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08-12-2004, 02:11 AM
| | | | Too much emphasis on illogical enforcement
 What is the name of your state? All similar
Each state in the US has its own driving culture, but one constant throughout is the sheer might of the police in their enforcement of 1950's-style traffic regulations. Interstate traffic moving at a steady, well-spaced distance should be permitted to travel at 80 MPH without an assumed death wish and possible infraction. Average modern automobiles are capable of safe cruising speeds in excess of 90 MPH, where conditions are suitable. While no one is calling for an American Autobahn, it should be clear that police are pursuing a cash cow as they target marginal traffic offences on open freeways in clear weather (this has been my experience). This madness is compounded by a justice system consumed with apparent self-propogation through fees and surcharges, along with the concomitant profits for insurance companies who gleefully note your demerits for doing 15 MPH over the limit on an empty Interstate. Helicopters and endless law enforcement resources dedicated to speeding violations? How about a priority check?  |
08-12-2004, 02:19 AM
| | Senior Member | | Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: California
Posts: 15,428
| | | How about writing your state assemblyman instead of here.
Is there a question? Or are you simply venting?
Oh ... and slow down ... the life you save might be mine.
Carl
__________________
A Nor Cal. Cop Supervisor
"Make mine a double mocha ... and a croissant!"
Remember, only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you: Jesus Christ and the American Soldier. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom! |
08-12-2004, 02:31 AM
| | Senior Member | | Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: California
Posts: 15,428
| | | Additionally, if money were truly the issue - forget police cars and traffic officers! Parking enforcement is where the money would be (at least for CA)! That can be a cash cow when done effectively!
Parking enforcement officers can pay for their salary and benefits with ease in a city where they aggressively pursue parking problems.
Traffic enforcement (again, at least in CA) is rarely cost effective. But, since traffic enforcement is used for traffic safety and not revenue generation, I am not surprised.
So, if you want to see what priority money-making is, see how many parking enforcement people they hire compared to dedicated traffic cops. Police officers doing traffic enforcement is far too expensive to be profitable. But non-sworn parking enforcement personnel? Yee-haw!
Carl
__________________
A Nor Cal. Cop Supervisor
"Make mine a double mocha ... and a croissant!"
Remember, only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you: Jesus Christ and the American Soldier. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom! |
08-13-2004, 06:29 AM
| | Member | | Join Date: May 2004 Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 336
| | | Cash cow? LOL!
Our dept. sees $5.00 from every $156.20 speeding ticket we write. |
08-13-2004, 10:54 AM
| | Senior Member | | Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: California
Posts: 15,428
| | Quote: |
Originally Posted by ptlmejo Cash cow? LOL!
Our dept. sees $5.00 from every $156.20 speeding ticket we write. | Its about the same here.
The state of CA has decided to keep most of what we are supposed to get back right now anyway. AND the amount we get back is capped ... AND we have to share that "pot" with others.
Oh yeah .... there is so much money in traffic tickets.
Maybe in Hazzard County, but not in the real world.
Carl
__________________
A Nor Cal. Cop Supervisor
"Make mine a double mocha ... and a croissant!"
Remember, only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you: Jesus Christ and the American Soldier. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom! |
08-13-2004, 06:45 PM
| | Member | | Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 93
| | | In Michigan there are some loopholes that allow cites to issue traffic violations that are based on a city code instead of a state code. This allows the city to keep a larger portion of the ticket revenue.
The city of Warren, MI has a group of Motorcycle Officers that are nothing but ticket machines. In the past ten years the only time I ever seen one these bikes they were either waiting for a violation to happen, pulling someone over, or parked in a parking lot of a doughnut shop.
During the non-winter months during the day there about 5-6 bikes on patrol, and you can usually find all of them in about 4-5 different hiding spots. Basically regardless of your speed they write you a ticket for 5 over in hopes you will just send in a check. |
08-13-2004, 11:54 PM
| | Senior Member | | Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: California
Posts: 15,428
| | | We can do the same thing ... but most cities don't - at least not for traffic. And motor officers ... well, that's what they do - traffic. That's generally all they do. So seeing motors write lots of citations is not a surprise. If they are writing for city code violations, I would find that odd ... but I don't know MI law, so it may not be that unusual.
In my former agency motor officers wrote tickets and took collision reports thus freeing up patrol officers for other duties. It worked well ... and even though the motors wrote upwards of 12 - 20 citations a day each, they still came no where NEAR paying for themselves. I think they hashed it out and the city's percentage from ALL their cites put together (6 motor officers ... with one sgt. that rarely wrote any at all) paid for maybe one half to three quarters of an officer plus benefits.
Carl
__________________
A Nor Cal. Cop Supervisor
"Make mine a double mocha ... and a croissant!"
Remember, only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you: Jesus Christ and the American Soldier. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom! |
08-14-2004, 12:32 AM
| | Member | | Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 93
| | | What I meant by city code violations is the city makes a slight modification to the standard state speeding law and it becomes a city law and they are allowed to enforce it differently.
Michigan passed a state law several years ago that required a large percentage of traffic fines to go directly to benefit schools. If the city modifies the law slightly there is some small loophole that allows them to keep most of the money from fines. |
08-14-2004, 01:03 AM
| | Member | | Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 74
| | | Carl:
Bhughes is venting because he didn’t receive any response in his initial post after disclosing he was from Canada. |
08-14-2004, 02:08 AM
| | Senior Member | | Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: California
Posts: 15,428
| | Quote: |
Originally Posted by tami123 Carl:
Bhughes is venting because he didn’t receive any response in his initial post after disclosing he was from Canada. | Yeah, I noticed his other posting. But, there are many here in the US that share his views as well. (sigh)
Carl
__________________
A Nor Cal. Cop Supervisor
"Make mine a double mocha ... and a croissant!"
Remember, only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you: Jesus Christ and the American Soldier. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom! | |
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