By Brian Arrington | Snellville’s Cop Cab isn’t alone on Georgia roads.
The roving billboard which encourages those who see it not to drink and drive, is one of at least five such police vehicles in the state. It has been in use in Snellville since June of 2014. Councilman Bobby Howard says: “The idea behind the Cop Cab is to make sure people think before they drink and drive. I’m glad to see other cities spreading that same message using cars like the one we have in Snellville.”
Pooler, Savannah, Kennesaw and Marietta also have Cop Cabs, which are painted with one half resembling a taxi cab, the other half a police car. The cars literally ask those who have been drinking to “Choose Your Ride.” Do you want to take a cab home, or take a ride in a police car?
The Cop Car in Marietta also has painted on its front fender a phrase outlining the cost of a ride in a police car for an intoxicated person: “This ride is about $7,600,” citing the cost to individuals convicted of driving and drinking, taking into account attorney fees, fines and other costs. Pooler and Savannah’s Cop Cabs met up with Howard and his colleagues at the recent Georgia Municipal Association annual meeting.
Savannah-Chatham County Metro Police spokesman Julian Miller says: “The police car/taxi idea was presented to our department by Yellow Cab owner Larry Green, who saw a similar police vehicle in a mid-western city. The idea was to station the vehicle at high-visibility events to illustrate the difference in costs of going home in a taxi versus a police car after a night on the town. Wording on the taxi side says: ‘This Ride About $20.’ Wording on the police car side reads: ‘This ride about $1,800.’
The Savannah police car was rarely used for several years but new police Chief Joseph H. “Jack” Lumpkin Sr. asked Green to transfer the title so it can be added to the police fleet and be maintained as such. He wanted it used at more often in high-profile events.
Jim Ward of the Pooler Police Department says about Pooler’s car: “The car was first put into its current use in February of 2011. It is used for both static and mobile display. Regardless of its location it draws a lot of attention. I don’t have any (specific) stories, but I can’t imagine that with the amount of attention it draws that it hasn’t made an impact and created awareness.”
The Kennesaw Police Department’s car has been on the road for 18 months and is parked outside local bars for patrons to see.
Kennesaw Police Officer Richard Rivera says: “It’s a piece of conversation for some folks in regards to the vehicle giving them a ride to their home. This gives you an opportunity to elaborate on the message to the public. I wish we could have a least one car in every county to spread the work that lives do matter.” He adds: “Don’t drink and drive, save a life, get a cab.”
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