Highway policing in Delaware à la 1931

Policing of the highways in Delaware looked a lot different in 1931 than it does today. This photograph from the Department of Agriculture’s Glass Negative Collection shows the Delaware State Police motorcycle enforcement corps during a photo op in Dover in September of 1931.

While Delaware State Police officers still use motorcycles for certain enforcement activities, they are more visible now during ceremonial events than otherwise. Instead, people speeding or otherwise breaking driving rules are more likely now to be pulled over by officers driving SUVs.

In 1931, there was nothing unusual about seeing drivers pulled over by officers on these motorcycles.