Melinda Burchett, the department’s program director, said just under 100 vehicles will be up for auction. Previous sales have averaged about 60 vehicles, she said.

“We didn’t have an auction last time. We’ve just been gathering up everything we had that needed to be sold,” Burchett said.

“Drug dealers want to have a reliable car when they transport their products. It’s good stuff used for bad purposes, and then we turn it around and use it for good purposes,” trooper Betsy Randolph said.

“And when someone gets those old patrol cars, they get really good vehicles,” she said.

At some public safety department auctions — which are usually scheduled twice a year — items found inside the vehicles are also put up for sale, Randolph said.

The patrol removes the light bars and any official markings from the cars, but the engine and suspension remain intact, she said.

Newer seized vehicles with lower mileages often are kept for official business, while the higher mileage cruisers and forfeited vehicles are put up for sale.

“The good thing is the majority of those are going to be highway miles instead of in-town miles, which is harder wear and tear on a car,” Randolph said.

“There are a lot of black-and-white cars in this auction and they’re kept up pretty well even though they’re high mileage. They’re exactly the way they came from the factory,” Burchett said.

While the final price of each vehicle is ultimately decided by bidders, Randolph said a price range of $300 to $2,000 is common.

The vehicles are sold “as is — where is” without warranty. Purchased items will be delivered immediately when paid for with certified checks, cashier’s checks or cash. Personal checks are accepted, but the titles and items will be kept until the check has cleared the bank.

Vehicles do not undergo equipment inspections, but any known mechanical issues will be noted on their windshields, she said. Bidders

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