Hey folks...

You guys that run spotlights on your Vics, do you get any trouble with the Police? I'm already getting harassed by local PD for my tint and my car "looking like a police car" when its basically stock and not even a P71 and has NO markings whatsoever of Police Interceptor! I know some people run spotlights and even pushbars, but how does that go with the Police when they see you? I don't wanna go to jail for impersonating. I'm from Pittsburgh, PA so I'm sure your laws may be different than mine but I don't believe there are any against having a spotlight or pushbar, if trucks can have them why not a car?

Also, Anyone have any idea how to install one on a P73 2001? Thanks!

I was born & raised in Pa (Uniontown) & at that time (1950s) there wasn't a problem. I even had a spotlight on my first car. The best way to save yourself some grief is to check the state specs regarding pushbars & spotlights. I'm sure the state has a website that you can so a search on. By adding those 2 items you will immediately attract attention from the LEOS. I have owned 3 Crown Vics (93, 99 & a 04 Sport) & have never had a problem with law enforcement. Adding those items puts you in what is called here a "Wacker or a Wannabe". Just enjoy the car that you have. Your tint might be too dark for state limits could be the reason you are so popular with the police. Someone under the age of 40 driving a Crown Vic has been known to sound alarms to the police.

hello, another point not mentioned about this topic , we say it as a joke in tennessee , but it's very true , if your vic looks nice , is nice and clean , tinted windows , all 4 hubcaps ,and tires all blacked up and shinny , you never draw a lot of attention , let it get dirty , or yank the caps off ,and we are on ya like stink on ...you know ...and that car looks like an under cover street app. car , ad a pusher , and a spotlight , the word FAKE flashes big , be careful , tick off one chick on the highway ,and you might not like a view with bars , not a joke !

http://www.unityusa.com/Revised%20New%20...NSTRUCTIONS.pdf

My advice install at your own risk if you get cited take it off and sell it.

Good Luck

I have had no trouble at all with either the MD state troopers or the local county sheriffs. It's more about how you drive the car than what you're driving. Since I don't fly up and down the road dodging in and out of traffic, they don't bother me.

I will say that I've heard many stories about police departments in Pennsylvania bugging people who drive retired police cruisers. Even though yours isn't even a P71, I guess it's close enough for them. The window tint is probably an issue for them; I don't think adding a spotlight is a good idea, but that's your call.

The tint I suppose is "illegal" per say, but its not much darker than your typical SUV or Truck rear windows. Its a shame they can call theirs "stock" but our poor cars don't come standard with tint on the rears and back windows. Its funny, I had even DARKER tint on my 95 Jimmy and was never was pulled over. Oh well, I guess it comes with the car lol

Plus like you said SPM, I drive normal. I dont drive up on people asses or do anything suspicious. I love my car. It gets better treatment than I do. Most people pass me on the highway and don't even think twice.

Spotlights are illegal in PA. We have had many many many threads over this is the lounges.

Why would you want to wreck a beautiful car such as yours by drilling a hole in the pillar, notching out the door and mangling your bumper cover with holes for a push bumper?

I was just curious... I am def not doing that to my car. Its practically spotless, the old guy I bought it off of kept it spotless! Thanks for the compliment tho!

IIRC the wording is very funny in the law. Easily interpreted either way.

my car has dual soptlights as well as a stupid number on my front bumper,(see sig. picture) and here locally ive never been harassed, suprisingly. granted now and them i get looks from police/CHP but ive never been stopped and WTF'd about any of it.

i would have to agree with steve03 on what he said though. if your pillar(s) already have holes in them or a light, that's one thing, but i definitely wouldn't put a hole in them to mount a light that in all reality you probably wont use that much. as a matter of fact, i kind of wish my car didn't have dual spots on it. thew were cool in the beginning, now they are just annoying. i may take them out eventually, but i'm up in the air.

I'm sort of in the same boat. If it were easily accomplished and covered up, I'd probably yank my spotlight out. About all it does right now is scare people into going really slow when I'm behind them, even though I'm keeping my distance.

Spotlights are illegal in PA?? Someone's gonna have to explain that to me.

I thought NH law was vague, but from past posts about PA law, it takes the cake.

Sounds like CVN'ers form PA need to petition together to amend the law or at least clarify the meaning of it.

In NH we have to get state inspected every year with plate renewals. VIP Auto was offering free state inspections so I bit.
They already knew my car since they were the ones that replaced my exhaust manifolds. I knew there was nothing that would make the car fail, but I did have a hunch that the spotlight would be the only issue.
I had looked up RSA 266:37 (state regulations) for New Hampshire and it states:



My mistake was that I did not have it printed with me at the time. I had to wait for 2 hours total for this tool to look and measure and look and measure. I could see him through the window and was getting pissed! He said that my spotlight was not legal because it was higher than 42 inches. He had a copy of this RSA himself.

Keep in mind that it CAME WITH THE CAR from the FACTORY with it on. Here's the funny part. In NH, you have to have all factory safety equipment working, so I had to have the spotlight operational.

DILEMMA (for him)

I explained that spot lamps and auxiliary lamps are not the same and that he is not to interpret the law, just follow it.
He ended up calling the State Police and had an Trooper tell him that they were IN FACT LEGAL and I asked "the tool" to write all that info the Trooper said along with his name on the inspection sheet so that next year (2010) I don't have to deal with this again.

Lesson learned... I now carry in my envelope with all my records, a copy of RSA 266:37 just in case.

Don't be afraid to do something when you know it is right, just be ready to back up what you say and do.