POLICE PATROL CAR - ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY IN ACQUISITION, OPERATION, AND DISPOSITION

• NCJ Number: 41026
• Author(s): R T RUEGG
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 135 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: US Dept of Commerce
• Sale Source: Superintendent of Documents, GPO; National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: SUPERSEDES NBSIR 75-961

Annotation

THIS REPORT UTILIZES LIFE-CYCLE COSTING TECHNIQUES TO EXAMINE THE COSTS OF SOME ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES TO PATROL CAR ACQUISITION, OPERATION, MAINTENANCE, AND DISPOSITION.

Abstract

SPECIFICALLY, THIS STUDY ADDRESSES THE COST EFFECT OF PURCHASING DIFFERENT SIZES OF PATROL CARS AND DIFFERENT OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT, THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF DIRECT OWNERSHIP OF VEHICLES COMPARED WITH LEASING VEHICLES, THE COSTS OF CONTRACTING OUT MAINTENANCE COMPARED WITH THE COSTS OF INHOUSE SERVICING, AND THE EFFECTS ON FLEET COSTS OF ALTERNATIVE UTILIZATION PRACTICES, VEHICLE REPLACEMENT SCHEDULING, AND METHODS OF VEHICLE DISPOSITION. LIFE-CYCLE COSTING METHODOLOGY AND POLICE FLEET MANAGEMENT ARE DISCUSSED, WITH ATTENTION TO BOTH LIFE-CYCLE COSTING AND BREAK-EVEN MODELS. COST-SAVING PRACTICES IN BUYING AND SELLING ARE REVIEWED, INCLUDING MODEL SELECTION, LENGTH OF OWNERSHIP, ACCESSORIZING, COLOR, RECONDITIONING, RESALE TIMING, AND METHODS OF DISPOSITION. OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE FACTORS ARE DISCUSSED REGARDING COSTS FOR PATROL CARS OF DIFFERENT SIZES AND COSTS BY TYPE OF EXPENDITURE AND AS A FUNCTION OF DRIVING ENVIRONMENT, USAGE RATE, AND MILEAGE. MAINTENANCE FACILITY SELECTION FACTORS ARE ALSO NOTED IN TERMS OF LOCATION (I.E., CENTRALIZED OR DECENTRALIZED SHOP) AND SOURCE (I.E., POLICE SHOP, MUNICIPAL GARAGE, OR PRIVATE VENDOR). THE NATURE AND POSSIBLE BENEFITS OF A PERSONAL CAR PROGRAM ARE DESCRIBED. EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE CONCERNING VEHICLE COSTS OF A PERSONAL CAR PROGRAM AND A HYPOTHETICAL COST COMPARISON OF SUCH A PROGRAM WITH A MINIMUM FLEET/ MULTISHIFT CAR PLAN ARE PRESENTED. PATROL CAR REPLACEMENT DECISIONS ARE DISCUSSED IN TERMS OF REPLACEMENT METHODOLOGY; ILLUSTRATIVE CASES ALSO ARE PROVIDED. FINALLY, THE LIFE CYCLE COSTS OF A TYPICAL PATROL CAR ARE NOTED. EXTENSIVE GRAPHIC AND TABULAR DATA ARE PRESENTED. APPENDED MATERIALS INCLUDE POLICE FLEET PRACTICES DATA, SAMPLE LEASING AND MAINTENANCE AGREEMENTS, AND SELECTED REFERENCES. LISTS OF TABLES AND EXHIBITS ARE INCLUDED.