Police vehicles in the United States and Canada
types of vehicles used by law enforcement in the United States and Canada
Police vehicles in the United States and Canada consist of a wide range of police vehicles used by police and other law enforcement agencies in the United States and Canada. Most police vehicles in both countries are produced by American automakers, primarily the Big Three, and many vehicle models and fleet norms have been shared by police in both countries.
Officially marketed American and Canadian police vehicles—as in those officially marketed as such by their manufacturer—are typically classified as pursuit packages, which generally denote vehicle models that are capable of handling a majority of police tasks, primarily regular patrol duties but also, as the name implies, pursuits. Other models are often classified as special service packages, which generally denote specialized vehicles designed to fulfill specific tasks or utility roles, such as transport vans, pickup trucks, SWAT vehicles, and performance cars. Combined, these police fleet offerings are often referred to by manufacturers as police packages.
Unlike other countries, American and Canadian law enforcement agencies are generally not limited by regulations on vehicle models or livery designs, meaning that, while there may be varying regulations on emergency vehicle equipment or unmarked police vehicles in each jurisdiction, there is no standardized vehicle livery design across either country, state, or province, and most agencies have their own unique designs.
History
The first police car in the world was an electrically powered wagon, operated by the Akron Police Department in 1899. The $2,400 vehicle was equipped with electric lights, gongs, and a stretcher, and could reach 16 mph (26 km/h) and travel 30 mi (48 km) before its battery needed to be recharged. The car's first assignment was to pick up a drunken man at the junction of Main and Exchange streets. Since the 1920s, the New York City Police Department has used vehicles for patrol duties, referred to as "Radio Motor Patrol" vehicles.
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