Shocking! U.S. Police Patrol on German Autobahn!

I mean, how far will these American imperialists go? Taking over Germany's beloved Autobahn?

German traffic police were shocked to see a California Highway Patrol car cruising along the motorway, driven by a man dressed as an authentic American cop, authorities said on Thursday.

But they recovered sufficiently to book the 35-year-old Goettingen resident, whose uniform badge read "T.J. Lazer," for possessing a replica Smith & Wesson revolver without a license and having out-of-date registration plates.

"He was sitting at the wheel with his elbow on the window like in the best TV crime series," said Osthessen police spokesman Martin Schaefer. (...) The man told police he had been taking the 30-year-old vehicle to Bavaria to sell it and wanted to impress the buyer. (Source)

Update: Here is the original report of the German police including some pics. The "cop" carried a toy pump gun with him. His car with was equipped with U.S. police radio - transmitting pre-recorded messages.The guy apparently looked so convincing that during interrogation by German police on an Autobahn parking lot several drivers stopped by to ask him (and not the German police in civil clothes) for directions. I guess, the German drivers probably would have even taken orders from him... After all, he wore a uniform.

Comments

[Pat Patterson]

That's very odd. Wasn't TJ Lazer the name of a fictional TV policeman in the first Robocop? Was he driving a Crown Victoria or a Dodge Polara? Inquiring minds want to know.

[triticale]

He was charged for possessing a replica Smith & Wesson revolver without a license? Was the problem that the replica manufacturer failed to obtain licensing for the S&W trademark, or does Germany regulate possesion of toy guns?

[Pamela]

Somebody's about a month late for the Halloween gig.

[LouMinatti]

WTF? Hehe! This is one of the FUNNIEST things I've read in a long, long time! Where'd he get that old heap Plymouth cop car? ROFL! I love it when crazy people do funny, non-harmful things. The guy should be famous!

[Foobarista]

America: the World's Police Force. Now if only the guy looked a bit more like Eric Estrada, the effect would be complete...

[QuagmiredInTheBRD]

@LouMinatti:

I love it when crazy people do funny, non-harmful things. The guy should be famous!

Well, now I am...be sure to tune in to the next broadcast of "Bei Beckmann". The gag was worth the fine I had to pay.

[Mir]

@ QuagmiredInTheBRD

That's a joke, right? If not: The car and the outfit are great. :-)

[LouMinatti]

QuagmiredInTheBRD, more details, please! Your profile doesn't supply any background. If you're "T.J. Lazer" (heh) and you were just having some fun in order to impress the buyer, give Ray and Dave a world exclusive.

[James W.]

@QuagmiredInTheBRD

Fined for what? Impersonating an American police officer, or carrying a toy gun?

[James W.]

ooops...probably the out of date registration plates.

[isegrim]

The press release by the Hesse police (which is amazingly detailed, by the way, I wonder if they spent as effort for catching criminals as for editing press relaeses) said that that the license plates for the car were too old, which means that he didn't pay taxes for the vehicle either. There is apparently no problem with driving an American police car on a German street per se.

The hand gun this guy carried was a Schreckschusspistole (don't really know the English word), which can be used to shoot CS-gas bullets, fireworks etc. You need a permit to own these weapons (the law was changed fairly recently).

The press release also said it was illegal wear a US police uniform, but I really don't think that there is a law against this (however it *is* illegal to wear a German police uniform when you're not a police officer). You can see uniformed members of private security firms in Germany whose uniforms bear a striking resemblance to uniforms worn by law enforcement officers in the US.

[QuagmiredInTheBRD]

@isegrim:

"I wonder if they spent as effort for catching criminals as for editing press relaeses"

Based on my brief experience, I can confirm that the hessian police spend at least as much time trying to apprehend offenders such as myself. In fact I have a couple of friends who are members of the SEK (similar to SWAT in the US). The problem with law enforcement in Germany is not that the police do not do their job but that the courts have installed revolving doors to put offenders back on the street. Where I live, there was a juvenile offender who was arrested over 50 times for various crimes including theft and assault and the courts continued to turn him loose. Serious consideration needs to be given to the "Three Strikes and You're Out" policy. My first strike was worth the price and I'd do it again given the chance. Unfortunately I no longer own the squad car.

[Roy in Calif]

CHP is a tan uniform w/blue stripe down the pants' seams. CHP badge is a seven point star. Shoulder patches look "off", too.

[Hans-Martin]

Isn't it a bit hypocritical to criticise german press for perceived anti-americanisms, and then to repeat that old cliche
"I guess, the German drivers probably would have even taken orders from him... After all, he wore a uniform."?

Taking orders from people just because they wear uniform hasn't been in vogue for a number of decades...

Cheers,
Hans-Martin