| Author | Message | ||
     Dino |
Socoken, I agree with you completely. I'd like to think that i'm a relatively nice guy. If I had to put up with the crap from both the "good citizens" who feel picked on for being (deservedly) cited and the low-lifes to whom cops are constantly exposed, I'd be a serial ax-murderer in no time. My hat is off to any cop that can do the job and stay sane. The said, any power-hungry SOB that gives ME a ticket has obviously got an attitude problem.  Dino | ||
| Ted |
Ha ,you're right Dino! I'd last 1/2 a day before empting the clip into some bozo who gave me attitude. | ||
| Ray_maines |
One of the basic issues that doesn't seem to be questioned is weather or not the law in question is fair or just. It's just MHO but I think most traffic police are born again rule followers who have absolutely no sense of fair play, justice or common since. All rules are good rules! No questions asked. These people are not creative problem solvers, just rule followers. The rule says all Jews have to get on the train. Hey, cool! Get on the train Jew boy. G. W. says we should bomb Iraq. Hey cool! Bombs away. My country, right or wrong! Love it or leave it! Don't burden me with anything that requires deep cognitive thought. Just give me a law to enforce. | ||
| Mfell2112 |
Many cops are tax collectors. They gather revenue for the Government and many insurance companies like Progressive will supply state of the art equipment to catch speeders as insurance companies benefit from speeding tickets as well. Most places where you get a ticket the limit is too low to start with. Can you say BS? Many cops do not protect they only serve the working class speeding tickets who are on their way to and from work. These hard working Americans are trying to get home, relax and spend some time with their families.I go by the same speed trap everyday and see the same cop having someone pulled over. I get in the right lane @65 mph and get up close to the cop and honk my horn. Scares the bejeesus out of him and her.:-)Oh and most people would not run red lights if the yellows were just a couple of seconds longer. Just by adding a couple seconds to the yellow would save lives although the ticket writing would be down. I geuss this is why we still have rather short yellow lights. It is obvious our safety is not the concern here. It is all about revenue. Oh and cameras are not a good thing. That is all we need automated ticket writers. Of course donuts sales would increase.:-) | ||
| Dino |
Geez, I haven't read heard this much unmitigated b.s. since the last political speech I listened to. "I think most traffic police are born again rule followers who have absolutely no sense of fair play, justice or common since. The rule says all Jews have to get on the train. Hey, cool! Get on the train Jew boy" Next time I sense a coming holocaust I won't bother to become a social activist...I'll just wheelie thru a red light and call the cop that pulls me over a Nazi. That should set things straight. "These hard working Americans are trying to get home, relax and spend some time with their families." Yeah, right! Damn, I knew there was a reason I loved goin' fast in the twisties...just tryin' to get home sooner so I can give my doggie a big hug! "Oh and most people would not run red lights if the yellows were just a couple of seconds longer." Sure, and if they raise the speed limit on the freeway to 80 mph, we promise, cross our hearts and hope to die, we won't do 90! Is this a motorcycle enthusiast site, or are we auditioning for jobs as comedy writers? | ||
| Dino |
Sorry for the rant, but I think a little personal responsibility is in order. If you think a law is stupid, work to change it. Don't just bitch at the cop that cites you for breaking the law. A few years ago I got a two point ticket for turning into a parking lot by crossing the very end of a double-double yellow line (defined as making an legal left turn on a divided highway.) Within two weeks a gap had been sandblasted in the lines to make that very turn legal. Do you think that the lines were altered because someone called a traffic cop a Nazi? Sure, I have bent the occasional law, and will undoubtedly continue on that course. If I'm careless enough to get caught, that ain't nobody's fault but mine. I wish there were a red light camera on every light in this town. The thought of one of the idiots drivers around here blowing a light and t-boning my wife or daughter in the driver's door is not an image I enjoy. (Message edited by dino on August 07, 2004) | ||
| R1DynaSquid |
I wish there were a red light camera on every light in this town. The thought of one of the idiots drivers around here blowing a light and t-boning my wife or daughter in the driver's door is not an image I enjoy. The cameras wont prevent an accident. Intersections with them, still have accidents. Have you ever looked at the folks who blow thru red lights? Half the time they arent even aware its red, they are too busy talking on the phone, putting on makeup, reading the paper...seriously I have see that one too many times. For the most part cops are decent. But it only takes 1 or 2 #ssholes to mess it up. Some are on a power trip & seem to be taking out all of their lifes issues on the public. I dont need a sermon from a cop who is 20 years younger than me. If you are going to ticket me, then hurry the hell up & give me it so I can be on my way. I am courteous to cops when pulled over & most of the time i'm let off with no ticket. But once he starts writing & then proceeds to attempt & lecture me, well then I politely tell them to save their breath. Around here they dont have any "official" quotas as for numbers of tickets, but they are definitely a lot more issues towards the ends of the month. Every year there is a yearly budget that is printed out & they actually forecast in how much revenue they will garner from tickets into the budget. Sure looks like a quota to me. | ||
| Dino |
The cameras wont prevent an accident. Intersections with them, still have accidents." Obviously the only way to completely end red light running is to remove the lights. I don't consider that a reasonable solution. Wait, I take that back...they could also just close the intersection altogether. That'd work too. "Every year there is a yearly budget that is printed out & they actually forecast in how much revenue they will garner from tickets into the budget. Sure looks like a quota to me." I see. So, you're suggesting that they ignore the revenue stream received from traffic citations and raise taxes to balance the budget? Then, when they realized they have a surplus they can waste the funds on some ridiculous project nobody wants or needs? or, I guess they could just withdraw all the money in cash and then burn it. You know, just to make sure nobody thinks the purpose was revenue enhancement. | ||
| R1DynaSquid |
they could also just close the intersection altogether. That'd work too In Europe they have a few cities that have done just that. Turn abouts or traffic circles & they seem to work rather nicely once you get the hang of them. So, you're suggesting that they ignore the revenue stream received from traffic citations and raise taxes to balance the budget? Nope, when I am stating is the obvious...there is a quota system in most police departments & if its crunch time & they need to up revenue, then the cops are going to become dicks & ticket folks for 5hit that would otherwise be passed over. | ||
| Dino |
Dyna - My preferred course of action, in order to avoid tickets from city police, is to avoid vehicle code infractions while in the city limits. I will admit that I have it easy. I live in a small town with all of the southern Sierra to play in if I want to be a bad boy. | ||
| Country |
I got pulled over doing 65 in a 45. I was in my girlfriends car, little '89 Honda Civic (not modded or anything). Passed an undercover car, didn't even know it. Cherries and Berries in the rear-view. F*@%. Pull over in a gas station(we were on a really busy road) which was right there. Cop gets out, asks if I knew why he pulled me over. I say speeding. He said that's correct. Then he asked if I knew the speed limit. Honestly didn't know where he nabbed me. So I said 35? he started laughing because that was 10 under the actual speed limit where he got me. I was polite as hell, he asked whose car it was that I was driving, told him it was my girlfriends and I was on my way home to hit it. Got another laugh out of him and he let me go. He did a check before he let me go and asked if I had a motorcycle. I said yes, he wanted a description of it. Gave it to him, and now he waves at me every time I ride through town. | ||
| Sardawg2dpd |
Wow!! Ok I look at it two ways. I have to enforce the law but I also think alot of the laws are crazy. I put on my uniform with that badge everymorning and go out on the street. I am bond by law to stop and take appropiate action for anyone who violates the law. (I.E. Officer Discretion) I work in a city of 105,000+ people. On any given day there is a minimum of only 8 officers on the street, thats 10,000 people per officer. If I can make one traffic stop that leads to an arrest or one where some one was unaware of something then I have done a good job. Even if I don't write the ticket (Which is more often then not). Who have to realize we get lied too all the time. And for me thats like calling me stupid. I had a guy want to argue with me about blowing a light and almost causing an accident even after I politly showed him my video tape. After dealing with that and everything else we deal with, yes some officers tend to have an attitude. I put my life on the line every day and would much rather take the drug dealers and murders off the street and that is what I target. But in order to do that we have to make traffic stops. They are the 1st step in taking action. I could on for days and cite the number of times I have stopped a car and found, a gun, drugs, and even guys wanted for murder. All because I make traffic stops. I don't do this job for the money (cuz I sure they heck don't get paid any where near enough for putting my life on the line) I do it because I like to deal with the good people in this world and hopefully educate some. As far as the red light camera's go, we are just getting them. I think they are stupid just because of the whole process. U run the res light it snaps your picture. Pic gets sent to some place down south to be reviewed, if late is readable place down south sends pic to P.D, P.D. looks at pic and decides if a ticket is warranted and send ticket. If place down south con not make out plate or think picture is bad picture gets thrown away and not ticket issued. Our city got the cameras for generating revenue and in turn I think its gonna be more of a headache then a plus. This whole discussion is why wen people aske me what I do, I respond "I am them person everyone loves to hate." Everyone likes the poice when they come to your house and return your stolen car, cath the guy that brok in to your house, ect. But it never fails that same person who two weeks ago loved you, now hates you because you had to write them a ticket or your taking some one they know to jail. Its a lose lose situation for us. For the most part we are good and I would rather talk with some one when I stop them (Not lecture) then just be straight and to the point. Any way I will step down from my box now other wise I will go on and on. Oh one more thing, I am not saying that there are not @55 hole cops out there, because there are. and I am not saying that is write, just don't hate the badge because you have one encounter with one of the few bad apples, because we are not all like that. have fun and ride safe SAR  | ||
| Sardawg2dpd |
I dont need a sermon from a cop who is 20 years younger than me. If you are going to ticket me, then hurry the hell up & give me it so I can be on my way. Dyna how about a cops that is ur age? or would you be mad if I pulled you over and wanted to talk about your bike? (I tend to do that alot) Just had to ask. Have fun and Ride safe SAR | ||
| Dino |
"I dont need a sermon from a cop who is 20 years younger than me. If you are going to ticket me, then hurry the hell up & give me it so I can be on my way. " Hey, Dyna, when you were young did ya like having old farts lecturing you? | ||
| R1DynaSquid |
I dont need a sermon from anyone of any age. Thats just my feeling on it. I know the risks & I am willing to accept responsibility for my actions. If the officer feels a ticket is warranted, then hurry up & write it & we can both be on our merry way. I dont get mad at all when pulled over. In fact I have had cops pull me over to talk bikes, have also had them pull me over & advise that the part of town im in is not very good & I really shouldnt hang around at stoplights very long. | ||
| Dino |
I never hang around at stoplights very long. Those babies turn green, I go.  Speaking of stoplights...does your area have the damn sensors that won't pick up a motorcycle?  Has anyone tried those trip magnets? Do they work? Has anyone had to talk their way out of a ticket after crossing on a red at a light that wouldn't trip? Successfully? Now, Dyna, if I ever get cited for that, I'll agree that the cop is a dick. | ||
| Sardawg2dpd |
I have heard of the trip magnets but I don't believe they work. The senors in my city go by weight. I have only come across a few that have not picked up a bike. Of course is was a bike of another orgin that did not trip it. I personnally have never had any problems with my 9R. you do have to understand if the cop has never rode a bike before or doesn't understand how the trip senors work in their town they are inclinded to give you a ticket. Doesn't make him •••••, just makes him unfamilliar. Take that ticket to court and I bet you win. And getting stopped for being in a area you probably should be....Well I do that alot. the area I work in is not the best so I am always stopping people who look lost or just don't belong and telling them they should move along. Dyna, I agree with hurry up and write the ticket so we can both be on our merry way but understand some cops just feel the need to tell you things even thought you know it already..(again, not all of us are like that.) Are you planning on being in appleton for Daves event? I will be there and we can chat more about it there. Am looking forward to meeting everyone. SAR | ||
| R1DynaSquid |
Yes I will be at Dave's sportbike day. And are you positive that the sensors in your town are weight activated? The only ones I have heard of & seen installed have all been of the magnetic loop variety. I have had to run plenty of those lights, even with the wife & I on 2 bikes they still wont trip the signal. Im waiting for the day that I actually get pulled over for running one of those lights. I look at traffic signals this way. What is a traffic lights purpose? To control the flow of traffic. If there is just myself & no other vehicles then there is no traffic, hence no need for me to wait at a signal  | ||
| Brucelee |
Don't do the crime if you can't do the time. | ||
| R1DynaSquid |
And I suppose you would just sit at the red light all day long? | ||
| Brucelee |
"And I suppose you would just sit at the red light all day long? " You are not all that rigorous in your thinking my dear Dyna, No, I would not sit at a traffic light that did not turn for me. But, if I got cited, I got cited. Life is fundamentally a crap shoot, sometimes you get the breaks, sometimes not. I also speed from time to time but don't expect that I should "get a break" from the man, because I am an upright citizen. I simply need to pay the fine and move on. Next time, pay attention please! | ||
| R1DynaSquid |
No, I would not sit at a traffic light that did not turn for me. But, if I got cited, I got cited. And you wouldnt fight it? The lights arent programed to recognize a motorcycle so you would have no choice but to run the red light, and you somehow think you would deserve a ticket for that? | ||
| Brucelee |
Well, as Clint said in "Unforgiven" Deservin's got nothing to do with it. Hell, I might give it a go with the traffic court but then again, I might not. Would not get my shorts all tight about it. Not one of life's great injustices, to my way of thinking. Not like, say, progressive taxation or estate taxes! | ||
| R1DynaSquid |
That running a red light ticket would affect your insurance rates also. Hmm, get nailed with a bogus ticket because the lights are basically defective seeing as how they dont respond to certain motor vehicles which are legally licensed to use the roadways, & then get your insurance jacked up on top of it & you arent sure if you would fight it? | ||
| Crusty |
It happened to me. In February 1996. I was working a night shift and had taken my FLHS to work.(70 degree day- February thaw) I decided to stop at the all night supermarket, and I had to take a left at a signal that I knew wouldn't respond to bikes. I stopped, waited for a few seconds, and since there was no traffic, turned left.The State Trooper was hiding about a block away, and as I made the turn, the Blues came on. He wrote me up for running a red light, loud exhaust and altered exhaust. I decided to fight it. When I went to court, The State Police Representative stated that the signal in question would respond to motorcycles, and the judge believed her. He dropped the two exhaust charges, but the red light violation stayed. I paid the fine along with the higher insurance rate for three years, and I never went left at that light at night again. The State Trooper who wrote me up is notorious around the Greater Boston area for harassing Motorcyclists, usually for not having a DOT sticker on their helmets. (there's no law requiring one) | ||
| Deerhunter17 |
I was told that on those mag loop type sensors you should pull the bike on top of one of the visible lines ( that black tar looking strip ) to ensure it gets triggered. Not sure if it actually works, haven't had opportunity to try it.... anyone know for sure? | ||
| Brucelee |
"That running a red light ticket would affect your insurance rates also. Hmm, get nailed with a bogus ticket because the lights are basically defective seeing as how they dont respond to certain motor vehicles which are legally licensed to use the roadways, & then get your insurance jacked up on top of it & you arent sure if you would fight it?" I have this happen to me on occasion. I have several choices, one sit there and act like a fool. I don't do that one. Two-Go through the light and take the risk of a ticket. I do that sometimes. My friends at CHP tell me that they will not ticket me for that but the locals might. Three, make a right turn and then do a legal U turn. I USUALLY do that. So, I have options and know that in the end, I MAY get a tix. I MIGHT fight it, might not. Hasen't happened but it might. I WOULD NOT whine about it; I hate whining. | ||
| Dino |
Even if I know that a particular light faulty, I'll sit long enough that the light should have cycled. I don't think you've got a pray of getting out of a ticket is you just stop and go and then tell the cop you knew the light wouldn't have worked. Like Brucelee, I will often (where it's possible) jog around to avoid running the light ... particularly with the light here in town that is one block from the police station. The thing I don't understand is that we've got motor cops in town. You'd think they would push the city to get those lights adjusted correctly. (I've been told by city officials that they don't increase the sensitivity because traffic in adjoining lanes might trip the system.) Deerhunter - I read the same thing. It didn't make any sense to me since it would seem that your best chance would be to be centered in the field area. But I tried it...didn't work for me. | ||
| Blake |
Rick, Great to see you back online. Missed your contributions. What you been doing besides raising a family and speeding around causing trouble on your Buell?  | ||
| Chainsaw |
Unrelated Law Enforcement Question: Searches Theoretically speaking...Say I'm pulled over for speeding, loud pipes, DWB or whatever. Cop asks to search my bike, I would respectfully request to see a search warrant . I would refuse to comply with a "voluntary" search. Failure to comply with a voluntary search can not be used as a reason to issue a search warrant (US Supreme Court decision, 1980 something) Unless the cop arrests me which gives them the right to search me and my bike how would / can an LE officer legally search me or my bike? (not that I travel with any contraband, but I saw I guy pulled over in WY yesterday sitting on a fence 20 feet from his bike, whilst one of Wyoming's Finest was rifling through his luggage, and I couldn't help thinking that if he knew his rights he wouldn't be there) (Message edited by chainsaw on August 08, 2004) |
