While on my way down 380 in Pennsylvania last evening I saw a brand new PSP cruiser with and led bar on it. No more v-shaped bars for PSP?
New PSP Lightbars?
- Thread starter CMS7
- Start date
That I'm not sure of, I've seen a lot recently with LED Vector or Visions on them that are new too. Maybe they are just trying out different things.
It has been explained to me that the PSP is trying different lightbars to see what they prefer the best. I have seen a Motor Carrier Van with a full led bar on it.
I was definately surprised to see something other than a vector on that car... saw the lights from quite a ways away and knew it was different..
Out west here there are a few cars that are doing the marked slicktop look. No Roof lightbar. Using what looks like tir3 on the rear door facing outward.
They were still using Whelen single strobe beacons well into the 1990's so by 2020 or so they should have settled on an LED bar.
PSP in in the process of "testing" new bars. They are testing 2 from Federal, a Code 3, Whelen Liberty, Tomar and I believe a Sound Off. Most if not all of the bars are west of Harrisburg.
The one I saw was on 380 so not all of them are out in the western part of the state.. 
cvpiupfitter said:
I've been meaning to ask, I saw a PSP on the turnpike that had what looked like a vertex flush mounted to the B post or door. Haven't seen that before. Didn't look too bad either, but was definatley different.
PJH said:
The PSP slicktop car's have vertex's on the b-post, tir6 on the rear door panels, dual avenger above the rear-view mirror, and hideway in the corner marker lights. I am unsure of the rear of the car set-up. The main reason the PSP went to using slicktop car's is because it found out it saved them almost 5 mpg on gas.
5 MPG? Wow, that's a huge drop! I didn't think the drag would be that much from a bar. Makes sense though.
Probably that much since they are usually on highways, driving more miles and at higher speeds than us city folk
ff168577 said:
I'm not sure that the MPG was the sole reason (though its a good one) but that PA state law was changed that allowed police vehicles to use less than 360 degree lighting as well a year or two ago.
PJH said:
Yes it is the MPG is the main reason. My neighbor is a Trooper. The minor reasons were for the better concealment when parked, or when behind people. They were originally only several made for testing. After they found out aboute the MPG, more and more were added to the street.
nerdly_dood said:
Before the V-bars PSP used the Whelen 5200PA Commander strobe beacon:
http://www.fentonfire.com/antique_fire_trucks/listing.php?lid=2153
This was usually combined with 2 truck-type 4 inch single faced red incandescent lamps mounted at the rear of the roof, which flashed along with the 4 way flashers during traffic stops.
MPGs have been a known issue for quite awhile. Anyone who studies the papers put out by MSP and CHP and all the fleet guys know this.
According to the LT over at Troop R, the slicktops being used right now are an addition to normal patrol duties and are mainly being used in the metro areas for traffic enforcement more than general patrol. The state law was changed in PA to allow less than 360 coverage which enabled PSP to more effectively use slicktops without spending a bunch of extra $$ to outfit them legally under the old law. PSP has always had unmarked but were generally (at least in NEPA) not used for general patrol duties unless line cars were out of service.
They are not going all slicktop - marked or unmarked - just adding more slick tops into the fleet as they cycle thru the fleet. Metro traffic/targeted areas will be given a higher percentage based on motor vehicle stats and personel availablity to do traffic enforcement.
PSP has always spent as little as possible for warning on their vehicles. Most of the cars in my area are pretty ratty and everything and anything that isn't destroyed is cannabilized to keep stuff working. Apparently it too an act of god and decent pricing in Harrisburg to get the feeble two little LED's on the rear of the SUV's and vans.
According to the LT over at Troop R, the slicktops being used right now are an addition to normal patrol duties and are mainly being used in the metro areas for traffic enforcement more than general patrol. The state law was changed in PA to allow less than 360 coverage which enabled PSP to more effectively use slicktops without spending a bunch of extra $$ to outfit them legally under the old law. PSP has always had unmarked but were generally (at least in NEPA) not used for general patrol duties unless line cars were out of service.
They are not going all slicktop - marked or unmarked - just adding more slick tops into the fleet as they cycle thru the fleet. Metro traffic/targeted areas will be given a higher percentage based on motor vehicle stats and personel availablity to do traffic enforcement.
PSP has always spent as little as possible for warning on their vehicles. Most of the cars in my area are pretty ratty and everything and anything that isn't destroyed is cannabilized to keep stuff working. Apparently it too an act of god and decent pricing in Harrisburg to get the feeble two little LED's on the rear of the SUV's and vans.
Interestingly the revised PA Code only removed the 360 degree requirement for "unmarked police vehicles" and not for marked slicktops.
http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/067/c ... 73toc.html
http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/067/c ... 73toc.html
I think that was one of the changes, but I don't have the desire to go back and look at the actual wording changes.
Yep you're correct, I missed the boat. I was referring to the section which said
"360° visibility. Except for unmarked police vehicles, when flashing or revolving red, blue, yellow or amber lights are mounted on a vehicle, one or more of these lights shall be mounted to provide visibility to vehicles approaching from any direction (360° visibility), regardless of the method of mounting."
Never noticed that they had re-defined what an unmarked vehicle was. :lol:
"360° visibility. Except for unmarked police vehicles, when flashing or revolving red, blue, yellow or amber lights are mounted on a vehicle, one or more of these lights shall be mounted to provide visibility to vehicles approaching from any direction (360° visibility), regardless of the method of mounting."
Never noticed that they had re-defined what an unmarked vehicle was. :lol:
Well, it IS PA...some things are just not meant to be normal. In fact...I don't think there is a normal city in PA. Each region is vastly different than the next (which is why I like it!)
PJH said:
I'd always thought that the functionality of the Vision made it pretty expensive. If they didn't want to spend much they could just get a red Sentry 175 for $92. Not much by any means, but still effective. (Or maybe a red one and a blue one on an old-school *bar* lightbar)
Saw a whole bunch of the new PSP experimental bars this AM at a 10 patient MVA (18 wheeler vs 2 vehicles). They were the color changing type, modules flashing r/b in front and r/b/a in rear. Also seemed to all have different patterns, at least 1 was pretty bizarre with steady red being replaced with blue in a knight-rider pattern, & vice versa. Didn't seem to be as bright as a dedicated single color module would have been. We'll see what they end up buying.
JaBradt85 said:
Don't know, wasn't close enough. See if you can figure it out:
http://www.wnep.com/news/countybycounty ... 8146.story
They changed the video between this AM and the 6 PM news, nothing to see on the new version. I'll try to check one out during the week.
I'm pretty sure no final decision has been made. They have tried and tested a lot of light bars and kept the details pretty close to the vest. Not sure a regular on the street Trooper would know at this point. It does look like it is coming down to TOMAR, Whelen and Federal. They have test bars of these companies and have been evaluating for some time. Probably the Trooper in question has seen one of the Whelen test bars and thought that was what they were going to. If any one knows differently, please chime in.
The Insider
The Insider
The PSP was testing lightbars for the last 6 months. They recently approved the Whelen LED bar and purchased 400 of them. They also purchased 450 2011 Crown Vics and will be installing the new lightbars 8 per day. You'll probably still see some V-bars for several years as they are phased out.CMS7 said:
Sad thing is, I heard that they don't auction out the old equipment, but destroy it instead. :-(
SireLite said:
I have been seening the new PSP lightbars in my area. The ones that I have seen are the Liberty DUO bars. Just started seening them with in the past few weeks. Guess the barcks here muct have got some new cars.
PSP has chosen the Whelen Liberty WECAN DUO version with the new CANTROL system. I believe they have already received over 100 sets.