Illinois buying 500 new patrol cars for aging state police fleet

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Illinois state police will get 500 new patrol cars by summer, the first major upgrade in five years for an aging fleet that is prone to breakdowns and costs the state millions of dollars annually in repairs, Gov. Rod Blagojevich announced Monday.

State police say they hope replacing more than 20 percent of the agency's 2,300-car fleet signals a commitment to keeping more dependable squad cars on Illinois highways.

"It's a step in the right direction. Hopefully, down the road, there will be more," said Capt. Ralph McClellan, commander of a state police district in Ashkum whose 40 patrol cars include only two with less than 200,000 miles.

Although aides for the Democratic governor said Monday that the new cars would be paid for over 25 years, Blagojevich spokeswoman Abby Ottenhoff later corrected the payback period to within five years, blaming the disparate figures on a "disconnect."

State police say the average patrol car has 122,000 miles on it, about 40,000 miles more than recommended for state police fleets. Two-thirds of the state's squad cars have more than 100,000 miles.

Officials say the high-mileage cars are breaking down, sometimes keeping troopers from responding quickly to accidents and other calls. Last fiscal year, state police spent nearly $6 million on repairs for a fleet that has added just 99 cars since fiscal 2001.

Payment plan questioned

Republican leaders applauded the $15 million fleet upgrade, but questioned why the state should take on more debt to pay for it.

"If the governor claims the state's fiscal house is in order, then why do we need to incur more debt? Why not make it a line item in the next fiscal year's budget?" said Patti Schuh, spokeswoman for Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson, R-Greenville.

Schuh also said Republicans want to know more about the structure of the plan because it is unusual to sell state bonds with a payback period as short as five years.

The bonding authority, approved by the legislature last spring, is routinely used to purchase machinery, appliances and other equipment for the state, said Becky Carroll, spokeswoman for the governor's budget office.

"If [Republicans] want to play politics with the ability of state troopers to have newer and safer vehicles in which to do their jobs, so be it," Carroll said.

Master Sgt. Rick Hector, a state police spokesman, said the agency replaced a few hundred cars annually from 1995 through 2001, when funding fell victim to a state budget crisis. He said police hope to ultimately retire all patrol cars at the 80,000-limit recommended for state police fleets.

Two bills have been introduced in the state Legislature to provide money for a replacement program.

Rep. Jim Sacia, R-Pecatonica, proposes adding a $10 fee to fines for traffic violators who choose court supervision, which would generate nearly $8 million annually.

Rep. Shane Cultra, R-Onarga, would add $5 to speeding tickets.

Cultra said Monday he will review Blagojevich's long-range plans for fleet cars before deciding whether to pursue his bill. Sacia said he will push his bill despite the governor's announcement.