so near where i live there is the neighborhood watch and i recently noticed the had lightbars on their cars. my personal opinion is that that is wrong as lightbars should be exclusive to police vehicles only.(im not talking about ambulances.) they are similar to nypd auxiliary cops but they don't have training and are NOT a division of nypd. They are not armed. don't get me wrong they are a a great organization but i think this is where they push it.

What do u think about it?

 

 

Edited March 4, 201511 yr by Bem18

So what about towtrucks, or volunteer fire fighter povs? And technically they're a division of the NYPD imo, the NYPD runs it and supplies the vehicles. So if they see a car accident they should call for help, and warn other drivers and people. The lights are all amber, not red & blue- or in this case red and white so I have no problem with lightbars being non exclusive to police. It's not some special equipment, it only warns drivers.

So what about towtrucks, or volunteer fire fighter povs? And technically they're a division of the NYPD imo, the NYPD runs it and supplies the vehicles. So if they see a car accident they should call for help, and warn other drivers and people. The lights are all amber, not red & blue- or in this case red and white so I have no problem with lightbars being non exclusive to police. It's not some special equipment, it only warns drivers.

well they have their own channel on the radio and respond to things like assualt mugging etc 

and i see what u mean by the light colors

btw they also have go4s and mobile command centers

 

btw i added some more pics

Edited March 4, 201511 yr by Bem18

I've read a few posts about these people. Judging by their FaceBook page they were founded in 1964. So they must be doing something right to be going this long without the police shutting them down. They're just like Auxillary officers of the NYPD.. they just aren't with the NYPD. They're a community watch group who watch the community.

 

Do they need the fancy livery on their cars? probably not.. but the NYPD hasn't shut them down yet so they must be ok with it. Plus it's not a big deal if they use lightbars, Heaps of organizations use lightbars, it's just the colours that matter. if you're using red and blue lights and you're not part of emergency services.. then that'll be a worry, if it's other lights like yellow, orange, green etc then there is no problem. 

 

They saved an officers life in 1998, they've helped located dozens of missing people. They're doing more good than harm.. so honestly there isn't anything to worry about.

I've read a few posts about these people. Judging by their FaceBook page they were founded in 1964. So they must be doing something right to be going this long without the police shutting them down. They're just like Auxillary officers of the NYPD.. they just aren't with the NYPD. They're a community watch group who watch the community.

 

Do they need the fancy livery on their cars? probably not.. but the NYPD hasn't shut them down yet so they must be ok with it. Plus it's not a big deal if they use lightbars, Heaps of organizations use lightbars, it's just the colours that matter. if you're using red and blue lights and you're not part of emergency services.. then that'll be a worry, if it's other lights like yellow, orange, green etc then there is no problem. 

 

They saved an officers life in 1998, they've helped located dozens of missing people. They're doing more good than harm.. so honestly there isn't anything to worry about.

yes they are an amazing group don't get me wrong but in one of the photos u see one posing with a car with red and white bulbs.

they also had quite a few incidents with no license plates and improper parking in my opinion abusing thee powers given to them.

Edited March 4, 201511 yr by Bem18

yes they are an amazing group don't get me wrong but in one of the photos u see one posing with a car with red and white bulbs.

they also had quite a few incidents with no license plates and improper parking in my opinion abusing thee powers given to them.

 

The only cars i have come across that is owned by CHSP that use the red and white lightbar are a 2003 Chevy Impala and a 2006 Chevy Impala.. Which have most likely changed their lightbar lense colour since the rest have full orange or orange and white.

 

The license plate thing.. is most likely taken off for photos (i've seen a few pics where they've taken them off in photos), whether they take them off while on patrol i don't know as i don't live in NY.  Plus everyone illegally parks.. everywhere in the world you'll find someone illegally parking.. So it's not exactly abuse of powers.  

The only cars i have come across that is owned by CHSP that use the red and white lightbar are a 2003 Chevy Impala and a 2006 Chevy Impala.. Which have most likely changed their lightbar lense colour since the rest have full orange or orange and white.

 

The license plate thing.. is most likely taken off for photos (i've seen a few pics where they've taken them off in photos), whether they take them off while on patrol i don't know as i don't live in NY.  Plus everyone illegally parks.. everywhere in the world you'll find someone illegally parking.. So it's not exactly abuse of powers.  

these are both very minute details but the way they dealt with it was well...http://goo.gl/wOD2Fu  very non comparative and being total a-holes. now im stressing to everyone im not on a "witch-hunt"  i support these groups. they help the nypd and the community a lot.

Edited March 4, 201511 yr by Bem18

Lightbars are not exclusive to emergency services...Yes, police cars, ambulances, and firetrucks generally have lightbars (or some sort of emergency lighting setup); but so do tow trucks, construction vehicles, DOT vehicles, security vehicles, volunteer firefighters/paramedics' personal vehicles, tractor trailers, and every other vehicle that might need to warn other drivers of their presence.

Lightbars are not exclusive to emergency services...Yes, police cars, ambulances, and firetrucks generally have lightbars (or some sort of emergency lighting setup); but so do tow trucks, construction vehicles, DOT vehicles, security vehicles, volunteer firefighters/paramedics' personal vehicles, tractor trailers, and everyone other vehicle that might need to warn other drivers of their presence.

And some taxis also, my city has some older cars the have modified 'whelen edges' from the looks of them. Their mostly used to light up the side of the road for house numbers and have 'loading/unloading' light, I'm trying to find a picture

 

not my city but still close

Edited March 5, 201511 yr by 0taku

Traffic advisory lights are fine IMO. If a neighborhood watchman witnesses an accident I think its a great thing if they pull over and try to help, and a TA light would help them stay safe in the process.

 

But when it comes to red and blue lightbars I think thats where the line should be drawn. Civilians shouldn't act like cops and cops shouldn't act like the military.

Edited March 5, 201511 yr by RyanHunter24

Honestly, I don't think people part of the Neighborhood Watch should have patrol vehicles at all. I mean, that program is just for people who will be more aware in their neighborhood and call the police when they see something suspicious.

In my city, Vancouver, we have the community safety guys, who are a volunteer group who works with the Vancouver Police Department directly. They basically go around and deal with minor stuff that the police are too busy for or aren't needed. They drive at least one Ford Fusion around with a FS Legend on it, but I'm not sure if it's red & blue because I've never seen them with their lights on, but I'm fairly certain it is red and blue. I think that it is perfectly fine for vehicles like that to have red and blue on them, it makes people aware of their presence and is safer. No harm to anyone, unless they are abusing the lightbar by skipping lights and shit, but that's a different issue.

 

yea here they do. but so does police so..

 

btw looking into it the nypd sells their old vehicles to chsp not give to  them.

in other words if a pmc buys us military surplus are they considered a part of the us military? no

Do they need the fancy livery on their cars? probably not.. but the NYPD hasn't shut them down yet so they must be ok with it. Plus it's not a big deal if they use lightbars, Heaps of organizations use lightbars, it's just the colours that matter. if you're using red and blue lights and you're not part of emergency services.. then that'll be a worry, if it's other lights like yellow, orange, green etc then there is no problem. 

 

 

 

Depends on the state. In Indiana, we can have any color, so long as it's not visible from the front. I have strobes and LEDs on my Explorer, red/white on the back, amber/white on the front and sides. Legally I can have red/blue on the sides and rear, but I'd rather not push it.

 

Green is an emergency color is many areas. Here it's for EMS POV. Some fire departments use it to indicate command vehicles.

 

As for this neighborhood watch thing, the lights are amber/white. They're non emergency vehicles. I'm not seeing an issue.

Lightbars are not exclusive to emergency services...Yes, police cars, ambulances, and firetrucks generally have lightbars (or some sort of emergency lighting setup); but so do tow trucks, construction vehicles, DOT vehicles, security vehicles, volunteer firefighters/paramedics' personal vehicles, tractor trailers, and every other vehicle that might need to warn other drivers of their presence.

 

You forgot airport vehicles.

 

A lot of citizens patrol vehicles are ex police cars.

https://www.google.ca/search?q=citizen+patrol&num=20&safe=off&site=webhp&tbm=isch&imgil=d2wO7z7GTewLqM%253A%253B163QC6L2OkueGM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.hcso.tampa.fl.us%25252FFeatured-Info%25252FNews%25252FVolunteer-Citizen-Patrol.aspx&source=iu&pf=m&fir=d2wO7z7GTewLqM%253A%252C163QC6L2OkueGM%252C_&usg=__TWYt7_48Gr8mNbrjs-wGtYFdhVQ%3D&biw=1366&bih=655

You forgot airport vehicles.

 

A lot of citizens patrol vehicles are ex police cars.

https://www.google.ca/search?q=citizen+patrol&num=20&safe=off&site=webhp&tbm=isch&imgil=d2wO7z7GTewLqM%253A%253B163QC6L2OkueGM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.hcso.tampa.fl.us%25252FFeatured-Info%25252FNews%25252FVolunteer-Citizen-Patrol.aspx&source=iu&pf=m&fir=d2wO7z7GTewLqM%253A%252C163QC6L2OkueGM%252C_&usg=__TWYt7_48Gr8mNbrjs-wGtYFdhVQ%3D&biw=1366&bih=655

yes but they use mostly amber lightbars not red

yes but they use mostly amber lightbars not red

Ya I know that.

I read about Shomrim (the ones in the pics above) that they have some disagreements with NYPD, they tend to deal with perpetrators by their own means without calling the police, which is illegal. 

 

Lightbars are good to make cars more visible, I think. When I was in B-more, I worked in a security company and our cars had lighbars (though I never saw them on). However, I'm strongly against any visual similarities with police vehicles, like shown in the pics above. No one should try and imitate a government agency. If you want some patrol cars for your neighborhood group, paint them in an other way. Once I got pretty confused and mistook Shomrim patrol for NYPD. That shouldn't happen. 

I read about Shomrim (the ones in the pics above) that they have some disagreements with NYPD, they tend to deal with perpetrators by their own means without calling the police, which is illegal. 

 

Lightbars are good to make cars more visible, I think. When I was in B-more, I worked in a security company and our cars had lighbars (though I never saw them on). However, I'm strongly against any visual similarities with police vehicles, like shown in the pics above. No one should try and imitate a government agency. If you want some patrol cars for your neighborhood group, paint them in an other way. Once I got pretty confused and mistook Shomrim patrol for NYPD. That shouldn't happen. 

This is exactly my point!