Officers scoot along city streets
New 3-wheeled electric vehicles expected to save money, improve contact with citizens
You stop in your tracks. The electric whir spins you around.
Video
T3 Motion Scooter
Charleston City Police Department received two new T3 Motion scooters to help patrol the downtown area.
What you see is shocking: A uniformed police officer is floating toward you on a gleaming white contraption that looks like a commandeered vacuum cleaner.
Don't be surprised when you notice Charleston's finest zooming around the historic district on a futuristic-looking scooter.
The T3 is probably the oddest addition yet to the Holy City's police fleet. The department bought a pair of the three-wheeled vehicles earlier this month and put them into service on the lower peninsula.
"Most people say it looks like something from 'Star Wars' " said Sgt. Jason Emanuele, one of the first locals to put the T3 to the test. "I've heard several R2-D2s."
The Post and Courier
John and Vickie Ruggiano, vacationers from New Jersey, get a little direction Wednesday from Charleston Police Officer Jason Emanuele who zipped down the sidewalk on the T3 Motion electric vehicle to help the couple after noticing they were studying a map.
Rising fuel prices have forced police agencies the world over to search out alternatives to the traditional patrol car, "the steel and glass cage" that has been the preferred mode of police transportation for generations. The desire for better community relations has been another impetus for the move.
Local agencies have been increasing walking beats, and bicycle patrols, while experimenting with new rides.
Last week, North Charleston police unveiled three electric vehicles — slightly larger than a typical golf cart — that they plan to use to patrol neighborhoods and shopping districts.
For several months, Mount Pleasant police have encouraged officers to take a host of gas-saving measures, from doubling up in patrol cars to cutting down on air-conditioning and idling less. They also have a two-wheeled Segway scooter for patrolling the area around Town Centre.
Previous story
Officers revisit foot beats; With high gas prices, police employ time-tested 'walk and talk', publisehd 08/11/08
Charleston, meanwhile, has pledged to cut police department fuel consumption by 10 percent. More "walk and talk" foot patrols help accomplish that, along with its diverse fleet.
The department has a 10-person bicycle unit, a 10-person mounted unit, a Segway of its own and several 250cc motorcycles, which are smaller and easier to maneuver through dense urban areas than the Harley-Davidsons favored by traffic officers.
The Post and Courier
Sgts. Jason Emanuele (left) and David Callen, both with the Charleston Police Department, patrol Market Street on the T3 electric vehicle Wednesday.
Enter the T3. With all the geek appeal of a pocket protector, it looks like a horseless chariot or a Segway with training wheels. It bristles with utility: its pyramid shape keeps the center of gravity low, while a zero-degree turning radius makes a reverse gear unnecessary. The rider controls the throttle with a right-hand grip, while maintaining upright posture on a platform nine inches above the ground.
The manufacturer, T3 Motion of Costa Mesa, Calif., developed the scooter in 2006. The current model is the second generation and retails for about $9,000 fully equipped.
Top speed is 25 mph, though Charleston has restricted its scooters to half that.
The company has sold the vehicles to more than 400 law enforcement agencies across the country. Others have gone to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe and the Middle East. It plans to market a "commuter version" to the public by 2012.
The officers who have been riding them say it's hard to get much work done, since the scooter is such a head-turner.
People ask questions everywhere they go: "What is it? How fast do they go? Could I buy one?"
Reach Noah Haglund at 937-5550 or nhaglund@postandcourier.com.
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Comments
CedarPosts (anonymous) says...
Sound's like a plan to me.... but wait for the fourth time in as many mornings I've enountered a homeless man wandering along Wentworth and King Streets. Sunday pushing a shopping cart. Saturday a different man asking a young women for the "time" and then ten dollars to catch a bus home.
What's up with that?
There was a time in the not so recent past that you would never see a bum at waterfront park or wandering the streets anywhere south of Calhoun.
I think it's great Chief Mullen has embraced these new R2D2 looking Starwars toys, segways, pilotless drones and video cameras. But how about doing a little bit of the old "Cuff Em and Stuff Em" and get these bums out of here.
As if high fuel prices and a wall street melt down were not enough reason to slow the local economy.
More Rants and Venting at:
http://cedarposts.blogspot.com
October 20, 2008 at 5:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Neponset (anonymous) says...
We have a lot of small motor vehicles (ie golf carts etc) scooting around neighborhoods which do not comply with all safety requirements and do not have tags - accidents waiting to happen and some tragedies have already occurred. Do these minimal police vehicles meet all safety requirements and do they have tags?
October 20, 2008 at 8:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
suec (anonymous) says...
It is legal to drive a golf cart within a certain distance from your residence. I beleive it's 1 mile? and not on main road.
A tag for a golf cart? Give me a break Nepo. With tags come taxes, registrations, insurance, etc.
October 20, 2008 at 9:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justmythoughts (anonymous) says...
You can get 2 Segways for the price of 1 of these tricycles. How much better are they? Do ya think they might be trying to LOOK like they're saving us tax payers some money while buying some new toys at the same time?
JustMyThoughts.... & questions
October 20, 2008 at 10:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Neponset (anonymous) says...
Suec
I guess you are one of those folks scooting around your neighborhood with no tags and "no insurance". Also think about all those children tooling around on your golf cart when you are at work etc - latch key? Just another tragedy/law suit waiting to happen.
October 20, 2008 at 11:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
suec (anonymous) says...
Huh? You are right. I don't have tags and insurance on my golf cart.
What children? I don't have any latchkey kids. We keep it locked in the garage when not in use.
October 20, 2008 at 12:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Slick50 (anonymous) says...
A. Only the owner of the golf cart or his agent or employees may operate the vehicle. The operator must be a licensed driver, have proof of financial responsibility and a permit to do so, and have them in his or her possession during operation. The S.C. Department of Motor Vehicles issues the $5 permits.
B. Operation is not allowed on primary highways. You may cross a primary highway, but you may not drive along it.
C. Operation is allowed on any secondary highway or street if
1. the operation is within two miles of your residence; and
2. the operation is during daylight hours only; and
3. the operation is by the permitted, licensed and financially responsible owner or his agent, and
4. the vehicle is complete with all equipment required by statutes when you put vehicles on the public ways.
October 20, 2008 at 12:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
coolfreaknbeans (anonymous) says...
They see me rollin'....They're hatin'....
October 20, 2008 at 12:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Neponset (anonymous) says...
I guess, reason does not work in this forum - let a few more children die and perhaps they will get the message. It is particularly sad when young children have to die for the obstinance of adults.
October 20, 2008 at 12:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
suec (anonymous) says...
Nep, what are you talking about? Is your problem with golf carts or latchkey kids, the parents or the police, or the highway dept?
October 20, 2008 at 12:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Neponset (anonymous) says...
Suec
Sounds like you have issues.
October 20, 2008 at 12:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
halfsheli (anonymous) says...
How many kids die in road-related golf cart accidents each year?
AND, what in the hell does Suec's golf cart have to do with the fact that CCPD has two electric scooters?
I, for one, like the initiative thet the city is taking with conserving fuel (which includes other strategies).
Afterall, it's simple supply and demand. As long as people still need to fill up their 40-50 gallon SUV tanks and are willing to spend $100 or more each week for gas, gas companies (and the gas station owners)will continue to sell it for a higher price. When people start to truly conserve (walk, ride bicycles, use hybrid / electric technology, car pool, use public transportation, or just simply drive less), then gas prices will drop and STAY down.
By the way, you do know that fuel prices will go back up? Right? Companies will ease up on production and allow supplies to run low again so that prices will jack up again! They know how to create demand!
October 20, 2008 at 1:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
suec (anonymous) says...
Nepo is stoned.
October 20, 2008 at 1:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
letstakeawalk (anonymous) says...
Neponset - You are the one being unreasonable in this exchange. Golf carts are regulated, as Slick50 pointed out. Low-speed vehicles also have their regulations. Not everyone needs to drive a 3000+ pound vehicle just so they can visit friends or do the grocery shopping.
Logic would be acknowledging that it is automobile accidents are the greatest cause of deaths among teens today. High speeds, heavy traffic, high moments of inertia - these are characteristics of cars that are not exhibited by golf carts and low-speed vehicles.
October 20, 2008 at 1:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Neponset (anonymous) says...
half
Nothing, just asked a simple question.
Since we got into golf carts, go carts, etc - they have no place on our road ways, whether it is around the block, down a dirt road or on our highways for the reasons listed above. If you want to drive get a suitable vehicle, get tags, get insurance, get a license and get the kids out from behind the wheel.
October 20, 2008 at 1:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Neponset (anonymous) says...
If I wasn't stoned, as suec pointed out, I would look thru the archives and get the story of the children driving at night, without lights, in another county that were run over by a regular vehicle. But it looks like I am overruled and I will quit trying to add reason to this forum.
October 20, 2008 at 1:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
halfsheli (anonymous) says...
Got it. You were just going on about how many kids have to die before we figure it out.... And I thought that maybe there was this crazy number of death by golf cart incidents that needed to be addressed!
But, I have to say that I'm with whoever earlier wrote that it makes more sense to travel one mile (on a "slower" road) in a golf cart than to fire up the suburban and waste a gallon of gas. I don't think there's a problem with these things on highways or other "major" roads. Is there?
Is it that people in cars have to actually (gasp) slow down and waste 30 whole seconds of their lives following a golf cart. Or is the problem the impatient, self-righteous car driver who rides the tail of the golf cart or cuts the golf cart off, refusing to share his sacred road with anything the isn't as big or gas-guzzling as his (or her) vehicle???
October 20, 2008 at 1:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
halfsheli (anonymous) says...
Sounds like the problem is not so much with the golf cart as it was with their parents either allowing them to drive a vehicle without lights at night (all of this is already illegal by the way) or the parents total lack of knowledge as to where their kids were and what they were doing.
October 20, 2008 at 1:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
suec (anonymous) says...
I agree halfsheli. What if the kids had been on a bicycle?
We ride a golf cart around our neighborhood. There are 4 or 5 people who do. It is great for retired folks who are a big part of our neighborhood crimewatch program.
October 20, 2008 at 1:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
LadyTarHeel (anonymous) says...
Coolfreaknbeans: I thought the exact same thing! I saw an MUSC public safety officer on a Segway and I all I heard in my head was, "They see me roll on my segway" LOL!! Weird Al is the best!
October 20, 2008 at 2:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JC (anonymous) says...
Motorized anything or even bicycles are not allowed on City sidewalks per City ordinance...why are they ignoring City laws?
October 20, 2008 at 2:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
letstakeawalk (anonymous) says...
JC - *hint* They're cops. They can do whatever they want.
I've filed complaints with the CPD, specifically regarding Traffic enforcement Officer Mack, only to have them ignored by the higher-ups. I've confronted him several times about riding his bike on the sidewalk, failing to use hand signals, and other apects of bicycle operation. His supervisors will not even return my calls.
October 20, 2008 at 3 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
coolfreaknbeans (anonymous) says...
Weird Al is freakn hilarious!
October 20, 2008 at 3:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
withrockb (anonymous) says...
The CPD hasn't had a 10 person mounted united since the early 90's when Greenburg was still around. They currently have 2 members in the unit with 6 officers who have been waiting a year to be transferred into the unit. The most they have had within a decade is 6 members of the unit.
As for the bums, blame it on the shelter on King St. and our liberal judges who do nothing but dismiss or do nothing to the bums when they are in court. Visit the court and you can witness this first hand. Judge Smalls should of been investigated a long time ago for her practices.
Also, if people would stop supporting these bums and their habits they would move on. Just take a trip to and around the shelter and you'll witness it first hand. Go back behind the shelter at night and notice how many of the bums are unable to get into the shelter for being drunk or high.
Chief Mullen is a joke. The command staff at CPD is a joke. If people wanted to talk about saving money. Look at how many of the command staff at CPD are on the Terry plan and look at how much their annual salaries are. How is it that a certain Major. Whetsell triple dips. A CPD salary, Terry Plan, and gets paid for running the Golf Course on James Island. Talk about an outrage.
October 21, 2008 at 3:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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