madajb
08-23-2005, 03:55 PM
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Geek Squad repaints its cars after CHP issues a citation
Danielle McNamara
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
It was a case of mistaken identity.
When Geek Squad "double agent" Mark Reardon was pulled over by the Highway Patrol on Interstate 680 near Walnut Creek in June, he wondered what he had done wrong.
Then he found out.
Reardon was ticketed because his company-owned Volkswagen Beetle too closely resembled a police car.
"I was amazed," he said this week.
Now, the Geek Squad mobile computer technician service is repainting all of its 150 black and white Beetles to the CHP's liking.
The CHP officer who stopped Reardon cited a state law that prohibits the painting of a privately owned or commercial vehicle to resemble a police car.
"Obviously it would be a pretty far shot to mistake a Volkswagen Beetle for a cruiser, but it comes down to protecting our unique color scheme," said Officer Steve Creel, a spokesman for the CHP's Dublin office.
The officer who issued the citation is on vacation and unavailable for comment.
The Best Buy-owned Geek Squad is based in Minneapolis and employs computer technicians who dress like special agents. They take house calls for in-home tech support and repair services.
The Greek Squad's "Geekmobiles" were originally painted black on the hood and the trunk and over the tires, and white along the side panels. The new CHP-approved paint job includes black doors.
"When I went down to the (CHP) office to get the ticket signed off, the guys at the desk laughed at me," Reardon said.
CHP spokesman Lt. Joe Whiteford said because law enforcement agencies across the country use a variety of cars, the model and make of could-be impersonators is irrelevant.
"(Those Geek Squad Beetles) do resemble patrol cars. At night, depending on the angle, you see a black body, white doors, it could be mistaken as a cop car," he said.
Whiteford said he believes other "Geekmobiles" have been cited, but he couldn't provide any exact numbers.
Best Buy spokesman Kevin Cockett said he is unaware of similar run-ins with the law other states.
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-ajb
Geek Squad repaints its cars after CHP issues a citation
Danielle McNamara
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
It was a case of mistaken identity.
When Geek Squad "double agent" Mark Reardon was pulled over by the Highway Patrol on Interstate 680 near Walnut Creek in June, he wondered what he had done wrong.
Then he found out.
Reardon was ticketed because his company-owned Volkswagen Beetle too closely resembled a police car.
"I was amazed," he said this week.
Now, the Geek Squad mobile computer technician service is repainting all of its 150 black and white Beetles to the CHP's liking.
The CHP officer who stopped Reardon cited a state law that prohibits the painting of a privately owned or commercial vehicle to resemble a police car.
"Obviously it would be a pretty far shot to mistake a Volkswagen Beetle for a cruiser, but it comes down to protecting our unique color scheme," said Officer Steve Creel, a spokesman for the CHP's Dublin office.
The officer who issued the citation is on vacation and unavailable for comment.
The Best Buy-owned Geek Squad is based in Minneapolis and employs computer technicians who dress like special agents. They take house calls for in-home tech support and repair services.
The Greek Squad's "Geekmobiles" were originally painted black on the hood and the trunk and over the tires, and white along the side panels. The new CHP-approved paint job includes black doors.
"When I went down to the (CHP) office to get the ticket signed off, the guys at the desk laughed at me," Reardon said.
CHP spokesman Lt. Joe Whiteford said because law enforcement agencies across the country use a variety of cars, the model and make of could-be impersonators is irrelevant.
"(Those Geek Squad Beetles) do resemble patrol cars. At night, depending on the angle, you see a black body, white doors, it could be mistaken as a cop car," he said.
Whiteford said he believes other "Geekmobiles" have been cited, but he couldn't provide any exact numbers.
Best Buy spokesman Kevin Cockett said he is unaware of similar run-ins with the law other states.
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-ajb