Patent ID: 7642899

Claim:
A vehicle observation apparatus for use during a vehicle stop, said apparatus comprising: a telescopic mast adapted for being secured to a law enforcement vehicle and being deployable from the law enforcement vehicle toward a stopped vehicle during a vehicle stop, said mast having at least a first end and a second end, and being adapted to be placed in at least a first position and a second position, wherein said mast is extendable from said first position toward said second position for a predetermined distance from the law enforcement vehicle toward the stopped vehicle whereby at least one law enforcement person in connection with the law enforcement vehicle is able to perform observation of an interior and at least one occupant of the stopped vehicle and to communicate with the at least one occupant of the stopped vehicle; means for two-way communication and observation being in communication with said mast, wherein said means for two-way communication and observation provides for observation of the interior and the at least one occupant of the stopped vehicle and for two-way communication between the at least one law enforcement person and the least one occupant in the stopped vehicle when said mast is extended from said first position toward said second position for a predetermined distance from the law enforcement vehicle toward the stopped vehicle; means for operating said mast, wherein said means for operating said mast is able to communicate with said mast to extend said mast from said first position of said mast toward said second position of said mast for a predetermined distance from the law enforcement vehicle toward the stopped vehicle, and wherein said means for operating said mast is able to retract said mast from said second position toward said first position; and means for operating said means for two-way communication and observation, wherein said means for operating said means for two-way communication and observation is able to communicate with said means for two-way communication and observation to provide for observation of the interior and the at least one occupant of the stopped vehicle and for two-way communication between the at least one law enforcement person and the least one occupant in the stopped vehicle.