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NYPD
HIGHWAY PATROL INDIAN MOTORCYCLE
Motorcycle Division
Organized under the "Office of Street Traffic Regulation
Bureau," the Motor-cycle Squad was founded by Police Commissioner
Rhinelander Waldo on June 9, 1911.
In 1912 the NYPD spent $1,000 on red "Indian" motorcycles.
The following year, 1913 saw a dramatic increase in the effectiveness
of the Motorcycle Squad in apprehending speeders. Motorcycles
were fast and could easily maneuver between cars in heavy traffic,
thus ensuring capture of the offender.
In 1953 NYPD Motorcycles and RMPs were equipped with certified
speedometer testing machines. That year the NYPD began the use
of chemical testing of intoxicated drivers with a device called
the "Drunkometer."
Indian Motorcycle went out of business in 1953. This factored
in the transition from the NYPD Red Indian Motorcycle to NYPD
Harley-Davidsons and the change from the traditional Red Cycle
to Silver came during 1957 to 1958.
Click here to see a color image
of the Indian Motorcycle in Service or a black
and white image of the Harley that replaced it.
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