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Dade City Police Go Green

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By LAURA KINSLER

lkinsler@tampatrib.com

Published: January 28, 2009

DADE CITY - Dade City police are going green with the addition of two electric vehicles.

"We started talking about it last year when gas was $4 a gallon," Chief Ray Velboom said.

In November, the city commission endorsed the chief's proposal to spend about $20,000 of police impact fees to buy the vehicles, which arrived this month.

The T3 Personal Electric Mobility Vehicle is similar to a Segway, but the third wheel gives it better stability. The scooter can be used on or off-road, which makes it ideal for patrolling the Hardee Trail.

The second vehicle, a Global Electric Motorcar, can be charged overnight by plugging into an electric outlet. The GEM can travel about 30 miles on a single charge and reaches a top speed of 25 mph.

It may look like a glorified golf cart, but the GEM has a major difference.

"It's street legal," Velboom said. "It's licensed to drive on any street as long as the speed limit is under 35 mph."

Velboom said the department ordered the car without doors to "break down the barrier" between officers and the public.

Both are decked out with police lights and sirens, but neither will be involved in high-speed chases. They're perfect for community policing, Officer Kristina Diaz said.

"I've used the T3 to patrol downtown, and I've used it on the bike trail," she said. The GEM is quieter than a patrol car. "And it's small enough that it can go between buildings," she said.

Reporter Laura Kinsler can be reached at (813) 779-4617.

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