Slicktop Question

[andrews102]

I'm an Officer up in Seattle and enjoy your site. Wondering what the difference is in the black/white CHP cars that have the Vectors and the black/white slicktops.

WSP up here has the option to remove their litebars if approved. Is this the same for CHP?

Thnx in advance...102

[22348(b)]

Our units are produced in both slicktop and overhead models at the academy. The original configuration of our patrol vehicles was a slicktop, with a red spot light for code 3 driving. Some say that slicktops are obsolete, but I disagree with them.

With our new auxillary emergency lights I think that slicktops are just as noticeable as an overhead car. On the rare ocassion that I drive a car, I noticed that the siren was rarely even necessary with the new lights on the mirrors and grille of the slicktop.

When I worked out on Interstate 5, I observed that slicktops have dramatically better gas mileage than overhead cars, and that there is MUCH less wind noise inside of the car. I prefer slicktops!

[andrews102]

Thnx for the reply...our slicktops and Wedge system are too bright at nite as well...thnx again...102

[Gittinready]

that slicktops have dramatically better gas mileage than overhead cars, and that there is MUCH less wind noise inside of the car. I prefer slicktops!

+30 on the wind noise part!

[E433035]

A few new and vintage CHP patrol cars are all coming at 'ya code 3 in this video shot earlier in the month at the Ripon EV Show:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iweuf7v875w

The new lighting on the CHP cars is indeed very visible.

[CHP4LIFE.]

"With our new auxillary emergency lights I think that slicktops are just as noticeable as an overhead car. On the rare ocassion that I drive a car, I noticed that the siren was rarely even necessary with the new lights on the mirrors and grille of the slicktop."


Are all of the new LED auxillary lights all red? For the push guard and side mirrors?

[5246MPD4now]

I know officers have their preferences, but as a citizen driving down the freeway/road, I think one of the coolest things when seeing a CHP officer is seeing them drive code 3 with all the fancy (overhead) lights.

I never knew those lights did sooo many different things until my first ride along.

[rs]

with all the new highspeed led's everywhere on the car, i think the slicktops are the only way to go. i'm not a big fan of the non-led rear deck though, it doesn't have the umph the leds do/did.

[CWMellow]

On the yard its nice to light up the world with the overhead, but the slick tops are a lot quieter and you can blend in with traffic better during the day. The mirror and front LED lights help out a lot, I have seen overhead cars in the distance full code and all I see is the new LEDs flashing until I get closer, much closer.


i'm not a big fan of the non-led rear deck though, it doesn't have the umph the leds do/did.

I feel the same way. The rear deck lights on the white (PCF?) cars were just plane sexy! The newest white car we have has incondecent decklights like the black and whites... no bueno

[Gittinready]

has incondecent decklights like the black and whites... no bueno

When we started getting the newer cars, I wondered, why would they go all high speed LED style on the front, then less bright, and less lights on the rear???:hitwall:

[USMC8541]

slicks look cool. but as a graveyarder i love 2 spot lights and takedowns:cool:

[Gittinready]

I work the yard too, but I still hate overheads. The noise just gets to me, plus it's so much easier to meander through traffic. But I need people like you to drive the overheads so me and my partner can drive the slicks...:biggrin:

[USMC8541]

yea i was in a slick last month and had to give primary.:doubt::lol:

[Q]

I saw the new front LEDs in action last night watching the pursuit on the news. It almost seemed the further north the pursuit went, the newer the primary car. Anyhow, in the Newhall portion of the pursuit, the primary had the LEDs and overheads, but you could definitely see the wide arc of light the LEDs put out to the front, while anything behind the mirrors was pretty dark. For slicktops, I would think that a corner LED would be a good idea to cover the rear quarter of the car. Another thing that got my attention was the different flash rates between the pushbar LEDs and the mirror LEDs. Sometimes they would sync up, sometimes they looked like wig-wags, but most of the time they were totally out of sync. I couldn't tell if the headlights had wig-wags, though.

[CivvieInNY]

Question: What is the difference between an all-white car and a black and white? Is there a difference? Does it signify anything? :noidea:

[CHPn00b]

Question: What is the difference between an all-white car and a black and white? Is there a difference? Does it signify anything? :noidea:

did a search on "polar bears", and looks like they're used in commercial vehicle enforcement, but have the same duties as any on-duty black and white.

awaiting clarification :think:

[code3]

Question: What is the difference between an all-white car and a black and white? Is there a difference? Does it signify anything? :noidea:



All white marked car with Highway Patrol Letters on the door or just plain white car? I think to write traffic citations an officer must be in uniform and driving a marked car, but I could be wrong, as I am half the time.:doh:

[code3]

did a search on "polar bears", and looks like they're used in commercial vehicle enforcement, but have the same duties as any on-duty black and white.

awaiting clarification :think:



I was driving my car and I was pulled over and cited by a CHP officer driving a marked white car. The officer came out of nowhere. I noticed a white car that made a U turn as it passed me, and I soon realized I was in big trouble.:shock:

[Miami2Cali]

Anyone have video or pictures of units with the new lighting packages?

[dw]

I think to write traffic citations an officer must be in uniform and driving a marked car, but I could be wrong, as I am half the time.:doh:My two favorite words. :doh:

[CHPUSMC]

I was driving my car and I was pulled over and cited by a CHP officer driving a marked white car. The officer came out of nowhere. I noticed a white car that made a U turn as it passed me, and I soon realized I was in big trouble.:shock:

The white cars we use for vehicle enforcment ARE fully marked patrol vehicles, according to the vehicle code, the commissioner, and god.

[Dragon Slayer]

Anyone have video or pictures of units with the new lighting packages?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3187/2918093470_44d95c696f.jpg

[E433035]

Anyone have video or pictures of units with the new lighting packages?There's a video link on post #5 of this thread.

[Gittinready]

My two favorite words. :doh:

:tape:



:popcorn:

[FTY]

did a search on "polar bears", and looks like they're used in commercial vehicle enforcement, but have the same duties as any on-duty black and white.

awaiting clarification :think:


Commercial vehicles (SMPV) have the push bumpers and CB antenna (big white antenna) on the car. The new "all around" enforcement white cars (PCF) have no push bumpers and have rear tinted windows. Also, as explained earlier there is a LED lightstick in the back rather than the old style lights (also a single stack) that is present in the new commercial vehicles and slick tops.

[RottweilerLover]

RED SPOT, I always wondered why the CHP used this. It doesn't seem like anyone would see it.
:noidea:

[Mac]

RED SPOT, I always wondered why the CHP used this. It doesn't seem like anyone would see it.
:noidea:
It worked successfully for years and years before light bars, LEDs, center-mounted reds and all the other newfangled foofaraw came into existence.

[RottweilerLover]

Hey, as long as it works. I was just wondering how noticeable it was. :think:

[rs]

Hey, as long as it works. I was just wondering how noticeable it was. :think:

its pretty bright, but there's led's in front of the mirror (the new ones have led's everywhere else). never had a problem with stopping people.

[David]

When we started getting the newer cars, I wondered, why would they go all high speed LED style on the front, then less bright, and less lights on the rear??? More does not always mean better.

You want good light output to the front so that people can see you coming from a long ways off when you are running code.

You don't really need tons of lights on the rear unless you plan on running code at high speed while going backwards.

The main purpose of rear facing emergency lighting is to keep people from running into you while you are stopped on the side of the road. So long as you have rear facing flashing amber visible from the required distance (can't remember what that distance is off the top of my head), that's usually good enough.

If you have tons of rear warning lights, you'll just be blinding the passing motorists (this is bad) and attracting drunks drivers like moths and causing them to plow into your car (this is also bad).

[Gittinready]

More does not always mean better.

You want good light output to the front so that people can see you coming from a long ways off when you are running code.

You don't really need tons of lights on the rear unless you plan on running code at high speed while going backwards.

The main purpose of rear facing emergency lighting is to keep people from running into you while you are stopped on the side of the road. So long as you have rear facing flashing amber visible from the required distance (can't remember what that distance is off the top of my head), that's usually good enough.

If you have tons of rear warning lights, you'll just be blinding the passing motorists (this is bad) and attracting drunks drivers like moths and causing them to plow into your car (this is also bad).

This might come off as a bit smug, so I'm going to try and keep it as civil as possible. First, I don't know who you are, but from what I read from you, you are not an officer. Maybe you are, but I doubt it. Second, if you have never been out in the middle of the freeway at night, then refrain from commenting regarding issues like this.

While some of what you said is correct, especially regarding front lights, most is not true, especially in regards to slick top vehicles. While on the side of the road(the shoulder specifically), more lights is not necessarily better. But while you are on the side of the road, you are not in the roadway and you just need traffic to proceed as they would normally.

Running a traffic break with a slick top is another problem, especially during the day time. Part of that problem lies with the fact that the slick top's rear lights are mounted on the rear deck, much lower than a car with overhead lights. Being that they are mounted low, traffic from a distance can not see them if they are obstructed by other vehicles. The rear LEDs, which many of our cars still have, are significantly more visible, especially through traffic.

Another great time for rear LEDs is when you are forced to block lanes. Getting the message to approaching traffic to slow down and move over is much more easily accomplished with the LED rear lights. It is not a matter of blinding people, it is a matter of getting approaching motorists to actually "see" the lights and have it register, especially at night when traffic is light and our safety is at risk.

Ultimately, there is a reason most of the overheads on police cars (including CHP starting in 2009) are LED in nature. It saves lives.

[Mac]

More does not always mean better.

...You don't really need tons of lights on the rear unless you plan on running code at high speed while going backwards....
If you've never worked a traffic collision with lanes blocked in a blind curve on a 2-lane, mountainous rural road, you have no idea how valuable lots of bright lights to the rear are.

[bcjack]

If you've never worked a traffic collision with lanes blocked in a blind curve on a 2-lane, mountainous rural road, you have no idea how valuable lots of bright lights to the rear are.

Don't forget your new reflective vest also!!!:tape: