Cops upgrading Speed Traps part deux...

Jaan · 12-15-2006, 09:59 AM

Sorry for ripping you off Chaos, but I couldn't let this one pass...

Christmas Speed Trap

I wonder how low cops will go collecting supplemental road tax?

Chaos · 12-15-2006, 10:22 AM

It's cool,that was on the news the other day

shartley · 12-15-2006, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaan

Sorry for ripping you off Chaos, but I couldn't let this one pass...

Christmas Speed Trap

I wonder how low cops will go collecting supplemental road tax?

Yeah, that is one way to think about it… how “low” can they go to collect supplemental road tax. Another way is “folks will always blame the cops for catching THEM speeding, that is easier than obeying the laws”.

I think it is funny what they did. I also don’t have a problem with it. If people want to speed, let them pay to do so. It is their choice. We each have the choice and ability to determine how fast we drive. If we get caught speeding, we pay the ticket… OR we treat the officer with respect and know we were the ones in the wrong and chances are we may not have to pay anything. I have been pulled over for speeding a hand full of times over the years and never received a ticket for it. Imagine that…..

commando kyle · 12-15-2006, 12:01 PM

Did that ever work before you were 30 though? I am nothing but respectful... but Im pretty sure most cops I run into want to make sure to "teach the young punk a lesson." I haven't ever talked to a courteous police officer. Maybe thats partly why I want to be one... to show other cops you can do your job and not be a jerk.

shartley · 12-15-2006, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by commando kyle

Did that ever work before you were 30 though? I am nothing but respectful... but Im pretty sure most cops I run into want to make sure to "teach the young punk a lesson." I haven't ever talked to a courteous police officer. Maybe thats partly why I want to be one... to show other cops you can do your job and not be a jerk.

To be honest, most of them were when I was over 30. But I agree that you don't have to be a jerk to do your job as an officer... but on the other side I think if you do become a police officer you will soon see why they are like they are.

It is similar to being a parent..... I can't tell you how many times I have heard "I will NEVER do that to my children" only to have that person HAVE children and eat their own words shortly afterward.

commando kyle · 12-15-2006, 12:24 PM

I hear you. I just see most cops around here basically picking on high school kids. There were 3 squad cars on a 1/2 mile stretch of road, all pulling over kids just getting out of school. Now, I agree, they shouldn't have been speeding... but shouldn't police officers have more important things to do... catching bad guys, and saving the world and such?

shartley · 12-15-2006, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by commando kyle

I hear you. I just see most cops around here basically picking on high school kids. There were 3 squad cars on a 1/2 mile stretch of road, all pulling over kids just getting out of school. Now, I agree, they shouldn't have been speeding... but shouldn't police officers have more important things to do... catching bad guys, and saving the world and such?

And your impressions of that will change as well if you become an officer. The common misconception is that police “pick on” people (but who are admittedly not doing what they are supposed to be doing), and they should really be off doing something “more important” like catching bad guys and saving the world and such. Well, that would depend on your definition of “bad guys”. I would argue that if you are breaking the law, you are a “bad guy” by definition of an officer’s job. And where does that put people who speed?

I will also like to add that most likely the police are there pulling the kids over because complaints have been made by people who live or drive in that area. Want to see dangerous and reckless driving? Come to my house right after school gets out and watch the traffic. So I would suggest that “picking on” would not be the correct term to use when officers seem to be targeting people who are driving in ways which they should not be and are being legally pulled over and given tickets.

I have never been pulled over for simply following the rules of the road. And in most cases those who exceed the rules of the road do not get pulled over either. Normally it is those who are beyond a reasonable excess of the rules, or when the community complains about situations because of a pattern of driving behavior seen in an area. And in the case of pulling over speeding teenagers getting out of school…. When those kids kill someone because of their driving and no police were there, the same people who now complain that the kids are being picked on will be shouting “Why were there no police there!?!?!”. And then there would be no more important thing than the police being there to stop speeding teens.

Also, an officer has a LOT of things to do, and some of them are relatively mundane or fall to the lower end of the spectrum. And police forces have more than one type of officer. While some are patrolling the streets, others are actively following up on cases and getting things ready for the uniformed officers, or making the arrests themselves. What you see is not all that is being done, not by a long shot.

Again, many of the misconceptions and negative things you now say, and hear, will simply make you shake your head should you become an officer yourself. This does not mean all officers are justified in everything they do, but it is not as cut and dry as folks seem to often think it is.

DarkStar · 12-15-2006, 12:56 PM

If they wanted to slow down traffic they would try this: http://www.jalopnik.com/cars/news/da...ace-213107.php

-MR

shartley · 12-15-2006, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkStar

If they wanted to slow down traffic they would try this: http://www.jalopnik.com/cars/news/da...ace-213107.php

-MR

We used to get a kick out of making folks slow down by raising our coffee thermos’ to our shoulders.

Seriously, it worked. The best times was in the morning or early evening when the lighting conditions are changing. It did the trick and we didn’t have to write so many tickets.

Christian Nelson · 12-15-2006, 01:41 PM

If they were really serious about stopping speeding, they could. It's called speedbumps.

The reality is, they look at it as another revenue stream.

I have a problem with government looking at the violation of a law they make as though it is a new potential revenue stream. For instance, my local town ship is considering getting a "compliance constable" to enforce a bunch of lawn care grooming laws they want to pass. They reason that they need more money, so let's hire a guy for $30K to snoop around people's houses writing tickets over laws we've just passed to make more money.

This is a rural farming community, hello? this isn't suburban gated community.

The worst thing about this, is that if everyone was in compliance, or even could be, the town wouldn't make money, but they purposefully make it so they can always make money.

It's just like the small towns who get a highway to come through thier town, and drop the speed limit from 55 to 25 MPH abruptly with a cop hiding behind a sign because they know they will increase revenue off people just trying to drive on the highway. You could blink and miss some of these towns, I swear, they probably mak all of thier income off of this.

Laws should be written for a clear reason, and they should be made to prevent the violation of them, not made int he hope that enough people will violate them so as to increase revenue.

Makes me mad...

The Twonship complains about not having th money to maintain the roads, so thier solution is pass a law requiring people's lawn to be so short, and hire a guy to go around snooping and ratting out his neighbors.

How can one escape this crap anymore?

I thought moving out of the city would get me away form this, now we have a bunch of yuppies that folloed me who wanted to bring the city with them I guess. Maybe I will have to move out even further, but we are runnign out of room.

When can we colonize other planets?

12-15-2006, 09:59 AM	#1 (permalink)
Jaan MCB Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: People's Republic of Massachusetts	Cops upgrading Speed Traps part deux... Sorry for ripping you off Chaos, but I couldn't let this one pass... Christmas Speed Trap I wonder how low cops will go collecting supplemental road tax? __________________ “The truth of things is the chief nutriment of superior intellects.” - Leonardo da Vinci

12-15-2006, 10:22 AM	#2 (permalink)
Chaos Spread The Virus Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Hudson,MA	It's cool,that was on the news the other day __________________ Chaos PoG Member # 1018 LPPC Member #71 NO'MAAM #5 My Gallery My Feedback FORUM RULES AND FAQ'S

12-15-2006, 12:01 PM	#4 (permalink)
commando kyle Active Member Join Date: Apr 2006	Did that ever work before you were 30 though? I am nothing but respectful... but Im pretty sure most cops I run into want to make sure to "teach the young punk a lesson." I haven't ever talked to a courteous police officer. Maybe thats partly why I want to be one... to show other cops you can do your job and not be a jerk. __________________ Captain of the Camo Bandits Scenario Paintball Team. "Who Dares, Wins."

12-15-2006, 12:24 PM	#6 (permalink)
commando kyle Active Member Join Date: Apr 2006	I hear you. I just see most cops around here basically picking on high school kids. There were 3 squad cars on a 1/2 mile stretch of road, all pulling over kids just getting out of school. Now, I agree, they shouldn't have been speeding... but shouldn't police officers have more important things to do... catching bad guys, and saving the world and such? __________________ Captain of the Camo Bandits Scenario Paintball Team. "Who Dares, Wins."

12-15-2006, 01:41 PM	#10 (permalink)
Christian Nelson MCB Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Wisconsin	If they were really serious about stopping speeding, they could. It's called speedbumps. The reality is, they look at it as another revenue stream. I have a problem with government looking at the violation of a law they make as though it is a new potential revenue stream. For instance, my local town ship is considering getting a "compliance constable" to enforce a bunch of lawn care grooming laws they want to pass. They reason that they need more money, so let's hire a guy for $30K to snoop around people's houses writing tickets over laws we've just passed to make more money. This is a rural farming community, hello? this isn't suburban gated community. The worst thing about this, is that if everyone was in compliance, or even could be, the town wouldn't make money, but they purposefully make it so they can always make money. It's just like the small towns who get a highway to come through thier town, and drop the speed limit from 55 to 25 MPH abruptly with a cop hiding behind a sign because they know they will increase revenue off people just trying to drive on the highway. You could blink and miss some of these towns, I swear, they probably mak all of thier income off of this. Laws should be written for a clear reason, and they should be made to prevent the violation of them, not made int he hope that enough people will violate them so as to increase revenue. Makes me mad... The Twonship complains about not having th money to maintain the roads, so thier solution is pass a law requiring people's lawn to be so short, and hire a guy to go around snooping and ratting out his neighbors. How can one escape this crap anymore? I thought moving out of the city would get me away form this, now we have a bunch of yuppies that folloed me who wanted to bring the city with them I guess. Maybe I will have to move out even further, but we are runnign out of room. When can we colonize other planets?