On May 29th WGNS updated listeners on the lawsuit against Rutherford County Planning Commissioners filed by Kevin Fisher in regards to construction of the newly built mosque on Veals Road off of Bradyville Pike. The outcome of that case was that proper public notice for construction was indeed given by the county, according the Court of Appeals of Tennessee at Nashville. The Mosque is now open as a place of worship and those who attend services at the mosque tell us they are pleased with the new building, despite the original setbacks of vandalisim and negative publicity. 

Since that story aired, WGNS has received several emails and phone calls in regards to a fake police car sitting on the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro property.

On Saturday WGNS ventured to the mosque and witnessed what several listeners have called a “fake police car” on the property in question. We use the word fake loosely, because it is evident the car was once a real police car used at a real police department, however it is no longer an active patrol vehicle for any law enforcement department in Tennessee.

The car we saw and photographed clearly has the word “Police” down the side of the vehicle. The car is a white Ford Crown Victoria. The question we received, “Is this legal?” According to the information we uncovered in the Tennessee Code Annotated, we did not find any information making it illegal. The only item that was outlined as being illegal highlighted the fact that civilians cannot have blue flashing emergency lights on a motor vehicle unless they are a law enforcement officer (See T.C.A. 55-9-414 below).

So to summarize the question we were asked, “Is it legal for the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro to have a fake police car parked in front of their property?” The answer we uncovered, “100% YES.”

Source:

Court of Appeals file from the Kevin Fisher ET AL. V.
Rutherford County Regional Planning Commission ET AL.

55-9-414.  Blue flashing emergency lights on motor vehicles unlawful -- Exception -- Penalty.

  (a)  (1) Except as provided in subsections (b)-(e), it is unlawful for anyone to install, maintain or exhibit blue flashing emergency lights or blue flashing emergency lights in combination with red flashing emergency lights, except full-time, salaried, uniformed law enforcement officers of the state, county, or city and municipal governments of the state, and commissioned members of the Tennessee bureau of investigation when their official duties so require as defined by §§ 38-8-106 and 38-8-107.