[Jeff Higgins]

CJ, I appologize. You sound like a straight-up guy. This is, however, a hot-button issue for me (ya think?). I have several cops in my family. I count a few among my closest friends. Not one would ever consider doing what your father did for you when he took car of your ticket. Not one.

No, using a radar detector is not the same. In my state, it's legal. Some states it is not, and I would probably not use one in those states. I would cerainly know what the punishment for such use is, and be willing to buck up to it if caught.

By way of contrast, I cannot think of a single state in which it might be legal for a police officer, active duty or retired, to work a deal to make a ticket go away for a relative or a friend. In that case, you broke the law and got caught. Your father then broke the law to cover that up. He used his position of influence and authority, and undoubtedly some friendship(s) he had made from that position, to break the law to cover up his son breaking the law. He drug those who helped him make your ticket go away into it with him; they broke the law as well. They were undoubtedly others with positions of authority and public trust; a judge, a D.A.; whatever. They knew they were breaking the law with absolute impunity; after all, they are the law, who is going to stop them? That is no more than backwater, third world country bull*****. It has no place here. If that sounds harsh, so be it.

I find it amusing to see some of the most vocal PPOT posters when it come to corruption, or perceived corruption in our government coming to the defense. I guess it's o.k. when it helps some one you know and like, or when it undermines enforcement of laws with which you dissagree. Wow.

Believe me, I share all of your views concerning speed laws and revenue generation. I would, however, never defend a man that is sworn to uphold those laws, whom the public has endowed with a great deal of trust, who wantonly disregards and breaks them to help a family member or friend. And has undoubtedly zealosly enforced them upon others. But hey, if you all are fine with that, more power to you. It was, after all, "just" a speeding ticket. Just a wee little bit of relatively innocuous corruption is o.k., right? I'm sorry, but I for one put that in the same class as a "little bit" pregnant.