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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION



2 WHEREAS, The General Assembly values the courage and hard 
3work of law enforcement
officers; it is important to ensure 
4that these officers have the tools necessary to
perform their 
5duties without safety concerns; and


6 WHEREAS, Ford stopped making the Crown Victoria in 2011, 
7but nearly two-thirds of
the present State police fleet are 
8still Crown Victorias; and


9 WHEREAS, Safety concerns have been expressed concerning 
10the use of Ford Crown Victoria
Police Interceptors; and


11 WHEREAS, The expansive front seat, the powerful V-8 engine, 
12and the large trunk have made the Crown
Victoria a favorite for 
13officers, but certain design features have concerned 
14auto-safety advocates
as well as trial lawyers; and

15 WHEREAS, The Crown Victoria exceeds federal crash safety 
16standards, however, the location of
the fuel tank makes it 
17especially dangerous for police work; and

18 WHEREAS, Safety advocates claim the position of the fuel 
19tank on the Ford Crown Victoria,
behind the rear axle rather 
20than above or in front of the axle, has made the car more 
 
 
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1likely to burst
into flames when struck from behind; and


2 WHEREAS, It is estimated that over 800 Illinois State 
3Police squad cars on the road are Ford
Crown Victorias; and


4 WHEREAS, It is critical to insure that the Illinois law 
5enforcement personal are safe so that they are able to protect

6and serve; therefore, be it


7 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
8NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
9urge the Illinois State Police
to study the safety of the 
10current fleet of Ford Crown Victorias; and be it further

11 RESOLVED, That the report be delivered to the
members of 
12the Illinois House of Representatives by January l, 2016; and 
13be it further


14 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
15delivered to the Director of the Illinois
State Police.