May 21, 2008 4:54 pm US/Eastern
City Police Test Out Segways At Inner Harbor
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
The Baltimore City Police department is "segwaying" into the future.
Jessica Kartalija reports it's the city's way of enforcing the law and going green at the same time.
Baltimore City's Inner Harbor is a hot spot for tourists. Now, city police could be getting some new wheels.
"This is a tourist area, they love it. They come up and get their picture taken. There are a lot of people watching us on this," said Officer Matthew Branham.
City police are taking two Segways for a test drive.
"It's just like walking. To go forward you move forward with your hands, backward, you move backward, left or right, just like riding a bike," said Officer Brad Williamson
About 450 police departments across the country use Segways. Not only are they inexpensive to operate, they run on electricity and are much better for the environment.
Officers say you can get 24 miles off a Segway.
In addition to police bikes, the Segways would patrol the harbor from Fells Point to Federal Hill.
"You're more mingling with the public as opposed to a bike. A bike, you're just flying by. On this you can go and stop real fast and answer people's questions," said Officer Branham.
At 12 miles per hour, they may not be designed to catch criminals, but you better be on your best behavior. There's a special place for tickets built right in.
The Segways are on loan for two weeks. If Baltimore City Police decide to buy them, they are $5,000 each. Police at BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport already use Segways.
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