# Flasher used by undercover/off-duty cops in movies **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 6, 2010, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flasher-used-by-undercover-off-duty-cops-in-movies/563082 "2010-12-06T00:15:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Saltire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saltire/32/553_2.png) [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flasher-used-by-undercover-off-duty-cops-in-movies/563082/21 "2010-12-09T19:26:12Z")
When I was on the aid crew with our rural volunteer fire department, they gave us all green Kojak lights for our personal cars. Other firefighters would drive to the nearest station and take a firetruck, so they didn’t need them. There was only one aid car in the whole department, so most of us would respond to aid calls in our personal vehicles. We also had a lot of first aid equipment in our cars (almost everything used regularly–there were only a few items, rarely needed, that only existed on the aid car). This was in the 1980s. And we always called them Kojak lights. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2010, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flasher-used-by-undercover-off-duty-cops-in-movies/563082/22 "2010-12-12T19:21:13Z")
> [@boytyperanma](#): > > In states where police use red flashers I’m not sure how things work out in general. How do they prevent non-police vehicles from using flashing red lights? Every car in America is equipped with flashing red lights(blinkers) According to my dad, a now-retired Washington State Patrol officer, it’s the direction of visibility. Civilian, non-emergency vehicles may only display red lights at the back of their vehicles (i.e. tail/brake lights, and turn signals). Blue lights are only for police vehicles. He once cited the driver of a commercial vehicle for going down the highway with a flashing red light on top of the cab. The driver explained it was just for visibility while the vehicle was in use in the lumber yard that owned the vehicle. My dad explained to him that that was fine, but that it wasn’t allowed on public roads, and recommended that the company owner replace the red light with an amber version, which _would_ be legal on public roads in the event the driver forgot to turn it off before leaving the lumber yard. > [@MikeF](#): > > Regarding volunteer firefighters: A friend was over from Europe and saw a pickup flying down the highway with blue lights blazing all over the truck. He wanted to know what was up and I explained to him that, in the USA, driving is a right and not a privilege. Even complete idiots have a right to drive. However, those who are particularly hazardous have to show a blue light when driving. The more incompetent the driver, the more lights he has to display. I’ll assume you were being facetious, but in case you weren’t: driving is indeed a privilege, not a right. It can be revoked or suspended ---
**Author:** ![SuperNelson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@SuperNelson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuperNelson)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2010, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flasher-used-by-undercover-off-duty-cops-in-movies/563082/23 "2010-12-12T21:48:51Z")
> [@Brandinho](#): > > Personally, I’d never even consider pulling over for an unmarked car, regardless of what lights are flashing. I’d call 9/11 and confirm the identity of the car behind me, then ask for a marked car to be dispatched before I’d pull over. Third this. I wouldn’t hesitate to get out of the way of an unmarked car with flashing lights, but I’d like to think I would have the presence of mind to follow your suggestion if one tried to pull me over. By the way, I find it fascinating that people (and not just you) are typing and saying 9/11 in place of 911. It’s wild to be old enough to watch our language evolve. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2010, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flasher-used-by-undercover-off-duty-cops-in-movies/563082/24 "2010-12-14T15:05:25Z")
> [@pravnik](#): > > I always heard them called “Kojak lights” as a kid growing up in Texas. > > ETA: Found this from [police.com](http://police.com). 🙂 [Kojak Lights](http://www.policemag.com/Channel/Vehicles/Articles/2002/05/Kojak-Lights.aspx) Ditto [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flasher-used-by-undercover-off-duty-cops-in-movies/563082.md?page=1)