Sunglasses?

[TheForceCHP]

My question is in regards to the sunglasses that we are able to wear as officers.

When talking to officers i learned that the lenses can not be reflective and i have also read this in the cadet SOP book. I currently wear Oakley A frame sunglasses with dark, iridium, polarized lenses. i don't really consider them reflective, i can see myself in the lenses but you can do that to some extent in almost all sunglasses, but i also don't want to buy them and then be told they are not ok. i know that the M frames that are popular with a lot of officers that i see only come in grey polarized and i also know that the government only allows the grey lenses and not the dark ones, that is why i am not sure if mine are ok

Is there any list of what can't be worn, or by any chance does anybody know off the top of their head if these ones are ok? thanks

[Mac]

The iridium lenses aren't going to fly. Just buy the plain smoke/grey lenses, they're actually pretty inexpensive. There isn't any list of exactly which sunglasses you can/can't wear, as it would be too exhaustive to compile and maintain.

Count me among the Oakley wearers....they're the only sunglasses I've owned for probably the past ten years. Can't beat 'em for comfort and clarity.

[TheForceCHP]

ok, i bought a pair of the greys not too long ago and i just couldn't stand the view. it lets in too much light for me, but then again that is probably because i am just used to the darks.

looks like i am going to go to the store today and check out some grey lensed sunglasses. i am still going to get the polorized though, there is no problem with that right?

also what sunglasses does everybody out there where(brand/model if you know)

[Dipmo]

I've been to the academy for testing purposes twice and both times I saw no cadets wearing sunglasses; which raises the question, are cadets allowed to wear sunglasses? If they are, is it actually done?

[TheForceCHP]

the SOP does state that cadets are allowed to wear sunglasses and also stipulates where they are allowed

[RoadDawg]

Policy does state what sun glasses you should not wear, however Ive never heard of anyone being busted for wearing glasses within reason. I remember Y-Mentor telling us in the Academy he got complaints while wearing one style of glasses, so he switched to another style, and the complaints seized. I currently wear a pair of polarized Oakleys, which technically is out of policy, but I also just saw a Cpt wearing the same pair and Ive never had anyone complain about them.

I never saw a cadet wearing sunglasses at all, so I wouldnt worry about this... and "if" you a fortunate enough to succeed and make it through the Academy you can get a feel for whats acceptable in what ever Area you are sent to. I think this policy is in place to prevent people from wearing some Elton John "flamboyant" glasses. For right now though, I would be worry about running four miles a day and getting through skid pan.... :cool:

[Darth Choke]

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0000CEVYZ.01-A15M3EL6TYCVC1._AA280_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

[Chippysgt]

Geezzz they must have retired Bausch & Lomb Aviator glasses when I retired. Of course I always wanted to wear Cool Hand Luke glasses but they are the bench mark for CHP prohibited.

These days, I might be interested in some of these glasses although the Academy PX always had some mighty fine sunglasses at decent prices.

http://www.opticsplanet.net/police-brand.html

[RodeoChippie]

My question is in regards to the sunglasses that we are able to wear as officers.

WE? Whats with the WE? You got a mouse in your pocket? :lol:

[TheForceCHP]

My question is in regards to the sunglasses that we are able to wear as officers.

WE? Whats with the WE? You got a mouse in your pocket? :lol:

:rolleyes: we as in nothing is going to stop me from becoming an officer, so when i become an officer i need to know what to wear. thanks for the helpful response:biggrin:

[Mac]

Geezzz they must have retired Bausch & Lomb Aviator glasses when I retired.
LOL....I wore a pair of the gold-rimmed Ray-Ban Aviators for my first few years on the job. Those were THE "cop shades" back then! Heavy as heck, and the hard plastic nose pieces left big red imprints on the sides of your nose if you wore them all shift.

Those are still "regulation" if you want to look real old-school! :smile:

[Your Mentor]

I have been wearing Ray Ban aviators my entire career. Got too many complaints early on while wearing Oakleys with a flat top hair cut. Took up aviators in late 89' and never gave them up. Perhaps it's the prescription bifocals that keeps me wearing them but I actually like them. So no, they're not retired. Cowboy boots, however, went out about the time they retired Mustangs.

[SB 405]

Cowboy boots while in uniform? Did you ever have to chase anybody on foot in those days Mentor?

[dw]

I just saw that Oakley now makes prescription (http://www.framesdirect.com/Oakley-Prescription-sunglasses-prescsgc/rxsgc-lamfmi-s-l-k-k.html) lenses. May have to be my next pair. My Ray Bans are getting pretty beat-up, although I usually lose a pair before they're worn out.

[Chippysgt]

Good to hear some of you old salts are still using Aviators!!!! I will be going down to the Fresno VA for an eye exam and new glasses this week. Gotta use the VA since the CAHP dumped the vision care for retirees. I get the exam for free and the glasses are much cheaper than going to Costco or Walmart. I am going to see if the vendor for the VA can get me some in perscription sun glasses for driving. :cool:

[Radar]

I've been to the academy for testing purposes twice and both times I saw no cadets wearing sunglasses; which raises the question, are cadets allowed to wear sunglasses? If they are, is it actually done?

:shock: Why would a cadet wear ANYTHING that could draw extra attention?!?!? :cool:

[bcjack]

Wal-Mart shades for me...$16.95, UV-A and UV-B blocking and if they get broken...I'm not out $100 or $200...

[Your Mentor]

Cowboy boots while in uniform? Did you ever have to chase anybody on foot in those days Mentor?

I did. Through desert sand and shrubs. Then I learned I was wasting the energy. Where were they going to go? They still sell uniform cowboy boots at the Academy PX but very few folks still wear them. I liked them when driving Mustangs. The heal put your throttle foot at the right angle so you just rocked your foot back and forth on the heal. You could tell the road dogs from the office/staff workers by the warn-down right heal.

[Mac]

I still have my "Santa Rosa" cowboy boots from the Academy - they've long since been retired from road duty, but still stand ready, spit-shined as "inspection boots".....that's the only time I wear them anymore. :smile:

[Cameron]

Mac, that brings to mind a question I've wondered about for a while.

How often do CHP offices have inspections of Officers and their uniforms, weapons, equipment, etc.? I read somewhere on the chp website that they are called "Cat 10" or "Category 10" inspections.

[RodeoChippie]

Mac, that brings to mind a question I've wondered about for a while.

How often do CHP offices have inspections of Officers and their uniforms, weapons, equipment, etc.? I read somewhere on the chp website that they are called "Cat 10" or "Category 10" inspections.

I can't remember the last time I have stood inspection. :confused: I can remember 3 times for sure in 20 years.

[FDandH]

I still have my "Santa Rosa" cowboy boots from the Academy - they've long since been retired from road duty, but still stand ready, spit-shined as "inspection boots".....that's the only time I wear them anymore. :smile:

I've got a pair of Justins myself. I wear them to court because I love the was they sound clopping down the hallway...:lol:

[Darth Choke]

Mac, that brings to mind a question I've wondered about for a while.

How often do CHP offices have inspections of Officers and their uniforms, weapons, equipment, etc.? I read somewhere on the chp website that they are called "Cat 10" or "Category 10" inspections.

Every year our office does a Cat 10. Two times a chief has been there - once just the Capt. (only been on 3 years)

[Mac]

Yes, they are called "Cat 10" inspections. The Southern Division Areas are pretty militant about doing them annually, while some other Areas don't stand them quite as frequently.

[Dipmo]

I've been to the academy for testing purposes twice and both times I saw no cadets wearing sunglasses; which raises the question, are cadets allowed to wear sunglasses? If they are, is it actually done?

:shock: Why would a cadet wear ANYTHING that could draw extra attention?!?!? :cool:

That was kind of my point when I asked if it was actually done. Sort of like the old boot conversation where it was discovered that one could wear low top shoes, but they really wouldn?t want to so as not to stick out among the crowd.

[casey]

I just saw that Oakley now makes prescription (http://www.framesdirect.com/Oakley-Prescription-sunglasses-prescsgc/rxsgc-lamfmi-s-l-k-k.html) lenses. May have to be my next pair. My Ray Bans are getting pretty beat-up, although I usually lose a pair before they're worn out.

I realize that this is a really old thread, but this may be helpful to someone out there.

I am in the US Army reserves and when I deployed to Afghanistan last year, my unit issued all of us a set of "half jackets". IF your are a current member of any branch of the armed forces (active or active reserve, not IRR) or an officer/agent of just about any law enforcement agency, you can go to the US government website for Oakley and get significant discounts on their merchandise. When I came home from Afghanistan I went to the optician and was told that I needed a minor prescription. I needed protective eyewear for my job and since I already had the half jacket frames from Oakley, I decided to price their prescription lenses. I was surprised to find out that I could get a set of clear and a set of grey lenses for a little over $200; as it was I would have paid $150 for a single set of civilian frames and lenses.

So if anyone out there would like to check out that website, the address is www.usstandardissue.com (http://www.usstandardissue.com). It is very easy to register; they just require you to fax them a copy of your Military ID or agency equivalent and then you are good to go.:cool:

[Chippler]

I'm glad you posted it before I did. The above website is awesome. I bought a pair of Oakley 5's for $135 and broke them a month later. Then I was informed of this site and bought the same pair for $35. All I had to do was register and fax a copy of CHP ID.

[casey]

I'm glad you posted it before I did. The above website is awesome. I bought a pair of Oakley 5's for $135 and broke them a month later. Then I was informed of this site and bought the same pair for $35. All I had to do was register and fax a copy of CHP ID.

Very true. Before the army gave me a both a pair of M-Frames and a pair of Half Jackets (among a lot of other stuff - it's great to be part of ARSOF), I had a pair of Oakley 5's and they were great; lightweight and fit well. I bought them for $50 in the PX, but you are correct that they are $35 on the Oakley government sight.

Again, they have prescription lenses available in clear, grey, and a number of the other colors, for most of their frames. The prescription lenses I got for my Half Jackets were $105 per pair. :cool:

[cg+fd2chp]

Sweet

[Dragon Slayer]

Has anyone tried applying for that Oakley program lately? I attempted about a month ago but had an impossible time getting through to anyone. Every time I attempted to fax over a copy of my ID the line would never answer. The phones just went straight to voicemail.

On a side note, I watched an episode of "Bait Car" and noticed a uniformed officer wearing "Hot Wheels" style shades with reflective orange/red lenses and flames running down each side. I'm sure those were within policy. :lol:

[cg+fd2chp]

I did yesterday, but I scanned my military ID and attached it as a .jpeg file

It was approved within two hours

[casey]

Has anyone tried applying for that Oakley program lately? I attempted about a month ago but had an impossible time getting through to anyone. Every time I attempted to fax over a copy of my ID the line would never answer. The phones just went straight to voicemail.

On a side note, I watched an episode of "Bait Car" and noticed a uniformed officer wearing "Hot Wheels" style shades with reflective orange/red lenses and flames running down each side. I'm sure those were within policy. :lol:

I applied a few months ago and had no problems. If the call went to voice mail, you may have had the wrong number? It wouldn't make sense that a fax number would go to voice mail.

[Dragon Slayer]

No, the fax number wouldn't answer and the phone number went straight to voicemail. Anyhow, I'll send in a .jpg if my ID card tomorrow when I access my e-mail at work. Thanks!

[CAHPDist2X]

Gotta use the VA since the CAHP dumped the vision care for retirees.

Actually it was the state that dropped the vision care and it was the CAHP health benefits trust that restored it. The active members are subsidizing it currently.

[Lucky Seven]

Good to hear some of you old salts are still using Aviators!!!! I will be going down to the Fresno VA for an eye exam and new glasses this week. Gotta use the VA since the CAHP dumped the vision care for retirees. I get the exam for free and the glasses are much cheaper than going to Costco or Walmart. I am going to see if the vendor for the VA can get me some in perscription sun glasses for driving. :cool:


I've worn the aviator frames my entire career. The only problem is now they are no longer just a "clear" sunglass lense. The distance and bi-focal corrections are built into the latest pair of "aviator" glasses.:hitwall:

I don't know who said cowboy boots were "out" but I still wear those too!:cool: