FREDERICK, MD – Frederick police inquired as far as Florida and Texas when they shopped around for hybrid vehicles. After a couple of months, they found four Toyota Prius models at a local dealer, according to www.fredericknewspost.com.

The vehicles, purchased from Darcars Toyota of Frederick, are the City of Frederick’s first hybrids. The city wasn’t able to purchase them until they reached the end of a seven-week wait list.

Each car cost $23,870, about $300 below the manufacturer’s suggested retail price, said Joe Taylor, the dealer’s Internet and fleet sales manager. The city had to waive its requirement that any purchase of $30,000 or more be put out to bid. The requirement was waived because of the model’s scarcity.

City police will use the cars for administrative duties, victim services, and travel to training events.

City police decided the Prius would be the best hybrid despite cheaper, less-popular models available through Maryland state-purchasing contracts.

Frederick County considers the hybrid option with each vehicle it replaces. The county owns five Ford Escape hybrids and two Honda Civic hybrids. County fleet manager Patrick Hannah said he purchases hybrids through existing state contracts, but said the cars are often unavailable because they sell out months before new models are presented.

He said he also has to find more money. The hybrid Civic offered through the state contract is more than $6,000 more than the base price of a regular, four-door Civic.