I didn't mean that lifted truck owners should get an automatic raise in property taxes. Whad I DID mean was that since you have a big new lifted truck (and evidently the gas to put in it), that you seem pretty well off money wise, so you should be one of the LAST people to be whining about property taxes.

And yeah, i'm ignorant because I don't like getting bothered at dinner time with phone calls.

Screw it, just tack an extra 5 or 10 bucks on to the fine when someone gets pulled over and get it that way. Then when they DO catch me doing something wrong they at least have a good excuse to want that money.

It may not be telemarketing since it's for a good cause, but it's just as annoying

 

Just curious, where do you live?

 

I live in Illinois. Why do you ask?

 

How many times have you seen cops driving way over the speed limit for no apparent reason. How many turn on the blue lights just to get through a red light. ------------ kind of reminds me of the state trooper driving NJ. Gov. Corazine to get to a meeting with Don Imus. Lucky no one died. What did the news first say. They were run off the road, good thing there were other witnesses. Why is it ok for them to travel over 90 mph. and risk the public safety. WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

 

Well, I don't think its anything like Florida. .

Check out our insurance rates and our property taxes, we're getting killed.

 

There is legal precedence protecting motorist from law enforcement action.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...toryId=1493749

Motorists' Protected Speech: Flashing Headlights

by Robert Siegel

All Things Considered, November 5, 2003 · NPR's Robert Siegel talks with Harlie "Bill" Walker, from Franklin, Tenn. Mr. Walker flashed his car headlights at other motorists this past August to warn of a speed trap ahead. The city said Walker had violated an ordinance, and fined him $10 plus court costs. He and a town attorney appealed to the circuit court, where Judge Russ Heldman cleared Walker of all charges, saying that flashing lights to warn of a police officer is protected by the First Amendment.


A local radio station in Houston during the morning and evening rush has the "Jelly Report" where motorist call in to report the where abouts of active speed checks. Why isn't the radio station cited for "Interfering with an agency function" or "Hindering the duties of Law Enforcement"? And for that matter why aren't radar detectors and Civilian Broadcast (CB's) illegal because they essentially can be used for the same purpose?

 

Ahh the jelly report.
Did you hear the one where the officer himself called in and stated his location? He said he got tired of writing so many tickets. LOL


I usually dont flash for cops, most people are all speeding anyhow. I will however flash if i see a vehicle that is obviously driving way over the limit. It slows them down for a while, quite possibly avoiding an accident.

I have been warned a few times, and its a great gesture, but the simple matter is that the ones that get pulled over around here are usually the ones that need the financial "warning" in order for them to stop driving like jerks.

Most troopers here wont pull you over for say 75 in a 70, for 80+ they will and as well they should. I have yet to meet an officer that pulled me over for some BS reason and ticketed me. note i said AND ticketed, i have been pulled over for stupid various reasons (mainly by local PD) which i will not get into, but have ultimately been let go with a simple verbal warning.

We also donate every year to the texas state trooper association.
the sticker they send goes right on the left corner of my back glass.
It has gotten me very polite "service" from officers and a few warnings where i should have been ticketed. We dont do it for the slack we get though, we do it for the sake of doing it.

 

I go a step futher I honk my horn at them as I drive by sometimes the cop will give me a dirty look other times the cop will laugh I gues it depends on the cop.

 

I go even a step further, I pull all the way in the farthest lane possiable.

A good friend was killed while working an accident. All he wanted to be since we were kids was a highway patrol. Ever since then, I freak out when anyone is along the side of the road. All I can think of is GET OVER.

 

Not only a good idea, but here in Texas its actually the law.

SB 193 requires drivers nearing a stopped emergency vehicle that has lights activated, unless otherwise directed by a law enforcement officer, to: Vacate the lane closest to the emergency vehicle, if the highway has two or more lanes traveling the direction of the emergency vehicle;

or

Slow to a speed not more than 20 miles per hour (mph) less than the posted speed limit when the posted speed limit is 25 mph or more; or Slow to a speed not more than five mph when the posted speed limit is less than 25 mph. A violation is a punishable by a maximum fine of $200. If the violation results in property damage, the maximum fine increases to $500. If the violation results in bodily injury, the offense is enhanced to a Class B misdemeanor.

 

I think it is here too, some roads have signs stating it, I think it applies to any vehcile on the side of the road, not just emergency vehicles. I dont know that it's enforced as much though. I think it should be. However, they are strict in construction zones, and if you hit a construction worker, HOLY COW!!!! You lose your license for life and it's a max of $5K fine.

 

Very few agencies in the nation actually see any of the money generated by writting tickets. It goes into the County or State general fund and is used for various projects. Most of the operating expenses for a Law Enforcement Agency comes from the regular budget. The only additional money actually used for Law Enforcement training and equipment is drug money seized from drug dealers.

And of all the agencies that I work with, I have never heard an Officer state that he had a quota for the number of tickets to write. He may have a required number of contacts per day, but that's all. Most city and county Officers are too busy taking calls to actually sit and work traffic all day.

 

Yea we like to play hop scotch, once one officer makes a stop another will sit down the road with lights off and get people who fail to slow down or get over. I dont write warnings for that violation.