Police Use Car Show Enthusiasm to Reach Teens

Posted in Car Insurance | July 1st, 2011

James Craig, the police chief in Portland, Maine, has brought a little bit of his Los Angeles roots to town in the form of a car show. The show featured classic cars, souped up trucks, and custom rides both old and new. The police department even put a few of its own vehicles on display, including high tech vehicles the department uses today and old cruisers that were part of the force’s fleet in the 50s and 60s. Car owners were charged $15 to enter a car in the show.

Car Shows Unusual in Maine Area

Maine is not a traditional home for hot rods and blacktop car rallies. The recent “Calling All Cars” event showed that Portland residents include several automobile hobbyists and restorers. Classic car owners who normally tow their cars to other states for shows were happy to display their prized possessions a little closer to home. Craig said that it made sense to him to have a car show in Portland because the car shows he sponsored in California had been so popular.

Fun with a Message

The show featured several different events that were meant to provide fun mixed with a little knowledge. The cars that were entered in the show were voted on, and one car was singled out as the best in show. The police department sponsored tire changing contests and car detailing classes for free. One of the most popular events was the texting and driving track. Drivers were put behind the wheel of a golf cart and asked to navigate an obstacle course while trying to hold a text conversation. The course emphasized the dangers of driving and texting in a fun, safe way.

Building Better Relationships

Craig hopes that events like “Calling All Cars” will help build bridges between the police department and local area teens. When teenagers have an opportunity to interact with law enforcement officers in a fun and friendly way, they might be less likely to challenge the officers in the community. A car show is an opportunity for community residents to get to know their police force on a personal basis, which can help everyone stay safer on the streets. Teens are particularly drawn to cars, which is why the event is aimed primarily at building the relationship between teens and police.

Raising Money for Youth Activities

“Calling All Cars” is more than just a friendly way for teens and police to get to know one another. The proceeds from the event will be used to shore up the funds of the police you activities department. The money from this teen-focused event can be used to create other innovative ways for the Portland police department to reach out to the teens in the community. Craig was so pleased with the success of the car show that he is working on other activities that might be able to continue the goodwill that has been established in the community through this event.

Jessica Bosari writes about car safety for CarInsuranceQuotesComparison.com. The sites helps consumers save money on car insurance through a handy car insurance quotes comparison tool