Cops as privateers?
 

Back in the days of square sails, there were men known as "privateers". Pirates really, but under the blessing of one flag or another, they would only attack ships of their country's "enemies". They would keep whatever loot they could take. In these days of states having what they call budget problems, a State Rep in Oregon has floated this idea: Raising the fines for moving violations by 20% and dedicate the additional "revenue" to the budget of the state police. Sad to say, I live in the district of this state rep. Anybody care to suggest what I should say in a letter?

I don't know what you should say, but you should probably look into getting a new bicycle.

Tell them they already do that in Oregun!

Sorry Paul, but I had a bad run in with the law one time in Oregon. I got a traffic ticket for passing a motorhome in the right lane (while I was doing the speed limit), and the dang cop watched a school bus go flying by me at more than 10mph over the speed limit.

Blatant OT!!!!

You are going to get banned for a day!

SmileWavy

This is no different that what the DEA does with drug seizure money/property. I'm no drug legalization advocate, but I hate the fact that the police could take my 911 (look - I'm OT!) becuase I gave my idiot brother a ride and he had a couple joints in his pocket.

BTW, welcome back TAABA - I mean - 911sc-heaven...

those are called mercenaries? call the newspaper and suggest an article on bringing such an idea to a public referendum. maybe your state rep will be shamed by the VOICE OF THE PEOPLE.....

the last time our state MISrepresentatives brought up the idea of a state income tax, peolpe where winging bricks through the windows at the state capitol. kinda redneck, but lets just say it was not passed.

grow up........it pertains to driving our porsches
didn't you get banned?

Actually, it was an editorial in a nearby small town newspaper that brought this to my attention. With all the media seemingly focused on the war, we should somehow be able to read about what our legislators are doing to, er...FOR us. Makaio, IMHO, the motorhome should have been cited for failing to stay to the right. But you were guilty of a cardinal sin up here. DAFC-WCP! That's: Driving A Fast Car-With California Plates. I'm thinking of writing a letter, suggesting the state rep carry this a step beyond...make cops and judges total privateers, let them split & pocket all of it, whatever loot they can bring in. At least then there would be some twisted honesty in what they are really doing...Seriously though, beware...these "ideas" tend to spread from state to state.

Oregon is a strange place.

Got cited for fishing without a license when I was practicing fly casting on the Rogue river with no hook on my line or in my posession.

Got a ticket in Ashland, Oregon once for being stopped at the side of the road beneath a "No stopping at any time" sign. Sadly, the fact that my car had just broken down did not dissuade the trooper from doing his duty.

Squarely on topic. Paul it's likely you'll express some concern about the bill and that your letter will not suffer a lack of passion. I like the pirate story. Good visual image.

Offer to educate voters on her idea. Motorists are addicted to sign reading, or at least they should be.

In the end, policy like this is set between just a few people. If an idea gets into that inner circle and doesn't die, it can become law. Some of their ideas can be pretty silly. Ignorant, really. Do you live in a consevative pocket of the great, sensibly liberal state of Oregon? Seems this kind of idea could be clobbered at the polls.

Super, what really makes me cry? The state rep. floating this idea is a he. Name of Jeff Kropf, supposedly one of the Conservative Republicans in our legislature. Letter completed. I used the square sails thing. Then suggested that his thinking didn't go far enough, that he should have all the fine money split...45% to the cop who wrote the ticket, 45% to the judge who collects the fine, and 10% to the state as a tribute. That way we could eliminate the paycheck of State Reps who are guilty of such fuzzy thinking. Guilty of wanting to guarantee a quota system within our state police.

hahahhahaha.....this thread went to OT!

No, no. That would be way too much. Make it 10-10-80. That way, the legislature is sure to love it and the industry it will create will be one of those low cost high volume things.

Here in Washington, they're privatizing the rest stops. Now we have VFW guys hawking cookies, coffee and stories...right alongside the golden arches. Who wants to sleep there anyway, huh?

Someone should check the mushrooms they serve at the legislative building.

:D Great stuff, Paul.
Though, in your letter, why don't you suggest that the ticketing cop have the right to physically rape the "offender" . . .they really should get more than just cash and confiscated property. ..after all it's all for our safety.