TN - VW BUG used to catch speeders

[StlouisX50]

MARYVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Blount County's newest police cruiser is turning heads, but whether it could keep up in a high-speed chase seems unlikely.

Assistant Chief Deputy Archie Garner retrofitted a 1973 Volkswagen Beetle to add to the sheriff's fleet of police interceptors, but with a top-end speed of about 70 mph, he's not writing a lot of speeding tickets.

The "bug-erceptor" was seized in a DUI case and boasts a new paint job, sheriff's decals and tags, a siren, radio, barred rear side windows, a side-mounted spotlight and police lights.

The car even has the same number, 53, as Herbie the Volkswagen race car in the movie "The Love Bug."

Garner said the car will be used mostly as a public relations tool for the department, making appearances in parades and at school events.

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Information from: The Knoxville News Sentinel, http://www.knoxnews.com

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[JDS]

I woulda turbocharged the sucker and scared the crap outta some people, screaming up on them in an unmuffled Beetle from hell

[StlouisX50]

Wonder how fast it will go?

[Nighthawk243]

Lol... My G5 could outdo that thing in FIRST.

[JDS]

A McLaren could outrun it in REVERSE

[Asleeper]

I would LOVE for that thing to try and pull me over

[ELVATO]

Yes, a cop car I can outrun.