"ADAM 12" '04 Ford CVPI

[Quincy]

This is right after I got it in 2013. Really is "012", still called out on the rear roof! Had almost exactly 100K miles, which is actually low for a former squad car in my experience. Came from Palm Beach Gardens (FL) Police, where they take good care of their equipment and update the fleet often. Have cage and rear window bars to go back in. Want to re-add console and box for strobes as well. 3.27 one-legger:





For example only (below) - not my unit:

[Mainemantom]

I will give you some real good serious advise. The less police equipment your car has (cages,screens, lights, strobes,) the better off you will be. TRUST ME ! I have many years of experience.
Law enforcement does not like people who drive look alike cars at all! You are a "cop magnet" You will be pulled over, harassed, accused, car could be impounded, you could go to jail or detained. I have even heard the judge order a car destroyed. That is from the "good guy" side
Now from the "bad guy" side. Criminals,gang bangers watch for those cars. Those people are generally armed. With all the anti police activity and shootings you are putting yourself at serious risk. In addition there are people that will damage a police car "just because". Trust me,the fun is NOT worth the trouble.
Finally. I have two former patrol cars. Newest is a 96. A reasonable person who looks at them can tell it they are not in service. When has a black patrol car have red pinstripes ? How about a blue CV with pearl blue paint. They do have non operational clear spot lights only, radios just for looks. Antique or veteran plates.
My intention is not to get down on you. We all want you be successful with your cars. Enjoy the forum.
Please take my advise seriously.

PS. I really like your LTD S wagon !

[Quincy]

Classic "YOU'LL PUT AN EYE OUT WITH THAT!"

Thanks, but I've been driving Adam-12 all over the Southeast for seven years now, without a hint of problems (good thing I don't live in Maine, I guess!). Even gone through "checkpoints" and at least one cop commented that my "unit" is in better shape than the ones his sheriff procures for his department!

If you ever saw me, you'd know there's no way I'd ever pass for a cop in the flesh. The strobes are already in place from the active days - It's not like I'm going to use them out on the road (although they're perfectly legal in GA). I can just use them as entertainment when I'm at my friend's and what-not. Besides, there are precious few Crown Vics even in active service anymore - the fuzz has mostly glommed onto Chargers and SUV's. It's more like driving an Andy Griffith squad car these days - just a hoot!

[Mainemantom]

Yes Maine is different. California is REALLY harsh on what I was talking about. As I said, I have many years of experience.
I know someone who owns a 91 CV fully dressed police car and was coming back from a well advertised car show in another State. Because he had the lights not covered and the decals not covered (the car was originally from a department many States away) He was arrested and put in jail. His car was impounded. He stayed in jail three days without any charges being filed. Severely threatened. Released and had to the pay tow bill and impound fees. Car had to have all markings covered up and lights taken off. His wife did not even know where he was.
Crown Vics are being professionally rebuilt and put back in service in many States especially in the West. I saw lots of them earlier this year out West.
Some States/cities are so against selling their vehicles that they go directly to the shredder when they are run out.
The day I bought my 96 CV I was pulled over by a Sheriff in Ca. I saw the glee in his face when he was behind me. When I asked him what the PC for stop was and showed him id, his tone changed. He gave me the standard bs story we give people who drive look alike police cars and we parted ways.

[Tiggie]

I think our local sheriff’s office has a few CV’s left as backup cars but nothing active. End of an era.

Is this your daily or more of an occasional driver?

[Quincy]

I think our local sheriff’s office has a few CV’s left as backup cars but nothing active. End of an era.

Is this your daily or more of an occasional driver?

Somewhere in-between. I have so many, I rarely drive any of them daily Remember, I have a huge Mopar fleet, too. The closest thing I have to "daily drivers" are my '03 civilian Crown Vic (It DOES have cop hubcaps! ) and my 2000 Dodge Dakota - love that truck! Most of my equipment is pre-'72, by the way...

[Quincy]

Yes Maine is different. California is REALLY harsh on what I was talking about...

Noted. Don't drive "Adam-12" to California or Maine. Not gonna cramp my style one bit! I actually get to California fairly regularly, but it's usually by alternate means.

It's worth noting that my car has neither the titles that you mentioned, nor the emergency lights, was never planning on reinstalling them either. Both are illegal in GA (except amber, I think, but who'd want their CVPI to look like a tow truck )

Coincidentally, the only "encounter" I've ever had (if you can call it that) was a cop who pulled up to Quincy in a gas station and asked me about the "S.W.A.T.T" titles I have stenciled on. He was more curious than anything else. Quincy was already 30 years old at that point. There's a story behind those titles that I'll share later...

[Brown_Muscle]

Nice! I’ve only been pulled over once in my police car, back in 2008. I had/have red lights in the grille. The police officer told me I should remove them because I might be mistaken for a police car. I never did and the car is so old at this point that no one would mistake it for an active duty vehicle.

[Quincy]

....the car is so old at this point that no one would mistake it for an active duty vehicle.

Unless they're drunk off their @$$, and that's still a win, scare the crap out of 'em!!!

[P72Ford]

Nice piece, I wish my '08 was cleaner. Ex-Massachusetts State Police Unit #420.

I've driven it for 4 years and never been stopped for anything other than window tint. Its painted like a chalkboard, and only has the push bumper and spotlight installed. I do have a cartoon-style bomb decal on the window to distinguish it as a beater (its also a refernce to my profession).

[Mainemantom]

There is always the rookie cop who wants to be hero of the month. Or the one who just saw a "press reporter" driving a look alike, who messed up his crime scene. I have worked with some very mean people. There are some very good people too. I just hate to see someone who appreciates their car being treated like a criminal. On the other hand, there are plenty of people who impersonate or drive them like idiots who should be in jail. Those people ruin the hobby for the rest of us. Enough said.

[Quincy]

To lighten things up - an actual bona-fide trooper-mobile from the eighties/early nineties (GSP, in this case). The two-tone blue/silver and four squares in the front are what I dreaded seeing in my rear-view when I was out flogging one of my Mopars as a young man!



By the way, anyone ever seen one of these "way down in Alabamy" back in the day!?

[Arquemann]

This conversation reminded that I saw a rather infamous ex-police car last week again when on errands in Helsinki.

(Not my pic)
It's been converted to a full-on party bus several years ago and gets attention every time it's out.
"ROSVO" means robber in Finnish , and the car isn't even illegal.

In Finland only yellow and white front-facing lights are allowed, a vehicle can't say police in finnish or swedish and the paint pattern can't look the same. The pic above is different enough to be legal. Also police cars have a newer livery nowadays.

A modern popo Transporter looks like this:

Passats and other police cars have the same livery. Though too many are unmarked vehicles nowadays

[Quincy]

Cool! I haven't been to Norway or Sweden, but I've been to Iceland - I don't think they have any police cars there, or police, for that matter! I know I didn't see one in the two weeks I stayed there. They say the crime is extremely low - perhaps they have a couple Security Gaurds or something to make sure no one steals the lava rocks or messes with the elves...

[Quincy]

Cool! I haven't been to FINLAND or Sweden, but I've been to Iceland - I don't think they have any police cars there, or police, for that matter! I know I didn't see one in the two weeks I stayed there. They say the crime is extremely low - perhaps they have a couple Security Gaurds or something to make sure no one steals the lava rocks or messes with the elves...

Please excuse me for confusing my Nordic countries!