Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[BREAKING: Ford announces it will build all-new Police Interceptor for 2011]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/13/breaking-ford-announces-it-will-build-all-new-police-intercepto/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/13/breaking-ford-announces-it-will-build-all-new-police-intercepto/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/13/breaking-ford-announces-it-will-build-all-new-police-intercepto/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



In a surprise move, Ford has announced that it will pursue the development of an all-new Police Interceptor model. The move comes on the heels of General Motors' announcement that it plans to challenge the Crown Victoria's law enforcement dominance with its own heavy-duty Chevrolet Caprice sedan.

Details are slim, but Ford says the forthcoming PI will arrive in 2011 and it will sport durability, safety, and performance parameters that are superior to that of the Jurassic Panther-platform Crown Vic. Given the relatively tight timeframe and durability targets, we have to assume that the replacement cop car could be based on the rear-drive Australian-market Ford Falcon shown above. The Blue Oval promises that the car will be engineered and built in America, so it could also be an Ecoboost version of the Ford Taurus (as seen in the SHO), but front-drive cars have had trouble meeting the durability and cost requirements of police duty in the past, making this something of an open question. In an official release posted after the jump, Ford says it will disclose full vehicle specs in the first quarter of 2010, which should give enough time for both law enforcement and police vehicle equipment manufacturers to prepare for the changeover.

Ford says it presently shifts about 45,000 of the 60,000 police cars sold in the States each year, so it makes sense that Dearborn would not be willing to cede this market to Chevy's Caprice and the already established Dodge Charger.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading BREAKING: Ford announces it will build all-new Police Interceptor for 2011

BREAKING: Ford announces it will build all-new Police Interceptor for 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Blue OvalBlueOvalbreakingbreakingnewsCrown Viccrown victoriaCrownVicCrownVictoriaFordFord FalconFordFalconlaw enforcementLawEnforcementpanther platformPantherPlatformpolicepolice carpolice interceptorPoliceCarPoliceInterceptorFri, 13 Nov 2009 11:40:00 EST<![CDATA[REPORT: Parents of teen with speeding ticket fighting citation with personal GPS data]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/18/report-parents-of-teen-with-speeding-ticket-fighting-citation-w/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/18/report-parents-of-teen-with-speeding-ticket-fighting-citation-w/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/18/report-parents-of-teen-with-speeding-ticket-fighting-citation-w/#commentsFiled under: , ,


It seems as though there may just be a positive side to those unwelcome GPS-based vehicle tracking devices... especially if you are a teenager. Shaun Malone, a 17-year-old California resident, was cited by radar-yielding authorities for driving 62 mph in a 45 mph zone in 2007. Faced with a $194 fine (and some inflating insurance premiums), Shaun's parents fought back arguing their son's vehicle was equipped with a satellite-based tracking device that monitored Shaun's speed - and it showed he was doing 45 mph when he was stopped.

While they can be affected by poor reception or noise in the radio signal, GPS-based speedometers are generally considered the benchmark for measuring velocity. On the other hand, radar measurements are also considered very accurate, as long as the human at the other end of the device is correctly trained and is tracking the proper vehicle. At stake is the credibility of radar. As Doppler-based speed enforcement has become a primary source of revenue for law enforcement agencies nationwide, police don't want their technology challenged. With that in mind, the local Petaluma police have spent a reported $15,000 on the trial. The case is to be decided in the coming weeks.

[Source: Christian Science Monitor]

REPORT: Parents of teen with speeding ticket fighting citation with personal GPS data originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fight ticketFightTicketGPS trackingGpsTrackinghighway patrolHighwayPatrolLaserLaw enforcementLawEnforcementPetalumapoliceradarSpeeding ticketSpeedingTicketFri, 18 Sep 2009 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[REPORT: D.C. police chief says drivers who use iPhone to find speed traps are "cowardly"]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/18/report-d-c-police-chief-says-drivers-who-use-iphone-to-find-sp/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/18/report-d-c-police-chief-says-drivers-who-use-iphone-to-find-sp/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/18/report-d-c-police-chief-says-drivers-who-use-iphone-to-find-sp/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

D.C. police chief Cathy Lanier, frustrated that iPhone technology is one step ahead of the red-light and speed cameras in her jurisdiction, has announced that those who use their hand-held electronic devices are "cowardly" and "...are going to get caught" in one way or another.

The subscription-based software that has Lanier shaking her fists and blurting out names is called PhantomAlert. In a nutshell, its GPS-enhanced database of law enforcement "points of interest" mimics alarms similar to those common to radar detectors (remember, radar detectors are already illegal in Virginia and D.C.). Drivers are alerted to approaching speed traps and photo enforcing locations on in their iPhone, or portable GPS units, enabling them time to slow down.

Not surprising when you consider that the greater D.C. area is home to nearly 10 percent of all traffic cameras in the U.S., according to experts. Chief Lanier is frustrated that the innovative technology is "designed to circumvent law enforcement -- law enforcement that is designed specifically to save lives." What Lanier seems to be forgetting is that attentive drivers using PhantomAlert will be slowing down at all 290 enforcement zones... saving countless lives in the process.

[Source: Washington Examiner, Photo by Michael Harley]

REPORT: D.C. police chief says drivers who use iPhone to find speed traps are "cowardly" originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 18 Jul 2009 10:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Beat the photo radarBeatThePhotoRadarCathy LanierCathyLanierGPSiPhoneLaw EnforcementLawEnforcementPhantomAlertphoto radarPhotoRadarRadar DetectorsRadarDetectorsspeed cameraSpeedCameraWashington D.C.WashingtonD.c.Sat, 18 Jul 2009 10:39:00 EST<![CDATA[National Motorists Association ranks states most hostile to drivers]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/21/national-motorists-association-ranks-states-most-hostile-to-driv/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/21/national-motorists-association-ranks-states-most-hostile-to-driv/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/21/national-motorists-association-ranks-states-most-hostile-to-driv/#commentsFiled under:



For as long as there has been traffic enforcement, drivers from different states have gathered to compare notes on whose police and legal systems are the most oppressive and toughest to deal with. While most such conversations rarely progress beyond the anecdotal, the folks over at the National Motorists Association have actually gone to the trouble of ranking all 50 states using a set of seventeen criteria, just in time to adjust your travel plans ahead of this weekend's Memorial Day holiday.

The list was compiled by weighing such factors as 'Speed Traps Per Capita," the use of speed and red-light cameras, as well as legal factors like the presence of mayor's courts, the availability of trial-by-declaration, and so on.

We're not sure we agree with each of the criterion (e.g. singling out whether cellular phone use is legal), but it's a very interesting list all the same, and might give you some fuel for the inevitable water cooler discussion following your next moving violation.

Click on the jump to see the full list of factors and where your stomping grounds stack up among the least motorist-friendly states in the nation. Hot tip, Frank!

[Source: National Motorists Association, Source Photo by bradleygee | CC2.0]

Continue reading National Motorists Association ranks states most hostile to drivers

National Motorists Association ranks states most hostile to drivers originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 May 2009 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cell phone driversCellPhoneDriversdriverslaw enforcementLawEnforcementmotoristsNational Motorists AssociationNationalMotoristsAssociationred light cameraRedLightCameraroad safetyRoadSafetyspeed camerasSpeedCamerastraffic enforcementTrafficEnforcementThu, 21 May 2009 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[How do you get out of those pesky parking tickets? Why, blame your identical twin, of course!]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/01/how-do-you-get-out-of-those-pesky-parking-tickets-why-blame-yo/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/01/how-do-you-get-out-of-those-pesky-parking-tickets-why-blame-yo/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/01/how-do-you-get-out-of-those-pesky-parking-tickets-why-blame-yo/#commentsFiled under:



Anyone that has a sibling knows that as kids they're constantly blaming the other for just about everything that goes wrong. In Switzerland, twin brothers have the blame game down to a science, as they've successfully talked their way out of 29 parking tickets by refusing to pay the fine because "the other one did it." Since the twins are identical and they are co-owners of one car, Swiss officials have no concrete way to identify the offender. Without being able to identify anyone, officials feel there is no way they can hand out a ticket.

The fact that law enforcement cannot nail this dynamic duo for a simple parking infraction is maddening. And short of staking out the car, grabbing the suspect and finger printing them, these two parking bad boys will never have to pay a fine. Hat tip to Brady.

[Source: Ananova]

How do you get out of those pesky parking tickets? Why, blame your identical twin, of course! originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 May 2009 09:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>law enforcementLawEnforcementparking ticketParkingTicketswisstwin brothersTwinBrothersFri, 01 May 2009 09:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Carbon Motors releases first video of E7 cop car and in-car gadgets]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/15/carbon-motors-releases-first-video-of-e7-cop-car-and-in-car-gadg/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/15/carbon-motors-releases-first-video-of-e7-cop-car-and-in-car-gadg/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/15/carbon-motors-releases-first-video-of-e7-cop-car-and-in-car-gadg/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Law enforcement officers have more reasons to be excited with Carbon Motors' release of a few more images and a video of its purpose-built Police car. The E7, as it is currently known, looks to be much more capable than the thousands of Crown Vics, Impalas and Chargers currently roaming our streets due to its rather amazing list of specifications and gadgetry. Included are a diesel engine capable of accelerating to 65 in under 7-seconds, composite body panels attached to an aluminum structure, 360-degree built-in police-duty LED lights, suicide rear doors with hose-out passenger compartment and a separate front compartment with plenty of techno-goodies. Radar, LoJack, an automatic license plate recognition system, radiation and biological threat detectors and Carbon's exclusive On-board Rapid Command Architecture (ORCA) which features a large touch-screen display plus keyboard (see above), are all included. We think that this sucker should get the job done rather nicely. Click here for a short video of the E7 in action.

Gallery: Carbon Motors E7 police car


[Source Fox News Chicago via Jalopnik]

Carbon Motors releases first video of E7 cop car and in-car gadgets originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbon motorscarbon motors e7carbon motors policecarbon motors police carCarbonMotorsCarbonMotorsE7CarbonMotorsPoliceCarbonMotorsPoliceCarlaw enforcementlaw enforcement carlaw enforcement vehicleLawEnforcementLawEnforcementCarLawEnforcementVehiclepolice carpolice carsPoliceCarPoliceCarsWed, 15 Oct 2008 17:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Kuwait orders 150 Dodge Charger police cars]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/03/kuwait-orders-150-dodge-charger-police-cars/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/03/kuwait-orders-150-dodge-charger-police-cars/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/03/kuwait-orders-150-dodge-charger-police-cars/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Click above for high-res gallery of the Kuwaiti cop-issue Chargers

Choosing them for their portrayed image of "strength and power," officials in Kuwait have ordered 150 Dodge Chargers to be modified as police vehicles. As the Charger is the leading volume vehicle for Chrysler LLC in the Middle East, the choice doesn't come as much of a surprise. Delivery of the cop cars, however, isn't expected to take place for another couple months. In the meantime, the lot of them are heading to Canfield Equipment Service in Michigan where they'll be fitted for their new Kuwaiti roles in traffic, security, and emergency response. (Here's hoping none of our readers get a chance to check them out from the back seat once they're in service).

Gallery: Dodge Charger Kuwait Police


[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading Kuwait orders 150 Dodge Charger police cars

Kuwait orders 150 Dodge Charger police cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ChargerCop CarCopCarDodgeKuwaitLaw EnforcementLawEnforcementMiddle EastMiddleEastPolice VehiclePoliceVehicleWed, 03 Sep 2008 17:03:00 EST<![CDATA[In the San Mateo Garage: 2006 Crown Victoria Police Cruiser [w/DUMMY]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/28/in-the-san-mateo-garage-2006-crown-victoria-police-cruiser-w-d/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/28/in-the-san-mateo-garage-2006-crown-victoria-police-cruiser-w-d/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/28/in-the-san-mateo-garage-2006-crown-victoria-police-cruiser-w-d/#commentsFiled under: ,

There are few things more jarring than when you're doing 80 on the freeway and spot a well-concealed police cruiser. You immediately begin to sweat, get your story straight, perform a mental check-list of license and registration, then watch the rearview mirror like a hawk to see if he pulls out. If you get the ticket, your day is ruined. If the cop was looking down, eating a donut, or just wanted a more brazen offender, flowers smell sweeter and your step is a little lighter.

The San Mateo police know this all too well, but a tight budget and too few officers makes putting more cops on the street all but impossible. So drivers have been flying through the suburban streets of San Mateo without the worry of an expensive, time consuming ticket. To put a wrench in the plans of would-be traffic violators, the police have enlisted volunteers to drive actual cop cars and park them somewhere in their own neighborhood. To make the cars look more official, officer David Coy (alias: D-Coy) has been commissioned to sit behind the wheel, but this guy is as dumb as they come. D-Coy is a mannequin, and he sits behind the wheel to make the city's ruse more effective. So far, drivers are fooled, as most are obeying traffic laws under Coy's watch. We're questioning, however, why the police department would talk to the local news paper about its own deception. Officers say they want more volunteers, but what they'll likely get is area drivers that ignore their decoy. We just hope the guy we pass on I-75 every day is replaced with Dave real soon.

[Source: San Mateo Daily News (pic by Victor Maccharoli), via All Cars, All The Time]

In the San Mateo Garage: 2006 Crown Victoria Police Cruiser [w/DUMMY] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>copslaw enforcementLawEnforcementpoliceSan Mateo policeSanMateoPolicespeeding ticketSpeedingTicketMon, 28 Jul 2008 16:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Prodrive sets up Essex police with 270hp Impreza interceptors]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/01/prodrive-sets-up-essex-police-with-270hp-impreza-interceptors/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/01/prodrive-sets-up-essex-police-with-270hp-impreza-interceptors/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/01/prodrive-sets-up-essex-police-with-270hp-impreza-interceptors/#commentsFiled under: , ,

If you watched the first episode of Top Gear's season 11, you likely smirked at the lackluster Vauxhalls that the British bobbies have to drive in pursuit of "the baddies". But once in a while the constables in the UK gets something special in their motor-pools, like the Caparo T1, Lotus Exige, Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 and Ferrari 612 Scaglietti. While few officers have actually had the chance to drive any of these epic exotics since they're used purely for demonstration purposes, the latest addition is here to stay: Prodrive has prepared a fleet of Subaru Impreza GB270s especially for the Automatic Number Plate Recognition Team at the Essex Police department.

Not only did Prodrive set up the vehicle for the team, commonly known as "The Intereptors", but the 21 officers that make up their ranks received a day of special instruction on how to get the most out of their new 270hp all-wheel-drive speed machines. As you can see in the press release after the jump, however, "The day was not about driving these cars fast, but understanding how and when to use their capability in a safe way." Way to make something exciting very boring, guv'na.

[Source: Prodrive]

Continue reading Prodrive sets up Essex police with 270hp Impreza interceptors

Prodrive sets up Essex police with 270hp Impreza interceptors originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Jul 2008 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>automatic number plate recognition teamAutomaticNumberPlateRecognitionTeambritish policeBritishPoliceessex policeEssexPoliceimprezaimpreza gb270impreza stiimpreza wrxImprezaGb270ImprezaStiImprezaWrxinterceptorlaw enforcementLawEnforcementpoliceprodriveprodrive gb270prodrive imprezaprodrive policeProdriveGb270ProdriveImprezaProdrivePolicestisubarusubaru impreza gb270SubaruImprezaGb270the interceptorsTheInterceptorsuk policeUkPolicewrxTue, 01 Jul 2008 08:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Trapster exposes speed traps on your mobile device]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/24/trapster-exposes-speed-traps-on-your-mobile-device/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/24/trapster-exposes-speed-traps-on-your-mobile-device/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/24/trapster-exposes-speed-traps-on-your-mobile-device/#commentsFiled under: , ,

"Your mobile phone alerts you as you approach speed traps." That's the idea behind Trapster, an innovative service that uses technology, not the age-old flashing headlamps approach, to notify other drivers of a police speed trap. Motorists who come across an enforced speed zone are encouraged to report the location via an application running on their cell phone, PDA, and other types of devices. The notification is then broadcast to other Trapster members who receive audio or text message warnings as they approach the area.

There are four default alerts: police, speed camera, red light camera, and usual hiding place. Each is displayed in a color that alters from green to yellow to red, based on the "confidence" of the trap (more reports on a single trap increase the confidence). In a helpful move, known traps can be viewed on a Google-powered map on the Trapster web site before you leave the house or office and jump behind the wheel.

According to the inventors, Trapster works with any kind of phone. However, it is optimized with devices that support GPS or WiFi. While you'd think law enforcement would oppose the exposure of their speed traps, it hasn't been met with much resistance, as it actually encourages motorists to slow down. Unfortunately, as others point out, it also requires drivers to take their eyes off the road as they fumble to send alerts with their electronic devices.

[Source: AOL Autos]

Trapster exposes speed traps on your mobile device originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 24 May 2008 11:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Highway PatrolHighwayPatrolLaw EnforcementLawEnforcementPoliceRed Light CameraRedLightCameraSpeed TrapsSpeedingSpeedTrapsTicketTrapsterSat, 24 May 2008 11:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Tulsa police testing booty-shaking Rumbler sirens]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/22/tulsa-police-testing-booty-shaking-rumbler-sirens/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/22/tulsa-police-testing-booty-shaking-rumbler-sirens/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/22/tulsa-police-testing-booty-shaking-rumbler-sirens/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

In a move sure to please more than a few motorists, police in Tulsa, OK are testing new sirens on their patrol cars with a tone low enough to send vibrations through targeted vehicles and their occupants. It sounds strange, but as cars become more isolated from the outside world, it has become increasingly difficult for cops to grab the attention of wayward motorists. Locked in our motorized cocoons, a wailing siren just can't be heard over the din of cell phones, Sponge Bob and iPods.

This new and innovative (and non-sadistic) approach called the Rumbler is designed to blast a deep tone up to 70 yards away to alert drivers through vibrations in their backsides. The Tulsa police have three units in use, with three more expected within the next ten days. Law enforcement officials in Washington DC, New York, Pennsylvania and Florida are also trying the technology. Talk from the officers and the public indicates this apparently harmless approach works pretty well. If put into widespread use, it seems to us that the booty-shaking siren just could become the best part of being pulled over.

Follow the jump for video of the Rumbler in action and hear what the new sound of police sirens may soon be in your city. Thanks for the tip, Screwtape!

[Source: KTUL - Tulsa Channel 8 News]

Continue reading Tulsa police testing booty-shaking Rumbler sirens

Tulsa police testing booty-shaking Rumbler sirens originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 Feb 2008 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Law enforcementLawEnforcementPoliceRumblersirenTulsavibrationFri, 22 Feb 2008 12:58:00 EST<![CDATA[10-year ban for popping a wheelie in Miami]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/28/10-year-ban-for-popping-a-wheelie-in-miami/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/28/10-year-ban-for-popping-a-wheelie-in-miami/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/28/10-year-ban-for-popping-a-wheelie-in-miami/#commentsFiled under: , ,



South Florida has a motorcycle problem, and lawmakers are introducing legislation to show bikers that they'll go a long way to punish those who break the rules. Stunt riding (including wheelies), excessive speeding, and concealable license plates will get you a 10 year ban on your motorcycle license, mandatory jail time, and an impounded bike. If the punishment sounds like the medieval practice of cutting off the hand of a man for stealing, that's exactly how State Representative Carlos Lopez-Cantera wants it.

Lopez-Cantera witnessed firsthand a variety of incidents during which reckless behavior was on display, including bikers flying down the highway at 120 mph, high speed wheelies, and more. Police officers can't even run plates since bikers will often flip them up to avoid detection, and it's very difficult to catch a motorcycle on the open road with a squad car. We like motorcycles, even though our focus is on cars, and it's disappointing to see that things have apparently gotten so out of hand in South Florida that draconian enforcement policies are being seriously discussed.

[Source: Visor Down via Paultan]

10-year ban for popping a wheelie in Miami originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Nov 2007 11:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>HondaLaw enforcementLawEnforcementMotorcyclestunt drivingStuntDrivingYamahaWed, 28 Nov 2007 11:04:00 EST<![CDATA[UK's most senior cop in court for speeding]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/23/uks-most-senior-cop-in-court-for-speeding/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/23/uks-most-senior-cop-in-court-for-speeding/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/23/uks-most-senior-cop-in-court-for-speeding/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

For years it seems there was an unwritten code among law enforcement officers stating that you didn't give a shield-wearing brother a speeding ticket unless his offense was really bad. Beyond bad, even. That doesn't appear to be the case in the UK, as the chief constable of South Yorkshire has been cold busted going 90 in a 60 mph zone. Britain's Med Hughes stepped down after the court hearing, but he states that his decision to walk away from his post of top traffic cop had nothing to do with his lead foot. To that we give a hearty, "Right-o, chap." Of course as the chief constable, Mr. Hughes preached stringent speed enforcement. The now-defunct top traffic cop even lobbied for hidden speed cameras, which would keep speeds down while racking up big fine money for the department. If Mr. Hughes feels slighted or embarrassed, we'd like to welcome him to our club. As members, when we get tickets we pay the fine, collect the points, and generally suck it up. We're sure he'll find it all to be very novel.

[Source: Top Gear]

UK's most senior cop in court for speeding originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Nov 2007 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>British top copBritishTopCoplaw enforcementLawEnforcementMed HughesMedHughesspeeding ticketSpeedingTicketFri, 23 Nov 2007 14:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Top five upcoming tech gadgets for cops]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/17/top-five-upcoming-tech-gadgets-for-cops/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/17/top-five-upcoming-tech-gadgets-for-cops/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/17/top-five-upcoming-tech-gadgets-for-cops/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Many criminals today have tools to evade capture, and now tech companies are doing their best to help law enforcement catch up. License-reading cameras, infrared lights, GPS tracking, enhanced communications, and WMD sensors are just a few of the ways that cops are helping to get criminals, but law-breakers are constantly adapting their methods. Popular Mechanics analyzed all the new technology that is helping the good guys catch the bad guys, and they've come up with a list of the most cop-friendly gadgets. You can check them out after the jump.

[Source: Popular Mechanics]

Continue reading Top five upcoming tech gadgets for cops

Top five upcoming tech gadgets for cops originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 17 Nov 2007 15:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Cop gadgetsCopGadgetscriminalsgps trackingGpsTrackinglaw enforcementLawEnforcementlicense-reading camerLicense-readingCamerPolice interceptorpolice officerPoliceInterceptorPoliceOfficerwmd sensorsWmdSensorsSat, 17 Nov 2007 15:23:00 EST<![CDATA["Indestructible" speed camera coming to the UK]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/31/indestructible-speed-camera-goes-live-in-the-uk/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/31/indestructible-speed-camera-goes-live-in-the-uk/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/31/indestructible-speed-camera-goes-live-in-the-uk/#commentsFiled under: ,

As Americans are well aware, angry drivers are a dedicated, relentless, and unpredictable bunch. Angry drivers in Britain, fed up with the scourge of Gatso speed cameras, have destroyed them in all manner of ways. How are the authorities (or rather, capitalism) fighting back? A Dutch company has created a camera it wants to sell in Britain that could actually survive a day on the corner of a Baghdad street, let alone whatever purturbed British motorists can throw at it.

The camera is 13-feet tall, sits on a steel base placed in the ground, has cameras hidden behind strengthened glass, and has a fire-resistant body. It can monitor four lanes of traffic moving in both directions and doesn't use flashes so you don't know when you've been caught. And due to new regulations, it can be painted to blend in with its surroundings. Not only is it practically indestructible, but if it senses a threat via onboard smoke and vibration detectors, it will alert the nearest police station and upload all of its data to a central database so that no scofflaw gets away. Pending Home Office approval in England, it will be one giant leap for law enforcement, and one step closer to Robocop. We can think of only one achilles heel for this indestructible speed camera... a setp ladder and some spray paint.

Thanks for the tip, Spluch!

[Source: This London]

"Indestructible" speed camera coming to the UK originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Aug 2007 19:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Note to criminals: if you're planning to be the lead car in a high-speed pursuit, your odds of getting away just got ever so slightly better. Ford Motor Company has decided to conduct a voluntary recall of its Crown Victoria police package Interceptor model (2003 model shown) because of small cracks that could form in the car's steel wheels during high speed pursuits. These cracks could cause "rapid air loss," or what the street folk call a blow-out, effectively allowing the no-goodnicks to get away and obviously putting the officer behind the wheel in a signifcant amount of danger.

About 109,664 examples of the 2003 to 2005 model will be recalled, though it's suspected that a very small percentage of active duty cop cars actually are rolling on defective wheels. Only two crashes have been attributed to the issue and no officers were injured. Nevertheless, Ford has been down the recall road with the Interceptor before, issuing a different wheel recall in 2003, as well as being forced to address potentially faulty gas tanks that could explode after a crash. Neither helped the automaker's relations with this country's law enforcement community, which doesn't bode well for the ancient Interceptor that's now facing stiff competition from the new hotness in police-issue whips, the Dodge Charger.

At the moment this new recall is a voluntary move by Ford, which has already notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of its actions. The recall will be targeted to owners of Interceptors with specific wheels that could be affected, who will be notified and told to visit nearby dealerships where the wheels and spares can be replaced.

[Source: MSNBC]

Ford recalling Crown Vic Interceptors for potential danger during high-speed pursuits originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Mar 2007 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you think vehicle-mounted weapons are cool in video games, wait until you check them out in real life. Observe the HAMMER Remotely-Operated Weapons System for Robotic and Manned Vehicles, which is available for use in both manned and unmanned (remote-controlled) ground vehicles as well as unmanned air combat vehicles. The company says the system, which is comprised of two 12-gauge shotguns mounted on a turret system, is ready for applications such as peacekeeping (oh, the irony), urban warfare and law enforcement right out of the box.

Check out this video of the twin shotguns mounted atop an SUV making short work of some potted plants -- pretty cool/scary stuff depending on your sensibilities. There are certainly some benefits to having firepower on tap you can control accurately yet remotely while safely ensconced inside an armored SUV.

Don't try this at home: SUV with remote-operated shotguns originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Aug 2006 16:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armored SUVArmoredSuvlaw enforcementLawEnforcementmilitarymounted weaponsMountedWeaponsremote controlledRemoteControlledMon, 07 Aug 2006 16:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Texas law enforcement issued 700 HP Hummer]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/11/texas-law-enforcement-issued-700-hp-hummer/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/11/texas-law-enforcement-issued-700-hp-hummer/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/11/texas-law-enforcement-issued-700-hp-hummer/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



As if we needed another reason not to wind up on the wrong side of the law in Texas, this 700-horsepower Hummer H2 with 28-inch rims clinches it. An unnamed Texas sheriff commissioned GeigerCars based in Europe to build the black-and-white beast. It's powered by a 7.0L supercharged V8 making the aforementioned Texas-sized allotment of 700 horses. You can see that the suspension's been lowered and tightened up to handle the extra power and larger eight-pot stoppers have been installed. The bigger brakes will be put to the test trying to arrest the motion of those one-piece chrome 28-inch rims after they've reached the H2's terminal velocity of 155 electronically-limited miles per hour.

[Source: AmericanCarFans]

Texas law enforcement issued 700 HP Hummer originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 May 2006 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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