LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i police are temporarily turning off the blue lights on most of their patrol vehicles.
LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i police are temporarily turning off the blue lights on most of their patrol vehicles.
A provision to keep the stationary blue lights of patrol vehicles on 24/7 was incorporated last year.
The mandate was created for a variety of reasons, including encouraging drivers to remain vigilant and abide by traffic laws.
“Unfortunately, since then, many of our light bars have malfunctioned, rendering the emergency blue lights inoperable, or not fully functional,” said Kaua‘i Police Department Assistant Chief Mark Begley.
”This requires us to take the entire vehicle out of service,” said Begley. “These emergency-light systems are more complicated than they appear, and involve a computerized module and software to control the various functions of the light bars.
“Even though the initiative has been extremely successful, we need to keep these stationary blue lights turned off until the light modules and related software is repaired and updated,” Begley said.
Kaua‘i police will resume having their blue lights on 24/7 on all of their patrol vehicles as soon as the equipment is repaired.
Someone in the KPD command structure didn’t think that one through. Not a bright (pun intended) idea to put that wear and tear on the emergency lights.
I am not understanding that this “lights on” directive has not been undertaken by those hundred vehicles, privately or otherwise active KPD vehicles who have not followed the order at all. Only the blue and white. Out of warranty lightbars” on relatively new, taxpayer cruisers that apparently are the only vehicles to have this manufacturer issue or the police commish, that needs to either receive Free lightbar replacements for these too many defective ones. To me, it is another example of EXCUSES, that our county and state are well versed. Ive waited five decades for such a “lights on” effective practice , and especially due to the other past chiefs directives. Knowing that this particular excuse probably has nothing to do with lightbars, but popo who absolutely do NOT want to be seen, so they can practice undakavalava hiding, so as to capture illegal driving or having their presence unknown. In the recent past, when a cruiser with lights-on is around, brake lights and slower speed limits are adhered to. The benefits of lights-on, especially now would be the finest practice, and again, it is the Police Commissioners that need to do their job to support our new chief and those others under him to aggressively seek a resolve from the barlights vendors, Free, due to their many newer vehicle malfunctions! Fire or ambulances do not have this problem, so why does KPD also NOT have this problem TOO.