Why is the website called Ida 27?
“Ida 27” was the radio callsign of my first car when it was still a police car.
What does 10-8 mean?
It’s the APCO police code for “in service.” Officers would inform their dispatchers that they were 10-8 (back in service and available for their next call) after being unavailable (due to another call, traffic stop, etc.) for some period. In this case, I’m saying the car is once again back “in service” — at least in a manner of speaking.
Are you a police officer?
No. But I’ve been around police officers literally my entire life. My Dad became a cop shortly after I was born, and I am very proud of his nearly 30-year service as a police officer. My uncle was a career sheriff’s deputy, and my best buddy in college was a city cop. And for a time many years ago, I did work for the local county sheriff’s department (which, technically, made me a “sheriff’s deputy”). But I never really had any interest in being a police officer, and my short stint at the sheriff’s department was more of a post-college “What do I do now?” situation than a career choice.
Are you a police impersonator?
Nope. I never wear a police uniform, and I never operate the lights or siren while the car is in motion (except in parades). The car’s clearly an antique (and registered as such), bears outdated police markings covered or removed while in motion (except in parades), has the revolving/flashing lights covered or removed when the car is in motion (except in parades), and displays a sign indicating the car is a “parade/show car” and is “out of service.” I go to great lengths to avoid having anyone mistake this vehicle for a “real” (active-duty) police car, or mistake me for a police officer.
No, I’m not a “wacker.” I’m just a guy who likes antique cars, particularly police cars, respects the police, and wants to honor my father (and other police officers).
There was a police car in my driveway from the time I was just a newborn baby until I moved out of my parents’ home. It just seems natural to have a police car sitting there.
You use the term “cop.” Isn’t that derogatory?
I don’t think so. It certainly is not meant to be.
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the term was first used in 1859 as an abbreviation for Copper, which was first used in 1846. The Merriam-Webster Thesaurus lists it as a synonym for “police officer.”
According to Wikipedia, the term is slang for police officer, deriving from the British term Copper (meaning “to capture” from the Latin capere) and the Gaelic term Cop (equivalent to protector, leader or chief).
Do you get pulled over a lot driving an old police car?
Not yet.
But I have been pulled over and questioned — by one overzealous officer — for driving my daily driver, which is a non-descript late-model ex-police-car — basically just a white, four-door sedan!
And I had that same daily driver car searched at home one time by two officers from a nearby small town police department after someone (other than me!) used a similar vehicle to attempt an illegal “traffic stop” in their jurisdiction. The police officers were courteous and professional, I cooperated fully, and there were no problems.
With an antique police car, what I get from the local police is mostly quizzical looks followed by smiles and “thumbs-up!”
I’d like to have an antique police car, too. Any suggestions?
I’m not a lawyer or in any way an expert on the law, so these are only some suggestions:
First, be very careful. If you want to “play cop,” don’t get anything resembling a police vehicle; you’ll just get yourself into trouble.
Second, check local and state laws in your area. In Illinois, for example, where my car is located, lights, sirens, markings (“indicia”), etc., are all illegal except under very specific circumstances. I have gone to considerable length to ensure that I follow these rules to the letter. I carry a printed copy of the pertinent state laws — including the exceptions/exemptions — just in case I encounter an officer who is not familiar with those exceptions.
Third, check with your local authorities. They can give you a better idea of what the “rules” are, and give you some idea of how you could expect to be received — and treated — by their officers. If your intent is to have a vehicle for shows and parades (and not for daily driving), and to honor local law enforcement, you will probably find them open and receptive to your having the vehicle. And they may even go so far as to help you obtain old equipment! In other words, befriend the local authorities and assure them of your non-criminal intent.
Fourth, assuming you have gotten this far and are still feeling comfortable proceeding, do everything you can to ensure that nobody will ever mistake your car for a “real” (active-duty) police car. I list the steps I take in one of the questions later on this page.
At this point, if you still want to proceed, I’ve put together some steps to help you. Click here to go to that page.
Will you sell me your car?
What have you done to ensure the car is not mistaken for an actual police car?
Okay, let’s be honest. The only reason I’m concerned about this is because I don’t want to be arrested for “playing cop.” If someone sees the car and obeys the law because he thinks it’s a “real” police car, I’m actually fine with that. But here’s what I do to assure police officers that I’m not playing cop and not intentionally misleading the public:
- I dress as unlike a police officer as possible. Never a uniform. Rarely a suit or sportcoat. More typically, it’s t-shirt, shorts and running shoes.
- I place signs stating “show/parade car” and/or “out of service” in the rear window and both rear side windows.
- If the light(s) is/are easily removed, I do so. If not, I cover it/them with an opaque material — of a color other than red or blue!
- I remove or cover any “police” markings on the outside of the vehicle.
- I installed an electrical disconnect switch under the hood for the light(s) and siren and make sure the switch is off before driving the vehicle. That way, you would have to stop the car, open the hood and flip the switch to use the lights and sirens. No impromptu fake “traffic stops” possible.
- Unlike many modern police cars, the rear door handles and locks work normally and can be unlocked by a person in the rear seat.
- I have a pair of genuine, police-style handcuffs in the car, but the chain has been cut and is held together by a powerful BB-sized magnet. That way, the cuffs look real and functional, but could not actually be able to be used to restrain anyone.
- Although I do carry typical police car equipment in the vehicle, I make a point to not carry rope, duct tape, or any other material that could be used for restraining a person. If I do feel a need for something like duct tape at a car show, I take steps to reduce its accessibility. I keep a lockable footlocker in the trunk for carrying car show supplies, and I keep this locked while traveling. Again, the idea is that you would have to stop the car, open the trunk, then open the locked footlocker to get to this item, making it much less likely to be intended for use in an impromptu fake “traffic stop.”
- I have seen some police cars at car shows with what appear to be real weapons in them. I do not carry any real weapons, either on my person or in the vehicle. On the rare occasion when I might have a realistic-looking “toy” weapon in the vehicle (never on my person!), I make sure it is secured in that locked footlocker mentioned above when not being shown as part of a static display. In general, I am against the inclusion of any weapon, real or otherwise, in shows or parades, except by bona fide police officers in uniform.
- While I do sometimes display real (or very realistic looking) patches and badges at car shows, I usually display them in sealed cases which prevent them from being worn or otherwise displayed in an attempt to impersonate an officer. Those cases are transported in the trunk, and any loose items of this type are transported in that locked footlocker mentioned above.
- If I were to ever want to display a real (or real-looking) police uniform, I would select one about two sizes too small to fit me. Again, the idea here is that nobody could claim I was wearing it for nefarious purposes (i.e., impersonation).
Can I get a photo of your car?
Sure, just come to any show in which I’m participating and snap away! Eventually, I’ll be having some quality “staged” photos taken, and will offer them — and some other cool stuff — here on the interwebs. This is not a real high priority for me, though, so keep checking back … patiently.
Can I get a picture of my kid sitting in the car, wearing the “Smokey Bear” trooper hat?
Maybe. Catch me at a car show. IF it’s not too busy, and IF the show organizers don’t object to this sort of thing, I would probably be willing to do it. But I don’t want a line forming. And I don’t want sticky fingers all over the interior. And let’s not even think about dirty diapers. But, yeah, catch me at a car show and you probably have a better than 50-50 chance of getting this.
Can I borrow/drive your car?
Nope.
Can you use your car to play a prank on my …
NO!
Can we get your car in our parade, car show, Scouting event, school or church function or other event?
I’m happy to participate whenever possible in community or other events that serve to honor police service and/or educate the public concerning law enforcement. Contact me with details and we can discuss this. Please give me as much advance notice as possible.
Can you come and speak to our group about antique cars, police cars and equipment, or similar?
Again, I’d be happy to if possible … and IF it is within my area of “expertise.” Contact me with details and we can discuss this. Please give me as much advance notice as possible.
Can we use your car in a funeral procession (or similar) to honor a police officer?
If at all possible, I would be honored to participate in this way. Contact me.
I have an antique car and would like to have a picture of your antique police car pulling over my antique car in a traffic stop. Can we do this?
Boy, that sounds like a really cool idea. I’m not opposed to it, but there are an awful lot of things that need to be worked out first. Having me dress up like a cop and use my car to impersonate a police officer and make a fake traffic stop along a public road is not something I want to rush out to do for a total stranger without working out a lot of details first. Contact me and we can talk about this, but realize it will be very involved. We are not just going out and taking pictures this afternoon and hoping nobody gets arrested … or shot! We’ll need lots of pre-planning, signed documents, waivers, contact with (and “approval” from) local law enforcement in the area to be used, etc. And you can bet I won’t be doing this for free. But it is a cool idea …
I have a question not answered here.
Go to the Contact page and ask away.
I have a bunch of questions. Can we sit and talk sometime?
Catch me at a car show. I’m always happy to take time, whenever possible and within reason, to talk to interested persons.