Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Step Inside The High-Tech Police Car Of The Future
By
Max Rivlin-Nadler
Published Dec 26, 2013
Modified Dec 26, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Max Rivlin-Nadler
Published Dec 26, 2013
Modified Dec 26, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
From Almost Human to Knight Rider to RoboCop, science-fiction is fascinated by the idea that robots will someday become superior crime-fighters. Human policeman are prone to obesity, anger, and near-constant use of their cell phones while on patrol. A robot however, would only vigilantly patrol the city, acting not on its hunger or need to complain about their job on Facebook, but rather on the existing laws of the city (and of robotics). In the very near future, the NYPD might be one step closer to that beautiful standard.
The Wall Street Journal profiles the new NYPD "smart" car prototype, which will come equipped with infrared cameras that mark down all passing license plates and addresses, as well as air-sensors that can send real-time information to police headquarters ("Registering increased readings of Cannabis undergoing combustion, Officer. Proceed with extinguishing protocol?"). The cruiser would also have a video camera that would send images of a crime scene to headquarters (because in the near-future, NYPD officers will most likely still refuse to wear cameras).
The patrol car will monitor any passing vehicle and take its information down for future reference.
"It reads any set of numbers," Deputy Inspector Brandon del Pozo told the Journal. "If it doesn't get a hit, it gets stored. We don't look at [the results] unless an investigation points to them."
A prototype is already cruising the streets of Brooklyn Heights. It will be up to incoming police commissioner Bratton if and when the new patrol cars begin their long road to total domination of the human race.
Tagged
cars
cops
nypd
police
technology
Max Rivlin-Nadler
Max Rivlin-Nadler has been a contributor to Gothamist since 2013. He has also reported for the New York Times, NPR, and The Intercept. His years-long investigation into New York City's arcane civil forfeiture laws led to a series of reforms which altered a practice that had been taking millions from poor communities for decades. Recently, he brought back a surfing habit from a few years on the west coast, and would love to see you all out in the Rockaways.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Queens man charged with hate crime at Jewish-owned bagel shop displaying Israeli flags
Prosecutors say the 22-year-old damaged property outside the Fresh Meadows shop twice in May.
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Oct 19, 2026 at 6:07 p.m. ET
MTA train yards are in such bad shape plants are growing out of the roof, watchdog says
In some cases, the damage was “clearly not recent."
By
Stephen Nessen
News
MTA train yards are in such bad shape plants are growing out of the roof, watchdog says
In some cases, the damage was “clearly not recent."
By
Stephen Nessen
High-ranking NYC officials to testify in ex-buildings boss Eric Ulrich's corruption trial
By
David Brand
Mamdani launches new team to help NYers keep SNAP, Medicaid benefits
By
Caroline Lewis
Riders at 53rd St. station where man was fatally shot say they worry about gun violence
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .