We know that the police like fast cars, adding high-performance cars to their fleet to pursue suspects. Now, though, the Suffolk County Police have taken things a step further, seizing a 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray and converting it into a patrol vehicle.
The V8-powered car only has 3,000 miles on it, and it belonged to an owner who was busted in a DWI case. Imagine losing a new car in immaculate condition because you could not hold yourself back from driving drunk.
However, the police will not include the Corvette in their patrol fleet but use it as an example to deter other drivers from driving under the influence.
The car serves as a stark warning to car enthusiasts and exotic vehicle owners that a DWI arrest could cost them their prized possession, only for it to end up repainted by the police with bold “seized” stickers.
$60,000 Corvette Is Now a Police PR Exhibition
According to a report by the New York Post, the Corvette was seized by Suffolk County Police in 2022 and has now become a part of a campaign aimed at reducing DWI arrests. The owner, whose identity has not been disclosed, was arrested for drunk driving for the second time.
The Kelley Blue Book value of the car hovers around $60,000, with prices going as high as $90,000 for similar listings.
The seized Corvette now looks like a police car with a siren and flashing lights on it, and a “DWI seizure” sticker at the back to let onlookers know how the police got a Corvette in the first place.
Speaking about the seizure, Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina said the former owner of the Corvette will remember the incident for the rest of his life, which likely saved his life. He said:
“It was quite an impactful seizure. I’m sure the individual [prior owner] is going to remember this for the rest of his life.
“Quite frankly, that night we might have saved his life. He’s driving drunk and God know what could have happened to him if we didn’t take the car. We want people to know that if you drive drunk in Suffolk County, this could happen to your car.”
Catalina added that although auctioning the Corvette would have fetched a good amount, using it as a car to deter drivers from driving under the influence is a better investment. He said:
“Whatever money we could have gotten for this car at auction — this is an investment in the future for us. We get to use this car over and over again, and we’re hoping that this is going to deter drunk driving in Suffolk County.
“I think we got our money back 10 times over. If we save a life, it would be like investing in Amazon in the ’90s.”
The county police ramped up its operations to reduce DWI incidents in 2023, and this approach has shown positive results with a drop in traffic fatalities. Catalina has emphasized to his officers how important DWI arrests are for him. He added:
“We’ve told that patrol cops out in the street, ‘Hey, if you want to advance in the Suffolk County Police Department and you’re coming into my office to see me about making detective or going to an investigative unit, I expect you to have DWI arrests.'”
Will This Method Work?
The county police have managed to strike where it hurts the most. For owners of expensive cars, especially those who are truly into their rides, the prospect of losing their vehicle to a DWI conviction may prove to be a more powerful deterrent than any fine or legal penalty.
While this method is not a guarantee to deter drunk drivers from taking the wheel, it could help reduce DWI cases.