

Traffic police patrol shows off with white Jaguar
print this
Inspector Morse is no longer the only policeman who drives a Jaguar in his work. In the traffic police unit of Helsinki's Malmi district there are four lucky officers, forming two patrols, whose "wheels" are nowadays provided by the legendary British luxury car.
Three weeks ago Tekniikan Maailma, a Finnish car and technology magazine, donated a Jaguar S-type R to the traffic police.
"Yes, it does turn heads. All kinds of people come and start talking to us nowadays when we stop at a gas station", police sergeant Risto Maksimainen laughs.
"For the most part comments have been positive, but we've also picked up some envious undertones."
In addition to normal traffic control duties, the Jaguar takes part in Police PR work. The car was also used to escort General Adolf Ehrnrooth's coffin from Turku to Helsinki.
According to Maksimainen, there is only one other similar Jaguar in the world that is in use as an emergency vehicle. It operates at the Silverstone racetrack as a fire truck. A water tank has replaced the back seat.
While television cop Inspector Morse drove a burgundy 1960 Jaguar MK II, the Malmi traffic police's 2004 S-type R is white. The colour choice adds to the car's rarity.
Maksimainen claims that there are only two snow-white Jaguars of this particular model in the world. The other one is in Moscow. As a metallic colour is included in the price, most buyers tend to go for that.
The car is also not in the customary police livery, with blue markings and the words "POLIISI" - "POLIS" over the doors. Nevertheless, the blue flashing lights and the large “STOP” sign on the roof should be sufficient to convince all but the most determined of transgressors that this is the real deal.
Compared with "normal" police vehicles, the Jaguar is in a league of its own. Its 4.2 litre V8 engine produces 395 BHP, while the top speed has been restricted to a modest 250 km/h by the use of a limiter. Attempting to outrun this machine on the motorway to Tampere is not recommended. The engine's torque equals that of four family sedans.
The Jaguar is equipped with an advanced Stalker Dual radar system, which can detect speeds of vehicles moving towards it, driving in front of it, driving behind it, or driving behind it in the opposite direction.
"We can measure the speeds of everything but a meteor coming straight down at us", Maksimainen jokes.
This is the fourth vehicle donated to the police by Tekniikan Maailma, all handed over on the occasion of years being marked in the magazine's history.
In 1978 the vehicle of choice was a Dodge Aspen Police Special (TM-25), which is now on display in the Mobilia collection at the Kangasala Car Museum. In 1983 it was a Volvo 245, and in 1988 the traffic police took delivery of a brand-new Audi 90 Quattro.
Helsingin Sanomat
23.4.2004 - TODAY
Prime Minister Vanhanen still hoping to keep Finnish Commissioner
Dramatic increase in numbers caught driving under influence of drugs
Finland offers China military training for crisis management forces
Working group calls for more funding to fight noise pollution
Security cameras planned for Helsinki metro trains
Traffic police patrol shows off with white Jaguar
Commissioner Liikanen appointed by President Halonen to head Bank of Finland
Co wy o tym sadzicie
