Got entangled in a speed trap today

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Fair enough, but all of the other stuff you mention is also used for other (more legitimate) police work, not just SPECIFICALLY for revenue-enhancement duty. Radar guns (bought by ins. co's) are specifically for this kind of work.

[fintstone]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

Fair enough, but all of the other stuff you mention is also used for other (more legitimate) police work, not just SPECIFICALLY for revenue-enhancement duty. Radar guns (bought by ins. co's) are specifically for this kind of work.

When you have speed traps with many cars sitting there...just like in any business...the costs of all that crap and manpower should be directly attributed to the revenue generator (speed trap). It is not being used for more legitimate purposes. Not many cops in speed traps without guns or cars...working on their off-duty time.

[3.2 CAB]

In MS., Harley-Davidson gave just about every local city PD at least 2 of their brand new cycles. They sure do get the use of them in their little speed traps they seem to be constantly running now. Little towns that barely had a couple of cars now have the cars plus the 2 new scooters. I am still wondering who the heck they were trying to grease up with the free scooters dealings?

[Jim Sims]

Noted that six cars got snagged yesterday while on a 200 mile trip - at all the usual places. I conjecture the officers wrote tickets continually during their shifts. People either seem to have no common sense or they're really not paying attention to their driving. There must be no concept of optimization of risk/benefit - a side result of the rampant innumeracy in our society? About eight and a half minutes are gained driving a 50 mile stretch at 95 mph versus 75 mph; not much of gain given the time lost at random arrivals at stop lights and the traffic congestion at each end of most trips. I wonder if these people are a subset of the buyers of state lottery tickets - a tax on those citizens bad at math.

[Don Plumley]

You were not wearing your seatbelt? I think you should be thankful you got a ticket if it forces you to change that behavior.

And if you were to contest the ticket, that little fact will potentially attract more attention than you need.

[Joeaksa]

Just did around 500 miles on the highway yesterday. Had a funeral to go to out of town. Picked up a friend for the trip and set the cruise control at 5-6 mph above the posted speed limit once we got on the highway. Did I ever exceed it? Yes, several times but that was my option and I was ready and willing to pay the fine should I have gotten a ticket. Saw several LE cars out on the highways, and a couple of times they had someone stopped.

We did not get stopped, no tickets and made the journey safely, WITH our seat belts on. You want to drive fast without your seatbelt, then its your choice but to come on any forum after getting caught breaking the law and complain about it is just silly.

We all try to be the parent or responsible adult and tell our kids and family to "always tell the truth and do the right thing" but how can someone square it with behaviour like this? You admitted that you were speeding and stopped while driving without your seatbelt. Going to court and fighting it is lying to yourself and everyone around you.

Remember "A man is only as good as his word"...

[MMARSH]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

Fair enough, but all of the other stuff you mention is also used for other (more legitimate) police work, not just SPECIFICALLY for revenue-enhancement duty. Radar guns (bought by ins. co's) are specifically for this kind of work.

I don't know where you get that from, but seeing as I just recently had to write a proposal for 3 laser guns, I can tell you for a fact that they were bought and paid for by our department. Actually paid for by my station, because the money to pay for that type of item is paid for at a station level. Often times the City will buy the equipment.

[gprsh924]

Can't you just plead guilty, pay the fine, and go to traffic school? That's how it works in Illinois and the ticket is off your record in 6 months.