Suffolk County Police add Corvette to fleet to deter people from driving while impaired
YAPHANK, Long Island (WABC) -- Police on Long Island are showing off their sleek new sports car in hopes that its powerful looks send an equally powerful message.
A 2020 Corvette Stingray coup is now part of the Suffolk County Police fleet.
"We realized it was something we were not going to see every day," Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina said.
Catalina says the sports car was seized in 2022 from someone caught drinking and driving, and this was their second conviction.
The new whip has about 3,000 miles on it and a powerful V8 engine.
It is now outfitted with lights, sirens and a custom wrap design to send a clear message to drivers.
"Make sure it says DWI seizure written all over, so it sends a message to the people in Suffolk, that if you drive impaired there are going to be serious consequences," Catalina said.
Police told Eyewitness News that they will not be patrolling with the Corvette; rather, they will be bringing it to various locations to deter people from drinking and driving.
"It is going to be used as a deterrent, putting it out at parades and neighborhoods," Catalina said.
The supped-up sports car is valued at about $60,000.
The commissioner says the sports car did not come at a cost to the taxpayers.
"This did not cost the taxpayers of Suffolk a dime, this didn't cost anybody anything, and if we get one person to stop driving impaired, you can't put a cost on saving a life," Catalina said.
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