Covering Up Police Markings
 

I'm lucky as I only have to cover a door shield on the passenger side of my MN SSP. Here is the design I came up with today. The rounded corner magnet is 12" x 18", and I just ordered a pair (might use them on both sides) for $25 including shipping.

Shouldn't it be "Not In Service"? Since the car is not a serviceable vehicle it really can't be Out of Service as it cannot be put back into service. Technicality but I was just curious. Otherwise good idea and looks nice! :thumbsup:

That looks pretty good, and you can't really argue with the cost.

We had a discussion about this not too long ago. The thread ended up discussing far more than the proper wording. Here is it...

http://www.specialservicemustang.net...ead.php?t=3283

I'd lose the badge also...it gives the impression that it is a service vehicle.

+1.

It was a "service vehicle" and the badge relates to all the equipment that can be seen from outside the vehicle. And as in "out of production" it will never be in service again. "Not in service" implies to me that it could be "in service" at a later date, which is not true. I already ordered and paid for them and I like them just the way they are. You can design and order yours any way you like. :yes:

I won't have a need for them....I plan on trailering my marked cars when I go to shows.

(I also won't be getting shot at by bad people who won't take the time to read all of that and might think you are actually an LEO).

All I will do to cover my decals will be 2 large magnets ( one for the top half of the door and one for the lower) painted gloss black. Those will cover the doors. I will have another magnet covering the trunk decals which will also be painted black. My car will also have out of service signs in the windows( same ones in CHP cars).

I like driving my SSP, and I would not trailer it, even if I had a trailer (I know some states require it, but luckily not here). I doubt bad people think police cars have collector plates, and I bet some of them can read 8 words without being overwhelmed and opening fire. I also don't wear anything close to what a LEO would wear while I'm driving my SSP (or any other time, for that matter). Actually in Minnesota I don't even need to cover up any markings or equipment to legally drive the car on public roads. As long as the vehicle has MN Collector Plates displayed it can have whatever equipment and markings that were on it when it was new. I choose to cover up the markings as a courtesy to my fellow drivers who might think it is an active police vehicle and not want to pass me on the freeway etc. I also choose to cover up the emblem so local LEOs who are not familiar with the state statutes concerning collector cars will not waste my time (or theirs) with an unwarranted stop. I thought about a plain magnet, but then someone could still think it might be an undercover vehicle, where as if they see "Collector Show Car" they know what they are dealing with.

We've discussed this here before ad nauseam. The guy that just robbed the local stop and go isn't looking at your plates, or what you're wearing, or reading what your door decals say.

As long as you know the risks, and are OK with them, and aren't breaking any laws, then have at it.

I doubt any robber would mistake my SSP for a current police vehicle, as the Minnesota State Patrol did such a good job of making their SSPs look like civilian Mustangs (mud flaps, no spotlights, only marked the passenger door, factory antenna used for all radios, silver 10-hole wheels, all lights located inside except for clear driving lights — turn red when on) and they had so few (total of 20, in at least 7 different colors), spread out across the state. The MSP only used the 1989 model (until mid 1993), so they have not been on the roads in over 18 years. Most people (good or bad) don't know what it is (or was).

My $.02 worth exactly!!!!!
You hit the nail on the head with above comment.
We all have to do what we think is right for usans and the hobby. There a few folks out there that don't give a (you know what) about any thing.
20 years doing this and never been stopped (even in Ca.)

If that were the case, you probably wouldn't have the need to cover up while on the highway, either.

I dont think stopping someone driving what looks like a police car is "wasting time". There are reasons that many of these laws exist.

Better to error on the side of over-informing than not at all. I Just stated the facts about the laws here and IMHO a LEO who pulls over a car with collector plates that looks like it might have been a police car because he/she is not aware of the state statutes pertaining to collector cars is wasting their time (and the taxpayers money). I'm all for a LEO stopping someone driving what looks like a police car if they don't have collector plates or are in violation of any state statutes. Thanks for your feedback (as well as all of those who responded).

I think we've done a pretty good job of "over-informing" on the responsibilities (and dangers) of driving a restored, retired police car on the public roadways. The "collector plates" aren't revelant to a majority of the members here, since most states couldn't care less about what plates are on your car (and neither do criminals).

Bill posted up a great link on page 1 that goes into all of this at length.

It is all about "image" and perception as it relates to this hobby. Door decals, meant as a "cover up", but with a badge on them, sends the wrong message. If you disagree with that opinion, you are certainly free to do so.

Just what is the wrong message being sent? My SSP, that is now a collector show car was at one time a police vehicle (nothing to be ashamed of in my book). So how does a sign with a small, slanted, generic badge image (with no words or numbers on the badge) send a wrong message? I'm just trying to follow your logic. Nothing personal intended (nor taken).

You are covering up police indicia (door seal) with something displaying police indicia (a badge). It kinda defeats the entire purpose, and it can also give the wrong impression.

Yesterday getting ready to go home after the local
cars n coffee someone commented as I was putting the
magnetic white (say nothing) strips on the door to MASK the
CHP markings.......
Is that so you don't get in trouble?and i said not really
But it is the common sense thing to do!

Not In Service Implies
COULD BE in service
Not In Service (with a Badge)???
...not the best idea

OUT OF SERVICE

NOT IN SERVICE

The sad truth is that the general public would not know the difference. Both of those could be interpreted as a real police vehicle that has been sidelined temporarily for a variety of reasons. Here is a CHP Vic pulling a trailer for a motor, and the car is marked "out of service".

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j1...013_150841.jpg



Personally, I kinda like this variation:

NO LONGER IN SERVICE

...which I think is closer to accurate with very little chance of being misunderstood. If I had a marked car, I would probably create a magnetic sign that read:

So a sign that says "OUT OF SERVICE" "Collector Show Car" "In Transit" (with an obvious non-official badge graphic), that completely covers the actual door emblem is not as good of a solution as your solution depicted in the photo below?

Are 20 + replys not enough discussion on the subject?

http://www.tundrasolutions.com/forum.../deadhorse.gif

Was there a full moon this weekend? :p Allow me to summarize this:

It's always a good idea to do what we can as SSP enthusiasts to cast a positive light on our hobby. Covering/masking the police signage on marked cars is a smart thing to do, whether they are driven or hauled on an open trailer. There are several ways we can go in terms of accomplishing that, and some methods are better than others.

)car show to go(
 

This is what my car looks like when i drive on the street
.....on the way to a car show
Idaho/Arizona
http://img542.imageshack.us/img542/8...ustang2144.jpg
This is what my car looks like at 7:30am on the way to a
car show as i am putting on the (say nothing) white magnetic strips
and I stop process to take a picture of my friend that has
just pulled in behind me.Don't have the first one on straight
because i ran to get the camera.
http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/2...icture141s.jpg

this topic is re visited from time to time
and people are not gonna change
what is gonna change is the local laws
regarding these cars if we don't
start using common sense
also.....my car has unique
Historic Vehicle plates
when driven on the street.
seen only if you look?
but no Badges.
http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/7...ingbadges1.jpg

There is no such thing. A badge, by its' very definition, implies authority of some sort. That's why police officers display them.

In the interest of maintaining our philosophy here about encouraging healthy discussion about topics which are important to our hobby, I put on my Moderator hat and picked through the posts to edit out the hostilities and re-open the thread. This all boils down to a discussion about being repsonsible and doing what we can to cast our hobby in a positive light to the general public. We each have our own beliefs as to what goes far enough in terms of covering police lettering/logos, but that's OK to have a difference of opinion. At least we're talking about it.

:)

Blank Magnet Sheet Source
 

FYI, if you are looking for blank white magnet sheets, check Staples. Today I found a package of four (8.5" x 11") sheets for under $10 (including tax). You can leave them blank or you can print on them using an Ink Jet printer (not laser compatible).