This vehicle is commonly known as a snow mobile. However, law enforcement officers in the northern areas and territories of the United States commonly refer to them as snow machines. This featured snow machine is a 1996, 440cc Arctic Cat Pantera that was donated by the Alaska State Troopers (AST) and was retired from service in 2000. The unit has 50 horsepower and a top speed of 80 miles per hour. This snow machine provided service in an area known as the Yukon Kuskokwim Delta region around the city of Bethel. The unit holds 10 gallons of gasoline and can travel about 100 miles on a single tank, or about 3 hours of solid operation. Weather in Alaska can be extremely cold with temperatures commonly as low as –60 degrees Fahrenheit, and sometimes even much colder. AST officers joke that if a unit will start, then you can go...just be sure to dress accordingly. Snow machines are used for a variety of law enforcement duties. They are mainly used to traverse areas that are inaccessible to normal units because of thick snow or difficult terrain. It is the last means of travel before officers are forced to walk. Snow machines are not normally used for pursuit and thus are not outfitted with flashing lights. Most of the area is not conducive for pursuit and many of the criminal offenders have much faster machines. A helmet and goggles are standard equipment for snow machine operation. Other officer clothing/attire for varies according to the weather.