What was typical In-Service years of use?

[Cobra Jet]

Come off Facebook everyone and support this site.... LOL!!

So can anyone provide info as to what was the typical or average In-Service years of use for any SSP or how long were they kept In-Service from their original purchase date?

If I have a 1993 Tx unit, how many years would it have been In-Service before it was retired/pulled and auctioned off?

[MOstang]

You're asking how long your SSP was in service? Wouldn't you need paperwork from the Agency it served? That is how I know the answer to this question for 2 of my 3 SSPs.

PS: The reality is Facebook is going to continue to see much more activity than here, but my philosophy is to participate in both of them. It seems few have that approach, though, given how few people have been participating here of late.

[Cobra Jet]

Yes correct - how long would a SSP have been In-Service before it was retired?

Was that determined by years of use, or accrued miles?

Will someone at TX DPS still have ability to pull back that info?

Thanks for responding!

[Steve]

Hello everyone, been a while since I checked in here, but I have not been on FB either because I despise FB.

How long SSPs were in service has no definite answer. It is entirely up to each agency's policy and where the vehicle was assigned and how it was used. SSPs assigned to patrol would likely have the shortest in-service time, but again that depends on the agency. If they were taken off patrol and used for another purpose they might have stayed much longer.
What I can tell you about is CHP and early SSPs. At the time, CHP would retire patrol-assigned vehicles at 70,000 miles to preserve resale value. My '82 was retired and sold in late summer of 1984, about a 2 or 2.5 year time on patrol. That was in an area where we covered a huge territory and I put about 200 miles a day on it in average use. In less expansive areas it would likely be less and they would stay longer.
Later on CHP did away with the 70k limit and I hear these days they run them until they fall apart. Frankly I would afraid to do high speed operations in a worn-out vehicle.
SSPs not assigned to patrol, and there were some used for Administrative purposes, could be around for many years.

[Cobra Jet]

Thanks for the reply Steve!

Since TX region is quite large like CA and based on what I know where my 93 may have been on patrol, I’m wondering if TX DPS had a similar policy.

I also wonder if a VIN report may show that too? Just thought of this now, but I don’t have access to a CarFax type of report.

[ImEvil1]

TXDPS is like alot of other agencies...mileage-based. depends on where assigned, how active the Trooper was, etc as to how long it was in-service. One of my '93 FHP cars was in-service for less than 4 years. The other is the very last one to come out of service and was sold in 2003.