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Why NYC police are turning to Smart cars

New York City police have acquired nine of the single-passenger Smart cars at a cost of $119,000 for a pilot program. 

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(AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Shelley Gallivan, right, talks on the phone next to a tipped over Smart car which belongs to her friend in San Francisco, April 7, 2014. NYC police will be replacing scooters with Smart cars.
  • By Staff Associated Press

| New York

 The NYPD plans to replace its three-wheeled scooters with Smart cars.

Police Commissioner William Bratton says the department is testing out the mini vehicles.

“They’re midget cars, I guess you can call them,” Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said. “We have acquired a number of them to test them out. Actually, in many instances they are more maneuverable than the scooters. They’re also cheaper, interesting enough.”

The Daily News says the agency has acquired nine of the single-passenger cars at a cost of $119,000 for the pilot program and currently is trying one out in Central Park.

The Smart cars would be used in NYPD's parking and school safety divisions and at precincts across the city.

Within weeks, the cars will be placed in the NYPD’s parking and school safety divisions and meted out to precincts throughout the five boroughs. As many as 100 more could then replace aging scooters, which can cost up to $27,000, officials said.

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