Yes, I know it is legal to listen on any frequency, I meant that transmitting was illegal, thus making it a waste of money to buy a fully functional transceiver when you could buy a scanner for a lower price (usually). After re-reading the original post, I saw that he already owns the maratrac (I missed that when I read it initially), so it doesn't really matter that a scanner would probably be the more frugal purchase.

I agree with you on the point that buying a retired cvpi and outfitting it with all the police equipment is usually just not a wise thing to do. I also think some people buy cvpi's (and install police equipment on it like spotlights and a pushbar) so they can use it as an excuse to drive irresponsibly. I have seen people who drive their cvpi like they are impervious to both traffic laws and common courtesy. I'm all for people buying cvpi's, it's just some people buy them for the wrong reasons.

Amen brother! It is a waste of time to buy a CVPI and put everything that a cop uses into it, they CAN nail you but wanting to put a radio is just silly that's when even I ask, what are you planning on doing with it?

People that impersonate cops have to have a mental disorder because it's not cool or even funny, i'm not saying everyone is like that, but there is a fine line, a couple strobes lights that aren't red/blue shouldn't be an issue, my car is going to be tricked out with lights and not one of them are going to be red/blue & i'm moving the strobes out of the big part of the tail light to the below compartment.

But once you start adding a lightbar, push bumper, spotlight, radio, pretty much anything "visible" your asking for trouble, out of sight, out of mind, people don't have that mindset.

Well I see what y'all are saying.

 

 

But we also have to look at it from the laws prospective. Just because someone has equipment doesn't necessarily mean they are doing anything illegal. So therefore you cannot be arrested / cited for impersonation if you're not actually impersonating.

 

Sitting in a public parking lot, with your parking lights on, with all of the equipment, radar on, whatever (not saying saying I will do this, just hypothetically) and the police come up and question you, while yes it does look suspicious, you are technically not doing anything illegal. You don't have to answer the officer's questions, etc. 

 

Sitting in a parking lot, running radar and then going after someone and attempting to pull them over, or going to a gas station and telling people you are the police when you're really not police, then yes. That could be considered impersonation and can land you in jail.

 

 

I don't mean to stir up an argument with saying this, but not only am I majoring in criminology, I'm also majoring in Pre-Law and I would say I have a good understanding of the law, and also I have a good understanding of my rights. If an officer would ask me questions and I would not want to be bothered, I will simply tell him I do not answer questions and no illegal activity is going on. The only reason I say something like that is because you guys just automatically assume the police can get you for impersonation when no real crime is being committed, thats all.

 

I know some of you might say they would have reasonable suspicion a crime is being committed but I firmly believe just owning the equipment and having it in your car, is not reasonable suspicion a crime is being committed. 

 

 

You guys are welcome to voice your thoughts and opinions on what I just said. Maybe there's another Law student on the board here that would share there experiences / opinions?

 

 

Either way, whether you think its a good idea or not -- none of the equipment will be used in an illegal manner.

 

 

 

And for the radar question -- As I stated its also a prop vehicle for an up-and-coming youtube series. The radar is more or less a prop, even though with all the research I've done nothing is illegal about owning it and using it. In fact it was purchased at a government auction and auctioned off to the public. If there were some sort of stipulations to owning one, wouldn't you think they would have restricted the purchase to whomever is authorized to do so?

Well I see what y'all are saying.

 

 

But we also have to look at it from the laws prospective. Just because someone has equipment doesn't necessarily mean they are doing anything illegal. So therefore you cannot be arrested / cited for impersonation if you're not actually impersonating.

 

Sitting in a public parking lot, with your parking lights on, with all of the equipment, radar on, whatever (not saying saying I will do this, just hypothetically) and the police come up and question you, while yes it does look suspicious, you are technically not doing anything illegal. You don't have to answer the officer's questions, etc. 

 

Sitting in a parking lot, running radar and then going after someone and attempting to pull them over, or going to a gas station and telling people you are the police when you're really not police, then yes. That could be considered impersonation and can land you in jail.

 

 

I don't mean to stir up an argument with saying this, but not only am I majoring in criminology, I'm also majoring in Pre-Law and I would say I have a good understanding of the law, and also I have a good understanding of my rights. If an officer would ask me questions and I would not want to be bothered, I will simply tell him I do not answer questions and no illegal activity is going on. The only reason I say something like that is because you guys just automatically assume the police can get you for impersonation when no real crime is being committed, thats all.

 

I know some of you might say they would have reasonable suspicion a crime is being committed but I firmly believe just owning the equipment and having it in your car, is not reasonable suspicion a crime is being committed. 

 

 

You guys are welcome to voice your thoughts and opinions on what I just said. Maybe there's another Law student on the board here that would share there experiences / opinions?

 

 

Either way, whether you think its a good idea or not -- none of the equipment will be used in an illegal manner.

 

 

 

And for the radar question -- As I stated its also a prop vehicle for an up-and-coming youtube series. The radar is more or less a prop, even though with all the research I've done nothing is illegal about owning it and using it. In fact it was purchased at a government auction and auctioned off to the public. If there were some sort of stipulations to owning one, wouldn't you think they would have restricted the purchase to whomever is authorized to do so?

Problem is they don't know if your doing anything illegal with the equipment or know what you intend to do with it, so they can question you, what do you need radar for? that is definitely impersonation & if i'm not mistaken, that piece of equipment is illegal, sitting in a parking lot by yourself doing radar is impersonation, because that is part of a cops job, so you would be impersonating his daily duties -Impersonation- that's definitely crossing the line, at least my car is only going to be used for car shows, none of that extra crap, just lights.

Edited January 10, 201412 yr by Slimory

Problem is they don't know if your doing anything illegal with the equipment or know what you intend to do with it, so they can question you, what do you need radar for? that is definitely impersonation & if i'm not mistaken, that piece of equipment is illegal, sitting in a parking lot by yourself doing radar is impersonation, because that is part of a cops job, so you would be impersonating his daily duties -Impersonation- that's definitely crossing the line, at least my car is only going to be used for car shows, none of that extra crap, just lights.

 

If they don't know what I'm doing with equipment, thats not their problem then. Until they actually witness me, or anyone just in general with similar equipment doing something illegal they have nothing to go on. 

 

Here, let's compare it to something else. I live in Ohio, which is an open carry state, as many other US states are. This means if you can legally own a firearm, you are allowed to visibly carry it on your person in public. Do you think you'll get a lot of police attention? Sure. So lets say I'm walking down Main St. with my Glock 23 holstered on my left hip, fully loaded with one in the chamber. A local LEO comes up to me and starts asking me questions. He wants to see my ID, know why I'm walking down the street with a firearm, and either A) take my firearm away from me, or B) Take it away and also search me. I -legally- have the right to refuse to show him my I.D., answer any of his questions and refuse the search of my person or my belongings. 

 

You'd think a person with a firearm would have to submit to said things right? Well it all falls down to the officer would need to have reasonable, articulable suspicion (RAS) that a crime has been, is actually being, or will be committed at the time of the encounter. Simply open-carrying a firearm is not RAS that a crime has been, is being, or will be comitted. Now say an individual was walking down the street with a firearm in his hand waving it around, making threats, etc. Then yes, that is RAS. 

 

Same goes for impersonation. If one is not actually committing a crime, then nothing can come of it. I'm not saying it wont be a little bit suspicious, but I'm saying in the eyes of the law, it is in fact, not illegal. 

 

 

I have yet to find any piece of legislature that says owning a radar is illegal. At least here in the US. 

 

 

And I did not say I was going to do that I was saying that is not impersonation. I mean wouldn't sitting in a parking lot with parking lights on be impersonation too? Because they do that a lot as well. 

 

"(4) "Impersonate" means to act the part of, assume the identity of, wear the uniform or any part of the uniform of, or display the identification of a particular person or of a member of a class of persons with purpose to make another person believe that the actor is that particular person or is a member of that class of persons." 

 

^ This is straight from the Ohio Revised Code (Where I live, could be different elsewhere.)

 

As I said, Hypothetically doing what I described is not impersonation because, at least according to the ORC, someone would not be breaking the law. 

 

 

And honestly none of this is to say that if an officer would see this, would try to get someone for impersonation. There are many police officers (in fact I'd bet on a vast majority) that do not fully know and understand the law. So I guess it is possible for one to get arrested for impersonation, but then when it goes to court, the person will be found innocent because no crime actually occured. Then the defendant will turn around and sue the police department for false arrest. 

 

 

The reason I study the law so much and am real big on constitutional rights, is because when I am a police officer, I want to be one of the few that actually know the law I'm sworn to uphold, and protect the rights of the people whom I serve. There are not many officers like that out there. 

If they don't know what I'm doing with equipment, thats not their problem then. Until they actually witness me, or anyone just in general with similar equipment doing something illegal they have nothing to go on. 

 

Here, let's compare it to something else. I live in Ohio, which is an open carry state, as many other US states are. This means if you can legally own a firearm, you are allowed to visibly carry it on your person in public. Do you think you'll get a lot of police attention? Sure. So lets say I'm walking down Main St. with my Glock 23 holstered on my left hip, fully loaded with one in the chamber. A local LEO comes up to me and starts asking me questions. He wants to see my ID, know why I'm walking down the street with a firearm, and either A) take my firearm away from me, or B) Take it away and also search me. I -legally- have the right to refuse to show him my I.D., answer any of his questions and refuse the search of my person or my belongings. 

 

You'd think a person with a firearm would have to submit to said things right? Well it all falls down to the officer would need to have reasonable, articulable suspicion (RAS) that a crime has been, is actually being, or will be committed at the time of the encounter. Simply open-carrying a firearm is not RAS that a crime has been, is being, or will be comitted. Now say an individual was walking down the street with a firearm in his hand waving it around, making threats, etc. Then yes, that is RAS. 

 

Same goes for impersonation. If one is not actually committing a crime, then nothing can come of it. I'm not saying it wont be a little bit suspicious, but I'm saying in the eyes of the law, it is in fact, not illegal. 

 

 

I have yet to find any piece of legislature that says owning a radar is illegal. At least here in the US. 

 

 

And I did not say I was going to do that I was saying that is not impersonation. I mean wouldn't sitting in a parking lot with parking lights on be impersonation too? Because they do that a lot as well. 

 

"(4) "Impersonate" means to act the part of, assume the identity of, wear the uniform or any part of the uniform of, or display the identification of a particular person or of a member of a class of persons with purpose to make another person believe that the actor is that particular person or is a member of that class of persons." 

 

^ This is straight from the Ohio Revised Code (Where I live, could be different elsewhere.)

 

As I said, Hypothetically doing what I described is not impersonation because, at least according to the ORC, someone would not be breaking the law. 

 

 

And honestly none of this is to say that if an officer would see this, would try to get someone for impersonation. There are many police officers (in fact I'd bet on a vast majority) that do not fully know and understand the law. So I guess it is possible for one to get arrested for impersonation, but then when it goes to court, the person will be found innocent because no crime actually occured. Then the defendant will turn around and sue the police department for false arrest. 

 

 

The reason I study the law so much and am real big on constitutional rights, is because when I am a police officer, I want to be one of the few that actually know the law I'm sworn to uphold, and protect the rights of the people whom I serve. There are not many officers like that out there. 

IF you Refused to me you will be in Shiny Bracelets FOR SURE!

Not going to have some one tell me no to make sure that every

thing is OKay, N' to make sure the Public is in safety.

N' seems to me you jus want to be picky or be a A**hole N' jus

B****; :"THAT IS JUST FINE!" That is what I do, BUT! not to be in 

Court Government BS thou. If I was in their they, I will just have a

Break down N' it won't be Pretty. I Study my Sates Laws (Arkansas)

To fine more Reason and be able to Stop and have a higher Chance

to Search them if I know they are involved with Drugs etc.

 

Sergeanto!

If they don't know what I'm doing with equipment, thats not their problem then. Until they actually witness me, or anyone just in general with similar equipment doing something illegal they have nothing to go on. 

 

Here, let's compare it to something else. I live in Ohio, which is an open carry state, as many other US states are. This means if you can legally own a firearm, you are allowed to visibly carry it on your person in public. Do you think you'll get a lot of police attention? Sure. So lets say I'm walking down Main St. with my Glock 23 holstered on my left hip, fully loaded with one in the chamber. A local LEO comes up to me and starts asking me questions. He wants to see my ID, know why I'm walking down the street with a firearm, and either A) take my firearm away from me, or B) Take it away and also search me. I -legally- have the right to refuse to show him my I.D., answer any of his questions and refuse the search of my person or my belongings. 

 

You'd think a person with a firearm would have to submit to said things right? Well it all falls down to the officer would need to have reasonable, articulable suspicion (RAS) that a crime has been, is actually being, or will be committed at the time of the encounter. Simply open-carrying a firearm is not RAS that a crime has been, is being, or will be comitted. Now say an individual was walking down the street with a firearm in his hand waving it around, making threats, etc. Then yes, that is RAS. 

 

Same goes for impersonation. If one is not actually committing a crime, then nothing can come of it. I'm not saying it wont be a little bit suspicious, but I'm saying in the eyes of the law, it is in fact, not illegal. 

 

 

I have yet to find any piece of legislature that says owning a radar is illegal. At least here in the US. 

 

 

And I did not say I was going to do that I was saying that is not impersonation. I mean wouldn't sitting in a parking lot with parking lights on be impersonation too? Because they do that a lot as well. 

 

"(4) "Impersonate" means to act the part of, assume the identity of, wear the uniform or any part of the uniform of, or display the identification of a particular person or of a member of a class of persons with purpose to make another person believe that the actor is that particular person or is a member of that class of persons." 

 

^ This is straight from the Ohio Revised Code (Where I live, could be different elsewhere.)

 

As I said, Hypothetically doing what I described is not impersonation because, at least according to the ORC, someone would not be breaking the law. 

 

 

And honestly none of this is to say that if an officer would see this, would try to get someone for impersonation. There are many police officers (in fact I'd bet on a vast majority) that do not fully know and understand the law. So I guess it is possible for one to get arrested for impersonation, but then when it goes to court, the person will be found innocent because no crime actually occured. Then the defendant will turn around and sue the police department for false arrest. 

 

 

The reason I study the law so much and am real big on constitutional rights, is because when I am a police officer, I want to be one of the few that actually know the law I'm sworn to uphold, and protect the rights of the people whom I serve. There are not many officers like that out there. 

Don't compare owning a firearm to police equipment, it's 2 completely different things.. why? because owning a firearm is a constitutional right having police equipment isn't & they CAN search your vehicle if they have suspicion that you are impersonating, which doing radar for no reason IS impersonation no matter how you look at it, you are doing what a police officer does, which makes you impersonating an Officers duties, whether he can prove it or not, you are still doing it, which makes you a problem & the reason why cops don't like us people who drive crown vics, sorry, but having legal police equipment isn't a constitutional right, so keep studying..

I don't give the police any reason to bother me & if they come bothering you, then you deserve it, legal or not, doesn't make it right, who wants to do that anyway?

IF you Refused to me you will be in Shiny Bracelets FOR SURE!

Not going to have some one tell me no to make sure that every

thing is OKay, N' to make sure the Public is in safety.

N' seems to me you jus want to be picky or be a A**hole N' jus

B****; :"THAT IS JUST FINE!" That is what I do, BUT! not to be in 

Court Government BS thou. If I was in their they, I will just have a

Break down N' it won't be Pretty. I Study my Sates Laws (Arkansas)

To fine more Reason and be able to Stop and have a higher Chance

to Search them if I know they are involved with Drugs etc.

 

Sergeanto!

 

Not to be an ass here, but I couldn't hardly read what you said. I think you should study the english language before the laws... 

 

And its arrogant to say "if you refused me you'd be in shiny bracelets" -- If you would put me in "shiny bracelets" for refusing to answer your questions, I would have you in court before you could even think about it. Just saying. 

 

Don't compare owning a firearm to police equipment, it's 2 completely different things.. why? because owning a firearm is a constitutional right having police equipment isn't & they CAN search your vehicle if they have suspicion that you are impersonating, which doing radar for no reason IS impersonation no matter how you look at it, you are doing what a police officer does, which makes you impersonating an Officers duties, whether he can prove it or not, you are still doing it, which makes you a problem & the reason why cops don't like us people who drive crown vics, sorry, but having legal police equipment isn't a constitutional right, so keep studying..

I don't give the police any reason to bother me & if they come bothering you, then you deserve it, legal or not, doesn't make it right, who wants to do that anyway?

 

The equipment is legal property - therefore its constitutionally protected. It's legal to own. Therefore protected by the 4th amendment. Case closed. I don't know why you're trying to argue the UNITED STATES constitution with me when you're from CANADA?

 

Clearly your against me doing this. Thats fine, I don't really care. But I'm going to build MY car how I want it. You go ahead and build yours. But to call me a problem and say I'm "the reason police don't like people buying crown vics" is absolutely absurd. Just because you don't have a passion in policing like I do doesn't mean you need to go bashing an interest and a hobby of mine. I never said I was going to do any of the stuff I was saying, which is what hypothetically speaking means. So please, just cease your argument with me. Thanks.

Edited January 10, 201412 yr by SgtSpook

Don't compare owning a firearm to police equipment, it's 2 completely different things.. why? because owning a firearm is a constitutional right having police equipment isn't & they CAN search your vehicle if they have suspicion that you are impersonating, which doing radar for no reason IS impersonation no matter how you look at it, you are doing what a police officer does, which makes you impersonating an Officers duties, whether he can prove it or not, you are still doing it, which makes you a problem & the reason why cops don't like us people who drive crown vics, sorry, but having legal police equipment isn't a constitutional right, so keep studying..

I don't give the police any reason to bother me & if they come bothering you, then you deserve it, legal or not, doesn't make it right, who wants to do that anyway?

 

Owing any equipment that is not restricted by the law is a constitutional right of any person. I don't see how any of these (Crownvic, amber lights, radio, radar (providing it is NOT illegal to have one) - is restricted. I can have a plastic souvenir sheriff badge, and it's fine, unless I harass people on the street telling them that I'm the law and they should obey my orders.

Not to be an ass here, but I couldn't hardly read what you said. I think you should study the english language before the laws... 

 

And its arrogant to say "if you refused me you'd be in shiny bracelets" -- If you would put me in "shiny bracelets" for refusing to answer your questions, I would have you in court before you could even think about it. Just saying. 

 

 

The equipment is legal property - therefore its constitutionally protected. It's legal to own. Therefore protected by the 4th amendment. Case closed. I don't know why you're trying to argue the UNITED STATES constitution with me when you're from CANADA?

 

Clearly your against me doing this. Thats fine, I don't really care. But I'm going to build MY car how I want it. You go ahead and build yours. But to call me a problem and say I'm "the reason police don't like people buying crown vics" is absolutely absurd. Just because you don't have a passion in policing like I do doesn't mean you need to go bashing an interest and a hobby of mine. I never said I was going to do any of the stuff I was saying, which is what hypothetically speaking means. So please, just cease your argument with me. Thanks.

What difference does it make that I'm in Canada?It doesn't make it any less wrong.. & I think you should check your attitude, I'm not against it at all, I have lights in my car but I like lights that's all, I'm just saying doing "Radar in a parking lot" because you can is just ignorant & what are you going to do if a cop rolls up on you asking questions? start throwing your rights at him/her? that's a great start to a career in LE, if policing is your passion, your going about it the wrong way & are going to push it but I'll leave it at that for now.