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News story: Finnish Police to Harpoon Runaway Drivers

Finnish Police to Harpoon Runaway Drivers=20
 =20
Associated Press

       HELSINKI, FINLAND - AP World News via Individual Inc. : Police in =
northern Finland have come up with a whale of a way to stop speeders: a =
police car equipped with a harpoon.=20

       - The car with a harpoon attached to the front was developed by =
police in Oulu, 610 kilometers (380 miles) north of Helsinki. They're =
seeking government approval to put it into regular use.=20

       - ``We were fed up with not being able to stop runaway drunk =
drivers or speeders,'' Sgt. Markku Limingoja, who designed the device, =
said Tuesday. ``This harpoon will bring them to an abrupt halt with a =
bang and not a whimper.''=20

       - Unlike a traditional harpoon, the road version is not fired. =
Instead, it's mounted onto the front of the police car, which rams it =
into the rear of the car it's pursuing. The harpoon locks into place =
with hydraulically operated barbs, and the runaway is forced to halt as =
the police car brakes.=20

       - ``There is a danger that the runaway car could jam on the =
brakes,'' causing the pursuing police car to crash into it at high =
speed, Limingoja acknowledged. ``Officers using the car will have to be =
well-trained so that they get a feel for it.''=20

       - If the fleeing driver refuses to get out of the car after it =
has been stopped, tear gas can be released through harpoon's hollow =
shaft to subdue the person.=20

       - The one-meter- (one-yard-) long harpoon swivels so it can be =
aimed for a precise hit. It's equipped with infrared sights to help =
officers keep an eye on their targets at night.=20

       - Limingoja spent two years working on the project before he =
built a prototype, which was tested earlier this summer. He was unsure =
of how much the harpoon device would cost.=20

       - Government inspectors were testing it harpoon for safety and =
workability. There was no timetable for completion.=20

       - ``All the reactions so far have been positive,'' Limingoja =
said. ``I think that it's probably the most efficient way to stop those =
who don't want to be stopped.''=20
       -=20
       [08-20-96 at 14:58 EDT, Copyright 1996, The Associated Press]  =20