[BForbes]

In Miami, the thrill of racing down a strip of asphalt with police sirens blaring behind you was an experience once reserved for escaping criminals or the extremely brave. In a recent development, however, this experience will soon be available to all, with police officers now giving motorists the chance to take them on in a monthly drag racing competition - held on a proper drag strip, rather than public roads.

The 'Beat the Heat' program allows anyone over the age of 18 to drag race a police car, as long as they pay the nominal $25 fee for the privilege. To make the experience as thrilling as possible, the officers will often turn on their sirens and kick up smoke for the crowd, and to let their competitors know that they, too, can let their hair down every once in a while.
The initiative was born with the intent of redirecting racers from the streets to proper racing venues, keeping them from harming themselves and other motorists on public roads. Street racing, popularized by Hollywood recently, has been on the rise for some time now, but with the monthly 'Beat the Heat' program in Florida now in place police officers are actually seeing drastic reductions in illegal racing, Reuters reports.
One police officer from the Davie Police Department stated that there used to be "races in the warehouse district almost every Friday and Saturday night", but that these have completely stopped since the introduction of the program.

http://www.motorauthority.com/beat-the-hea...police-car.html

[DrunkOnJ20]

Isn't it a bit irresponsible for the Police to promote pursuits like that?

[BForbes]

Originally Posted by DrunkOnJ20

Isn't it a bit irresponsible for the Police to promote pursuits like that?

I have mixed feelings on it as well.

[vAnt826]

Not irresponsible at all. They are giving the opportunity for other people to do it legally rather than illegally.

[canucklion]

+1 it's on a track. It's not like they encourage you to race a cop car on a street.

Originally Posted by vAnt826

Not irresponsible at all. They are giving the opportunity for other people to do it legally rather than illegally.

[E82tt6]

Then again, seeing that you can put 25CLs on a police car in the 1/4th can embolden, heh.

[lyjw88]

MA state police should do this too rather than buying more M3s to trigger ppl to street race.

Please read this short thread if you don't know what I mean:
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=256450

[InsaneSkippy]

Not sure if it's a "chase" style race or rather just a cop car in the other lane with his red and blues on...

[Artmasterx]

Originally Posted by lyjw88

MA state police should do this too rather than buying more M3s to trigger ppl to street race.

Please read this short thread if you don't know what I mean:
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=256450

That's nuts, but WTF was the guy thinking taking it up to 140 with anyone. I hope it was 3AM, cause any other times in MA it is too crowded to do anything like that on the highways.

[Andrew@ET]

its on a drag strip just like racing anyone else..

[DBFIU]

I think this is great! Sometimes you have the urge to 'break the law' and now you can do it legally!! (WTF?) Sweeet!!

[vAnt826]

Originally Posted by lyjw88

MA state police should do this too rather than buying more M3s to trigger ppl to street race.

Please read this short thread if you don't know what I mean:
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=256450

Some departments use confiscated drug cars as patrol vehicles.

[Garduna]

so ppl now get to test out their cars and see if they can out run the cops