Comments on Traffic Super Cops

Who will protect us from the machinations of OCP and Clarence Bodicker if not Robocop?

I saw one of these cars down at Safeco Field on Sunday. I don't exactly love cops and I don't even own a car, but these are pretty badass.

Until they deputize Truckasaurus and give him a badge, I'm still aggressively jay walkin'.

It's probably going to end up looking a lot more like Judge Dredd than Robocop...sigh...

Aren't they whining about not having enough dough to put more pigs on the street to not help us?

They certainly act they like they don't have the funding for the oversight position.

Fuck the police.

They aren't here to help you and I, and this stupid waste of money can't possibly be effective.

#3 ha ha ha.

Come to think of it, does SPF even patrol the interstates in Seattle?

Damnit, I meant "SPD".

No, they don't.

This is silly techno porn masquerading as policing. The most pressing traffic problem in Seattle, and most other places, is stupid jerks in the intersection when they're not supposed to be -- red light blowers, box-blockers. You don't need a crappy Dodge Charger to fix that. Chargers aren't even very good cars; they've got big motors but they can't corner. This isn't NASCAR. But they that's how they'll be used....

Total bullshit PR.

Ask the WSP. They way you catch aggressive drivers is with stealth, not flash. Those poopy Chargers will just make it easier for the road rage set to see the cops before the cops see them.

Dodge Chargers also have trunks too small to hold all the equipment a police car is supposed to carry. The only cities that buy them instead of Crown Victorias or Caprices are the the ones who think with their dicks.

And yes, liberal Seattle thinks with its dick. That's why the SPD has overpriced, overweight, overslow Harley-Davidsons instead of high-tech, reliable, practical Hondas or BMWs.

The Stranger should write about that. Big waste of tax dollars.

Seriously. The WSP knows how to do it right:

The [WSP] ADAT program utilizes unmarked/unconventional police vehicles equipped with mobile video cameras to detect and apprehend aggressive drivers. There are currently 40 ADAT cars located throughout the state. These vehicles are strategically located in each of the eight districts, where data shows aggressive driving is most likely to occur.

Data shows that these vehicles are very effective in the detection of the aggressive driver. Currently, these 40 vehicles account for 40% of the total aggressive driving arrests made by troopers statewide.

I know. You all think I'm crazy. But look:

There were new-puppy oohs and aahs, to be sure, but also some knowing insights from the experts: the test car's spotlights would not be ordered, because in the past they were prone to break; the trunk is too small for all the equipment to be carried, like ropes, road cones, helmets, riot shields and, gulp, body covers. One more fact, ma'am: a single cup holder is not enough.

Motor Trend magazine did a recent comparison of police vehicles around the world. The Ford Crown Victoria is slow as snot and can't corner. The new Dodge has acceptable straight line acceleration, however appears to be a dog in the corners. Of course, the Italians use elegant Masarati's to catch errant speeders...which make the Chargers look cartoonish.

The SPD would be better off with a tuned Honda V6 Accord with a beefed up suspension or a new Mini Super Cooper. Both are smaller and better handling than the Charger, and probably much quicker on city streets.

--- Jensen

I promise that I will only post this one more thing.

Is it or is it not total bullshit that the SPD can afford H-D bikes that cost twice as much as a Suzuki that is just as good, and can afford macho Dodge Chargers that can't carry the required equipment, yet somehow they can't find enough money to hire enough cops to track down and arrest a crazy psycho hell bent on killing his ex-girlfriend in her office at the UW?

Seriously. This is what we are paying our taxes for?

I'd buy that for a dollar!

The charger doesn't corner well thats true, but they sure as hell don't fold up like a crushed can in milliseconds like the imports. They probably chose the charger for its ram potential and survavability protecting the occupant
in pursuit.

Nice comments. I don't want it to be overlooked that Sunday Drivers should also be routinely punished for oblivious driving.

Yes, even on Sunday.

The [WSP] ADAT program utilizes unmarked/unconventional police vehicles

Unconventional eh? I soooo want to see the state patrol using Minis or Smarts or 1987 Hyundai Excels to catch speeders.

If it's not too late to add, "My Hooptie" is now in my head, and I'm glad.