Iowa State Patrol vehicles
10/4/2023
When I see patrol cars driving on the interstate, I wonder what makes them so special. Should I get a vehicle like the officers’ jacked-up ride?
An Iowa State Patrol car test drive was out of the question, so I settled for a ride. Luckily, this ride was voluntary.
Patrol vehicles aren’t just purchased off the lot. These vehicles are modified after being manufactured and tested for police and patrol standards.
The State of Michigan began offering patrol vehicle testing in the 1950s and is the standard for all patrol vehicles for the United States. Professional vehicles must meet more than a dozen criteria related to performance, such as stopping, accelerating, stability, engine cooling and more.
For example, cars must accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 9 seconds; 0-80 mph in 14.9 seconds and 0-110 in 24.6 seconds. The vehicles must reach 110 mph in .92 miles. They also must complete 32 laps on the Grattan Raceway without major component failure to be certified with a pursuit-rating.
Civilians trying to accelerate and maintain such speed in our own vehicles (except for the Corvette I test drove last year) may have their car sputter, hesitate, overheat and give out.
The tires are specialty speed rated, with better handling than a car off the lot. New vehicles retain the same safety assist features, such as backup cameras.
The fleet of vehicles for the Iowa State Patrol includes the Dodge Charger, a V-8, 5.7 liter with 370 horsepower, a Ford F-150 pickup and a Chevy Tahoe. The F-150 is used to haul police equipment, and the Tahoe often serves as a K-9 vehicle.
The Charger is the vehicle that, when you see it parked in the interstate median, makes your heart skip a beat while you slam on your brakes and check your speed.
Alex Dinka, public information officer for the Iowa State Patrol, took me for a ride in the Charger. He pointed out the equipment featured: buttons for flashing lights, sirens, radar, radio controls (off limits for photographing) and dash cameras for both inside and outside the vehicle. A half a dozen antennas provide effective communications.
The movable computer screen touched my knee as space was tight. Dinkla opened up the center armrest console, not to reveal a granola bar or Kleenex, but rather a mini printer to print off tickets. “It’s like a police officer’s office — right in the vehicle,” he says.
There was no cage between the front and back seat. As we sped off (doing the speed limit, of course), the Charger accelerated quickly while other vehicles slowed down.
The 430 Iowa State troopers train at the Newton Speedway, practicing pursuit and stops at high speeds. Troopers drive about 35,000 miles a year and get a new vehicle roughly every three years. Once a car hits about 130,000 miles, it goes to the market for resale, with engine components in place but police equipment stripped.
Dinkla likes driving the Charger, which he says is fantastic. “It’s very reliable, fast and a quick turnaround. The handling is exceptional, and officers feel confident.”
Buyers can also feel confident driving a Dodge Charger. But, be warned. If you buy one in brown, be prepared for drivers ahead slowing down, thinking you’re driving an unmarked patrol car. ♦
