The following questions can be answered on this page.

• What is a Whacker?
• What is a Wannabe?
• What is a Pseudo Wannabe?
• What is an Impostor?
• What are the different types of whackers?
• What is wrong with being a whacker?
• Are you still a whacker if you join a volunteer fire department?
• Are you still a whacker if you join a volunteer canteen/SAR service?
• Are emergency light collectors considered whackers/wannabe's?
• Are we against restored or otherwise legitimately equipped privately owned police vehicles?
• What is an Amber Light Club?

First, a prelude into whackers, wannabes, and impostors.

There is a straight forward way to distinguish the below examples from everyone else, which is INTENT.

We do recognize some people out there have antennas on their cars for their hobbies, mainly ham related activities. We also recognize some people put “Police Interceptor” badges on their vehicles as a way of poking fun at the vehicle the badge resides on. For all intensive purposes we are not talking about these types. The types we are talking about those who put antennas on their car for no other purpose other than to give a look of being “official.” Also we talk about those who put the badge on their vehicle for no other purpose than to try and slight the general public on who they might be.

The above is a brief summery of what the difference is between intent and general user or someone with a sense of humor might be.

With that being said, you may ask; "What is a whacker or a wannabe?"

I'll explain them below in detail:

1. Whacker: Someone who has an extensive number of emergency lights, whether legal or illegal on their POV. This person usually has several excuses to justify their light installations or usage. You can see these people in the larger population centers where surplus lights are more abundant. Usually they have light bars, dash lights, grill or hideaway strobe for no reason and try to find reasons to use them. Possible occupations of the typical whacker are security guard or some community safety club. Whackers tend to get hostile when confronted about their lights and they will name several tasks to justify their usage. Some stated tasks could be highway assistance, snow removal (with no plow attachment on the vehicle), an unforeseen emergency that will never happen, for car shows, or anything that comes to the imagination in the heat of the argument. Some even go as far as to start up a business and outfit a retired police car just to have lights on a vehicle they own. These businesses usually are short lived and only do minimal business to keep the "company" they started alive. Usually whackers will have web sites celebrating their lighting abuse and you will see numerous flashy animations and pictures of real emergency vehicles with little to no real content. When confronting a whacker, you'll realize soon enough that they are always right, you are always wrong in their eyes. It's a mental state that only can be crushed by a dose of reality or leaving the whacker phase. The average whacker is probably a 16-28 year old white male, working a small or dead end job, lacking power at their job or in their personal life and is obsessed with police/fire shows, catalogs, or books.

2. WannaBe: Someone who takes drastic steps to imitate someone in the mental idea that by doing this they will become that someone over time. These types are overwhelming in their goal to become a police officer or fire fighter some day. Less than 5% of wannabe's ever advanced further than an armed security guard or a happy helper who helps those who don't want or need it. Wannabe's are in the news all the time being arrested for impersonating police officers or fire fighters or getting in their way and impeding progress. Wannabe's can be found wearing uniform style clothing around the house or in the public. These uniforms usually mimic the local law enforcement agency or the local fire department but not always true. They also can be found wearing "duty" belts while living their every day lives and hanging out at the local police/fire incident. When interacting with them they might tell you about their next "big order" from a police supply magazine and tell you how the local police/fire department is using the same item. Some wannabe's might not have the mental stability to enter a respected police or fire department so they always talk about their dreams of becoming one but never pass the tests required to be considered for hire. Wannabe's will usually have online screen or nick names with standard public safety terms. You will also find wannabe's praising and swearing to police favored equipment such as Glock pistols and police cruiser type vehicles.

A wannabe usually is what is listed above and might have an extreme case of "whackerism". You might see wannabe's with retired police cars sporting emergency lights to look and feel like a police car. Wannabe's will try to justify the car's looks by saying they use it for their security job or they use it when they do "part time" security work. Usually these are false claims. A wannabe might also talk about how powerful his car makes him feel and how others look at him when he's in it. When confronted, a wannabe will be deflective in their arguments such as quoting how their actions break no laws and the police want and appreciate their actions. These are untruthful for the most part but they are the same as the whacker in this case, they are always right and you are always wrong. When the wannabe crosses the line and imitates a public safety official with the intentions to do so, then they are known as an imposter. The average wannabe is probably a 16-50 year old male, working a security job or a job that gives them the feeling of power, lacking real power at their job or in their personal life and is obsessed with police/fire shows, catalogs, or books.

3. Pseudo Wannabe: The type of wannabe is more common in the world and you might even know one. This is the type who tries to live an everyday life but they live, breath, and sleep being a police officer or fire fighter. This type of wannabe will try to associate themselves with police officers or fire fighters and maybe even support staff for police and fire department. This wannabe will go out of their way to view an arrest or to see police do stuff that common citizens can't do. This wannabe will talk about how they want to be a police officer or fire fighter but are unwilling to pursue that dream. This wannabe will probably apply at any police department in the area and brag about it but never be accepted. This wannabe will also be found hanging in spots where off duty public safety officials and support staff hang out at such as restaurants, bars, or other gathering spots. When in conversations, you will find this wannabe dropping names of public safety officials or talking about how they might be associated with them although the association may be them just passing by each other. You also might find this type of wannabe joining volunteer fire departments or SAR/Canteen clubs to feel closer to the real thing.

4. Impostor: This person is one who has stepped over the line from a whacker or wannabe in committing illegal and unlawful acts under the guise of an authority figure. Sometimes the act is of an impulse to feel superior for a limited time or commit other illegal acts such as robbery and theft. Impostors might use blunt force tactics when their victim’s defense is down or more subtle ways such as social engineering. As with wannabes in some cases, impostors have drooled enough at their dream persona to act very much like that persona. This tool can earn the trust and/or admiration of their intended or unintended victim with little effort. The majority of impostors will repeat their crime as they get the rush for doing the crime or they see it gives them easier to obtain results when acting like an authority figure. Impostors will rarely stop from committing their acts and will sometimes live in an alternate reality from prolonged exposure. Usually this alternate reality will give them the courage to try to interact with law enforcement in the capacity as law enforcement cooperation and will go as far as to try to work side by side with said law enforcement. Anyone acting in this manner should be reported to the police right away.

What is wrong with being a whacker?

Well, both are started from imbalances of mental control and power. There is the occasional light collector but most collectors know that emergency lights are tools and don't abuse them. Lights were designed to help get a job done faster and safer than without them. Over time lights became a status symbol with those who seen them on a daily basis being used in positions of power (aka, a fire scene or a police incident). The natural human reaction is to admire something if it can't be used openly. This is the same reason drugs and alcohol are popular with most teens, if they can't legally have them, then they are more fun to use. That being said lights are the same thing. Laws forbid people from using light colors in certain areas, or lights in general for some. This makes the attraction of lights even more popular to display. The easy ways of getting lights always adds fuel to this fire. Now you might be asking "what is wrong of little Johnny wants to put lights on his car?". With lights being a valuable tool for those who need them, everyone using lights would drive down the actual efficiency of how well the lights work for those who need them.

You can relate this to "the boy who cried wolf" setting. If everyone was a whacker, then the lighting that the police/fire departments would be worthless. Although whackerism is on a smaller scale, it still confuses the general public. When they see a whacker with an amber/green/white/purple light bar off the side of the highway helping to protect some guy from getting hit. Is light usage necessary in this case? No. Will the lights possible cause confusion or blind a motorist driving down the highway? Yes. People who have lights for no reason (aka whacker) usually have personal issues with power and as with most things, tools in the wrong hands can be hazardous. Using an extreme example, it's like giving a bomb to a depressive person. Using emergency lights takes training, there is different ways to use them and the do's and don't of use. You don't need a light bar and siren running while in an open field trying to find a grass fire and you don't need your arrow stick pointing right while in a pursuit. A whacker usually doesn't care about training or common sense and has the amateur attitude of "all or none" when it comes to light use. Without thinking of those around them, whackers tend to annoy others with their lights.

What types of whackers exist?

This was submitted by a fan. Now you can put the whacker you spotted into a category to better describe them. Enjoy!

Type A

The young volunteer. He has a 1987 Honda accord and an itch to turn it blue (or whatever color his agency uses). They look for unconventional mounting spots and methods such as zip tied to the mirrors, L brackets in the sunroof (not screwed down or anything posh like that. just don’t EVER open that sunroof) he's lucky, one day he will grow out of it, and while he might not lose his love for lights, he will certainly be "coerced" by his fellow MOS to at least mount the lights correctly.

Type B

The security guard. It might not even be his car, but by golly he will spend the value of that car on all amber or (perish the thought) amber and white equipment. The install will take decades off the already short life of the patrol vehicle and he will be warned and admonished if his boss sees it. Which is why all lights are temporarily mounted. Have you ever seen a 46" light bar held on by suction cups? Go talk to this guy and he'll show you. The parking lot or mall has never been safer. Sadly, this type also applies to police officers and firefighters who, for no apparent reason, with their own earnings, buy lights for the vehicle he simply rides in for eight hours a day.

Type C

The ghetto stomper. He doesn’t even have a job. His crack sales are spent solely on mounting emergency lights to the underside of his car. "It looks like a spaceship" remarked one of these proud individuals. No sonny, it looks like junk.

Type D

The faker. You know this guy... the "traffic escort" "roadside assistance" poser. These are the people that get killed. These are the people we look out for on our highways. Look for a suspended license and several war stories about these jokers. Using uncommon cars and all amber lighting to "move" traffic. Usually buys the latest and greatest equipment, and might (just maybe) even mount it properly. Can name several reasons for the equipment in less than five seconds if requested. His Hyundai or CVPI may have reflective decals, usually bought at by some import online supplier. If you see one of these types, pray he doesn’t get hurt with his uneducated lighting abuse.

Are you still a whacker/wannabe if you join a volunteer fire department?

Now some whackers might be able to join a volunteer fire department. A lot of times you will see this person foaming at the mouth about what lights they are going to install on their POV before they are even accepted on a department, let alone the probation period and approval. This is not unusual as volunteer departments are finding it hard to find personnel since society has driven everyone to want something in return for even minimal labor. The whackism does not stop with a membership into these departments. Usually the lighting collection on their POV becomes legal or borderline legal and they use it at every opportunity possible even if they live across the street from the station. They level out for a little while and then realize the thrill of having lights diminished because now they are LEGAL! So the whacker will usually have mental contest to have the most lights on the department and will spend 3X or more than the value of their vehicle on lights. Don't be surprised to see some POS pickup truck with $2,000 or more worth of lights on it. It's happened, I'm sure you have seen it yourself without realizing it. Another thing you might see with the wannabe type is the application of decals, stickers, or numerous fire fighter/EMS/rescue plates adorning their vehicle. The thing with this type of person is they did not join the fire department to help the community. They joined due to the fact it gives them a legal avenue to operate lights on their POV or on the fire truck or to be closer to the real thing. You will notice this person hardly responds to smaller calls requiring non-emergency response but will likely respond when there is a guarantee that they get to operate lights and sirens or fight big fires. Sometimes this wannabe will join several organizations and struggle to keep up with all of them. They do this to drown themselves in the action and most common volunteers would find it hard to live this way. This type of whacker is known as the "volunteer FF whacker". You might also find this type of whacker driving in either a red vehicle of some type (because it's a fire truck color) or a retired or look a like police cruiser. There are some legitimate volunteer fire fighter and EMS members out there that might fit the above in some ways and this does not include them.

Are you still a whacker if you join a volunteer canteen/SAR service?

Whackers when not fit enough to join a volunteer fire department, they might find other clubs or organizations to join. There are several "search and Rescue" or "canteen" services out there that run a service that helps the real heroes. These organizations were originally started to help the community but a lot of these services are now completed by paid professionals. These services have evolved into people who get in the way at scenes or offer refreshments at large scenes. Many members of these organizations will have fully outfitted vehicle with lights and sirens. Although they might not run the lights en route to a call they however might run them on scene. Dedicated public safety professionals find this type of behavior annoying although in the eye of the "canteen/SAR whacker", this is cool. This type of whacker usually stays with these organizations until the lights become boring or they lose their ego to another more powerful whacker. There are some legitimate SAR groups out there and the above does not include them.

Are emergency light collectors considered whackers/wannabe's?

Short answer to this is no. There are several collectors of emergency lights and these people have a hobby and like collecting something. Emergency lights are like stamps, coins, shrunken heads, or even bottle caps to some collectors and this is perfectly natural. Why someone collects emergency lights is where the line is drawn between whacker/wannabe and collector. A whacker might collect lights just to fantasize about "would be" situations or to work their way up to a perfect setup to mount on their vehicle. A wannabe might use them as decorations to remind them the power that they think lights gives the professionals. Often you will see true whackers and wannabe's using the excuse of a light collection to have these signs of power and to mount them on their vehicle. A whacker/wannabe will use the excuse of a "light collection" for the lights on their vehicle. A collection doesn't mean active use or display, the same as other collections. Most light collectors might start out as whackers in their own way but they quickly grow out of the phase like a rookie cop quickly stops being gun-ho.

Are you against restored or otherwise legitimately equipped privately owned police vehicles?

I’ve always been a fan of retired police cruisers being brought back to their original life. A restored police cruiser is usually of the vintage age (10 years or older) and is redone with painstaking detail to how it was at the time it was actually in service. Sadly, police car restorations have become a target excuse for wannabes looking for a legitimate way to drive around their fully outfitted police look-a-like vehicle.

Most times true restorations are towed to their respective shows or they are driven there with the lights covered and the decals either removed or covered. Rarely are they driven to the location in their true form and if so, the drivers don’t abuse the possible confusion these cars might create.

On the other hand, you have those who abuse the restoration excuse to confuse the public. Usually these types will put generic decals on their vehicle such as “INTERCEPTOR” in big bold letters on a P71 and outfit the vehicle with current or near current lighting equipment. These types will try to wiggle there way into a restoration group as a sign of proof that their vehicle is a legitimate restoration. Most times anything that is found will be slapped on the vehicle to give it a look.

Rarer but legitimate restorations are “memorial” cars. These cars might not be done to any specification but they have meaning to those who have restored them. Usually these vehicles have an abundance of lighting as the reason it make the car flashier or make it more noticeable. As with the legitimate restorations, a lot of these vehicles are towed to their shows or driven to the show with all of the lighting/decals covered up or removed. Decals and lighting on these vehicles usually vary greatly due to different meanings and beliefs behind each memorial vehicle. As with legitimate restorations, I have no problems with these vehicles when used properly , it's when they are abused for ulterior motives that they become a problem.

What is an Amber Light Club?

Amber Light Club or ALC is a term we are starting to use more on the site. Basically an ALC is a club or organization that people join for the strict point of being able to use lights. The clubs themselves might not exist for this reason but the members use the club membership as a reason to outfit their vehicles with as much light as they can get away with. These clubs are usually very tolerant of the abuse due to the fact they don’t want to chase members off and the senior membership of the club might be the same way. A very large part of amber lighting abuse out there today is committed by members of ALC’s. In some cases, these clubs take advantage of the lax laws for the area and they might venture into other colors usually reserved for authorized or emergency vehicles. This was prolific with the REACT club we did an article on in the past. They were so embarrassed from the publicity they have since blocked anyone going to their web site from here.