The City of Mobile, Ala., has used the funds from a penny sales tax increase to fund the purchase of a number of replacement fleet vehicles, including 75 police cars for $2.25 million. The City also purchased eight new Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Police Edition motorcycles for $184,281, which brings the City’s police motorcycle fleet to a total of 26 units. Other vehicles for the police department purchased with the tax increase include four Segways at a cost of $31,240.

"We are happy to incorporate these state-of-the-art motorcycles into the police department's fleet," said Mobile’s Mayor Sam Jones. "It has been a while since this fleet has been upgraded. Our goal in advocating for the penny was to improve services to the City of Mobile, specifically through Public Safety."

Other vehicles and equipment that have been or will be purchased for the fleet include two ladder trucks; three refuse trucks; four knuckle boom loaders with one street sweeper and two aerial buckets; a digger derrick; four shuttles; a bucket truck; a Barko loader; a Vactor truck; and a rubber tire backhoe. Non-powered assets purchased include four 18-ft. trailers and a 50-ton lowboy trailer. The City also purchased four Wetline kits.