Teen Faces Jail Over Car Lights

11Alive.com Atlanta ^ | 5/27/2003 | Jennifer Leslie

[tdadams]

A Douglas County teenager who graduated from high school with distinction last week is facing jail time and a hefty fine for putting blue lights on her car.

The lights, known as Cobra Eyes, are popular with teenagers who use them as decoration.

Devon Cook, 18, drove with the lights on her car for two years before being stopped by a Douglasville polie officer.

"He was like, ‘Do you know why I pulled you over?’, “No sir, was I speeding?’ [I said], ‘No, there's blue lights on her car [the officer said].’"

The officer gave Cook a ticket for operating an unauthorized vehicle with blue lights. Last week, after trying to plead her own case in Municipal Court, a judge found her guilty.

"I got a $800 fine, six months probation, 40 hours community service and 24 hours jail time," Cook said.

"She doesn't deserve to go to jail for this. I can't imagine my daughter spending a night in population with real criminals," Alicia Cook, Devon’s mother, said.

To keep Cook out of jail, the Cooks hired attorney John Sherrod to file an appeal. Sherrod said Devon did not break the law.

"The car has to be equipped with a device capable of producing flashing or revolving lights and as you know, from looking at the car, those are just small blue lights that neither flash or revolve," he said.

The Cobra Eyes lights can be purchased at most auto parts stores. They sell for about $10 and they do come with a warning right on the package which reads, “May not be legal for street use, check with your local city/state ordinance.”

"I checked with my resource officer at school and he said they weren't illegal," Devon Cook said.

Her mother also checked with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department.

"She was not trying to break the law or impersonate a police officer or anything," Alicia Cook said.

Douglasville City police said the officer who wrote the ticket used his discretion. The judge who decided her punishment said he could not comment while the case is on appeal.

11Alive checked with a number of law-enforcement agencies across Metro Atlanta on the legality of the lights. Some consider the Cobra Eyes illegal while others do not.

[tdadams]

Whatever happened to the concept of criminal intent? This is asinine. We becoming a nation that increasingly lives under martial law and subject to the whims of power hungry police and legislators.

[ActionNewsBill]

bump

[Trueblackman]

What a waste of the taxpayer dollars while real criminals run the streets.

[CanisRex]

Asinine doesn't even touch this. Makes my heart hurt. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

[Tijeras_Slim]

The LEO put down his donut long enough to apprehend this vicious criminal? What dedication! < /s>

[tdadams]

I should have included a picture of the lights. It's plainly obvious they're not police lights. They're tiny little LEDs.

[af_vet_1981]

The main fault lies with the judge.

[AppyPappy]

She should have RFM

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Too many rapes and assaults have been committed by people pretending to be cops in undercover cars to treat it lightly.

Now, do I have a problem with undercover traffic stops? Yes, because it set the stage in the first place.

Most departments have been coming up with guidelines on undercover stops - where they won't have a fit if a motorist goes on to a lit, populated place before stopping.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Right you are... but it looks likes there's enough dumb to go around these days.

[rmmcdaniell]

Aint selective enforcement great! How many gansta wanna bees are driving around with these things. All in danger of going to jail when a certain someone gets a stale donut.

[tdadams]

Too many rapes and assaults have been committed by people pretending to be cops in undercover cars to treat it lightly.

This is an LED in a enclosure that looks no bigger than the washer nozzle. Would that fool you into thinking it's a police car?

[Tin-Legions]

THis soon to be LEO from a family of LEO's will state that many officers do not have "discretion" when issuing tickets. They are sometimes used as revenue generators for the local govt., and enforcing laws of dubious worth is a good way to do it. See the many posts about NYPD lately.

There are few jobs out there that require the dedication that it takes to be a LEO. Low pay, high danger with little thanks from a fickle population takes dedication.

[mattdono]

Are these the little lights that are on the windshield fluid dispense (which are typically located on the hood of a car)?

If so, there should be any possible way that someone could mistake these little tiny lights for a police vehicle. I think that these things look stupid on a car, but they definitely don't look like police lights.

[hchutch]

Better off if they used marked cars for the purposes of traffic enforcement. Fewer tickets, but fewer incidents like this.

[mattdono]

Ah...beat to me the comment. So, they are the little lights on the nozzles. This officer gives other reasonable officers a bad name.

I wonder if the cop was a rookie or some overzealous Tackleberry?

[-YYZ-]

What kind of insane laws do they have on the books down there that allow for a punishment like this for an equipment violation? Also the idea that anyone could mistake these little LEDs, or the ones that go on valve stems, or even the under-car neon in whatever colors, as LEO car lights is ridiculous.

Obviously part of this girls mistake was to dare to take her case to court rather than just paying the fine - the powers that be don't like it when we dare to question their authority.

[bullseye1911]

Under Michigan law, you have NO obligation to stop for a "undercover" car. All police vehicles performing traffic enforcment must be badged, ie: emblem on the door that's visible to the assumed violator. Too many rapists slapping lights on their car and pulling over women. I'm suprised other States haven't passed the same.

[101viking]

This is what happens when society shifts from a system of justice to a system of pure law. A connect the dots legal system where by regardless of the circumstances, only law is applied and common sense is thrown ou the window. This all resulted from having a politically active judiciary, primarily due to liberal judges who refused to throw the book at serious offenders. Now these same judges can use the system of strict adherence to "law" to punish those who dare question their authority. Had this young lady removed the lights and paid whatever fine was associated with the infraction she would not be facing jail time. However it is obvious that the judge who heard this case sent a message.."do not question our authority." Power corrupts.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Glad we're cracking down on this. This tiny blue light thing keeps me awake at night. (sarcasm)