02/22/2026
The Copcar Ranch took some time last week and got the unique O'Hare Airport Mars light bar wired up and operational.
In the mid-80s, an additional rotating beacon in red was added to the Chicago PD cars assigned to airport duties. The red light was to be lit whenever a vehicle was being driving on the tarmac or vicinity of any moving aircraft. The light was wired independently from the light bar so it could be used without the bar. The practice ended in 1990 when airport vehicles was delivered with blue and red Whelen strobe light bars.
