Tag Search Result: Vehicle Reviews

What truly sets all of T3 Motion's vehicles apart is an innovative "power management system."

In the words of one EVOC trainer, "Every officer wants the best vehicle they can get their hands on. Every department wants the most cost-effective fleet possible. Somewhere in between is probably the best place to be."

Contrary to some rumors, size does matter. This is just one of the many things the 2007 Chevy Tahoe has going for it. The Tahoe makes a strong impression. While test driving the PD-equipped model for this article, I had many people stop to take a long look and ask me questions about it.

Every fall, law enforcement vehicles are tested by two of the nation’s premier law enforcement agencies: the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Michigan State Police. This year, Ford brought a hybrid vehicle.

It was my fault. I entered the hairpin curve way too fast, and the SUV I was driving went into a spin. But I had two things going for me that prevented the spin from being dangerous: I was in the 2007 Chevy Tahoe Police Package Vehicle and I was on a closed course at GM’s Scottsdale, Ariz., proving grounds.

Police vehicles serve many functions. They are symbols of law and order that help deter motorists from speeding and other people from committing serious offenses. They’re also rolling offices for sworn personnel, equipment haulers, and prisoner transportation systems. The list of all the tasks required of police vehicles could go on for a long time.

Each fall the big three of U.S. police car makers turn their latest models over to test drivers from the Michigan State Police for comprehensive evaluations at the DaimlerChrysler proving grounds in Chelsea, Mich., and timed laps at Grattan Raceway in Belding, Mich.

No one other than a patrol officer is better able to understand the vital role of a police vehicle in today's law enforcement. The wrong vehicle can affect officer morale, reduce efficiency and increase a department’s operating costs appreciably.

You'd never see it in a high-speed pursuit, and no SWAT team would ever consider it for storming a terrorist hideout, but some police departments are finding there's a place for a new and versatile electric vehicle - the GEM - in their fleets.

In keeping up with the expansion of the category "police vehicles," we've widened our annual roundup to cover some of these newer "mobile offices" as well as the newer models of old patrol classics.