I know Texas Officers do many details after hours for local companies, but who would want to decal their own vehicle?
GMC Truck- POV Police?
- Thread starter cbpdogboy
- Start date
I've seen this guys videos before. He has other videos of blocking roadways and such. If I remember correctly, is he in TX?
Nice looking truck though..
Nice looking truck though..
Isnt this the guy who loves STL, oh and I have seen quite a few LEOs who have magnets but never more than that in my are, I work details with LEOs who just want a pair of grill lights and haws for details... Close a major highway like that ummm okay.
tom said:
Ammmmm well yes it is Texas as the OP said Texas and in many of his videos you can see TEXAS on the license plate.
These Texas Peace Officers make very good money and some of them have dedicated vehicles for just this purpose. A few of them may also use same vehicle for their department as well if it is a smaller municipality, this is not uncommon. Most of the time they use magnet decals, but even if they do not so what. They are Police and can have the vehicle as such per Texas law. They are a valuable part of the needed security at road side construction zones and are much needed so the local Police department can keep those officers on the street and not tied up at a construction zone. Texas may have some odd practices with off-duty Police, but it makes for a safer state.
K9Vic said:
Thank you!
I am one of "those TX guys" using their own POV for LEO work, on and off duty. My 2005 Tahoe was permanently marked using stealth graphics. See photos in the following link:
Retired1's ShowCase :: 2005 Tahoe 5W4
My new 2011 Silverado uses magnets.
..and my '95 Impala SS "COP SS": minimum graphics - 32 concealed old school lights
...and my co-workers Explorer - permanent graphics
(he has 4 CVPIs also - 2 with permanent graphics & 2 with no graphics)
I have not worked with the officer shown in the 1st post video, but it seems well done. That said, if it were mine, I'd switch to a full size lightbar, maybe two.
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The vehicle has a quick disconnect for a lightbar, as stated in another one of his video descriptions. He had a full size stl lightbar, but looks like he switched to a mini justice or tomar scorpion...
Yup i am also one of those that does road closures and funeral escorts for a good amount of money. Usually around $25 - $30 an hour. I have never put permanent decals on my truck but i have seen many use magnetic "POLICE, CONSTABLE, SHERIFF" decals on the POVs. Usually i borrow my sisters F-250 diesel and just slap on a simple Code 3 420 mini R/B lightbar on the roof and maybe a dashlight.
That guy on the video has a second video and it looks like he has magnetic decals
New hideaway LED's - YouTube!
That guy on the video has a second video and it looks like he has magnetic decals
New hideaway LED's - YouTube!
K9Vic said:
I looked at the post very quickly since I was about to start my class, I was going off of memory lol.
I wish we had this kind of thing in MA, I would love to be apart of it.
SafetyLighting said:
1 slicktop CVPI = belongs to city - used only on-duty
1 slicktop CVPI = privately owned and used for on-duty when city car is out of service
1 marked CVPI privately owned for off-duty employment - being sold
1 marked CVPI privately owned for off-duty employment - being put into use
1 marked Explorer privately owned for on & off-duty - just to have it as an alternative to the CVPI when the mood strikes
Its easy money for alot of small town cops. Most of the cities in the DFW area will not allow their officer's to have equipment in their POV's. Dallas PD forbids it, and if your caught working an off duty job with out approval, you get into serious trouble. If the companies use Dallas PD, they have to rent the car as well, which runs about $150 plus fuel. So the small town cops get eh good scratch and the construction companies dont have to pay the city rentals. I dont undersatnd the need for all the lighting they have, its really overkill. They never write tickets, becasue they dont have ticekt books for the JP courts. they just get paid to sit in their cars and sleep. Everynow and then they will direct traffic, butthat is few and far between after a out of county constable was ran over and hurt real bad.
Kind of a cool idea to be able to use a vehicle of your choice. How does it affect your insurance? Is it one of those "don't ask don't tell" things?
NC lawdog said:
Allstate down in Houston will write a policy for POVs. I had my Explorer insured with them (for running hot and protection of the equipment against theft, fire, etc). It wasnt an actual option that I could see the price of the increase for the lights but my premiums and deductibles were very competive and no other companies around here insured POVs (fire, LEO, EMS). I only know of private (non chain-companies ie: Geico, Progressive, SF, Farmers, etc) that also insure POVs. I have a letter from the underwriter stating I am covered while running emergency traffic in case a dept wants to see that I am covered.
I guess I don't really understand the purpose of the wacked out POVs. Are they used for enforcement and making stops within the work zone? I can't remember the last time I was on a job that used marked law enforcement vehicles for traffic control on a state project but it would have been a around the time an officer was killed on a TNDot job when his car was struck when trying to do a lane closing. Most DOT that we do work for don't allow anything less then a NCHRP 250 TMA with a 2 ton plus host truck with some wanting NCHRP 350 certification now.
The white truck with the minibar in front of the full size bar with about six dash lights is so far over the top I don't know what to say. Is it Photoshopped?
The white truck with the minibar in front of the full size bar with about six dash lights is so far over the top I don't know what to say. Is it Photoshopped?
HILO said:
As much as I side with you in most instances, I take exception to your sleep comment.
I have worked off-duty jobs for 35+ years. The last 6 years have all been highway jobs.
I have yet to sleep on a job! I don't expect to ever do so...
Cam said:
No, I enter high traffic intersections many times throughout my 11 hour a day / 7 days a week workday and stop all traffic. Anything I can do to catch the attention of motorists caught up in their own world raises my chances of stopping all traffic and allowing my convoy to clear the intersection with no one hurt.
...and I don't sleep while doing this work!
It is not photoshopped. In fact, it is still missing about 40% of the lighting that is going on it. I have not had time off to install this (especially the extra side lighting). Understand that normally, only select lighting is activated to accomplish a desired result while the other lighting remains dormant until needed. More often than not, only one amber traffic director is in use.
...and I don't sleep while doing this work
Here is an example of the side lighting as installed on one of my previous trucks. 8 feet of LEDs: two 3 ft blue 911 TAs and one 2 ft red 911 TAs on each side, a pair of r/b dual Raiders at the front of the bed and single r/b Raiders on the rear bumper under the taillights:
NC lawdog said:
I could only give you my guess as to other officers, but I won't, as I know many actually have the coverage they need.
When I had insurance through my agent in Texas, it was cheap to add emergency vehicle use to my normal policy.
Being required now to have insurance written by an Oklahoma agent, my basic monthly rate for regular full coverage (with enhanced liability coverage), PLUS $1 Million single instance liability added is $480 per month. That covers my vehicle. During the 19 years I spent as a chief of police, the cities also kept a $1 Million policy on my personal vehicles (at $38 a month). I don't have that available anymore.
Added to that is a yearly premium of $950 for a $1 Million General Liability policy. That covers me for my conduct outside the vehicle (actual or fabricated).
I think I get a discount for my not ever sleeping while working
There comes a time when the amount of warning light you have on a vehicle becomes more of a hazard to motorists than a safety factor for you. You have reached that point.
Cam said:
Aren't there some states that require a law enforcement presence at road construction sites? I may be wrong but I think Massachusetts is one of them.
NC lawdog said:
9 times out of 10, there will be a police detail with construction, even if it is a side road. We had a big to-do a while ago because people wanted to switch to flaggers instead of LEOs. It would have save us a bunch of money....
tom said:
The law *was* passed to allow flaggers. ( 701CMR7.05(2) )
It's a big "to-do" because the flaggers still get paid the prevailing wage... which happens to be what the average detail rate for an LEO is. And even if you don't (as a construction company) pay the same rate, you are still paying all the other employee benefits.
Usually there is no real monetary savings.
The other argument was that switching to flaggers would put more officers on the road, but in actuality, it removes officers. The cops that are working details are being hired and paid for by the construction company. Even though they are on a detail they are still officers with powers. I have personally stopped erratic operators or cars wanted for questioning while it came by me on a detail. Switching to flaggers takes those cops off the road, and doesn't add any for patrol.
The other large drawback is that flaggers have no legal authority to stop or redirect traffic, or temp close a road. It's fine as long as all the motorists play nice, but the LEO has more power in the event something goes down.
If a company wants to have flaggers... so be it... but all the "benefits" are pretty mediocre.... or non-existant.
$0.02
In Ga, one can onyl use a POV w/ blue lights, if that vehicle is leased to a governmental agency.
Zack said:
Wow. In Texas a certified flagger can stop traffic, divert traffic, and temporarely close a lane or road based on the needs of the job with out the supervision of a Peace Officer. Any licensed morotist is obligated to follow the directions of a flagger just as they would a road sigh or any other traffic contro devise. Failure to do so is a ticketable offense. We have alot of freeway construction projects, and all sorts of different off duty cops, but it is very rare to see them direct traffic. The flaggers still handle all of the direct traffic control. And they dont work the surface street jobs in the metroplex, just the freeways. It might be different in other parts of the state, butin DFW, the off duty cops are just for show.
Most of the ones I see are not spending more than a few hundred dollars on mostly rear warning and a code 3 420. A couple of Kia/Hyundai SUV's, A VW SUV, regualr tahoe's, pick ups, a buick Lucern, Nissan sentra, Jeep Lierty, and a few ex cop cars with basic to medium amounts of lighting is getting the job done. Keeps more money in their pockets! Every now and then you will see a loaded impala, vic, pick up, or Tahoe, with magnetic signs or decals, with thousands of $'s spent on lighitng. But most larger city cops in the Dallas metroplex do not want their neighbors or crims knowing they are cops. Texas even passed a new law giving LEO's the ability to have a different address on their drivers license and registration so the crims dont drive through station parking lots and gather intel off license plates.
HILO,
Texas does not certify pilot cars or flaggers (OK, KS, CO, & UT do - among others). Only law enforcement can direct traffic in TX. That is why I have the job I do: escorting pilot cars. I control the traffic, the pilot cars escort the equipment.
Terry
Texas does not certify pilot cars or flaggers (OK, KS, CO, & UT do - among others). Only law enforcement can direct traffic in TX. That is why I have the job I do: escorting pilot cars. I control the traffic, the pilot cars escort the equipment.
Terry
That's just uncalled for....no need ....no excuse!Retired1 said:No, I enter high traffic intersections many times throughout my 11 hour a day / 7 days a week workday and stop all traffic. Anything I can do to catch the attention of motorists caught up in their own world raises my chances of stopping all traffic and allowing my convoy to clear the intersection with no one hurt.
...and I don't sleep while doing this work!
It is not photoshopped. In fact, it is still missing about 40% of the lighting that is going on it. I have not had time off to install this (especially the extra side lighting). Understand that normally, only select lighting is activated to accomplish a desired result while the other lighting remains dormant until needed. More often than not, only one amber traffic director is in use.
...and I don't sleep while doing this work
Here is an example of the side lighting as installed on one of my previous trucks. 8 feet of LEDs: two 3 ft blue 911 TAs and one 2 ft red 911 TAs on each side, a pair of r/b dual Raiders at the front of the bed and single r/b Raiders on the rear bumper under the taillights:
Yes we require Cops! not special wannabees with every blinky thing you can buy and attach to a car! Holy hell!!! what the hell is going on!?!?!?NC lawdog said:
tom said:
A dealer who puts down the people who employ him? "It would have save us a bunch of money".....who are you working for ????
Zack said:
Sooooo only PO's have the authority to stop or redirect traffic? Is that really an argument you are going to use?
As much as it may piss some cops off, there is no requirement to be a cop to alter the flow of traffic. Case in point, every MASSDOT worker.
Retired1 said:
Right about loads that require roads being shut down, or traffic being diverted, but your information is incorrect when it comes to construction, flaggers, and TX-DOT. TXDOT requires flaggers to be certified. And they can indeed close lanes of traffic, control the flow and direction of lanes of traffic, and close roads to thru traffic when performing construction. furthermore, only one LEO is required for an escort, other people driving vehicles do so under the direction of a Peace Officer. That is how I had the job I had controlling traffic with a Peace Officer, so the pilot cars could escort the buildings across the county. You might be older, but not exclusive in knowledge, book or street! Plus you sold out and went to Oklahomo. :weird:
TX-DOT guidlines for flaggers....
ftp://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/des/specs/specbook.pdf
SafetyLighting said:Sooooo only PO's have the authority to stop or redirect traffic? Is that really an argument you are going to use?
You are getting some things confused here...
"Altering the flow of traffic" because of an authorized public works project is one thing. Stopping vehicles, which constitues a "seizure" in the eyes of the law is something completely different.
Sure, any Flagger, or Mass Highway / MassDOT can put up a "STOP" sign and people can obey it on their own, but there is no legal authority behind it. It's like a stop sign in a walmart parking lot. The sign has no legal authority and thus it is not unlawful to run it. I affectionately refer to signs like this as "Stoptionals."
Now I'd have to check, but it could be very likely that there are some things buried in the CMRs (540 and 720) that may give Mass Highway / Turn Pike employees some sort of quasi legal authority. If you could cite them that would be great, but my statement stands that when it comes to the authority to seize vehicles and their occupants, flaggers don't posses it.
Im sorry .. but a stop sign is a stop sign, it doesn't matter who is holding it, walmart parking lot or not, its a regulatory sign .. if its white and red or white and black its a regulatory sign .... open ANY federal traffic control manual and it will show what signs are regulatory signs. a person can be cited for many different things depending , in oregon for instance on PRIVATE property ,IE the walmart parking lot you would be cited for careless or reckless driving, if the officer wanted to cite you. if I recall correctly you can receive about 5 tickets on private property , DUII, No insurance, reckless driving, careless driving and handicap parking space violations
Shawn L said:
I don't doubt that you are correct on Oregon law, but I was referring to MA law with my friend SafetyLighting.... each state has its own quirks.
For instance, we don't have a state law to enforce Handicapped Parking signs. Enforcement of those is left up to town by-laws... which means the State Police can't write tickets for violations. Our OUI statute requires that the vehicle is being operated on a "Public Way" which means you can drive drunk all you want on your private property. (I'm over simplifying this, there are a lot of little quirks and word tricks in our laws and there are with any laws.)
And I understand your point that a "federal traffic control manual" defines what a "regulatory sign" is.... but that doesn't say anything about how each sign is treated on the state and local level. (Say for instance the state law had a provision that such signs are only valid, and thus enforceable, it they are erected by the governing jurisdiction after an appropriate review and need analysis is done?) The laws are finicky and varied. And again, my argument is what legal authority is granted by the state and to whom it is granted.
Either way, my point was to address SafetyLighting's (incorrect) interpretation of Mass General Law.
And I feel bad for such the gross thread jack.
Retired1 said:..and my '95 Impala SS "COP SS": minimum graphics - 32 concealed old school lights
That's sharp! I'm still rocking my 96, though i upgraded to all leds! What do you mean by 32 concealed old school lights?
Zack said:
I've been wrong plenty of times and I really don't feel like looking this crap up, LOLOL.