Suffolk police vehicle auction this Saturday features Porsche, Jeep, BMWs and more

Suffolk County police are expected to cash in on more than 90 vehicles up for auction Saturday that were mostly seized from drunken drivers.
Police opened a two-day preview Thursday in Westhampton of seized vehicles set for auction. Opening bidding will begin at $500 on vehicles ranging from a variety of Jeeps, Hondas, pickups and sedans. The same starting bids are also open to luxury cars, including a 2003 Porsche Boxster, several Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Infinity and Audi cars. Police said Jeep Wranglers are usually a bestseller.

Suffolk County police hold vehicle auctions usually about twice per year, said officer Dan Hartman with the impound unit. Each auction draws about 1,000 bidders and the department usually sells 400 vehicles per year, Hartman said.

“Everything gets sold,” Hartman said about the vehicle inventory. “Whatever we get from seizures, anyone’s free to come check out. If they like what they see, we encourage them to register and place a bid.”

The department auctions off any vehicles seized by Suffolk and neighboring police departments in Southampton and Riverhead, Hartman said. Most of the proceeds go back to Suffolk County police or the department that seized the vehicles for DWI or other crimes. All previous owners were given the chance to claim their vehicle if possible.

Buyers must register in advance of the auction and all sales are final with full payment in cash up to $2,000. Buyers will receive a new title that is not transferable, police said.

The preview period will continue Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and at 8 a.m. for one hour before the auction Saturday.

The auction will start at 9 a.m. Saturday at the department’s Westhampton facility at 100 Old Country Rd., rain or shine.

With Macy Egeland 

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.