Everyone's basic argument for any money spent on taxes. "Why didn't they spend it on me??!!"
"

Those LEDS ARE SO BRIGHT I CAN'T SEE WHEN I PASS COPS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD!

/and bright

This, is a police car.

Six months to decide they are painting the car black?   Seems like they could have done that in 1 day.  How much did that "design" process cost?

Ah, and the extra large letters give it that rent-a-cop look of authoritay.

I'll give you 10 reasons why that sounds like a good idea but isn't    (Featured Partner)

So glad I bought a Charger Pursuit instead of a glorified Taurus.

(If they had waited a few more months, they could have ordered these in AWD).

Bslim: Ah, and the extra large letters give it that rent-a-cop look of authoritay.

Yea, and the could have used the Comic Sans font.

Pittsfield Mass sucks. Tha'ts why GE moved out

OddLlama: Those LEDS ARE SO BRIGHT I CAN'T SEE WHEN I PASS COPS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD!

/and bright

I agree. During the daytime they need to be bright but when it's night out they should be half as bright as they currently are. It's to the point where it's dangerous because they're blinding.

RTFA subby.

The design phase wasn't just for the graphics. It was for selecting the vehicles, integrating new computer systems inside, new external lighting, redesigning the unibody, new seating... They should be praised that they did the job so quickly.

Glancing Blow: This, is a police car.


[www.wired.com image 650x304]

No, that's a Polis car.  Says so right on it.

TheOtherMisterP: RTFA subby.

The design phase wasn't just for the graphics. It was for selecting the vehicles, integrating new computer systems inside, new external lighting, redesigning the unibody, new seating... They should be praised that they did the job so quickly.

Don't those things come in a cop designed package that takes into account for all of the standard stuff that cops use?
Not being a smartass.
I thought that mfgr's have a cop package and that it is offered to muni's only for cops.

Now get out there and generate revenue!

DownDaRiver: TheOtherMisterP: RTFA subby.

The design phase wasn't just for the graphics. It was for selecting the vehicles, integrating new computer systems inside, new external lighting, redesigning the unibody, new seating... They should be praised that they did the job so quickly.

Don't those things come in a cop designed package that takes into account for all of the standard stuff that cops use?
Not being a smartass.
I thought that mfgr's have a cop package and that it is offered to muni's only for cops.

Don't forget to factor in small town politics.
I grew up a few towns south of Pittsfield and my dad was the Chief of Police of said Podunk hilltown (as those small towns call themselves) for 15ish years. Any time he needed to replace a cruiser it would be a matter if waiting until the next time the selectmen met, getting it in as a topic, waiting for them to approve it, write it in to the next year's budget, and wait.
After he was finally allowed to purchase a cruiser he would have to take the year old build out bids, get them redone with the newest equipment, wait for the next selectmen's meeting, get approval and, if he was lucky, get to actually place the order.
It was a process that took 3 years the first time he tried to get one replaced. After that he asked for it to be made a regular budget item every 4 years.
Small town politics is craptacular and as much as Pittsfield paints itself as a "real" city it is still full of goofy little people trying to prop up their illusions of grandeur.

Doh, forgot to add that there are dozens of choices each for light bars, radios, external spotlights, gun mounts, passenger separation thingies, etc. I always liked looking at the catalogs when I was a kid.

spunkymunky: DownDaRiver: TheOtherMisterP: RTFA subby ~
Small town politics is craptacular and as much as Pittsfield paints itself as a "real" city it is still full of goofy little people trying to prop up their illusions of grandeur.

Ah yes, small town. Know it all to well. Your last line struck me though.
Big city, small podunk and everything in between. They all share that in common.
And, in my opinion it can be both good and bad and everything in between.
Maybe its just always been and will always be.
Maybe that's the way it supposed to be.
Maybe that's just life.

Glancing Blow: This, is a police car.


[www.wired.com image 650x304]

Exactly. You are the law, and its important when you are carrying out your duties as revenue officials law enforcement bad-guy nappers, that you are easily visible.

Why? Because I value your life, and don't want you to die. Also, you are an investment of the state, and as such you need to be visible.  So, you get bright colored cars.  Also, you will wear an outfit at least partially made up of fluorescent colors, so that you are "high-vis".  Or , you will wear some attachments and belts/covers to make you high-vis.

I am sorry, but you are not the gestapo nor a paramilitary police force. Not yet anyways ( don't worry we are going that way). so take off your all-black outfit, and put something presentable on. Furthermore, your car is not a super secret undercover machine.  Let's use common sense and paint our cars in noticeable colors.  You're not supposed to be hidden, you're supposed to stand out proudly.

DownDaRiver: TheOtherMisterP: RTFA subby.

The design phase wasn't just for the graphics. It was for selecting the vehicles, integrating new computer systems inside, new external lighting, redesigning the unibody, new seating... They should be praised that they did the job so quickly.

Don't those things come in a cop designed package that takes into account for all of the standard stuff that cops use?
Not being a smartass.
I thought that mfgr's have a cop package and that it is offered to muni's only for cops.

They did.  It was a prototype from a couple years ago.  Must have finally hit production.

http://www.topspeed.com/cars/ford/2011-ford-police-interceptor-conce pt -ar86267.html

http://www.ford.com/fordpoliceinterceptor/

sloshed_again: Pittsfield Mass sucks. Tha'ts why GE moved out

As an ex-employee of GE Plastics, I'm getting a kick out of your reply...

They planning on only arresting  midgets little people there?

So people aren't supposed to use cell phones while they drive, but it's ok for cops to be typing away on a laptop?



And don't tell me they only use them when they're stopped/pulled over because I've seen cops driving around using these things.

Simpsons Florida did it.

it's a lie
it's like beating your head on the wall

jaylectricity: The new Pittsfield police cruisers also feature an LED lighting system that uses less power than standard police lights.

Umm...sure, but there's a lot of wasted battery power in a car anyway, what with a continuously running alternator and all. So it's not like they're saving gas or anything.

Get ready for it, Ford is working on a new led interior light system.  From what I hear, it sounds pretty.

As for the design, I would've like to see black with yellow lettering.  Give it a Steelers feel to the design.  Do it right and charge the Steelers for advertising.

Old design:



Also, these are built in Pittsfield:

Are waterproof laptops really necessary?

jdamaral: Are waterproof laptops really necessary?

No, but coffee (and doughnut crumb) resistant versions are.

Glancing Blow: This, is a police car.

[www.wired.com image 650x304]

No, that's clearly a Polis car.

spunkymunky:

Don't forget to factor in small town politics.
I grew up a few towns south of Pittsfield and my dad was the Chief of Police of said Podunk hilltown (as those small towns call themselves) for 15ish years.

Is he the one who arrested Arlo?

jdamaral: Are waterproof laptops really necessary?

I'd imagine so. They need to have the laptops to look up registrations and warrants. They're in a car. Cars are outside. It occasionally rains outside. Seems logical to me.

I'd imagine the biggest problem with not having a waterproof laptop wouldn't be so much damage to the internals with a little rain (probably unlikely), but that some rain might get into the keyboard mechanism and make it inoperable. People who have ever had to repair a keyboard will know what I am talking about :(

TwistedFark: jdamaral: Are waterproof laptops really necessary?

I'd imagine so. They need to have the laptops to look up registrations and warrants. They're in a car. Cars are outside. It occasionally rains outside. Seems logical to me.

I'd imagine the biggest problem with not having a waterproof laptop wouldn't be so much damage to the internals with a little rain (probably unlikely), but that some rain might get into the keyboard mechanism and make it inoperable. People who have ever had to repair a keyboard will know what I am talking about :(

Did I miss something FTFA about the cars being convertibles?

jdamaral: TwistedFark: jdamaral: Are waterproof laptops really necessary?

I'd imagine so. They need to have the laptops to look up registrations and warrants. They're in a car. Cars are outside. It occasionally rains outside. Seems logical to me.

I'd imagine the biggest problem with not having a waterproof laptop wouldn't be so much damage to the internals with a little rain (probably unlikely), but that some rain might get into the keyboard mechanism and make it inoperable. People who have ever had to repair a keyboard will know what I am talking about :(

Did I miss something FTFA about the cars being convertibles?

What, when you open your car door when it's raining it deploys a magical anti-rain shield or something huh? Must be one of those japanese models.

TwistedFark: jdamaral: TwistedFark: jdamaral: Are waterproof laptops really necessary?

I'd imagine so. They need to have the laptops to look up registrations and warrants. They're in a car. Cars are outside. It occasionally rains outside. Seems logical to me.

I'd imagine the biggest problem with not having a waterproof laptop wouldn't be so much damage to the internals with a little rain (probably unlikely), but that some rain might get into the keyboard mechanism and make it inoperable. People who have ever had to repair a keyboard will know what I am talking about :(

Did I miss something FTFA about the cars being convertibles?

What, when you open your car door when it's raining it deploys a magical anti-rain shield or something huh? Must be one of those japanese models.

Computer is in the center of the two front seats. Pittsfield, MA must get some serious torrential downpours and 150mph winds or something.

jdamaral: TwistedFark: jdamaral: TwistedFark: jdamaral: Are waterproof laptops really necessary?

I'd imagine so. They need to have the laptops to look up registrations and warrants. They're in a car. Cars are outside. It occasionally rains outside. Seems logical to me.

I'd imagine the biggest problem with not having a waterproof laptop wouldn't be so much damage to the internals with a little rain (probably unlikely), but that some rain might get into the keyboard mechanism and make it inoperable. People who have ever had to repair a keyboard will know what I am talking about :(

Did I miss something FTFA about the cars being convertibles?

What, when you open your car door when it's raining it deploys a magical anti-rain shield or something huh? Must be one of those japanese models.

Computer is in the center of the two front seats. Pittsfield, MA must get some serious torrential downpours and 150mph winds or something.

Look, you made a stupid comment. Just go and slink off in the corner and we'll all agree to forget it happened.

Cool?

TwistedFark: Look, you made a stupid comment. Just go and slink off in the corner and we'll all agree to forget it happened.

Cool?

I believe you were the one this incredible line of logic :They're in a car. Cars are outside. It occasionally rains outside. Seems logical to me.

By that reasoning, everything needs to be waterproof. They're in a house. Houses are outside. It occasionally rains outside. Seems logical to me.

I always wisht my town would get Subaru Imprezas as cop cars. But that's just because I think they look cool in movies. I understand that the STi model drives pretty fast.