- The Irvine PD reportedly spent $150,000 to buy and modify a Tesla Cybertruck.
- The costly Cybertruck is mainly for show, as it will promote the DARE program.
- The move that upset taxpayers is perplexing, given Rivian’s presence in Irvine.
Police in Irvine, California have a shiny new ride as the department reportedly shelled out $150,000 on a Tesla Cybertruck. That’s causing controversy and claims of government waste.
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According to Forbes, the department shelled out $99,990 for a Cyberbeast and an additional $20,000 to get it in Foundation Series guise. The city then paid thousands more to transform the vehicle into a police truck.
More: Tesla Cybertruck Joins The Police, May Pull You Over Later This Year
To make matters even worse, the pickup sounds like a rolling publicity stunt as it’s designed to promote their Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program. This might be fine for the Dubai Police, but some tax payers are upset.
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When the department originally announced plans for a Cybertruck in July, one critic mocked the move by saying “Good to see my tax money being wasted for something [that] isn’t practical in law enforcement.” Another said, “There is no need for a[n] expensive Cybertruck when … Ford Explorers can do the same at lower costs.”
Up.fit
Others pointed out that Rivian has a design and engineering facility in Irvine, so it’s kind of a slap in the face to buy a Cybertruck. It’s hard to disagree with that, especially considering a Rivian R1T would be cheaper as pricing starts at $69,900.
It’s also impossible not to mention the Ford F-150 Lightning and Chevrolet Silverado EV. The former starts at $62,995 while the latter costs $96,495 in First Edition guise. Even a GMC Hummer EV Pickup would have been cheaper than the Cybertruck as it starts at $98,845.
Of course, none of that really matters as you can’t put a price on cool. Well actually you can, according to the Irvine Police Department.
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#Irvine #Police #Department #Fire #Tesla #Cybertruck #Purchase
