Unusual Traffic Stop: Man Transporting Full-Size Bull in Altered Car
In an unconventional traffic incident, police in Norfolk, Nebraska, responded to a report of a vehicle with a cow inside, only to discover a full-size bull named Howdy Doody in the passenger seat of a “beefed up” car. The surprising encounter took place on Wednesday and left both officers and bystanders bewildered.
The peculiar call was made at 10:05 a.m. CT when a stunned onlooker spotted the unusual sight and alerted the authorities. Norfolk officers were dispatched to investigate the report.
Expecting to find a small calf as the bovine passenger, officers were taken aback when they arrived at the scene at the intersection of West Norfolk Avenue and North 13th Street. There, they encountered a full-size bull comfortably riding shotgun in a modified 1996 Ford Crown Victoria. The passenger side of the car had been modified, with the roof removed to accommodate the animal.
The bull’s owner, Lee Meyer, shed light on the unique vehicle, revealing that it was a retired police cruiser from the Nebraska village of Arnold. Meyer explained that he had contemplated the idea of turning it into a mode of transportation for Howdy Doody for several years. However, it was the scepticism of one of his granddaughters that finally pushed him to take action.
Meyer stated, “I had thought about it. I talked about it, and one of my granddaughters said it was a bad idea and I shouldn’t do it. So I had to show her that Grandpa could do it. It might have been a bad idea, but I did it anyway.”
Howdy Doody, a 9-year-old bull, is a regular attraction at parades and fairs across Nebraska. When police encountered the unique vehicle, they simply cautioned the driver to exercise caution and continue on his way.
The bull, a crossbreed of Longhorn and Watusi, weighed 2,200 pounds two years ago, and it is likely even heavier now, according to Meyer.
Modifying passenger cars to transport animals is not uncommon, according to a Department of Motor Vehicles attorney. Such retrofits fall under the jurisdiction of the Nebraska State Patrol, responsible for approval and enforcement. However, as of the time of the incident, there was no indication of any prior issues or approvals for the vehicle modifications.
“I’ve never had a problem with anyone until Wednesday,” Meyer commented. “I just have car insurance, a license, and private plates.”
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