Students' couch car leads to head-turning traffic stop for University of Illinois Police

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WAND) - Traffic stops are a routine occurrence for most police officers, but stopping a moving couch on the road wasn't on the University of Illinois Police's 2026 BINGO card.

While patrolling campus Sunday, an officer came across a driving couch.

The couch was designed and built by students in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and yes, it actually works.

The officer and students were able to pose for some photos, including a mock "traffic stop."

One of the students told police, "We recently built a 'couch car' as a project for Engineering Open House which works quite well. Our club members regularly drive it around safely on footpaths around the various university quads. During one such joyride on Sunday, Officer Hesselmann 'stopped' us out of pure excitement, and showed infectiously positive energy at the project. He also happily obliged our request to stage a photo of the couch car being pulled over for a fake traffic stop. His positive attitude and willingness to engage with students made the experience especially memorable. It stood out as a highlight for our group and contributed to a welcoming and supportive campus environment. I wanted to share my appreciation and hope that his efforts are recognized for the positive impact they had on our student community."

University of Police added, "Moments like this are what community engagement is all about. We love interacting with students across campus, and we appreciate the kind words."