Man paints car to look like Transformers police vehicle.

[shadowgrin]

More than meets the eye

LAS VEGAS, N.M. - Jessie Vigil's black-and-white car sports a red-and-blue emergency bar across the top and the word "police" painted on the doors. Vigil, however, isn't a cop. Law enforcement agencies say what he's done with his car isn't illegal as long as he doesn't act like a police officer.

He started decorating his 2007 Ford Mustang last summer to look like the police cruiser in the "Transformers" movie because his 7-year-old son, Thomas, was fond of the film.

"My intent was to re-create the movie car," said Vigil, a 35-year-old disabled veteran from the war in Iraq. "When I came back from Iraq, I tried to spoil him. I wasn't the best dad before."

He said he called the district attorney's office beforehand and spoke to Chief Deputy District Attorney Joe Ulibarri, who tried to discourage his decorating scheme but couldn't find anything in the law that would stop Vigil as long as he didn't impersonate an officer.

Ulibarri said a state law prevents people from mimicking state police cars, which are painted black and white. But he also said the state police sell their old cars to private citizens without changing the colors.

He called the state law vague, and noted that normal state police cars aren't Mustangs.

A close look shows Vigil's car isn't a police cruiser. Instead of the familiar slogan "To protect and serve," it carries a motto: "To punish and enslave" on the side. Instead of telling people to dial 911 for emergencies, the Mustang advises them to "dial 411 for theater information."

He originally marked his car, "Transformers police" but later changed it to just "police." He also added what appears to be a bar of emergency lights, but said they're not actual lights.

State police Capt. Craig Martin said the agency is "concerned for the safety of people who think he is an officer and think they may get help from him.

[Andrew]

He's done a good job with it, though it is a bit irresponsible considering the confusion it could cause.

[Matt]

this guy might inadvertently stop some crime just cruising around.....hell, if i had that car I bet there would be no more break ins to the cars @ work.

[Jackal]

He's done a good job with it, though it is a bit irresponsible considering the confusion it could cause.

That's a sign you're getting older too Andrew. Few years back you'd just think that was fucking cool, period.

[Sauru]

He's done a good job with it, though it is a bit irresponsible considering the confusion it could cause.

That's a sign you're getting older too Andrew. Few years back you'd just think that was fucking cool, period.

damn good point. however whats it say about me for thinking its nothing but a waste of money?

[Jackal]

A) You're not rich enough to give out money on something you're an big fan of and don't care about the cost.

B) You're old.

[Riot]

They are saying it's not illegal as long as he doesn't pretend he is the police. However, what happens when someone who is in need of help sees this vehicle on the road? They will run to it thinking it is help. This will only put him in harms way and put the victim in an even worse position.

Not a fan of people pretending to be police officers.

[Sauru]

yeah its pretty bad, this man will cause constant traffic build up. everytime someone sees him they are gonna slow way the fuck day

[Andrew]

He's done a good job with it, though it is a bit irresponsible considering the confusion it could cause.

That's a sign you're getting older too Andrew. Few years back you'd just think that was fucking cool, period.

I guess, though I never was a Transformers fan so it's kind of wasted on me.

They are saying it's not illegal as long as he doesn't pretend he is the police. However, what happens when someone who is in need of help sees this vehicle on the road? They will run to it thinking it is help. This will only put him in harms way and put the victim in an even worse position.

Not a fan of people pretending to be police officers.

Technically he's not pretending to be a police officer as long as he doesn't try to assume the duties of one but the confusion is going to be there and I too could see it causing problems. Hopefully it won't.

[Indy]

In Chicago they are using Mustangs as undercover cops now. All sorts of cars are undercovers now that you would never suspect to be cops. I saw a Hummer pull someone over the other day. I thought it was a ganglord's car because they often have huger then normal rims and completely tinted windows and then all of a sudden lights come on and it pulls someone over.

Now there's a car painted like a cop car that isn't a cop? How am I supposed to now who to hide the blunt I'm smoking from now?

[el badman]

In Chicago they are using Mustangs as undercover cops now

They do the same in El Paso TX, usually the newer Mustangs, grey or black. Gotta be even more paranoid on the interstate now...

[Oznogrd]

best i've seen was a trooper in an unmarked Tahoe...i never saw it comin, but then again, neither did the guy who he pulled

[el badman]

I remember seeing some undercover cops in BMWs back in Hollywood CA, I guess they have to blend in...

[Andrew]

In Chicago they are using Mustangs as undercover cops now. All sorts of cars are undercovers now that you would never suspect to be cops. I saw a Hummer pull someone over the other day. I thought it was a ganglord's car because they often have huger then normal rims and completely tinted windows and then all of a sudden lights come on and it pulls someone over.

They've started doing the same thing here. Often unmarked police cars are white sedans because they're so common but there's a couple of unlikely unmarked cars that blend in with the street racers.