Mimicry of Police vehicles

[Chucktshoes]

What are the laws in TN regarding mimicry of police vehicles by private security firms? While I was out today I spotted a vehicle that very obviously was made to as closely resemble an MPD crusier as is possible without putting blue lights or the word police on it. The only real differences I was able to tell between the security car and a real MPD cruiser was that it had a different color rack and that anywhere an MPD cruiser would have "POLICE" printed was substituted with "PATROL". It would be extremely easy to mistake this car for an actual MPD cruiser.

Edited August 5, 2011 by Chucktshoes
*to add pic*

[Links2k]

MPD crusier was my first thought when I saw the picture.

How have you been doing Chuck?

[Chucktshoes]

Been doing good, just waiting on a kid to show up.

Re: the car that's what I thought too.

[NRA]

I see no harm as long as it does not have blue lights

[Guest bkelm18]

There's one I see around Oak Ridge from time to time. It's a black and white Crown Vic driven by the "National Security Agency" (a rent-a-cop firm). I don't know the legalities but I don't see how it would be illegal unless it actually says "Police" or something similar on it. Same concept as the HCP badges, they are designed to fool people into thinking you're something official if glanced at but are clearly marked otherwise if you take the time to look at it.

Edited August 6, 2011 by bkelm18

[Defender]

Theres a couple private security firms here in Nashville that also do this. my first reaction was that it must be wrong somehow, lol...but then I started thinking...heck it might actually deter crime at times if people thought they were police cars...then again, on the negative side, if a bad apple is driving one, he may go too far...

Edited August 6, 2011 by barewoolf

[Guest Lester Weevils]

Hang some lights on this bad boy and yer good to go!

(wikipedia commons image)

[56FordGuy]

Yep, I've seen one around Nashville that even says "Emergency Call 911" or something on one side, and says "Security call ***-****" on the other. I used the asterisks because I don't remember the number.

[Will H]

If you commit a crime in your Smart Car you will be pursued by this mean machine...

[TNRobocop]

No blue lights and nothing stating police, law enforcement, or sheriff type stuff on the vehicle, and you are GTG.

[vontar]

In Oak Ridge there is also some that are not police( private company) that have Security Police written on their Chevy Blazers. I betBkelm18 knows them as well. Maybe be the same out fit I am not certain. But their office is near Home Depot. I know they are armed security, but they are not law enforcement on the open road. Also I have recently seen a black crown Vic driving around that recently had the black doors replaced with white doors giving it a 2 tone look at a distance, it makes you wonder until you get closer.

[camp]

White Bluff has a Toyota prius as a patrol car, and it looks funnier than ****, im betting they had to lay off the donuts to drive it

[Guest bkelm18]

In Oak Ridge there is also some that are not police( private company) that have Security Police written on their Chevy Blazers. I betBkelm18 knows them as well. Maybe be the same out fit I am not certain. But their office is near Home Depot. I know they are armed security, but they are not law enforcement on the open road. Also I have recently seen a black crown Vic driving around that recently had the black doors replaced with white doors giving it a 2 tone look at a distance, it makes you wonder until you get closer.

Those are the Wackenhut Security folks that do the security for all the gov't complexes around here. They could probably be considered security contractors and not rent-a-cops. They have machine guns. Haha.

[Wyldk2]

Heck just driving around in a White crown Vic, The kiddos don't know if you're an unmarked cop car, least till you pass them and you don't have gov't tags. ( don't ask me how i know this, Happened a long time ago).