NH Police Department Using Snowmobile On Patrol

PELHAM, N.H. (CBS) -- Pelham police have a new tool in their arsenal: a snowmobile. The top of the line sled was seized during a drug raid, and given to the Pelham Police Department at no cost.

Patrolman Derek Gioia says it allows them to go to places they couldn't before. He says, "It gives us access to the public in the winter, on snowmobile trails, the lakes and ponds, to do different types of enforcement."

Police say they can now respond to reports of problems on frozen ponds, as well as on the 60 miles of snowmobile trails in the town.

They say already they've been told it's a deterrent by other riders who tell them they are now registering their snowmobiles. He says, "We've had underage drinking parties on the lake that we didn't have the vehicles to get out there, and now we can get out there."

WBZ-TV's Karen Anderson reports.

Sgt. Michael Pickles says some people have questioned whether the department needs the snowmobile, but it's proven to made sense.

"It was seized from a drug dealer after an extensive investigation starting in 2004. The department acquired it for nothing, and we just had to put a little money into it to get it tooled up," he said. "It's a great tool for our department that didn't cost much."