Wisconsin state trooper stops car covered in Christmas lights

OSHKOSH, Wis. — A Wisconsin man decided to dress up his car with Christmas lights, but he wound up seeing flashing lights -- from a state trooper.

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Tyler Kamholz, 18, of Oshkosh, was given points for creativity as he decked out his Camaro with five strings of pretty lights, WLUK reported. However, a Wisconsin State Patrol trooper told him to turn off the lights.

He should have known better. Kamholz’s father, Larry Kamholz, is a retired police officer from Madison and very familiar with state laws.

“I was not a fan of it,” Larry Kamholz told WLUK. “I was not on board with it at all to begin with.

“I knew exactly what laws were being broken with these types of lights.”

Tyler Kamholz said he got the idea from watching a YouTube video several years ago, WLUK reported. He spent $30 and put up the lights.

Despite his father’s warning, Tyler Kamholz showed off his festive vehicle. He was pulled over by a state trooper in the parking lot of the Fox River Mall in Grand Chute, WLUK reported.

“She pretty much said she really liked the lights, but she’s pulling me over for the lights,” Tyler Kamholz told the television station.

According to Wisconsin state law, drivers can only have white or amber colored lights on the front of a vehicle. On the rear, the only color allowed is red. Any other color could result in a fine of up to $200.

Tyler Kamholz only received a warning, but he received plenty of publicity on social media.

“She asked for a picture and took a picture,” Tyler Kamholz told WLUK. “It ended up on Facebook everywhere.”

“We’ve gotten requests from nursing homes and neighborhood associations,” Larry Kamholz told the television station. “They want him to drive by. It’s actually been quite interesting. It’s moving just to see the joy and happiness of the lights on the car that he did that I wasn’t supportive of. Now, I’ve warmed up to and realized the impact it’s had just from having these lights.”

The lights will be staying on the car until Christmas, but Tyler Kamholz said he will only turn them on in certain areas.

“Only on backroads where I’m only going like 20,” he told WLUK.

Cox Media Group