Police use electric motorcycle as "stealth" vehicle

[erkishhorde]

~snip

Another thing to be considered is the 50 mile range isn't really 50 miles. It's only 25 miles from the closest charging station. That is unless the state is going to take more money from us and install more charging stations 50 miles from each other to support the use of these motos. Also, does the battery life drop when more than the recommended weight is carried? Police officers tend to carry more with them than the average person. Or when they have to travel uphill as in most parts of northern California?

~snip

That's the first thing that came to mind for me as well. When I had an 8mi. commute to work I was considering getting a little electric bike to put to and from work. When you think about it, a max range is really twice as far as you're actually going to travel unless you can charge up at BOTH points A and B. A lotta people aren't able to charge up at point B, though. Another thing is that max distance is never figured while at top speed. I haven't checked the current specs, but when I was looking a few years ago, the Zero only had about 25-30mi max distance at top speeds. I would assume heavier people/load would reduce that a bit even if only slightly. Unless you're treating it as a hyped up bicycle, your average moto cop still has a lotta gear to lug around, or am I mistaken and those saddle bags they carry are empty?

Another thought is that those BMWs that I see a lotta LEOs on aren't all that loud. I don't imagine they inhibit hearing what's around you much more than having a helmet on in the first place so I'm not quite sure what the argument about silent patrolling is about. There's one guy that likes to set up his radar point right outside my friend's apartment by campus. He finds a nice shady spot and shuts down when he radars. When be catches someone you can hear him start up and take off. If his bike is off, it's obviously not making any noise at all so you can't get any quieter than nothing, right?

I think the overall idea is spiffy, but I'm not sure that the Zero should be treated as much more than a big bicycle for LEO use. I'm not even sure where this city is. What happens when the LEO tries to make a traffic stop and the perp hops onto the freeway and goes 100mph, leaving the Zero behind (IIRC top speed was 70-75mph) before he can get other vehicles to help him?

[derby]

I'm not even sure where this city is.

What happens when the LEO tries to make a traffic stop and the perp hops onto the freeway and goes 100mph, leaving the Zero behind (IIRC top speed was 70-75mph) before he can get other vehicles to help him?

i'm not sure they're worried about patrolling SR17.

[erkishhorde]

i'm not sure they're worried about patrolling SR17.

Yeah, was feeling lazy and didn't wanna googlemap it. TY.

[muskrat]

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/042208dnbusfortunetexas.20aec09.html

but registered Delaware leads.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delaware_General_Corporation_Law

now back to the bike.  I like the thought of it but I think it will go the way of the Segway......not much there to be said but if I could find some $3k to play with I'd jump on one.  Until they have legitimate range, for me being 200+ miles, I'd never look twice.  Just my opinion.

[NorDog]

How many Segways did California buy?

[muskrat]

can't say but didn't they get outlawed in some towns?   

[erkishhorde]

can't say but didn't they get outlawed in some towns?   

I believe so. Too dangerous for the sidewalk but also too dangerous for the street.

[muskrat]

I believe so. Too dangerous for the sidewalk but also too dangerous for the street.

I know the San Fran and San Jose airport police use them, I see them on the things every time I fly in.  I guess they don't have to pass a physical exam anymore.

[The Bearded Duc]

Don't know how much money was spent on these but Hollywood Blvd, CA uses them for patrol. And based on this pic it seems that other counties do as well.



They seem like a more viable option than the Zero bikes and they are a CA based company. According to their website they can carry up to 450 pounds, 25 mph max speed, 75 miles on one battery and it can carry two, and since it's electric it fits the "silent patrol" requirement.

[DW]

The best LEO use of a Segway has to go to Estes Park CO.  I saw a traffic officer there standing in the middle of an intersection on his segway while directing traffic.  I guess actually pivoting on your own feet was too much effort.  All I could come up with was that it was a nifty way of showing off your expensive toy in the performance of your job. 

I will give the nod to a police mountain bike any day over a segway.  There is no use for a segway that can't be performed better on a bike.  That being said, I have seen many people use electric bicycles in Singapore for their daily commute to work.  If a department needed someone to travel to a foot patrol area they could actually be quite useful.  It isn't like a Crown Vic is the most sensible vehicle for 90% of its daily use either.