In Australia, Police fight "antisocial behavior" with Hummers
Hummers may be a bit controversial due to their highly conspicuous consumption, but it is exactly that prominence that Aussie Police hope to make use of in order to fight crime. Really, Hummers are hard to miss, and a fleet of five of them, even in relatively small H3 size, is sure to get noticed, right?. Okay, fine... so who's supposed to notice these Hummers with custom livery and bright flashing lights? Revelers out having a good time with bad intentions in the nightclub districts of Melbourne. Police in Victoria hope to curb "antisocial behavior" by being a bit antisocial themselves, or at least appearing as such. Not only are prospective criminals supposed to notice the Police Hummers, so are the regular townsfolk, who are expected to feel just a bit safer now that relatively unmodified Hummer H3s are roaming the streets. Gives you that warm-and-cozy feeling, no?
[Source: Drive.com.au via Next Autos]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
John Rowell 10:48PM (9/15/2008)
It kinda makes sense. The Hummer is a big imposing vehicle, with a unique appearance. Sure to get noticed. Unless they were doing this a few months ago in the US. Then they would have blended right in. Lol.
Reply
Z from Oz 11:57PM (9/15/2008)
Anybody thinks it's a good idea?
'coz for me it's one step closer to actual tanks patrolling the streets like in Iraq.
I think it is a very tasteless choice, and doesn't only intimidate the "revelers"...
Reply
mark 5:20AM (9/16/2008)
Other than the "Police" logos, hummers are about at the point where they will blend in in nightclub districts anyway. To my (Australian) eyes, it's hard to pick exactly what it is (especially telling it from the current Aussie models of some other makes of 4WD). It does remind me when the police force had to issue itself some WRX's to (unsucessfully) catch ramraiders in Sydney using WRXs to get away.
Personally I always find the "police" logos to be imposing enough.... Although in NSW they have recently started fleeting police cars in colours other than the white they've been forever.... So now they are harder to spot on the highway. They're also using a lot more police pushbikes now too though, so I think Victoria is going to drown in it's police fuel bills while NSW will being reducing it.
Reply
Aussie 4:35AM (9/16/2008)
These H3's are pathetic vehicles and i dont see the police wanting to use them much outside of patrolling club districts. Now if the police where converting their entire fleet to nissian patrols with big obnoxious bull bars/headlights i might be worried about the tank intimidation issue.
This plan will make all those fully sick pricks who cause all the problems in club districts take notice of the ploice presence.
I can see it now "yo bro check that fully sick hummer, oh sh*t its the po po. lts time to bail". I think this is a brillinat idea.
Reply
Paul 10:21AM (9/16/2008)
H2 might be conspicuous. H3 is a 5/6 cyl piece of eco-crap attempting to kiss the green weenies butt. Amusing that the green weenies can't get beyond the H label.
Seeing as it is a buyer's market for these things, this probably represents a fairly decent gov purchase, as gov purchases go.
The largest anti-social component is the born-again anti-H knee jerk over-reaction.
I was beginning to admire the Prius and might have considered one when T finally offers plug-ins. But I wouldn't want to buy something that seems synonymous with far-left anti-social nuttiness. Much as, while I generally admire the styling of the H brand, I don't quite want one myself. Just a bit too wacko for me to want it in my driveway.
Reply
Larry 8:46PM (10/02/2008)
Really silly idea, if you ask me. Want visibility? Most dodgy blokes could spot a police marked divvy van from a mile away. Want to intimidate people? Gimme a break. It's just a car. It's not like they are threatening to run crooks over with the thing.
Reply
Hummer H3 7:49AM (3/12/2009)
The H3 features a two-speed, electronically controlled full-time four-wheel drive system that is suitable for both on-road and off-road driving in all conditions, with electronic locking front and rear differentials optionally available. http://www.localcarsnow.com/browse_by_make_model_res.php?MID=HUMMER&MOD=H3
Reply