A number of news services (for example, the Contra Costa Times or the Daily News) are reporting how Best Buy’s Geek Squad have reached an agreement to repaint their squadcars in California. This is due to an incident where Geek Squad “double agent” Mark Reardon was pulled over by the Highway Patrol on I-680 near Walnut Creek in June… because his company-owned Volkswagen Beetle too closely resembled a police car. You see, there is a California law that says: “No person shall own or operate a motor vehicle painted … to resemble a motor vehicle used by a peace officer or traffic officer on duty.” The Greek Squad’s “Geekmobiles” were originally painted black on the hood and the trunk and over the tires, and white along the side panels. As a result of this incident, Best Buy worked with the CHP to eliminate similarities. Vehicle doors on “Geekmobiles” will now be painted all black.
This isn’t the only case of impersonation getting a person in trouble. CSIFiles is reporting how actors in TV’s Law and Order and CSI:New York have been arrested recently. Their crime? Having in their possession a police uniform outside of the set. This recently happened to New York actor Preston Hardy, who has portrayed many cops during his long career as an extra. He was recently arrested for the “crime”, and spent two nights in jail and now faces trial and up to a year of incarceration. This is due to a New York City policy that allows the NYPD to arrest any citizen found with a replica of the police department’s uniform and badge. These rules have been in effect for many years, but are being enforced more strongly. As a result, SAG has advised its members “to no longer purchase or carry police costumes in the New York City area – even to jobs that require the use of such costumes. ”
No word yet on whether the LA County Sheriff’s department is taking retroactive action on Sheriff John.
