NCJ Number
62262
Journal
LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNICATIONS Volume: 6 Issue: 5 Dated: (OCTOBER 1979) Pages: 20-23,28
Date Published
1979
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE MODELS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF VEHICLES USED AND ANTICIPATED FOR USE BY POLICE AGENCIES THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
FUEL COSTS AND THE TREND TOWARD MANUFACTURING MIDSIZE AND SMALL CARS ARE PRESENTING PROBLEMS IN THE SELECTION OF POLICE VEHICLES. LARGE CARS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR PURSUIT, TRANSPORTING ARRESTEES AND PRISONERS, DURABILITY, AND OFFICER SAFETY. HOWEVER, THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PURCHASE, OPERATION, AND MAINTENANCE OF THE LARGE CAR ARE RAPIDLY BECOMING PROHIBITIVE. THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE IS LOBBYING FOR CONGRESSIONAL LEGISLATION WHICH WILL EXEMPT POLICE CARS FROM POLLUTION, NOISE, AND ENERGY STANDARDS SO THE POLICE COULD AFFORD A CAR THAT WOULD PERFORM POLICE WORK SATISFACTORILY. MEANWHILE, POLICE AGENCIES ARE EITHER HOLDING THEIR OLDER LARGE CARS LONGER THROUGH THE USE OF QUALITY MAINTENANCE OR ARE MAKING ADJUSTMENTS WITH THE USE OF MIDSIZE AND EVEN SOME SMALL CARS (SUCH AS THE RENAULT LE CAR). OTHER ALTERNATIVES FOR SPECIALIZED POLICE WORK ARE MOTORCYCLES AND THE CUSHMAN POLICE VEHICLE (SIMILAR TO A MOTOCYCLE, BUT WITH THREE WHEELS AND ENCLOSED), WHICH ARE USED PRIMARILY IN TRAFFIC WORK. THE TREND EXISTS TOWARD SELECTING A MIX OF VEHICLE TYPES TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF VARIOUS POLICE FUNCTIONS. RESEARCH IS UNDERWAY WHICH MAY EVENTUALLY DEVELOP THE ELECTRIC CAR AS A FEASIBLE OPTION FOR CERTAIN POLICE WORK. SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE MAKES OF VEHICLES MOST FREQUENTLY USED BY POLICE AGENCIES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)