TEXARKANA, Texas - Police officers in Texarkana, Texas, are using motorcycles for patrol for the first time in more than 10 years.
"We had them for years and then moved away from them," said Shawn Vaughn, Texarkana, Texas, Police Department spokesman. "They are very practical because of where they can go. They can get in places that would be problematic for a car such as heavy traffic on Richmond Road."
The department now has two 2020 Harley-Davidson motorcycles that will be shared between three patrol officers.
The motorcycles will typically be used for traffic enforcement during the day, Vaughn said. Traffic officers usually work from 7 a.m. to. 7 p.m.
"They can do the same things patrolling on a motorcycle that they can do in a car - write tickets, work wrecks," Vaughn said. "The only exception is if they make an arrest, they will have to call a car."
All three officers assigned to motorcycles ride motorcycles in their free time and are excited to do it on the job, Vaughn said.
Motorcycles also get better gas mileage so will help the department that way also.
"They are a lot less expensive than cars," Vaughn said.
Motorcycle officers are Billy McAnally, Darren Jones and Brent Hobbs.