Tire Deflator System for Use at Law Enforcement Checkpoints

• NCJ Number: 158027
• Date Published: 1995
• Length: 12 pages
• Grant Number(s): 94-IJ-CX-0055
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Report (Technical); Technical Assistance

Annotation

A lightweight, remotely activated, tire deflator system for use at border inspection points was designed, fabricated, and tested for potential use at law enforcement roadblocks to rapidly stop a vehicle that tries to evade security checkpoints such as those operated by the Border Patrol and United States Customs Service.

Abstract

The device delivers large, hollow spikes into tires. The spikes are pulled out of their holder by penetration through the tire. The air in the tire rapidly escapes through the hollow spikes. The bar is mounted in a vertical position by a roadway and is deployable rapidly from a short distance by a police officer observing an attempted unlawful flight. The system has an independent power supply, deploys and retracts in 1-2 seconds, instantly deflates steel-belted radial tires, leaves no roadway debris after use, has a protective sheath for the spikes when in the stowed position, and is easily handled by one person. A prototype system was successfully demonstrated and delivered to the Immigration and Naturalization Service customer on May 3, 1995. Followup work to refine the Eagle Tire Deflator for INS and Border Patrol use is anticipated. Figures