Hybrid police cars

**Tideland Prius** · 09-16-2006, 04:34 PM

LOL

mspencer · 09-16-2006, 07:00 PM

Just so we're clear, from the article I gather these are not being used as police interceptors. Sworn officers are not using these vehicles for enforcement on public highways, for example.

brandon · 09-17-2006, 01:21 PM

Basically right. Most "campus cops" spend their time idling around the campus and rarely hit the highway. Almost all of the miles are city miles.

For example, the campus police here have most of their patrol areas on the main campus in the middle of town, but there are some university-owned facilities several miles off-campus that they also patrol.

I can't speak for NIU, but here the campus police are sworn officers and function at the same level as city/county police. They can issue traffic citations, execute search warrants, arrest suspects, perform official investigations, etc. But because of their campus-related jurisdiction and the location of their patrols, the vast majority of the time they're driving 10-30 mph. If they're chasing a suspect, it would be simply unsafe to be going 70+ mph. In my opinion, you don't need a Crown Vic, Chevy Impala, or Dodge Charger to accomplish that job.

So IMO, while the Prius may not be adequate for the highway patrol, it would be a great solution for small law enforcement agencies like campus police. I think this article from the NIU campus supports that assertion.

SoopahMan · 09-18-2006, 06:26 AM

It's too bad these calculations only consider miles travelled; why can't they just quote all the money spent on gas... don't the cops expense every fill-up? Seems like it would be an easier way to account for ALL the gas saved, idling included. I wouldn't be surprised in a Crown Victoria that the idled gas wasted was greater than the gas wasted driving!

This story should be shown to every campus police department... and the department that funds them. Every small town police department too - the town I grew up in has never had a high speed chase to be sure, but damned if they see reason to turn the car off when they get out to direct traffic or knock on someone's door.

09-17-2006, 01:21 PM	#13
brandon Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Manhattan, KS Posts: 770 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Basically right. Most "campus cops" spend their time idling around the campus and rarely hit the highway. Almost all of the miles are city miles. For example, the campus police here have most of their patrol areas on the main campus in the middle of town, but there are some university-owned facilities several miles off-campus that they also patrol. I can't speak for NIU, but here the campus police are sworn officers and function at the same level as city/county police. They can issue traffic citations, execute search warrants, arrest suspects, perform official investigations, etc. But because of their campus-related jurisdiction and the location of their patrols, the vast majority of the time they're driving 10-30 mph. If they're chasing a suspect, it would be simply unsafe to be going 70+ mph. In my opinion, you don't need a Crown Vic, Chevy Impala, or Dodge Charger to accomplish that job. So IMO, while the Prius may not be adequate for the highway patrol, it would be a great solution for small law enforcement agencies like campus police. I think this article from the NIU campus supports that assertion. __________________ Brandon 2005 Driftwood Pearl Prius, BC (Package #6), Delivered 10/21/2004

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09-16-2006, 04:34 PM	#11
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 19,633 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 229 Thanked 345 Times in 244 Posts Friends: 23	LOL

09-16-2006, 07:00 PM	#12
mspencer Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Council Bluffs, Iowa Posts: 102 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Just so we're clear, from the article I gather these are not being used as police interceptors. Sworn officers are not using these vehicles for enforcement on public highways, for example.

09-18-2006, 06:26 AM	#14
SoopahMan Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 105 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	It's too bad these calculations only consider miles travelled; why can't they just quote all the money spent on gas... don't the cops expense every fill-up? Seems like it would be an easier way to account for ALL the gas saved, idling included. I wouldn't be surprised in a Crown Victoria that the idled gas wasted was greater than the gas wasted driving! This story should be shown to every campus police department... and the department that funds them. Every small town police department too - the town I grew up in has never had a high speed chase to be sure, but damned if they see reason to turn the car off when they get out to direct traffic or knock on someone's door.