A 3rd generation Smart Fortwo vehicle displayed at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. Photo/Norbert Aepli, Switzerland
A different type of police vehicle will soon be patrolling Peachtree City’s cart paths and city streets.
The Peachtree City Council on Nov. 17 approved the purchase of a 2014 Smart Fortwo car from the Norcross Police Department for $8,000. No, that’s not a typo — it’s a car for two persons.
Already outfitted as a police unit, Police Chief Janet Moon said the diminutive car is comparable in size to a golf cart and will help with visibility and patrol functions on the city’s nearly 100 miles of cart paths.
The purchase will be made using city forfeiture funds, Moon said.
The Smart Fortwo is a gasoline-powered, rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2-seater hatchback city car manufactured in France and marketed by the Smart division of Daimler AG, introduced in 1998, now in its third generation, according to an entry in Wikipedia. Marketed in 46 countries worldwide, Fortwo production had surpassed 1.7 million units by early 2015.
Also approved by the council was a citizen initiative that will potentially lead to the private funding for a police department dog.
With K-9 Maik recently retiring, Moon said a group of citizens asked about raising funds to replace him.
The cost of the new canine, eight weeks of training and housing during training is expected to total approximately $17,000, Moon said.
As for ongoing expenses, Moon said food and veterinary services are donated and the department has a vehicle equipped for K-9 use.
Moon said the group wants to appeal to citizens to help raise the needed funds. The approval by council gave citizens the go-ahead to pursue fundraising efforts.
In additional business, the council unanimously approved the purchase of four Ford Interceptor vehicle from Allan Vigil of Morrow for $118,616. The bid was the lowest of three submitted.
Four current vehicles will be declared as surplus.
