Msp/hood

[OsloViking1975]

Just a goofy question. Why does MSP have a plastic sign across their hood that says Stop?

 

[macari77]

Just a goofy question. Why does MSP have a plastic sign across their hood that says Stop?

Did you know the other side of that thing says go.

 

[freqs]

The sign on the hood is called a Shark Fin it was used for side stops back in the day .
The trooper would pull up to along the drivers side of a car he wanted to stop and activate the Shark Fins light .The bubble gum light on top was started in the 60's and the current paint color dates back to 1956 all are tradition of the msp

 

[OsloViking1975]

Very Cool. Good history lesson.

 

[ofd8001]

Are they more or less for looks/show, or do they really get used?

 

[freqs]

Not that I know of, its all tradition for the MSP the pinkish light the bubble gum light gives off and the Shark fin on the hood i do believe the shark fin lights up Here are some older MSP cars and how the looks have changed

 

[drdispatch]

It used to light up, not sure if it still does, but wouldn't be surprised.
Also, when they retire a patrol car, the shark fin & the bubble gum are both removed, reconditioned if necessary, & put on another car. MSP found it was too expensive to get new ones, so they are recycling the old ones. They haven't switched to strobes or LED's because the bubble gum is kinda their "trademark".

 

[drdispatch]

Did you know the other side of that thing says go.

Actually, it says: "ECILOP POTS ETATS", which I believe, roughly translated, is Latin for "STOP, STATE POLICE".

 

[freqs]

As the bubbles go bad are replaced with a LED light like the one in the pix

 

[bigbluemsp]

All new cars are given led beacons (Unity RV26 Domes) with Whelen Justice LED's.

The new Fin's have LED's inside them and yes they light up and I know many troops that still use them.

 

[m297]

All new cars are given led beacons (Unity RV26 Domes) with Whelen Justice LED's.

The new Fin's have LED's inside them and yes they light up and I know many troops that still use them.

Used more so up north where it is pitch dark no street lights, when you arrive on a radio run at night a few troops turn the Fin on as it lights up well in the dark.

 

[gpp10x]

Actually, it says: "ECILOP POTS ETATS", which I believe, roughly translated, is Latin for "STOP, STATE POLICE".

Actually the translation is state STOP police ;-)

 

[drdispatch]

Actually the translation is state STOP police ;-)

I did say "roughly"....

And I apologize for the misinformation regarding the LED's; I didn't know they were finally switching over.

 

[RayAir]

Are they more or less for looks/show, or do they really get used?

Tradition is all they are for. MSP is big on tradition.

 

[bigbluemsp]

Used more so up north where it is pitch dark no street lights, when you arrive on a radio run at night a few troops turn the Fin on as it lights up well in the dark.

very true! Can't argue with you on this one