The last two times I have stopped for speeding- neither time in a 911- the traffic police involved were nothing short of charming. Both occassions resulted in long, friendly chats on the side of the road about cars, road law etc. In fact, one still writes.

That said, in my, err, extensive experience with traffic police over the years, they are,as a group, utter, utter a***holes.

Its why they become gasoline cowboys in the first place.

stuart 87 carrera

Wasn't that Baretta? The actor is now charged with murder of his wife in CA. Oh the irony.

The way I look at it.....I speed...yup...do it all the time....yup..confessed speeder!
So...when and if I get a ticket...it's like paying dues....speed 1000 times...pay for 1 ticket.
And for those that want to try it...."No officer...I was just going a faster 55 than you were"
Remember...practice Zen driving....be aware of your surroundings.
Bob

Screw the cop, I like girls who like bad boys.

Speed limits are just a limit placed on our liberty, backed by statistics that justify their existence. They are also convenient revenue generators for law enforcement. If people were held accountable for their poor driving, speed limits wouldn't be required. Why is my freedom limited because some idiot chose to drive beyond his ability to control his car? Another example of government taking away liberties in the name of "safety". Who can argue against a law that "prevents" Joe dumba$$ from smashing into a school bus at 90 MPH. Why don't we just make all the speed limits 25 MPH. I think it would be much safer for everyone.

"Why is my freedom limited because some idiot chose to drive beyond his ability to control his car?"

Because you may well be that idiot, despite your protestations otherwise. Do you know where those limits are? Ofcourse you do, I know. But to find the limits, you have to first exceed them....

Would your outrage in regard to this attack on your liberty be more profitably directed at the Patriot Act, or PNAC than at the attempts of law makers to regulate traffic, perhaps? After all, you may exercise your liberty at will at the race track, no?

stuart 87 carrera

ha ha...I guess you could say that. Yes I agree that the speed limits that are set in some areas should be changed, until then we all must do what a person I respect told me "you do what your career can handle".

SmileWavy

Oh yeah, I did electronic warfare ( decieving radars ) in the US Navy... a front plate makes a big difference in a signature on radar.
Too bad in Calif we have to have them :D

__________________
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Stu, I'd say that limiting my freedom prior to my transgression is anathema to the founding principles of the Constitution, no? Yes. To simply draw an arbitrary line in the sand that has no measurable impact on safety (fewer highway deaths at 70 than 55 in Cali) says to me the Government is presupposing my transgression to cash in. Whether or not I can exercise my freedom at a track is of no consequence. It's the idea that an assumtion is being made that I cannot handle the automibile above an arbitrary limit that chaps my hide. I would suggest that I'm a safer driver at 100 MPH than most are at 55.

If the lawmakers were serious about "regulating traffic" they'd clamp down on idiots doing 55 in the fast lane, and idiots who fail to give room for cars entering on the onramp.

Richard, you should have called me. For 500 bucks I could have saved you all that hassle.

Actually, (K9 correct me if I'm wrong), K9 Handler is not a German Polizei, he is an Air Force Security Policeman.

I was a Military Policeman in Germany back in the later 80's.

Looks like the SUV sucks thread should be rolling around anytime now. followed by the what size tires will fit on my car thread.

Milt

I agree with you, It seems like when I'm driving around off duty I always see the worst stuff. For some reason, I've never had two ricers blow by me at 90 MPH when I'm in the radio car.;)

Here in Albuquerque, it seems that the police are pretty lenient. The biggest problem I have is that policemen are allowed to keep their radio cars and drive them as personal vehicles off-duty. Perk...supposedly the presence of the cars in the neighborhoods reduces crime. IMHO, what it does is make the cops a joke because you will often see them speeding or running redlights to get home. I used to pick up my wife near where they had shift change....bad enough that many were illeagally parked, but you had better move over because you would get run over for sure...even at 10 over the speed limit! I have seen them drive right past minor traffic accidents and apparently ignore serious traffic violations many times...perhaps they are off duty...but how can you tell? Seems like a terrible public relations situation.

Zoanas-Didn't you post this less than a year ago?

it's more of a curse than a perk, I worked with several of the APD officers and they would much rather be in their POV (privately owned vehicle) rather then the patrol car...since when they are behind the wheel of the patrol car they are required to respond to incidents etc. even when off duty.

MMARSH: You are correct, and as you can see by my member name I am not a traffic cop either...although I did my time on both the road and other administrative offices prior to the "dog" world. Now I simply train dogs to find explosives/drugs...oh and chase down and attack (I mean bite and hold) the bad guys who don't seem to want to listen!:D

K9
Seems that enough of them consider it a perk to ensure the union supports it and bargains for it as a contract precondition at enormous cost to taxpayers.

Fintstone - same here (N. Florida) - provide more police presence in the community. Funny thing is that with 4 hi way patrol officers living within 1 mile of me, last time a drunk (falling down, lost his pants, can't walk or talk drunk) ran thru my fence totaling his truck, it took over an hour for someone ot come take a report. Didn't even go after the guy - DUI, leaving the scene of an accident, etc.

This last statement doesn't make too much sense to me. Do you have to jump off a cliff to know you're near the edge? Limits like the ones we are talking about are telegraphed by your understanding of how your car behaves and your knowledge of your driving skills. Of course, if you don't know either of these, I guess you're screwed.

JCM

ZOANAS
Im quite happy to accept that were it not for a cruel quirk of fate you would be handing out a drubbing to Messers Montoya and Schumacker every other weekend. Its the guy behind you that couldnt drive a greasy pole up a dog's ar$e that concerns me.

Curtailing your liberty to the extent you are prevented from driving at 100mph, (albeit quite safely) so as to prevent that other guy with the hot coffee, cell phone, tyres of indeterminate origin and a bumper sticker that reads "as a matter of fact i do own the road" -is a price Im prepared to pay.

I suppose that makes me a commie.

stuart 87 carrera