Las Vegas resident Jessie Vigil has landed himself in a little trouble with local law enforcement for painting his car like Barricade, reports the Las Cruces Sun-News. While what Mr Vigil has done is not illegal as long as he does not impersonate a Police Officer, there are still concerns of mistaken identity by local law enforcement officers.
KRQE News 13 has also run a story on this item (embedded below):
Prowl_Delta_31
Well I thought I would stay away from this topic but I just have to say a few things…….
This is importatnt not only is there very real danger involved to be mistaken for a Law Enforcment Officer by the wrong people but also if something bad is happening and someone needs help they come to you, someone who looks like a cop but can do nothing.
Everything with this statement is wrong. Sir without Police and other Law Enforcment Agencies this world would be in complete chaos and would not last. Why do you think that Police are hired thugs mercenarys and murder's? I for one am none of those things and happen to be very proud for the things that I have accomplished in my life and for my family and community.
Thank you its not very often we get to hear this.
If they are investigating a crime I dont think its frivolous sure there might be more important things but a crime is a crime. It really does not matter that if the car in quistion looks like a local Police car it resembles a L.E.O vehicle.
This is one of the main problems it says "POLICE" and also that huge fake lightbar.
Very childish comment. I have risked my life for strangers to many times to have to read this. I have lost to many fellow officers to have to read stuff like this. You should read this thread and I hope it makes you feel like an ass. http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/showthread.php?t=159911&highlight=Officer+Freeman
ORIO
Its TOTALLY harassment. Las Vegas, NM is a wicked small town. And the cops in small towns in NM having nothing better to do then harass skateboarders, break up parties and pull over Transformers…
…don't get me wrong, when the poop hits the fan cops have more courage than I could ever muster. This situation is just silly to me.
Ceasar121
Just another example of why people, in general, are losing respect for authority figures like the police. This should be the biggest non issue of all. His car should be added to the hot list (a list of cars worth note to the police), and left the hell alone. Honestly I believe this is harassment he is recieving, and the police should be told to cease and desist. It's utter BS that they're harassing him and threating to give him tickets, when the LAWYERS don't know if it's against the law. That means they are taking the law into their own hands, which in this case, is utterly useless and a waste of time.
Turbocharger
Great post, really adds to the conversation.
MrMurder
fuck the police… fuh.. fuh.. fuh… fuck the police
The Joker
This happen a while ago
Bombhunter
Dude's first mistake was buying a Mustang… He should've found a good 2nd Gen Camaro and made Bumblebee, or better yet, save the money he spent on the garbage car, decals and fake lightbar, and spend it next year on a 5th Gen Camaro.
There is a reason why Barricade lost, and it's not because he was a Decepticon… (hint: MUSTANG)
ChaoCatcher
To Optimus-JD, optimus major, Lupis Convoy and superquad, yes, I am very serious about my comments and what I feel is an ethically, logically moral stance against police in particular and government in general… but such discussion really belongs in Non-TF General Discussion. That being said, talking to statists is like talking to a brick wall, so I really won't waste my time.
To get back on topic, I think it's awesome that this dad wanted to put a smile on his son's face in a big way. I hope he beats the case and continues to proudly drive his inaccurate-but-cool psuedo-Barricade on public streets without future harrassment from the local "authorities." Though he may look at upgrading his door fonts to something a bit more accurate, heheh…
WWMEGATRON
Look as long he is not impersonating a cop ,it's cool !! He did it for his son !!
JaviSRK
holy repost, batman!
shadowfall1976
the guy has "TRANSFORMERS" right across his windshield and on the doors,
if you get pulled over and see "Transformers" on the car anywhere and you
fall for it, that would make you a severe dumbass, everyone looks in the
rearview when they get pulled over, if for nothing else to see what the Cop
is doing.
besides i'm sure where they are even if they use Stangs as patrol cars, that
they don't look like that, even in the movie no one picked up on an out of
place Cop car. I live in MI, where they based the movie and i've been in Detroit
many times (not by choice), they don't even use many if any Stangs here,
they use Chargers. and they still don't look like that, so if Barricade pulled me
over, I think i'd know.
and yes I know it's a movie not real life… blah blah, the point is pay attention
to who and what is pulling you over and where, a real Cop will let you pull into
a well lit, busy area at night, as long as it don't look like you're going to drive
off at high speeds, anyone else would force you to pull over wherever.
and speaking of being pulled over, IDIOTS IN MI WHO GET PULLED OVER,
when the cop puts on his lights get the F&%K off of the main street into a
side street and stop blocking traffic especially during busy hours, that's one
thing that causes F'n traffic to back up. it's safer for everyone, including the
officer.
besides why make that illegal when people can buy the same unmarked cars
that they use to pull us over, not everyone gets pulled over by "marked" cars.
anyone with a Crown Vic, Impala, Charger, Stang, or any other known car they
use that has the spotlights on them could impersonate an officer, why no ban
the sale of any car that has any resemblance by means of equipment or slight
appearance to a patrol car, marked or unmarked. besides the guy did it for his
kid, not sure I wouldn't do something similar for mine, they are only kids once
why not make it something they will remember, although I would choose
Bumblebee (movie), Prowl, Sideswipe, Jazz or Hound (G1 style), as far as
Prowl goes it would not create any doubt because who would think you're
impersonating an officer in an old foreign 80's sports car in 2008?
sharke
that sucks about your car
jametron
Considering the circumstances, it's ironic his last name is "Vigil"!
orionpacks85
Thanks! But alas, This past summer, Trailbreaker became one with the Matrix when an 'undocumented worker' driving a delivery truck crossed all the lanes of a highway to make his exit. I knew it was over when there was no response to Ratchet's famous question, "Can you still transform?"
SilverDragon
Gee, now we know where Barricade went in the final battle. He got arrested for impersonating a cop car.
Superquad7
I don't feel like commenting on the larger issue here right now (whether or not this car owner is committing a crime or not), but I would like to say that what Lupis Convoy says is why I continue to make my custom TF police cars Autobots. It's my way of paying tribute to the police force
Agreed. I'd think that if one would go to the trouble to decking their car out like this (or any other "show" car), they'd go to the lengths of making it accurate.
For me in my Alt customs world, it's like taking an RX-8 and putting "Martini Racing" labels all over it*.
[*this statement is not a slam in any way to Delta Star and reprolables, but to "GEEWUNness" for every TF thing]
Red leader
You cant fight the power
Poor guy
AutobotJazz4
And that's where the problem lies folks… there's always someone who tries to copy the police for his or her's own benefit. And those are the uncool ones who make things bad for us all. I love it what that guy has done with his car and above all… I mean come on Man!!!… it says "Transformers" on all sides of that vehicle to. Idark's Ride really kick's ass. One of his Friends told me about his ride… and gosh would I love to shoot a Fanmade movie with it… kinda like the chase with Bumblebee.
Lumpy
i totally thought the same thing….spring break is coming up in another week, i could spend half a day driving and taking photos…
Optimus Prime
One of the other student patrollers thought it was an actual cop jacket, he said "Uh…that's, um, 'To Punish and Enslave,' that's an interesting police slogan." One of the other patrollers pointed out that it was just a Transformers jacket, though. I like wearing it around campus, especially in the dorm on weekends when people are at their most devious.