Police Resort to Advertising on Cruisers

What do you do when your aging police car fleet needs replacing? Sell ads, it seems. That’s what the police department in Toledo, Ohio, is going to try when it starts bringing in new police cruisers to replace more than 100 that are out of date. The police department sent out letters to 1,000 local businesses, and four have shown interest.

The advertising would be placed on the rear quarter panels on both sides of the cruisers, where “9-1-1” appears. One lawyer and one small retail business have already committed $15,000 each to sponsor a car. The Toledo Fire Department is going to wait and see how the program works before following suit.

We guess it will be easier for those arrested to get a lawyer when the phone number is right there on the car, but it still seems a bit strange to us. What do you think? Does advertising on police cars bother you, or is it a smart way to raise money and keep taxes down?

Two Commit to Placing Ads on Police Cars (Toledo Blade)   

Comments

[lopez]

they need to crush outdated cop cars, or take all equipment that isn't from the factory. Im tired of seeing others drive cop cars with spotlights and another equipment fooling innocent speeders to slow down, only it to be average joe.

Do what you need to to raise money, makes sense to advertise on police cars especially if they're seen everyday, if not then whats the point?

[DodgeFan]

I wouldn't be especially proud of advertising on cop cars. What it does say is that it can be expensive to run a police car fleet and police departments don't have the money to replace cars. I am wondering if cops really need big cars these days, due to a foolish police mistake all prisoners are taken in by pattywagon these days due to policy.

[Adam]

The fact that a lawyer would be one of the first to sign up is ironic since the adverts on official government property might be seen as government endorsement of those businesses or services. What happens when that lawyer is sued for malpractice or the business breaches a contract? Does the client/customer then have the ability to go after the local government deep pockets because it was the government that appeared to promote the lawyer/business in the first place? Seems more problematic than beneficial in the long run.

[Ronback]

"fooling innocent speeders to slow down"

Does anyone else see the humor in this statement???

Ads on cop cars is an interesting idea at the very least, and if the market will support the idea then, why not? I would imagine that if the public image of a particular police department is low this may not be a good investment.

[Dan]

"...adverts on official government property might be seen as government endorsement of those businesses or services."

Exactly Adam. Good point.

[Jim]

Matthew Good totally nailed this in 2002...Great song...

Advertising On Police Cars by Matthew Good
Album: Audio Of Being
Date: 2002

What about ads for KrispyKreme Donuts and Dunkin Donuts?

[John Magnuson]

My concern about advertising on police cars is this. The police might be reluctant to ticket traffic law violators who have a relation to the firm paying for the advertising., who might cancel their contract in retaliation.

[DIA]

I have seen this advertising on a squad car in a small town, I thought "how unique". But it also points out the priority of civil service, they must finance their own needs rather than have the town see their service as necessary for increased taxes- how sad. Is this different than individuals who sell their skin surface for tatoos that advertise?