donated 5 Camaro's to HPD, which made his choice of license plate and bull bar make a lot more sense.

Racescort666 > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/03/2014 at 17:29

Getting a ticket for anything less than 10 over is bs IMO.

If I ever get stopped on the highway in Chicago, I will make the LEO sign my letter to the state congress explaining that the speed limits need to changed to something more realistic because 55 mph is a dangerously low speed limit.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/03/2014 at 17:33

Hey, I didn't choose the thug life. The thug life chose me.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Racescort666
08/03/2014 at 17:33

I'll sign lol

Arben72 > Racescort666
08/03/2014 at 17:40

15 over in some parts of Chicago is recklessly slow. 70 just barely let's you keep up with traffic in the 55 zones. Then they make the joke of raising speed limits to 70 in the middle of nowhere where the majority are doing atleast 80.

Racescort666 > Arben72
08/03/2014 at 18:39

70 is my "set the cruise and hang out in the right lane" speed. I think the fastest I've ever been passed at was 100. I was in the far left lane behind another guy doing 100 when a Ferrari blasted by us.

Rico > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/03/2014 at 19:33

I deal with this in NY all the time, unmarked cars are usually Chevy Impalas with steelies and really dark tints. Regular citizens have caught on so they've bought some of these Impalas and do the same setup. People including myself have moved out of their way or felt slightly nervous since we assume it's likely a cop.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Rico
08/03/2014 at 20:25

Better safe than sorry. I slow down and move to the right if a car looks anything like a charger/crown vic/impala/suburban. Granted I dont usually speed very much, but its still good practice.

Rico > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/03/2014 at 20:36

So I just went to walk my dog and came across this offender.

at night I would mistake this for an unmarked police car.

Buick Mackane > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/04/2014 at 00:30

If he wasn't a cop, then he is definitely going to jail soon when he gets stopped by a real cop. From what you told us in your story, the missing front plate is one infraction, a minor one, but having a light bar (blue, red, white strobes) on his car is definitely illegal, so he is soon going to get charged with "impersonating a police officer".