Nebraska police recently responded to a rather unusual scene after pulling over a man for driving a “beefed-up” car with a full-size bull named Howdy Doody as his passenger.
The incident occurred in Norfolk, located approximately 120 miles northwest of Omaha, when an onlooker reported the bizarre spectacle to the authorities.
According to police records, officers were dispatched at 10:05 a.m. in response to a hazard call describing a “vehicle with a cow inside” meandering through town.
Initially, the police assumed they would encounter a small calf, but what they stumbled upon at the intersection of West Norfolk Avenue and North 13th Street was a full-grown bull comfortably occupying the passenger seat of a 1996 Ford Crown Victoria.
Remarkably, the car’s roof on the passenger side had been removed to accommodate the bovine passenger.
The bull’s owner, Lee Meyer, said the car was strong enough to carry the animal.
“It’s a solid car, so I went on and purchased it, beefed up the frame underneath, improved the suspension, upgraded the tires and flooring, and cut the top off, and we were good to go.”
Ironically, the car in question was a retired police cruiser from the Nebraska village of Arnold.
Meyer said he had harbored the idea of transforming this vehicle into Howdy Doody’s unconventional ride for years, but it took the skepticism of one of his granddaughters to motivate him into action.
“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,” Meyer humorously noted. “It might have been a bad idea, but I did it anyway.”
Howdy Doody, a 9-year-old bull of mixed heritage, blending Longhorn and Watusi bloodlines, had weighed 2,200 pounds two years ago and had likely gained a few more pounds since then.
This bovine celebrity often participates in parades and fairs throughout the Cornhusker State.
When police encountered the unusual sight, their request to the driver was simple: Be cautious and keep moving.
The retrofitting of passenger cars to transport animals is not an uncommon practice, as explained by a state Department of Motor Vehicles attorney.
The approval and enforcement of such auto modifications typically fall under the jurisdiction of the Nebraska State Patrol, although a representative from the agency was not immediately available for comment.
Meyer revealed that he had never sought DMV or police approval for his unique car modification, and the recent stop by the authorities marked the first hint of any potential issues.
“I’ve never had a problem with anyone until Wednesday,” Meyer chuckled. “I just have car insurance, a license, and private plates.”
