"Not in Service" sign in window

[Richard Vyse]

Would it be wise to have a "Not in Service" sign in the rear window while on the trip?

[Scott Crittenden]

This from the guy that's dreaming of jumping a call! ;)

[Richard Vyse]

This from the guy that's dreaming of jumping a call! ;)

Yesterday I was going to stop and assist a motorist with a flat tire and turn the lights on except......"The Wife" wouldn't let me. :mad:

[Dwayne Brooks]

Would it be wise to have a "Not in Service" sign in the rear window while on the trip?




I'd wondered that too Richard... especially when I got hassled by the cops for driving my old 1959 Chevy Viking fire truck to the Goodguys show in Columbus a few years ago. They said I was "impersonating an emergency vehicle" but didn't get a ticket. Just be careful through OHIO on your way to Michigan...

I was at "Chief Ron's" house sunday & meant to ask him about this... chime in please Ron!

[Richard Vyse]

I'd wondered that too Richard... especially when I got hassled by the cops for driving my old 1959 Chevy Viking fire truck to the Goodguys show in Columbus a few years ago. They said I was "impersonating an emergency vehicle" but didn't get a ticket. Just be careful through OHIO on your way to Michigan...

Terri will be making light covers and covers for the siren speakers for the trip. I just hate to think about getting the bugs cleaned off those things and will cover them up.
Hey Ron, what's the word in Ohio on this stuff!!!!!!!

[Doug Kelley]

I have magnetic signs on the Medi-Cruiser that read " Out of Service " and
" Show Vehicle- Not an Active Unit " in 4" lettering on both sides of the unit and it did'nt stop a woman from stopping me when her daughter was having a baby 3 weeks ago !!

[Richard Vyse]

I have magnetic signs on the Medi-Cruiser that read " Out of Service " and
" Show Vehicle- Not an Active Unit " in 4" lettering on both sides of the unit and it did'nt stop a woman from stopping me when her daughter was having a baby 3 weeks ago !!

If I had only been there with mine, off to the hospital we go (or maybe not). ;)

[Richard Vyse]

I think to be on the safe side I'll laminate a small sign and post in the rear window.

[Brendan Martin]

I was driving my car to the glass shop, while on the highway a Massachusetts State Trooper was driving along side me, and he took a picture of the car with his cell phone!

[Steve Lichtman]

Yeah, when I drive my ambulances, I get thumbs up or waves from the police and troopers. Never once gotten a hassle.

I've never put an "out of service" sign in my cars. I hope most folks would know it's not an active ambulance. (But yes, I did drive into a rest area and have folks come running up saying "He's over here!")

[Paul Steinberg]

When I was headed to the auto parts store, one lane of the road was closed for repairs. There was a CT State Trooper directing traffic, and he put his hand up for me to stop. He walked over to the car and asked if it was an emergency vehicle. I say it was a retired emergency vehicle. He asked why the red tunnel lights were flashing. I got out of the car and looked, an sure enough they were on. I showed him that all the switches were in the down position. Since the front bumper was not back from the platers, I put the front plate in the windshield, and it was resting on the switch panel. That was enough to cause the switch to rotate slightly and make contact. Pulled the fuses, and was on my way. The officer at the other end, stopped me to look at the car. Now they wave at me whenever we pass on the road. I have since fixed the loose switch and put the bumper back on...

[Richard Vyse]

When I was headed to the auto parts store, one lane of the road was closed for repairs. There was a CT State Trooper directing traffic, and he put his hand up for me to stop. He walked over to the car and asked if it was an emergency vehicle. I say it was a retired emergency vehicle. He asked why the red tunnel lights were flashing. I got out of the car and looked, an sure enough they were on. I showed him that all the switches were in the down position. Since the front bumper was not back from the platers, I put the front plate in the windshield, and it was resting on the switch panel. That was enough to cause the switch to rotate slightly and make contact. Pulled the fuses, and was on my way. The officer at the other end, stopped me to look at the car. Now they wave at me whenever we pass on the road. I have since fixed the loose switch and put the bumper back on...

Damn Paul, that was neat. I did the same thing with one of the spot lights. The red lens was facing forward and drove all over that evening and was wondering why people were pulling over. We stopped for gas and the wife says, "This light is on" and of course we men know it all and told her "No way". Turns out it had been on all along. :eek:

[Brendan Martin]

While were on the topic of peoples reactions to our cars, I would like to know when the Ghostbusters comments will stop. I try to tell people that as a paramedic this is history of my profession. This week it was at the glass shop and the manager said several people stopped to look at the car. He said one guy even asked if Dan Akroyd was there. It was at this point I took my receipt and left aggravated.

[Richard Vyse]

when the Ghostbusters comments will stop.

They don't! Terri and I stopped at a rest area on Sunday and a whole family came running over yelling "Ghostbusters". I said you've got the wrong car guys.

[Mike Stevens]

Wouldn't it be interesting to see where the pictures of our coaches end up? The texts that get sent with the pics of our coaches might make good reading too.
Just last week on the way to a cruise in we got snapped with a cell phone. Then the lady driver sped up and got over 2 lanes on the hiway so they could take pics of the other side of the car.
Should we get the union minimum model pay here?
Mike

[Steve Lichtman]

While were on the topic of peoples reactions to our cars, I would like to know when the Ghostbusters comments will stop...I had that this morning, I took the Cadillac to the tire shop to get a tire fixed, and the first thing the counter guy says, not "Hello" or "It's a great day at Treadquarters" (their usual greeting), but...well...that word. That's all I needed, considering this was the second visit this week since they put a big tire weight on the rim where the hubcap attaches on the first visit (I'd like to introduce the novel concept of hubcaps to the kids who work there. Can anyone suggest a good way to do that? :rolleyes:;))

The movie's been on TV several times in the last month, and with the new video game and GBIII in production, it's gonna be a lonnnnng time till that goes away.......:(

[Paul Steinberg]

Hub caps are the small devices that cover the hub of the wheel. What most of our cars have a wheel covers, that cover the entire wheel. The Cadillac uses a special wheel weight that doesn't interfere with the placement of the wheel cover. Lacking the proper wheel weight, then the only other thing to do is to have them put the wheel weights on the back side of the wheel. If you want more information on balancing of tires, then please go to this website (http://en.allexperts.com/q/Tires-2359/Tire-Wheel-Balance.htm) and read...

[Steve Lichtman]

You're right, I use the hub cap/wheel cover terms interchangably and incorrectly.

They did, eventually, put the weights on the back. I don't need the info on wheel balancing, THEY DO!!!

20 year olds in a tire shop probably have never seen wheel covers, or hub caps, and have never gotten any training on them. It also took several minutes for the guy to find "the rubber hammer thing" to put the wheel cover on. But they do know how to answer the phone - that they get training on.

[Scott Crittenden]

You're right, I use the hub cap/wheel cover terms interchangably and incorrectly.

They did, eventually, put the weights on the back. I don't need the info on wheel balancing, THEY DO!!!

20 year olds in a tire shop probably have never seen wheel covers, or hub caps, and have never gotten any training on them. It also took several minutes for the guy to find "the rubber hammer thing" to put the wheel cover on. But they do know how to answer the phone - that they get training on.

Steve you could also show them the distibutor, points & condensor, carburetor, and other technological wonders that have dissapeared in their 20 years on the planet.

[Rick Franklin]

the youngsters also have no concept of what a fender skirt is.

[John ED Renstrom]

life living with kids. they also don't know how to fix anything if you can't do it on the computer it can't be done. but to answer the question no the ghostbusters things does not stop get use to it get a thick hide or sell the car.
even a Hearse painted black is a ghostbusters car. I just say nope wrong year wrong car.
rev iced a call from a friend in another state trying to get the caddy wheel covers on his car. he stated that he had taken the car to 3 different tire shops and no one could figure out how to put the wheel covers on. he had the right wheel weights on his car. we were able to talk him threw it on the phone. some of them were vary difficult to put back on.

[Daniel Scully]

the youngsters also have no concept of what a fender skirt is. See what happens when you ask for left hand lug nuts for Cragar mag Wheels.:eek:

[Matthew Taylor]

I was hassled by the Pennsylvania HP last year headed to New Jersey. According to them, "Absolutely no way" could I drive my '66 Cadillac Combo in their state with that evil red beacon on top - until they abruptly left on another more serious matter...

[Mike Stevens]

If you get are a member or somehow get to see the current issue of the Cadillac LaSalle Club magazine you will see my letter about Ghostbuster coaches. My comments where spurred by an article they did a few months ago. But we all know there will never be a stop on the Ghos_____ comments. It is just one more of the things we need to educate the public about.
Mike

[Steve Lichtman]

I was hassled by the Pennsylvania HP last year headed to New Jersey. According to them, "Absolutely no way" could I drive my '66 Cadillac Combo in their state with that evil red beacon on top - until they abruptly left on another more serious matter...
Matt, as I live near PA, I drive my ambulances there all the time. Never, ever, been stopped by a PA Trooper, and I've seen plenty..........

......it must just be you! ;)

[Paul Steinberg]

I was at the Chrysler Convention in Vernon CT this past weekend, and there was a police car from the 1970's there, that the owner was removing the red and blue lenses from the light bar. He got ticketed a few years ago for being on the cell phone while driving, and got a rash about the car from a CT state trooper. I was parked next to a 2009 Dodge police car from the CT State Police, and I asked the troopers if there was a problem with my driving the car with the lights exposed. The all said the same thing.. No problem as long as you don't use them on the street. It seems that it is up to the individual and the state where you are. My friends in NJ are now saying that they State Police don't like retired police vehicles, unless they are extremely old, and obviously out of service, and that the same goes for other retired emergency vehicles. He also said that a lot has changed in the last 2 years, and that they are backing down from hassling all the old public service vehicles.
PS.... I won 1st Place in the Public Service Vehicle Class... :thumbsup:

[Mike Stevens]

I guess we could put signs up for just about every occasion and trip. If the law in whatever state you are in WANTS to hassle you they will...sign or no sign. Just make sure your lights are not on.
Some people will read the 'Out of Service' sign and figure it does not apply to their situation.
As for the baby thing I have that down. My son was born at home 31 years ago.
When I went looking for pictures today I found out where all the snapshots go after people get your pic on the road. The pics are sent to Flickr and youtube. I found over a dozen pictures of my car in places I didn't remember being. Parking lots, hiways, and roadside travel service areas. I am sure there are more.
This should cover just about everything in this thread.
Mike

[Todd Merrifield]

If I hear that one more time I'm gonna get window stickers made up like this:

http://www.tmcarphoto.com/no-ghostbusters-logo.jpg

[Mike Stevens]

Todd,
Nice sign. Will you have the time to explain them to the masses of GB fans out there?
Mike

[Richard Vyse]

No problem as long as you don't use them on the street. PS.... I won 1st Place in the Public Service Vehicle Class... :thumbsup:

Congrats on the award Paul, you do have a nice ambulance even if it is not orange.
This is the exact reason I had covers for my lights just to be on the safe side and as far as not using them on the streets, does this mean my "TURTLE" and "HUB-CAP" saving days are over? :mad:

[Steve Lichtman]

...does this mean my "TURTLE" and "HUB-CAP" saving days are over? :mad:That's actually one reason I don't cover mine, because I have had to use my warning lights from time to time when I've discovered a wreck or fire when I'm on the road.

[Richard Vyse]

That's actually one reason I don't cover mine, because I have had to use my warning lights from time to time when I've discovered a wreck or fire when I'm on the road.

Oh sure Steve, tease me with that please. My day will come for sure! :Exclamation:

[Todd Merrifield]

20 year olds in a tire shop probably have never seen wheel covers, or hub caps, and have never gotten any training on them. It also took several minutes for the guy to find "the rubber hammer thing" to put the wheel cover on. But they do know how to answer the phone - that they get training on.


Not so funny story from my friends dad: He had taken his wifes car (a Ford Taurus, I think) to get something done to the tire. The pit crew wannabe kid in the shop zipped off all 4 or 5 "lug nuts" of one wheel before the acrid smell of burning plastic reached his nose and he came to the realization that he was about to purchase them a brand new PLASTIC hubcap...:o

[James Douglas]

I know in many states you can apply for an emergency light permit for you vehicle.

In some states the department of motor vehicles will not be the way to go, you have to go through the actual state office were code enforcement is handled. They have codes for all types of vehicles with lighting and their requirements from simple vehicles that put signs out on the road to emergency vehicles and volunteer vehicles.

Under the application they usually ask what the purpose of the permit is for and list options such as LEO, emergency first responder, volunteer fire / EMS and the last option is often “other”

Here under “other” you can list your vehicle as an emergency vehicle that is used for show / display that also doubles as a back-up emergency unit that is occasionally used for road side emergencies / assistance.

The person in the government office will almost always send the application through without giving it any though and you will get issued a permit based on this allowing for use of the lights and siren under such circumstances.

When / if you get the permit you place the special sticker in the windshield and keep a hard copy along with your registration. This will allow you to have the emergency lights and use them accordingly to the law. (Misusing them is an entirely different matter) At least if you are stopped and hassled by any trooper regarding your lights even if not in use you can point out your vehicle is licensed and registered with a permit for having such lights.

People like Richard can then use his rig in a natural emergency when additional ambulances are needed, such as in the case of an air disaster like the crash of the Delta flight in Dallas, were there wee hundreds of ambulances lined up. (this is where the back up EMV comes into play)

It’s a fine line and this is another reason on the application for people like Richard who likes saving Turtles you need to put on the application at the end “& road side emergencies / assistance”

A lawyer can help defend this as it’s such a general description that even saving a turtle can be classified as a roadside emergency / hazard to other drivers and that the driver was on the way to get the vehicle serviced for an upcoming show when he was called into action. ;)