It’s "Iowa State Trooper Day", on this, the first day of the 2007 Iowa State Fair in Des Moines. The patrol has a number of displays along the grand concourse, and inside the "Hall of Law" under the grand stand. State Patrol Officer Pam Brockman from Clarion says they’re showing the importance of wearing a seat belt with a special exhibit built by Iowa-Minnesota AAA.
Brockman says it’s a roll-over simulator, showing what happens to dummies inside the cab of a vehicle, when they are not buckled-up and vehicle rolls. In most instances, the dummies are thrown out the windows. The state patrol also has several of it’s old patrol cars lining the concourse, the oldest one dating back to 1935. Brockman says fair-goers will initially notice the colors of the cars.
Brockman says the patrol cars have been black, white, and gold. Now, the patrol uses several different colors, since they stand out better than white vehicles in severe weather. Most of the state patrols cars today are either Crown Victorias or Dodge Chargers.