Beware the Dodge Charger Kansas City

alphie · 04-03-2008, 03:05 PM

http://examiner.net/stories/040308/new_264716184.shtml

Quote:

Beware of the Charger
By Toriano L. Porter | toriano.porter@examiner.net

Speed demons beware, the Independence Police Department has a new weapon to fight aggressive highway drivers.

At a press conference Wednesday to announce a $46,400 grant from the Missouri Department of Transportation's Highway Safety Division, Independence Police officials outlined the city plans to increase traffic enforcement along Interstate 70 with the aid of a new model, police-equipped Dodge Charger.

Officers in the Charger will be on the look out for drivers cutting people off, weaving in and out of traffic, following too close and driving too fast.

"Surely we're going to go out and write up speeders because that's something we see all time, but the one thing that doesn't get enough enforcement is lane discipline and following too close, and these are the people that are causing a lot of accidents out there," said Independence Police Sgt. John Passiglia.

The announcement was held in conjunction with Destination Safe, an aggressive driving enforcement campaign sponsored by the Missouri Coalition for Safer Roadways. In this area, 22 agencies will participate in the campaign, which runs through April 15.

Passiglia said police will also use a laser to gauge if a car is following too closely. State law dictates a vehicle leave enough space from another vehicle for reaction time. If the laser detects anything under one and a half seconds, police will issue a ticket.

"We want everyone coming through this city to be safe and all the citizens that drive here," said acting Independence Police Chief Dave Lamken. "We will really use this new technology in this vehicle and the grant money to help make everyone in this area as safe as possible."

MoDOT's grant paid for the new equipment and will also fund overtime hours for officers.

From March 1, 2006, to Feb, 28, 2007, 211 traffic crashes occurred along I-70 in Independence. The crashes resulted in 51 injuries and two deaths. Of the 211 crashes, 79 were attributed to following too close and 51 for improper lane use. Police officials said the violations are consistent with aggressive driving.

Wow, I know some of KC was using the Charger as normal squad cars, but this is definitely different. Nobody would suspect this as being a police car. Hopefully it will help out with accidents.

Tim Formas · 04-03-2008, 03:09 PM

Moving to the Chargers seem to be the trend around Chicagoland over the last year or so. I've seen a few Illinois State Police cars with the same old deco but on the Charger and even a few of the smaller suburbs (such as one with 800 people) seem to be moving over to the Charger.

Then you have the city of Chicago, where a high ranking official wants to move from Crown Vics to Tahoes.

Dream · 04-03-2008, 03:10 PM

Palo Alto in California uses Chargers as well.
Very hip stuff to see!
I wish the Highway Patrol still used those Camaros, they were awesome to see pulling everyone over, as they didn't stand out at all in traffic.
I should add that I feel sorry for the cop that gets stuck with the PT Cruiser.

Deefuzz · 04-03-2008, 03:14 PM

Nice ride to be chasing tailgaters in

So I assume this will be an unmarked car to effectively catch people in the act.

eyeballkid · 04-03-2008, 03:17 PM

We have those in Scottsdale. They look pretty badass!

alphie · 04-03-2008, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deefuzz

Nice ride to be chasing tailgaters in

So I assume this will be an unmarked car to effectively catch people in the act.

If you click on the link you will see what the car looks like. Nothing at all gives it away as being a police car. Very clever.

onesock · 04-03-2008, 03:59 PM

We have police Camaros and Mustangs down here in Seminole County.

Deefuzz · 04-03-2008, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alphie

If you click on the link you will see what the car looks like. Nothing at all gives it away as being a police car. Very clever.

Oh come on. Clicking on this thread was enough work for me, you want me to click on another link within the thread! Sheeeesh!

Quote:

Originally Posted by onesock

We have police Camaros and Mustangs down here in Seminole County.

The above statement needs more pics! (of Camaros and Mustangs that is)

Omnibus Prime · 04-03-2008, 04:10 PM

I live close to the Austin HQ of the Texas DPS and there's a ginormous fleet of Chargers in the back lot. They're the traditional B/W deco though, not all stealthy like the ones in the article. APD is still using ye olde Crown Vics.

I saw a DPS Camaro once. Twas at a regular four-way intersection; I was across from him and we both had the red light. Somebody didn't see that it was a police car from behind I guess, and roared right through the red light, right beside the cop. The cop waited what seemed like an inordinately long time..might have even waited for the light to turn green...before flicking on the lights and accelerating to approximately 300 mph in .46 seconds to go after the guy.

I was still stopped so my perception might have been a little skewed, but God damn, he was fast.

onesock · 04-03-2008, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deefuzz

The above statement needs more pics! (of Camaros and Mustangs that is)

Yeah, I wish I could get one. They're only used for super high-speed chases. Last time a Camaro was used, I'm pretty sure the deputy wrecked it.