The reason??

I have a question. (well several) Why do the cops make such a fuss over some simple lights at the bottom of a car anyways? I would figure that a UB kit makes a car more visable at night and isn't that half the problem? ( "Oh officer I just didn't see him", as the 100 year old women and cop stand over my dead body after she side swipes me and sends me into a tree...) Come on already....I want to be noticed!! I mean with all the crazy people out there that are more concerned about whats on the radio and talking on their mobile phone you would think a little extra lighting wouldn't be a bad thing. But then I have to ask myself is it just a ploy for cops to get more money out of those of us with a little extra spending cash? ( I think so) Why not victomize those that have a means to pay thier stupid tickets? Right officer... I would really hope that the Police had better things to do then stopping people for a few extra lights on there cars. But then I guess none of us regular people would be able to get a donut either just kidding there 5.0 Anyway, the only conclusion I can come to as to why they are illegal, well, besides the extra income for the city. (gotta feed the judges!!) is it is protecting the stupid people (those who need the instructions on shampoo) from thinking we are all emergency vehicles (just really pimped out ones) and pulling over to let us by. Maybe a cop can answer this. If there are people dirving that would believe that, don't you think you should be protecting us from them? Seems that it's the stupid drivers that are causing all the accidents anyway.

Answers anyone???

It is unfortunate yes. However neons and other lights are only a form of distraction from what people usually see. People have a tendancy to rubberneck and try to see what all you have, or kids distract parents, and that can cause wrecks.

I must say you sound like an idiot for saying police deparments get more money based on the amoung of tickets they write. The money usually goes to the city and they decide what to do with it. The only way it could be a ploy is if a city enforced an oridnance against all forms of lighting and didn't turn the money in to the city from the courts. Do you get it? Most lighting laws are state-wide enforced anyway, so if you have a problem with them i recommend writing the state, but you won't get far with that, so just follow the rules and you'll be fine.

First let me start by saying I have friends that are cops so I know that not all cops are rude buttheads on a power trips so I will not be too disrespectful. Now is it really necessary to call me an idiot? Just guess it isn't possible for a cop (if that’s what you really are) such as yourself to have a little common courtesy. Funny when I posted this ad I had hoped to get a response from you (I saw a few of your earlier posts) to see how you responded. Not far from what I expected. I bet your one of those cops that always obey the law too and not like the rest of them that go flying by at twice the speed limit with no emergency lights on. (Must be shift change or lunch time..HUH) Needless to say although I have never got a ticket for my UB Kit nor do I plan to run them (to give a cop a reason to put down the coffee or stop talking to his buddy in the other cop car he's parked next to) I was just wanting someone to explain to me why and you have given me no solid reason why. Basically what you are saying is that lights are a distraction. Well so is a radio, cell phone, those bratty kids (you mentioned), Eating, cops sitting on the side of the road (what do you guys do all that time anyways??), and the list goes on and on. SOOOO please tell me officer why aren't we outlawing those??? Why not outlaw billboards, Neon signs at businesses, etc, etc. Sorry but it just doesn’t make sense to me (that’s when we go back to screwing with the common guy that just wants to display his character a little bit) Your telling me that if multi-million dollar companies would have started using UB kits to enhance their corporate vehicles the laws would be the same?? I think not..

Also, if you read my first post I never said the cops get the money. Just as you stated I also know (and said) that the city got the money. Just wanted to clear that up. By the way, who is it the cops work for?? I believe it's the city.. But please let me know if I'm wrong... Thanks.

uscmdoc, I think you've jumped to the conclusion that he's a cop. He's only 19 or 20, and just has a picture of a cop car in his signature for some reason. I guess he thinks he's a cop .

I do not think the laws are in place to get more money out of people, but they are in place because they mostly make sense. There are some states that disallow all neon lighting. There are some that only disallow certain colors like blue, red, or strobes. There are some that are very lenient and will not hassle you at all. I do not know the reason for these laws, but I imagine it is because neon lights are a distraction to other drivers.

If people are driving along at 80 MPH at night, talking on their cell phone, and eating a burger, do you want them to also see your neon lights, or do you want them to just see your car out of the corner of their eye and not think much of it.

Here's a hypothetical distributon of the other driver's attention
NO lights: 70% driving, 20% cell phone, 10% hamburger
neon lights: 50% driving, 20% cell phone, 10% hamburger, 20% neon lights

If this person is next to you on the road, I'm sure you'd rather have 70% of their attention on driving than only 50%.

What kind of car do you have and can you post photos of it?

I don't think i'm a cop first off. I am not, i work for a police department, and i take the calls for people with lights and everything else. I won't play the innocent guy here, i admit to speeding (mostly on county roads) and driving with my lights on. It just depends how you do it and where you do it. If i was to be caught I wouldn't tell I worked for a police department to try to avoid a ticket...it would be dumb anyway because I know the laws. I will also say that when people call and complain about dumb stuff (ie.- "cars with lights driving crazy") i won't even send someone looking for them, not only because the probability factor of finding the vehicles with the lights, but also because I don't think neon or any type of additional lighting is a big deal (unless you try to imitate public safety vehicles).

I stand corrected about a few things, i jumped the gun on your first post by not reading it in whole. I would advise you to do a ride-along with your local police department for just one friday night and then you'd understand more of what an officer goes through on a daily basis. That might answer some of your donut and coffee questions that you must've gotten from the bandwagon.

Hey, Thanks for the reply and the stats. Was helpful and I feel that I would fall into your category of thinking. As far as my car, it's a work in progress But aren't they all!? It's an early 85 Porsche 944. I'm currently in my last semester of college so I barely have any time to work on it. But graduations in May so hopefully I'll have more time for it. I'm working on getting some pics to post so I'll have those up in the next few days. Thanks again

Hey Phil, I just posted a few daytime pics of my Porsche. I'll try to get some nighttime ones soon. Have a great night!!

Hey it looks good

Quote:

so just follow the rules and you'll be fine.

Alright, breaking the law isn't my thing, besides speeding, but hey, how can you say the above when it comes to neon lighting? I can understand the whole "distraction" thing, but think about this: isn't any "tight pimped out" car a distraction to other drivers. I sure know it is to me. I'll turn my head all the way around twice while driving to get a second look at certain cars.

true. there are certain laws that are harder to enforce than others, like the law about the distance from the ground headlights must be and things like that. I don't totally agree with all laws either. I say just follow them, or don't get caught breaking them, and you'll be fine.

I like the "or don't get caught breaking them, and you'll be fine" part.

I in no way agree with breakin the law

potato pusher wrote:

I in no way agree with breakin the law

Me either...usually. It is just that I think it is funny for a "future cop" to say something like "don't get caught breaking them and you'll be fine." It is as if you are saying go ahead and do anything as long as you don't get caught.

Hey potato...your a cop, aren't you? Man, I HATE the cops around here.

GRRR, NO not a cop....

oliphant wrote:

Quote: so just follow the rules and you'll be fine. Alright, breaking the law isn't my thing, besides speeding, but hey, how can you say the above when it comes to neon lighting? I can understand the whole "distraction" thing, but think about this: isn't any "tight pimped out" car a distraction to other drivers. I sure know it is to me. I'll turn my head all the way around twice while driving to get a second look at certain cars.

I find classic cars a distraction. If I see a beautiful 1930's coupe, or a '50s hot rod, I am very distracted.

Maybe they'll start making laws against driving any car but Honda Elements, Scions, and Azteks...

Hell no...those are so ugly they are still a distraction....I look at them and gag...thats worse.

so wait, your not a cop?

DragonJeep wrote:

**** no...those are so ugly they are still a distraction....I look at them and gag...thats worse.

I agree

Not as ugly as red probes..


lol..j/k

ha ha very funny

no not a cop yet....

but as soon as i hit 20.5 they are sending me to the academy!

sounds like fun

My truck was a HUGE distratcion to other drivers, and I never caused any accidents with it. Imagine sitting at a red light - one that is way too long. Then you look in your side mirror and see a truck hopping up and down, side to side. WHAT THE ****?

So you slow and pull to the right to take a better look, then I drive up next to you and give you a gofy ass look Hit the sides - adn dip off ahead. If thats not distracting, I dunno what is.

But thats my point - I never caused any accidents and you could find me on teh strip every friday and saturday night driving aroud aimlessly. Its good fun - I get to show off my stuff, and I get LOTS of attention from the police

This whole post was useless - so please disreguard and I am not sorry for wasting 2 minutes of your life.

As for "pimped out cars"...cops always pull them over...especially if its a young guy driving it in a not so great neighborhood.

Cops harassed the hell out of my when I had my lesabre, what a PITA! They followed me constantly...

And now in the monte carlo...its already been searched what, 5 times in less than the year I've had it...and it doesnt even have rims! lol

Anyone ever gotten a ticket for the rims being to shiny? Now *that* is a bs ticket.

Neons...so long as they dont flash or change color it shouldnt be a problem, what emergency vehicle has solid blue lights under it???

What for the people in trucks that get right on your ass and all you can see is lights, even if they arent the brights...thats a hell of alot worse than any neon setup.

oh well, another useless rant

what did you do to get searched? you know there's an amendment in the constitution about unlawful search and seizures.