NCJ Number
66895
Journal
CAR AND DRIVER Volume: 24 Issue: 2 Dated: (AUGUST 1978) Pages: 45-46,48,50
Date Published
1978
Length
4 pages
Annotation
NEW NATIONAL STANDARDS IN FUEL ECONOMY AND EMISSION CONTROL AND A RAPIDLY FALLING DEMAND FOR LARGE CARS WILL MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR POLICE TO OBTAIN HIGH PERFORMANCE CARS FOR CHASING SPEEDERS.
Abstract
HAVING HIGH PERFORMANCE CARS ENABLES THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL TO CHASE SPEEDERS AND THUS MAINTAIN A LOW RATE OF AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT DEATHS. FURTHER, POLICE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS WELL AS IN CALIFORNIA ARE COMMITTED TO PURSUIT TO COMMAND RESPECT FOR POLICE AND FOR THE LAW, MAINTAIN POLICE MORALE, AND SAVE LIVES. IN CALIFORNIA, PURSUIT IS NECESSARY TO MAKE SPEEDING ARRESTS, SINCE AN OFFICER MUST BE PRESENT AT THE TIME OF ARREST TO QUALIFY AS A COMPETENT WITNESS AT TRIAL. CHASE CAR SPECIFICATIONS IN NEVADA, CALIFORNIA, AND OTHER STATES REQUIRE HIGH SPEEDS, RAPID ACCELERATIONS, AND HIGH PERFORMANCE FOR ALL CAR PARTS. NEVERTHELESS, TRENDS IN CAR MANUFACTURE AND FEDERAL SAFETY AND AIR POLLUTION STANDARDS GREATLY HINDER AN ENGINE'S PERFORMANCE. MANY POLICE ADMINISTRATORS THUS HOPE TO PERSUADE CONGRESS TO EXEMPT POLICE FROM THESE STANDARDS, ALTHOUGH THE VERY SMALL DEMAND EACH YEAR FOR NEW POLICE CARS WILL MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO FIND A MANUFACTURER FOR POLICE VEHICLES. THUS, CALIFORNIA IS EXPERIMENTING WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF CARS FOR DIFFERENT PURPOSES. ALTHOUGH SOME FOREIGN CARS MEETING FEDERAL STANDARDS PERFORM WELL, THEIR PRICE AND UPKEEP COSTS ARE PROHIBITIVE FOR POLICE. IF CALIFORNIA CANNOT OBTAIN THE CHASE CARS IT NEEDS, IT WILL HAVE TO RESORT TO RADAR AND HELICOPTER HIGHWAY PATROL. (PAP)