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Police Cars May Feature Advertising (Hooters' ad, anyone?)
Yahoo! News / AP ^ | 11.19.02 | Wayne Parry

Posted on 11/20/2002 8:06:14 AM PST by mhking

Police Cars May Feature Advertising

Tue Nov 19, 1:41 PM ET
By WAYNE PARRY, Associated Press Writer

Cash-strapped police departments around the country are considering selling advertising space on their patrol cars — an idea that has some officers worried they will get stuck driving around with a really embarrassing ad.

"I don't want my officers driving around in a car that says, `Trojan: Ribbed for extra pleasure,'" said Louis Napoletano, public safety director of Long Branch. "We've come a long way to be perceived as professional, and this would set us way back."

Government Acquisitions LLC, a company in Charlotte N.C., started selling the ads about two months ago.

The deal works like this: A police department agrees to put ads on its patrol cars, usually on the hoods or on the side and rear. In return, Government Acquisitions provides new patrol cars to the department for $1, and replaces them every three years. The company keeps the ad revenue.

"Due to a lack of government funding and tight budgets, police departments across America don't have the equipment they need," said Ken Allison, president of Government Acquisitions. "If you're home at night with your wife and kids and some maniac breaks into your house, you call 911 and you want a police car there. You don't care if there's a Burger King logo on the trunk."

So far, 20 mostly smaller municipalities around the country have signed contracts, and scores of other cities have expressed interest, Allison said. The first cars should be delivered within a few months.

"I'll be happy to slap someone's name on our municipal building if they give us enough money," North Brunswick Mayor David Spaulding said. "My overriding goal is to be fiscally responsible, and that's what we're doing. We're trying to save the taxpayers money."

His police department is considering the idea, which Spaulding estimated could save the township $250,000 a year on its 18 marked patrol cars in a municipality with a $30 million annual budget.

Government Acquisitions has signed up or hopes to sign up burglar alarm companies, real estate agencies, auto body shops, children's learning centers, fast food restaurants, and lost and missing children's agencies.

The ads cannot come from alcohol, tobacco, guns or gambling interests, and the police departments have some leeway to reject ads they deem inappropriate, Allison said.

Some potential advertisers love the idea.

"We'll be able to attach our name to local authorities, which gives us near-instant credibility," said Victor Adams, president of Alltech Specialists, a Tampa, Fla., distributor of home burglar alarm systems.

The Elizabeth Township Police Department near Pittsburgh hopes to buy up to 15 cars from Government Acquisitions. The police chief is a NASCAR (news - web sites) fan and liked the idea of plastering ads on cars, Deputy Chief Bob Wallace said.

But many police officers do not like the idea of turning their police cars into rolling billboards and joke about the poor guy who gets stuck driving a car with an ad for a feminine hygiene product, or worse.

Michael Moriarty, North Brunswick's public safety director, said officers from other communities find the idea hilarious. They have been calling up, pretending to be from Hooters and offering to sponsor a car.

But he said the idea can work, provided the ads are done tastefully.

Michelle Bozio Beaton, who runs a vacuum cleaner business in North Brunswick, said the ads ultimately are not worth the price.

"Police have a position of respect, and a lot of people might find it comical and not respect them because of it," she said. "There's enough jokes about cops already. These guys put their lives on the line for us every day. They deserve more respect than that."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS:

1 posted on 11/20/2002 8:06:15 AM PST by mhking
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To: Howlin; Ed_NYC; MonroeDNA; widgysoft; Springman; FreedomPoster; Timesink; AntiGuv; ...
"Hold muh beer 'n watch this!" PING....

If you want on or off this list, please let me know!

2 posted on 11/20/2002 8:06:33 AM PST by mhking
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To: mhking
Krispy Kreme first in line, of course.
3 posted on 11/20/2002 8:08:59 AM PST by ctonious
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To: mhking
Think they'll let a local church advertise with their "logo" on a squad car?
4 posted on 11/20/2002 8:09:15 AM PST by kjam22
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To: mhking

"Osshifer, I (hIc) know I was prolly drivin' too (urp) fast, but I couldn't help notishin' my SUPERSTATION adshh all over (HiC) yer vehikkle..."

5 posted on 11/20/2002 8:11:59 AM PST by martin_fierro
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To: kjam22
I thought of that too. How about a bail bondsman? Without thinking it through, I think it's a good idea but not realistic in practice.
6 posted on 11/20/2002 8:16:04 AM PST by Mr. Bird
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To: mhking
So if they generate an additional revenue stream... does that mean no more monthly quotas for speeding tickets?
7 posted on 11/20/2002 8:17:21 AM PST by 1bigdictator
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To: mhking
I think Grafix should take out an add. Or maybe NORML. That would be hilarious.
8 posted on 11/20/2002 8:18:36 AM PST by FreeTally
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To: mhking
"Police Cars May Feature Advertising (Hooters' ad, anyone?)"

Busted!

9 posted on 11/20/2002 8:20:21 AM PST by meyer
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To: mhking
Government Acquisitions LLC, a company in Charlotte N.C., started selling the ads about two months ago.

Guys who operate companies like this, must be having a hard time finding a real job, like something productive.

But as Rush says, "Just follow the money.", because government has got the money.

10 posted on 11/20/2002 8:20:31 AM PST by CWRWinger
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To: mhking
"If you're home at night with your wife and kids and some maniac breaks into your house, you call 911 and you want a police car there.

I'd rather have a pump shotgun, but that's just my opinion.

11 posted on 11/20/2002 8:21:36 AM PST by Larry Lucido
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To: CWRWinger
What tickles me pink is a police car featuring the ad: "Our Cops Watch Cops On Fox!!!"
12 posted on 11/20/2002 8:22:54 AM PST by goldstategop
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To: mhking
"Krispy Kreme Official Donut of Police Departments Nationwide"
13 posted on 11/20/2002 8:23:46 AM PST by 101viking
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To: Mr. Bird
I see a class action suit in the works. "The squad car my clients were placed in, did not have my advertisement on it. This clearly violated their right to having me as their attorney! We are requesting 50 billion dollars for this discrimination."
14 posted on 11/20/2002 8:28:15 AM PST by golfpro
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To: goldstategop
Yes, or how about a smiling face of Janet Reno advertising "Exterminator" brand CS gas? (For LEO's only, of course)
15 posted on 11/20/2002 8:28:57 AM PST by CWRWinger
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To: mhking
"I don't want my officers driving around in a car that says, `Trojan: Ribbed for extra pleasure,'"

I think it would be better: "Trojan: To serve and protect"

16 posted on 11/20/2002 8:37:33 AM PST by KriegerGeist
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