It’s Probably Not a Good Idea to Stoplight Drag Race a Cop CarRoad & TrackFred SmithFri, September 18, 2026 at 5:48 PM UTCAdd us on GoogleProbably Not a Good Idea To Drag Race a Cop CarFordIf you work at a repair shop, it is generally never a good idea to race a customer's car in a stoplight drag race. When the customer car in question happens to be a fully-liveried County Sheriff squad car, the idea of a little light-to-light running on the test drive teeters over into historically bad.In a video shared by Toledo ABC affiliate, a marked Ford Explorer in a Lucas County Sheriff's Office livery can be seen lined up at a stoplight next to a bright orange Dodge Challenger. When the light turns green, the two rip away from the light and into the distance.The news report claims that the Explorer in question was being driven by a 22-year-old repair shop employee, not an employee of the sheriff's department. He had allegedly taken the car out on a test drive after it was dropped off for service, leading to the stoplight encounter caught on film by another motorist. The driver of the patrol car was charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle, while the ABC affiliate reports that the driver of the Challenger has not yet been officially identified. And even though the driver wasn't arrested, the news report shared that the "shop did take action internally" after being told what happened.AdvertisementAdvertisementWhile it may not really be the point, the video shows the Explorer beating the Challenger off the line and staying ahead for much of the run. A respectable result for the patrol car that even the sheriff's department might have found encouraging if it were in a more controlled environment, just probably not one worth celebrating after charges were filed.You Might Also LikeIf You Can Only Own One Car, Make It One of TheseThese Are the Most Popular Cars by State