DO-IT-YOURSELF COP CAR FOR 2G

New York Post ^ | 6/24/02 | JAMIE SCHRAM and STEVEN HIRSCH

[kattracks]

For $2,000, anyone - including terrorists - can get a car and dress it up to look like a New York police vehicle, a Post investigation has found.

Last week, state officials alerted law enforcement to be on the lookout for terrorists with fake ambulances or police vehicles.

[ContentiousObjector]

My first car was an old police car, and I drove it looking like a police car for almost 5 months because I couldn't afford to have it repainted until part way through that summer after I got a summer job.

I even prevented an armed robbery, I pulled into a gas station just as a guy was pulling a knife on the clerk, foiled by a 16 yearold in a beat up police car, the guy ran into the darkness and the korean guy in the gas station gave me a free case of cigarettes, although I didn't smoke it is still a great story

[goldstategop]

Chuckie Schumer is really stupid. A lot of this stuff is bought by movie studios and police collector buffs. Nothing sinister there. And if a terrorist wanted to infiltrate a secured area, he could get this stuff even it were illegal. Especially IF it were illegal.

[Junior]

Three words:

The Blues Brothers

[mn12]

"Every time a new threat emerges - whether it's bioterrorism, dirty bombs or being able to assemble a fake police car - it has to be dealt with immediately," said Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).

Are you proposing that consumer sales of vinyl sheeting, flashing red and blue lights, and Crown Vics should be outlawed, Chuckie?

Meanwhile, a Post reporter asked the manager of a used-car dealership if he would sell a police cruiser to a terrorist.

Time to start having background checks and waiting periods before buying a car to make sure this doesn't happen! </sarcasm>

"I don't give a damn what he's going to do with the car," the manager said. "I wouldn't feel guilty. It's not my responsibility."

It seems like the reporter implied that car dealers should be responsible for screening potential buyers to determine what they'll do with the car. I like this guy's response to that BS. Although I'd personally feel bad if I sold a car to someone who blew it up and killed people, it's not the car dealer's responsibility to worry about that!

[goldstategop]

Excellent point. The stupidity of some of our politicians and reporters is truly unbelievable. I mean the point is, sure commonly sold, legally available stuff COULD be used to perpetrate a crime. Some people might buy it to break the law. Then again the only way to prevent people from abusing the free market would be to outlaw EVERYTHING that could conceivably be used to commit a crime or even a terrorist attack. The law abiding majority would be deprived of the needs and conveniences of living, the bad guys could still get what was needed on the black market, and none of us would be any safer than we were before. Its not just Do It Yourself Cop cars that are at issue, stupid. I'm sure before long a terrorist will figure out how to make Ron Popeil's Showtime oven into a weapon and next we'll hear ol' Chuckie demand we outlaw them because they were readily available to terrorists. These people really need to hear themselves.

[SWake]

When Crown Vics are outlawed, only outlaws will have Crown Vics.

Personally, I'm waiting for the State of Texas to surplus off those early 90's Caprices they had outfitted with Corvette drivetrains and suspensions.

[Fixit]

City and federal lawmakers were surprised to learn how easy it is to create a fake police car

These fools would be surprised to learn that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west.

If it isn't on the puppet's briefing cards that morning, it isn't in the puppet's brain that day.

[hopespringseternal]

City and federal lawmakers were surprised to learn how easy it is to create a fake police car, and believe the problem should be dealt with immediately.

"Every time a new threat emerges - whether it's bioterrorism, dirty bombs or being able to assemble a fake police car - it has to be dealt with immediately," said Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).

"We're most vulnerable when we're most complacent."

We are most vulnerable when we aren't busy shooting terrorists and instead occupy our time with cheap, sensationalist stunts that have only the most tenuous relevance to the problem

The funny thing is that police cars and ambulances attract more attention than any other vehicle. That is kind of the point.

[sneakypete]

That's nothing, anyone can make themselves into a n.y. senator. All they need to do is stick their head up their a$$.

THE most perfect reply I am likely to see this whole week. Thank you.

[sneakypete]

Personally, I'm waiting for the State of Texas to surplus off those early 90's Caprices they had outfitted with Corvette drivetrains and suspensions.

They were a GM option that pretty much anybody could buy. You did it by ordering the police or taxi package. They do have the Corvette engines and transmissions,but don't have Corvette suspensions. The Taxi/Police option means it comes with heavy duty shocks and springs,bigger brakes,radiator,transmission and engine oil coolers,and the "plain Jane wrapper". Add leather interior and all the electronic do-dahs to this package,and you have the "Impala SS" Caprice option.

[Petronski]

Halt! Drop your weapons and
come out with your hands up!

Yes, that's my car.

[TADSLOS]

Putting together a police vehicle is diabolically easy. It took a Post reporter and photographer about five hours over three days to create a fake NYPD car.

Heck, Clinton did this trick 100,000 times with mere words to create the illusion of fighting crime back in the mid nineties and claimed credit for it.