Man used fake police lights to beat traffic

[Hum]

PORTLAND, OR (AP) ? Police in Oregon say a Washington man wove through interstate traffic at 80 mph with phony police lights flashing.

In his passenger seat was his 12-year-old son.

Marion County deputies didn't recognize the 2009 Nissan Maxima as one of their own unmarked vehicles. And when the driver passed a marked police car, the lights went off.

James Winfrey a 27-year-old from Vancouver, Wash., told police he was only using the lights to help him catch up to friends.

Deputies say they found no evidence that Winfrey was attempting to pull over cars and falsely represent himself as a police officer.

Winfrey was cited for disorderly conduct, reckless endangerment and traffic violations.

source

[compl3x]

In his passenger seat was his 12-year-old son.

Father of the year material.

James Winfrey a 27-year-old from Vancouver, Wash., told police he was only using the lights to help him catch up to friends.

DudeBro of the year material.

[Growled Member]

I can believe they didn't get him for impersonating a cop.

[DrJohnSmitherson]

Ive always wanted to do this

[Dane]

I can believe they didn't get him for impersonating a cop.

He didnt try to pull anyone over. So there was no attempt. Suprised people pull over haha. I had my lights and sirens on and no one pulled over. Later driving lights off and a car pulled over. Odd.

[Growled Member]

He didnt try to pull anyone over. So there was no attempt.

I can guarantee you that in my part of the country he would be arrested for impersonating a cop for doing this, whether he pulled anyone over or not.

[Dane]

I can guarantee you that in my part of the country he would be arrested for impersonating a cop for doing this, whether he pulled anyone over or not.

Indeed! I guess though in their state they define it different. I'm suprised they didn't try that.

[The Evil Overlord]

I can believe they didn't get him for impersonating a cop.

In the UK that's precisely what He'd be arrested for, for simply having those lights. I've seen it happen.

And I know a guy who used to service the UK local police Vauxhall Astra cars, who took one on to public roads to return the vehicle to the station (the usual procedure for this is to load the car onto the back of a transporter truck) He was arrested, (but later released without charge) for the unlawful taking of the vehicle. He was simply trying to save time, a foolish choice with hindsight.

[rfirth]

He didnt try to pull anyone over. So there was no attempt. Suprised people pull over haha. I had my lights and sirens on and no one pulled over. Later driving lights off and a car pulled over. Odd.

The crime is impersonating an emergency vehicle, not necessarily impersonating a cop. But you might get away with it if the flashing lights aren't blue or red, depending on where you live.

[Dane]

The crime is impersonating an emergency vehicle, not necessarily impersonating a cop. But you might get away with it if the flashing lights aren't blue or red, depending on where you live.

Ahh ok.

I am not sure what we have. You can have a car like the police have and you can have Red and Blue lights, but it's against the law to turn the on.

I know someone who is an EMT and he just bought a really NICE doge charger. Tinted windows. Has smaller blue LED lights in the grill, in the back by the license plate, front window, and back window. He hasn't had any issues, but technically the law here says one light per vehicle.