The Google Maps Prius Hybrid Car Gets a Ticket
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada
on 06.17.08

Google Maps Toyota Prius Hybrid
We already knew that Google has a fleet of plug-in hybrids cars, and that they made big commitments to clean energy for their offices and invest a lot of resources in research to make renewable energies cheaper than coal.
But we didn't know their Google Maps vehicles were hybrids (a good choice for all that city driving). On a series of photos taken by Damien Spain, you can see that even the mighty Google is not immune to getting tickets. You can use Google Maps to find public transit information. Via Reddit

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Well, I guess they have enough money to pay tickets... Cool they're using Prius (prii?), tho.
This doesn't look like a ticket to me...more like a road-block or detour.
Haha, I'm going to pretend it's definitely a ticket, because I find that funny. Also, I'm really glad that google is using a Prius. That google is really something.
How do we even know that they got a speeding ticket?
They may have just got a ticket cause the policeman-officer didn't like that camera on the top of the car. It does look quite ominous and scary, like a street bound Nessy.
I'm sure that Google just forgot to get their permits for their Prius' in this city, of course. It's not like Google is a juggernaut that couldn't forget to get a permit.
In all honesty the police man could be asking the most inportant question.
1. "Will I be famous for giving you a ticket, and will they blur out my face before or after you upload this to google maps.."
2. "So how many miles per gallon are you getting, these state police bikes are very heavy on fuel, But hey it's the goverment fitting the Bill."
3. "Google you say.. Never heard of it is that with one o or two"
4. "Can I have your autograph."
5. "I have a photograh of you doing something right" Stop it.
I think he is asking the Google Maps guy or gal for directions!
I plan on building one similar to this, but will add a collapsible box type framework and flashing LED tail lights to the rear. While it may not save my life from some of these idiots, it should decrease the amount of damage done to me. Who cares what it does to the bike if it saves my butt. The commute to my office is ~7 miles. the rechargeable battery (12v) is only 7 pounds and I intend to wear a motorcycle helmet (not full face type), not a bicycle helmet. It will also have side view mirrors and a tablet pc with gps and a rear facing webcam (or camcorder) to record my daily rides.
I think it is a scene from an upcoming episode of Punk'd
Annony, check out the Gmax GM68 helmet, it has 6 LEDs built into it. They run on 2 AAA batterys. Nice helmet, and its just over a hundred bucks too :)
About Google using a Prius, they also have a fleet of 30 Chevy Cobalts.
I wonder if we can get that street view...
Does the license plate look like it's from Texas?
Interesting...
Looks like a parking lot drive through violation.
maybe the cop is lost?
The Prius is certainly better than the HUGE tricked out Chevy Suburban that gets 10mpg city that Microsoft uses for their mapping. Again, Google beats Microsoft.
Josh,
The tag on the car in the parking lot looks like Texas, but the tag on the Google Prius looks like Cali.
google has created a search engine for china blocking such words as human rights , just some truth ,
"google has created a search engine for china blocking such words as human rights , just some truth ,"
Perhaps that is true, but that certainly doesn't imply that Google is opposed to human rights, nor support the Chinese government's efforts to squish them. In fact it is probably the opposite. Google know's that it must play by China's rules to get their product to the Chinese people. Their chief product is the dissemination of knowledge. This can only lead to a more educated populace that will eventually embrace all human rights standards.
Sure Google is there to make money, but I believe that they are also there to help the people of China.
I guess the question is, would Chinese people be better off without any access to Google? I don't think the answer is 'yes'.