Lights, Camera, Action!
 

Well, as many of you know, I officially brought my TX DPS home exactly one year ago a week from this coming Thursday! It is my first SSP and I wanted to take the restoration slow, having just graduated from college three days before leaving for KS to pick it up, knowing of my student loans ahead of me. It was my TX DPS's first car show last father's day and I met (in person) David P. As he was driving his CHP in, he activated the sirens and immediately, everyone turned in wonder. When I drove in, I got looks, but he got stares! It was one of the coolest things I've ever seen, seeing what a quality show car can do at a car show both driving in and parked. I knew that someday, my TX DPS would get to that point. Although I can't say I'm there yet, I am one step closer. Originally, I was going to keep it all black and the only non-TX correct thing I was going to do (besides paint scheme) was add LED's to make it look like a modern unmarked unit. Since purchasing the MA SSP, I decided to go 100% TX correct instead of 90%, allowing me to have one marked and one unmarked SSP, both 100% era-and-agency-correct.

LIGHTS... but no siren yet! (In the next few days! :yes: )
http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._3297589_n.jpg
The front of the TX DPS has correct Whelen front red and blue strobes on an original (not a reproduction) mounting bracket made specifically for the TX DPS Highway Patrol.
http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._7482981_n.jpg
The rear deck of the TX DPS... pictured is NOS correct red and blue halogens, correct functioning rear BEE radar antenna, newer non-period correct CB antenna (middle of the trunk), and the correct, very hard to find white antenna base for scanner and radio antenna.

CAMERA...
Video coming soon! Hopefully tonight, but if not, will be tomorrow!

ACTION...
Putting it on the road tomorrow and the first "official" public appearance will be at the Mustang Car Club of New England members-only road trip to the Ford Memorabilia Museum (no lights or sirens), but the debut of the lights will be at the Memorial Day parades, but getting even more technical, my first "everything activated" car cruise will be the one at the end of the month in Framingham, MA! I can't wait!!!

Yes, I am more than a little excited right now... and I mean that in a non-sexual way :eek:

And the inside... please pardon the mess, as I haven't tied down all the wires and such

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._1999136_n.jpg
The interior of the TX DPS... correct BEE antenna and display, "aftermarket" light switch box, correct Motorola Syntor PA/radio/scanner/siren control unit, and newer CB (part can be seen at the bottom). Not pictured is the two mic's and radar remote control, but they will be mounted soon.

Hey when you say MA SSP do you mean Massachusettes state police?

Yes, it is the MA State Police. They abbreviate it MSP, but since there are more Michigan SSP's around, I don't like to get them confused! Although I really shouldn't say MA SSP, as there are MA State Police and MA Turnpike Authority SSP's. I can never win!

Your car looks great so far, and the fact that you are using the correct parts is commendable. Nice job!

Are you sure it was wonder?? Here's what I'd like you to try before doing this while driving a car into a car show: Turn your siren on, leave it on, and then walk over to the front of the car and stand there for a few seconds. You will quickly figure out that it is a very unpleasant sound, and not one that everyone wants to hear while they are walking into a car show.

My .02.

Yo Joe....great to see you putting the TXDPS car back with the correct equipment. I have a couple of the original switch boxes that are marked "Texas Department of Public Safety". I will not need one for my 85 TXDPS car so I can spare one if you are interested.

On the subject of sirens and lights shows at car shows I tend to be a little more conservative. When it comes to the kids that want to see the lights and such at the shows I am all for being a positive influence. Seeing the little kids eyes light up and smiles is part of the fun at a car show, however using the lights and sirens to draw attention to yourself when you make the "big entrance" can tend to be obnoxious. I understand that some get enjoyment "running code" but for the general public at a car show the sirens are a definate distraction. On this site there are numerous current and retired LEO's who run code regularly so having to listen to sirens at a car show is not an enjoyable activity. The use of lights and sirens during a show sponsored "cruise event" is a common practice and more in keeping with the entertainment function i.e a parade etc. Any other use of lights and/or sirens when off show grounds is an obvious no-no due to most states laws prohibiting personating a police officer, not to mention the distraction it creates and other personal safety issues.

It is great to see that you are equipping the car correctly because it allows the heritage of the car to live on. Just remember that refinishing/restoring a car is just one small part of this hobby. Showing the car in a respectfull and courteous manner is just as important as it is a DIRECT reflection on ALL of us that enjoy special service mustangs. The things you say and do reflect on us all.

ok I am off of the soapbox now......enjoy the car and hope to see you at a show someday.

“It’s 106 miles to Chicago, we got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it’s dark, and we’re wearing sunglasses.”

Car looks cool Joe....Good work

Also, In most States it is illegal to eqip a car with a Siren including Texas.

Most of my excitement is from the expectations of people following the restoration of it. I could care less about the attention. It is mostly for the people I know seeing it for the first time at shows. Most of them would have the same reaction as I did when David drove in... "WOW!" Everytime I go to a show, I try to meet up with several others I know, whether they are showing a car or not. I use it as a social gathering and I've met and became friends with many people through conversing about my Mustangs, their Mustangs, or both. I like to think of my SSP as a conversation piece... very few people have one!

Last summer, I decided I wasn't going to do anything more than wig-wag lights and mounted (not plugged in) Motorola controller due to it being my daily driver. Many people in various Mustang clubs (member of four) keep asking about the resto process and expect to see it at shows ranging all different places around New England, as they are all awaiting the lights and siren to be functional. I'm sure that after a couple of car shows, it will get old since everyone would expect it when I arrive and the people who wanted to see it would have already at a previous car show. So for the first few, I'll be chirping the siren a few times on entry, but after that, probably won't go on unless it is my first time at that car show location or I have a new co-pilot (I usually bring one of four or five different people to shows), making it exciting for them. I don't mean for it to be annoying, just different!:cool: (That's me wearing the sunglasses...lol!)

You don't have to worry about me blasting the sirens and lighting up every place I go. I actually will not even use the siren in my own door yard, as I live right in the center of town. First place I will do it... at the local PD! They are all waiting for it! Parades, car shows, and cruises are all I plan on now that it isn't my daily driver!

Unless anyone is going to car shows in the northeast, plan on being able to see it in NC for the 2010 "Mustang at the Mansion!" It should be painted by then!

NoDrama43... I'll be PM'ing you regarding the light switch box in a few minutes!

It is already old for lots of people.

"Chirping" may as well be turning it on and leaving it on (read my post above a few more times if you didn't get it).

If your friends want excitement, have them do a ride-along with a real police officer. Or, they can always apply for a job, attend a police academy, and then get all the "excitment" they can handle for the next 20 years or so. (unless they get hurt or killed on the job).

It's kind of funny that you say that... with the local officers, it is the complete other way around. They are all excited about the progress and are waiting for rides with everything mounted! They are picking straws for the parades too! Many stop by every-so-often when I'm working on it outside to check it out. Excitement is different for everyone!

Old for many, yes, but old for everyone, no!

I hope you didn't take what I said the wrong way. I am also excited for you, and your car looks great.

Playing with the siren, whether for attention or otherwise, while entering a show is seen by many as obnoxious. Obviously, when permission is granted in advance by local officials for parades/cruises it's different, but what gives you the right to play with your siren at the start of a car show? Or play with the lights in a public parking lot?

Looks Great!
 

Joe...car looks great! :2thumbs:

I agree. i love taking my ssp to cruises shows etc, but have never turned on the siren or the lights while out for any reason. i hate bringing attention both positive or negative to myself.
I got all that out of my system way back when it was a job and drove the real thing. gets old real quick.

Joe,

you said ......"It's kind of funny that you say that... with the local officers, it is the complete other way around. They are all excited about the progress and are waiting for rides with everything mounted! They are picking straws for the parades too! Many stop by every-so-often when I'm working on it outside to check it out. Excitement is different for everyone!

Old for many, yes, but old for everyone, no!

I don't know any police officers that would be the least bit "excited" to hear a siren coming from a police car. I know plenty of police officers and other civilians that ARE excited to see a completly restored, nice police mustang. Your car is nice and will draw attention WITHOUT you dicking with the siren for attention. The whole light show /siren thing when entering a show or loitering in a public parking lot is about drawing attention to yourself. "look at me" "check out my car". How can it be about anything else? If not then please explain the purpose. I think it is obvious to everyone that you derive pleasure from the thought of playing with the lights, hoping to get the stares. Please think about it before you do it as I believe, based on my conversations with civilian show attendees, that you will be considered a wanna be by doing it to excess. What you do at a show with your restored police mustang affects peoples opinions about us all. Amazingly when I attend emergency vehicle car shows and displays I seldom see this type of activity. I only see it out of a small minority of ssp mustang owners. I am sure this post will offend some but I am calling it how I see it. If you are asked to lead a parade or cruise then by all means light em up and give the people what they want. Nothing wrong with that at all.

The BEST way to draw attention to your car at a car show is to have it immaculately clean, restored correctly, and be knowledgable about the history of the car. Be open to answer questions, be courteous and friendly, and act like a professional. Just my opinon, gleaned from 20 years LE and 14 years of collecting and showing SSP mustangs.

Nice looking car you got there.

Jim,

I have to agree with your post. At shows be prepared to answer questions, and listen to the dumb statements made by goobers who think any police car is driven by Barney Fife. Addig a siren to a car to make it an authentic restoration is okay. Playing with it in public when not necessary is juvenile, and a poor reflection on the police car collector hobby in general.

And just to throw one more thing in the mix Joe. Id like you to really sit down and think what the siren really means to some of us that are "real law enforcement" and then wonder why we think the way we do about playing with one.
To us it means, running hot to a shooting, fatal car crash, child drowning, domestic assault, man with a gun, jumper on a bridge, missing child, chasing a guy that just shot the clerk at the BP. and being across town and hearing a OFFICER DOWN on the radio. And escorting a fallen Officer to his final resting place
And one closest to my heart, chasing a guy on a bike and catching him and then he turns on you and runs you over on your bike and causing your career to be in jeopardy cause of your massive injuries.

So JOE ask your self, is playing with a siren really cool or is it disrespectful to those who earned the right to do it in public. Its not a toy, don't treat it as one.
A siren means bad things are happening to a human being to those in this field.
And I also agree with Jim. If its for a parade or cruise and its official I'm cool with it.
If I offended anyone with this post that's to bad. Leave the God Dam siren at home or don't hook it up if you cant be responsible rep of the hobby.

Thats 20 years or Law Enforcement. Comments welcome

Thanks to everyone for keeping the thread going and for the compliments and opinions. I just want to get some things clear here and please understand I'm not taking offense to any comment posted here.

Nowhere did I ever talk about playing with it in public. As a matter of fact, please note that pictures show the lights on. Also note that it is in my backyard! The local officers wanted to see it and hear it, so that is why I'm going to the police station to show it. Note, although a public place, IMO, it is the best and safest place to show them. Not mentioned, many people at work want to see it lit up. I have already told them that I will do it one day only and it will be in the rear of the building next to the loading dock... out of public site and mind. Noticed I said lit up, nothing about a siren. I told them I don't want to draw attention. I might even have some police there as well, as other "local officers" are in the surrounding towns. I live in the sticks of NH, so I consider "local" everything in a 30-mile radius!

One thing that I also failed to mention is that most of the shows I go to, I'm an active member in the club, hence why I stated that many of them are expecting to see the progress. Those clubs are ok with me coming in and turning on the siren for a quick moment. The only car shows I plan on not doing it even if asked to do so is at the NE Dragway shows, as people will be drag racing while the car show is going on.

To quote one of my previous posts... "You don't have to worry about me blasting the sirens and lighting up every place I go. I actually will not even use the siren in my own door yard, as I live right in the center of town." Not to offend anyone, but I think this was missed by a few. By no means do I want to be un-courteous or disrespectful to anyone, current/retired officer or civilian. That is where there appears to be a misunderstanding in the thread.

Although I feel like I'm getting hounded by certain remarks (once again, no offense taken by any), I think it is because there is a misunderstanding. I actually enjoy reading about everyone's thoughts on having and using a siren, as I think that it sparked an area that hasn't been entered in a while, especially the parts mentioned as to what it means in general and personally. I very strongly respect that. Please be assured, I mean no harm to the SSP community and please don't think that I'm going to hinder it irresponsibly by "dicking" around with a siren. I plan on being responsible about it, but it seems as though for some, no matter what one does, not everyone is going to approve of it just like everything else in life.

I really appreciate the posts regarding the "get ready to answer questions." As mentioned before, I think of car events as a social gathering! To go along with that, since redesigning my website, I now have matching business cards to hand out at shows to encourage people to keep in contact and keep up with the progress on both of my SSP's!

Once again, thanks for all the compliments on the TX DPS!

5ptojoe

your first post said "LIGHTS... but no siren yet! (In the next few days! )

and then this "ACTION...
Putting it on the road tomorrow and the first "official" public appearance will be at the Mustang Car Club of New England members-only road trip to the Ford Memorabilia Museum (no lights or sirens), but the debut of the lights will be at the Memorial Day parades, but getting even more technical, my first "everything activated" car cruise will be the one at the end of the month in Framingham, MA! I can't wait!!!

Yes, I am more than a little excited right now... and I mean that in a non-sexual way

and then "So for the first few, I'll be chirping the siren a few times on entry, but after that, probably won't go on unless it is my first time at that car show location or I have a new co-pilot (I usually bring one of four or five different people to shows), making it exciting for them.
and this evening this was forwarded to me from an .org member as being a post made by yourself.

"I could care less about sirens... just wanted to know if we could run everything unexposed (no covers over the lights). Seems like my ".net" post is causing quite a stir regarding the siren, for no reason IMO!


first off lets just all agree you DID talk about using it in public. That is what created this thread in the first place. Obviously there is not any misunderstanding.

Ok so now lets get to the important part . There is no "stir" here, just legitimate opinions being voiced by our members. In addition, to clarify, your use of the .org member name DJP in your original post has no bearing on our opinions, as we would have the same opinions regarding the use of a siren regardless of who "alledgedly" got the stares. You obviously are not now, nor have you ever been LEO so we are not suprised that you don't understand, that is why we are trying to explain the reasons supporting our opinions. If you want to review the posts on .net (and apparently .org) you should be able to recognise that most everyone has the same general opinion regarding the use of the siren.

Seriously just show the car while being courteous to the moms with the little babies sleeping in the stroller. It is a simple concept that should be fairly easy to grasp. Sirens are not cool and not toys to play with.

Lets put this one to bed and get back to what we do best here........enjoying special service mustangs.

No Joe there is no misunderstanding here. You say some local officers want to see the car and you went to or are going to the police station to show it to them. Thats fine because there will be real officers there in the presence of a marked unit with a operating siren. Heck at my department we would probably appreciate your work and effort you have in the car. But I can tell you most if not all would tell you to loose the siren.

Now in ref to entering a show or fairground. That my friend is a public place and I don't care if it is rented out for a show. The public in general has no idea that these cars are show only. I mean come on they still look new enough to be in service. its not like your driving a 57 Chevy here.
And just imagine pulling into a public venue playing with your toy siren for attention purposes and a local just got mugged at the show and they run to what they perceive a real police car with working siren pulling into the event.
What cha gonna do when this shit happens cause in the real police world everything happens. Play time over then huh.
Understanding what the car represents is the part I think your missing.
Its a cool car you have and this is a great hobby but as a civi you have to realize your walking a fine line with some officers as to being a hobbyist or a wanna be.
I'll let you decide which one you want to be.

The car looks great, glad all the equipment came in handy.

Agreed! As mentioned, I enjoy reading the opinions and thoughts of everyone here. Someone once told me that Aristotle once said, "Everyone learns through discussion." Once again, thank you for all your posts!

Added: and thanks again 86NeSSP!

Its cool Joe. Your probably a great guy and I'm glad your understanding what some are saying.
Time to move on, nothing to see here.

Joe

Joe,

Let's quote a few more lines from one of your posts:

That sounds pretty clear to me. Jim already covered it, but I didn't feel like editing my whole post. :)

The problem of inappropriate use of the e-equipment/markings, as Jim also mentioned in his post, is limited to only a few of the many enthusiasts who participate in this hobby. It wasn't directed at you, but you certainly fell into that category when you posted about how cool David P.'s entrance into that particular car show was.

I wasn't there, I didn't see it, and he is denying doing it in his post over on ORG. I've seen the pictures of the "parking lot light shows" posted up over there, as well as the mock "crime scene" dead-body outline from the last big show before the 45th. These were done in public (or semi-public) places, and are clearly examples of what we are talking about here. Not only is it disrespectful on many levels, but could be illegal (depending on the cirumstances) and is just plain wrong. What if one of these guys caused a traffic accident because someone looked over to see what was going on? Or, like BHPD mentioned, you find yourself in the middle of a situation that you are neither trained or prepared to deal with in any way, shape or form?

You didn't answer my question the first time, so I'll ask it again. What gives you the right to play with your lights and siren?

Bottom line, you don't have to be a cop or in LE to have fun in this hobby. It is super-important for us all, though, to represent the hobby in the best possible light at all times. "Chirping" the siren, "light shows", and the like are not getting the job done.

BHPD356, thanks for the kind words!

Answer: The fact that I own them. It's just how I use them that makes the difference.

Wow....you handled the majority of the discussion like an adult, so that one surprises me a little.

What you do in the privacy of your own home is your business. What you do in public, and post about on this forum, is ours.

I hope you listen and understand (read: comprehend) what we're talking about here, and take it to heart.

It shows a lot of respect making that comment and also some other comments mentioned above. Please know that the respect is both ways. Although I'm 23-years old, I'm sure when anyone here meets me in person for the first time, you'll probably think otherwise. I don't even look my age!

I'm not sure I understand what you mean, but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, since you seemed to be discussing the issue fine up until that point.

You made some comments, got called out, and backtracked a little. It's no big deal.

Thank you. I just prefer the word "use," not "play." Sorry if anyone got confused or took that comment the wrong way. Once again, thanks to all who have shared their comments, concerns, and thoughts. I truly do appreciate it. Please feel free to follow the continual restoration at my website, which I plan to update again tomorrow night.

No prob...you're welcome. :)

Not only do these SSP's look new enough to still be in-service, some of them still are! I saw a news feed a few months ago about a guy near Joplin, MO who shot his TV. Local PD/SWAT responded, and one of the police vehicles shown in the video looked to be an aero SSP from the front. The video was too short for me to identify the car, but I'm nearly positive it was an SSP.

I must say - It's nice to read a forum discussion on this topic, and see it handled by the members and staff without name calling and hurt feelings.

In my situation, my CHP car will be all-black with the CHP spots and antennae. I decided to not paint my CHP black with a white roof because I was afraid of:

1. Being mistaken for a cop by the public.
2. Being stopped by the cops thinking I was trying to impersonate one.

I will also have the rear deck lights on the car, but they will be covered at all times, except at a show or track event. NONE of my emergency lights will be operational while driving, and I will not be installing a siren or other radio equipment. But I will be collecting the correct parts for an in-service restoration, should that ever be of interest to me or a subsequent owner (I'm not a flipper, but I can't live forever!).

But I do recognize that "perception" by the public and LEO's is a unique part of being an SSP enthusiast. Just like the owners of other vintage emergency vehicles, we need to be careful in how we are perceived by those who are not knowledgeable about SSP Mustangs. That will impact upon how my car is outfitted, as well as how I drive it on the street.