These Are The Weirdest Cars You've Seen Used By Local Government
My answer to the question is still the first-generation Honda Civic Hybrid that I saw recently being used by the City of Los Angeles as the street sweeper chase vehicle. It was a pre-facelift model which means it had to be a 2003 model year car that is still serving is civic duty over 20 years later, and while I appreciate that the government isn't spending needlessly on expensive brand-new cars, I am still surprised that such an old vehicle is still in service. If you've got an interesting car you've seen used by your local government, feel free to share in the comments. These are the weirdest cars you've seen used by your local government.
Read more: These Are The Dumbest Looking Cars Of All Time, According To You
20 plus years ago, I saw a CHP Volvo, North of Escondido on the I-15, at the time I worked with CHP closely and never saw another one before, or after.
Submitted by: towman
I always enjoy seeing cops on horses. It's not super rare, but horses are cool and there is something funny about knowing the horse might actually be a top-notch chaser in dense, urban environments.
Submitted by: engineerthefuture
Pre-pandemic, my town used to have a small fleet (maybe 3 or 4) of Polaris side-by-sides that were used for parking enforcement and other jobs in the downtown area where a Charger or Explorer cruiser would be overkill. I haven't seen them used recently, so they may have been retired.
Submitted by: Earthbound Misfit I
Growing up, my local Washington State Patrol office was pretty small, so instead of buying fleet vehicles, they'd just use seized, auction cars ..80's Camaros, Mustangs, Caravans .. my neighbors "patrol car" was an unmarked '90 Cavalier .. he said they had a good dozen of oddball unmarked cars (with hidden lights) at the station to choose from... even a Corvette.
Submitted by: JCB
Any small town that thinks it needs an armored tank to keep the peace 🙄
Submitted by: Jimboy Junio
I don't know how weird it is considered given the context, but i have seen a Smart ForTwo used as a police car during exceptionally congested rush hour where i am from.
Submitted by: epep-
Up until a few years ago my County's crime scene unit used a Ford Aerostar... I remember watching the show CSI as a kid thinking that could be a cool job then I started seeing the local CSI group rolling around in an Aerostar. Hard pass.
The most recent string of County pool vehicles has been Dodge Nitros, Jeep Cherokees (with the V6's and leather which seems awfully fancy for municipal pool vehicles) and now Bronco Sports.
Submitted by: cintocrunch1
My town's parks and recreation department has a Daihatsu Hijet mini truck as a maintenance vehicle.
Submitted by: Giantsgiants
Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox...
Read the original article on Jalopnik.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gizmodo
20 hours ago
- Gizmodo
Anker's USB-C Car Charger Adapter Is Almost 50% Off, Smart to Stock Up at This Lowest Price
Whenever I hop into the driver's seat of my Mazda CX-5, I do the exact same thing. I set up my phone in my AC mount, then punch in my destination in Google Maps. I don't care if it's an address I've never been or have gone to a hundred thousand times — I will be using GPS. I just like having data like my ETA handy. So you can imagine that this and Spotify do a number on my phone battery. That's why I have a car charger. This dual-port USB-C adapter is going for 40% off, bringing it down from $20 to just $12. That's an $8 savings for a limited time. See at Amazon This Anker car charger is compatible with a wide range of devices thanks to its dual USB-C and USB-A ports. You can connect to an iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, or Google Pixel no problem. And because it has two ports, you can connect to two phones at once. This is excellent news for whoever is riding shotgun with you as the two of you won't have to fight over the one cable in the car. The adapter is compatible with pretty much any vehicle that has one of those classic cigarette lighter outlets. When plugged in, it will light up so you can find the ports easily, even when it's dark outside. You can expect fairly quick charging with the Anker car adapter. Over the USB-C slot, you can get a max power delivery of 30W. That will bring an iPhone 14 to 50% in just 28 minutes of charging. Samsung S23 owners will be able to get to 50% in just 27%. Another big win for the Android folks. One whole minute. The USB-A is slightly less fast but still perfectly serviceable at 22.5W. The charger has a sleek, compact design with a matte finish. It measures in at only 2.16 inches by 1.18 inches. That's only about the size of your key fob depending on the car your drive. You don't have to worry about your devices' safety. Anker uses a proprietary technology that can enhance the protection of what you have plugged into the adapter. It does so by intelligently monitoring its temperature and then adjusting power output which in turn safeguards your connected devices from overheating and becoming damaged. For a limited time, you can grab yourself one of these Anker dual-port car chargers for a reduced price. Usually $20, it's been brought down to just $12. That's a savings of $8. See at Amazon
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
POLARIS RZR PRO R FACTORY REIGNS SUPREME AT 2025 VEGAS TO RENO
Polaris-Supported Racer Mitch Guthrie Jr. and his RZR Pro R Factory Win UTV Overall MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In a stunning display of skill, stamina, and precision, Polaris-supported racer, Mitch Guthrie Jr. raced his way to victory in the RZR Pro R Factory at the legendary 2025 Las Vegas to Reno, taking home the overall UTV win and finishing second overall among all four-wheeled vehicles. Temperatures soared above 100°F as racers pushed speeds well over 110 mph across hundreds of miles of graded gravel roads, dry lake beds, and rugged mountain terrain. His total time of 8:19:14 edged out Can-Am®'s Cody Bradbury by a 9-second margin, capping off one of the closest and most dramatic finishes in recent history. "The Vegas to Reno course is one of the toughest in the world where our drivers are battling extreme heat, high speeds, brutal terrain, but the RZR Pro R Factory handled it all with incredible confidence and durability," said Alex Scheuerell, Director of Off-Road Motorsports, Polaris. "Mitch's impressive ability to navigate such a demanding course was key to the win and a huge validation of the performance and resilience we've built into this machine. The grit our entire team and Polaris-supported racers consistently demonstrate never ceases to impress. It's a clear reflection of the Polaris spirit." By mile 100, Guthrie was locked in a three-vehicle dogfight while Cayden MacCachren played a longer strategy, hanging back outside the top 10. By race mile 300, MacCachren's game of cat and mouse started to take shape. Heading into the mountains, he started flexing the power and nimbleness of the RZR Pro R Factory. By mile 450, only 18 seconds separated Bradbury, Guthrie, and MacCachren on corrected time. MacCachren would then physically pass the field and build a 14-second corrected lead with just 25 miles to go. Two miles from the finish, MacCachren overcame a challenge with rapid repairs, crossing the line and exemplifying the true grit of the Polaris team. Guthrie pushed his RZR Pro R Factory to the limit over the final miles with the vehicle ultimately proving its superiority, overtaking the Can-Am® and defeating Bradbury to take the overall UTV win by just nine seconds. The win marks a significant moment for Polaris as the RZR Pro R Factory machine once again proved its elite performance and durability, tackling the unforgiving terrain of the 2025 Vegas to Reno race with unmatched composure and capability. From deep silt beds to jagged rock gardens and long stretches of high-speed desert, the machine absorbed punishing impacts while maintaining precise control. The RZR Pro R Factory gave Mitch Guthrie Jr. the confidence to charge through technical sections that forced many competitors to back off. "We took the win in the RZR Factory Pro R, and it was a great race with tight battles up front dicing it up, with just seconds separating us at times," said Mitch Guthrie Jr. "The RZR Pro R Factory performed flawlessly with zero issues, which gave me the confidence to keep pushing from start to finish." Next, the Polaris RZR Factory Racing team will trade the rugged terrain of the Sierra Nevadas going back to the deserts of Baja as they will set their eyes on the trophy for the Baja 400, strategically placing for a spot in the prestigious Baja 1000. To learn more, please visit or join the conversation and follow on Facebook sm, Instagram sm, YouTube sm and Xsm. About PolarisAs the global leader in powersports, Polaris Inc. (NYSE: PII) pioneers product breakthroughs and enriching experiences and services that have invited people to discover the joy of being outdoors since our founding in 1954. Polaris' high-quality product line-up includes the RANGER, RZR and Polaris XPEDITION and GENERAL side-by-side off-road vehicles; Sportsman all-terrain off-road vehicles; military and commercial off-road vehicles; snowmobiles; Indian Motorcycle mid-size and heavyweight motorcycles; Slingshot moto-roadsters; Aixam quadricycles; Goupil electric vehicles; and pontoon and deck boats, including industry-leading Bennington pontoons. Polaris enhances the riding experience with a robust portfolio of parts, garments, and accessories. Headquartered in Minnesota, Polaris serves nearly 100 countries across the globe. Can-Am® is a registered trademark of Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Polaris Inc.
USA Today
3 days ago
- USA Today
America's most stolen vehicle? This muscle car tops the list
A high-performance muscle car is the most commonly stolen car in America, according to a new report. The Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 tops the list for America's most stolen vehicle for 2022-2024 models, according to new research from the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDA). It is 39 times more commonly stolen than the national average for all vehicles. The standard Camaro was 13 times higher than average. While vehicle theft claims don't distinguish between full vehicle versus partial theft, the report's methodology considered the monetary value lost as result of the theft. Aside from Camaros, trucks, high-horsepower and expensive models rank highly on the list. 'Muscle cars have often topped this list, as thieves are attracted to vehicles with high horsepower,' said Matt Moore, chief insurance operations officer at HLDI and IIHS. 'That also helps explain why the more expensive, more powerful ZL1 is stolen so much more often than the standard Camaro.' Camaro thefts declined after the introduction of push-button start systems in 2016. However, thefts began to rise again in 2023, peaking in March 2024, according to a separate analysis by HLDI. That month, there were 18.3 theft claims per 1,000 insured Camaros from models years 2016 to 2024. 'We expect powerful and high-value vehicles to be targeted, and these models check both these boxes,' Moore said. 'But it stood out to us that Camaros nearly 10 years old had such high claim frequencies.' Last year, California ranked highest in the frequency of theft claims for these vehicles. Tennessee, Mississippi, Maryland and Texas followed. To combat theft, in March 2025, General Motors introduced a software update for 2020 to 2024 Camaro models. While the reports said there's no available data on the effectiveness of the software update, a similar software worked for Hyundai and Kia. Thefts subsided 46%. Whole vehicle theft claims were 52% less common for vehicles with the upgrade. 'This intervention showed dramatic results right off the bat, offering owners some peace of mind,' Moore said. 'Owners who still haven't gotten the software upgrade should do so immediately, as it's the best way to protect their vehicle.' 2022-2024 models with the highest theft rates 2022-2024 models with the highest theft rates
