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Posted by: SOT

Last night, while driving in Lee on Route 7, a state trooper had a person pulled over for some infraction/law breaking. I could see the bright new LED's from a mile away but they were actually a little too bright. As I approached, the brightness of the LED's made it very hard to see past the car and see if the trooper was standing in the lane. As he had all those front shining white lights focused on the car, it also sort of created a well of darkness around the car, by contrast. Granted I was going very slow but until I was right on top of the car and sort of outside the brightness of all the lights, I couldn't see the trooper.

It would be great if they could put some sort of reflective coating on the stripes on your uniforms or something so that troopers are more visible. Just saying.

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Posted by: chief801

High visibility would be good for traffic stops, but it may put officers at a disadvantage in other tactical scenarios.

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Posted by: CJIS

When In doubt throw a reflective jacket on and take it off when done with the stop.

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Posted by: TPRSERG

There is a High/Low button on the control panel for the LED light bars, the guys in Radio suggested we use High for daytime and Low for night. They are still incredibly bright and visible and I do think they are more effective because people aren't completely blinded by them.
I don't see myself grabbing my flashlight, putting my cover on and then dicking around with those "break-away green vests" as I walk up to the car. It takes a good ten minutes to get them on right because they flop all over the place.
What we need are those little flashy lights in the soles of the Corcorans that flash when we walk like the kids have, in a blue LED of course.

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Posted by: Mitpo62

Frankly, I prefer the blue tights and red, flowing cape. Highly visible, day or night.

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Posted by: pahapoika

from what i've read the LED's have good light output , but less glare than strobe lights.

although i did find this..........

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_vehicle_lighting

There is increasing concern that blue LEDs and white LEDs are now capable of exceeding safe limits of the so-called blue-light hazard as defined in eye safety specifications such as ANSI/IESNA RP-27.1-05: Recommended Practice for Photobiological Safety for Lamp and Lamp Systems.[19]

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Posted by: chief801

It's probably a little different for all environments, but having worked in small towns, I would sort of pick and choose when I was going to bang out some tickets. Maybe put on the vest/jacket while working a traffic shift or running a radar assignment. When you are done, take it off, or if you get a call that pulls you away, take it off.

Check out the stats for guys who get hit on traffic stops...it may be worth the extra effort.

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Posted by: SOT

Well if they put LED's in the hats, I'm all for the red ones in the shoes.

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Posted by: Killjoy

Actually, our patrol jackets have little reflective strips on the sleeves, and an optional reflective panel for the back (I don't wear the back panel).

LED's are good for the highway where you need to give maximum visibility to the doofs bombing down 495 at mach 1, but in more populated areas, after the initial stop, I shut the strobes off. In crappy neighborhoods you don't want the natives to notice the lights outside their windows and start coming out, wondering why you're stopping their cousin, brother, best friend etc.

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Posted by: TPRSERG

Quote:

Originally Posted by Killjoy Actually, our patrol jackets have little reflective strips on the sleeves, and an optional reflective panel for the back (I don't wear the back panel).

Pretty sure there's a reflect strip on the back of the collar too, for those who wear it Fonzy style.

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Posted by: MM1799

When people can't avoid hitting the back of a cruiser with all the lights flashing, I have little hope that an extra reflective patch here or light there will do much.

Good thought but with all the morons out there, who think cruiser pulled over means speed by and bomb down the road, I personally think it'd be a waste of time & money to add anything.

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Posted by: SinePari

Some guys who work the mids put 3M reflective tape strips around their gear. Little strips on the bottom of your magazine, around the baton, radio etc. Not much, but it gives a little reflection when lights hit them.

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