How surprised would you be...
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AV6
Is it in fact a felony in NY? I doubt it and your law quote did not state it. What exactly is the punishment? It sounds more like a traffic ticket type of violation, not a murder. Why would I pull anyone over? All I need is for the grandma to move from the left lane on a busy freeway. And why would you report me to 911? How would you know that I am not an officer in an unmarked vehicle? Not a chance. I have seen these flashers used by cab drivers on an airport highway in St. Louis, only better ones, your flasher is not very convincing.
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From: NYC
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Is it in fact a felony in NY? I doubt it and your law quote did not state it. What exactly is the punishment? It sounds more like a traffic ticket type of violation, not a murder. Why would I pull anyone over? All I need is for the grandma to move from the left lane on a busy freeway. And why would you report me to 911? How would you know that I am not an officer in an unmarked vehicle? Not a chance. I have seen these flashers used by cab drivers on an airport highway in St. Louis, only better ones, your flasher is not very convincing.
If I see a Mercedes here with red and blue lights attempting to move me out of the way, I'm calling the cops and reporting you because everyone here knows the difference between an unmarked police car and a Mercedes. The fact that this is even up for debate is just crazy.
Here is a ridiculous example of how easily you can get in trouble: http://www.wpxi.com/news/27241202/detail.html obviously this particular story is very silly.
Here is a more serious example: http://www.shelbystar.com/articles/p...t-accused.html
"New York City police arrest about 100 suspects annually on charges of impersonating an officer. The NYPD has a specialized unit, believed to be the only one in the country, dedicated to solving cases where a suspect impersonates an officer." - USA Today
There are tons of news article about these immature lowlives going to jail for flashing red & blue lights at other drivers.
Anyone able to find the actual penalty for impersonating a cop in NYC? I promise there is prison time involved.
Last edited by acr2001; Dec 20, 2011 at 11:22 AM.
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Elsewhere it depends on the state, but even where it is a felony, it is so only when impersonating was to conduct a crime. Also flashing lights on your iPhone or flashlight hardly qualifies as using a police equipment. I agree you could be arrested by a territorial policeman with an insecure ego and get into enough trouble and expense, but a good lawyer would easily throw away any flashlight related charges and no judge would give you a prison time for using an iPhone. You could have thought you were having a heart attack and flashed for help. Or your brakes were failing at the moment and you could not stop and flashed to warn others. There is no proof to the contrary they can present. In your link the guy actually followed and harassed the other guy, this is completely different.
If you report me, there is nothing they can do after the fact. They cannot arrest me based on my license plate, because you thought something blinked in your eyes. They would have to actually see me flashing the lights. And just having an iPhone or a flashlight in the car is not illegal.
But you are right, perhaps this is not a good idea.
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