Sorry, just can't pass up the chance to put in my $.02. 1. The mission of the Highway Patrol is to enforce the laws, assist the public, assist other agencies, investigate accidents. That probably is true for all State Agencys. 2. It is a fact that the presence of Law Enforcement on the highway reduces the number of accidents! 3. As a member of a State Agency, I do not "collect" money for anyone. My boss has never mentioned the number of warnings I write. After seeing the blood, guts, and dead babies on the highway, I write tickets to people in hopes that the next time that person comes through my area, I won't have to stop them again. 90% of the people that I come in contact with thank me for my courtesy during the contact. The other 10% have the attitude as mentioned above. Just once in my career I have had the luck of seeing a person at the hospital after a wreck, and recognized him as a person who cursed at me for stopping him for speeding and writting him a ticket. As we looked at each other he only nodded and said, "you told me so". Since I didn't think he was going to live, I didn't have the heart to rub it in. 4. In the State of Arizona, not only can we use stratigic parking, we also have unmarked cars. The law does not state you can break the law as long as you don't see a Cop car. Think about it. Is it ok for me to rob a store just because I didn't see a Cop car? 5. Have you ever watched a person bleed to death because the driver was driving to fast, lost control, and rolled the vehicle. A young man from New York had the displeasure of watching his girlfriend die after he rolled a rental vehicle on the way to LA. Remember, when you speed out here in the wide open west, it takes a long time for medical attention to arrive. Normally 45 minutes to an hour for a Chopper. 6. The radar is used to confirm what the trained Officer is already seeing. All operators of radar units are required to pass a test in the visual estimation of speed and distance. 7. I have written tickets in the rain!!! 8. Don't worry Dustoff, if one of us "dumbasses" arrives at your accident scene, you can trust we will do everything in our power to save your life, regardless of what you think of us, and yes I do take it personal. You have never done my job, you don't know what your talking about, and regardless of your opinion, I will continue to do my job. My appoligies to everyone else for taking up your time. Just had to get that off my chest.

 

and in closing I'd just like to say that I know and the arresting officers know that I am presumed to be innocent until they beat a confession out of me.

 

Rauol,
>>>>Where were you when I was at Newport News working the shipyard strike. I needed someone to practice my arrest and interrogation skills on.....

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99 F150 XLT SC 4x4 4.6 liter Deep Wedgewood Blue

Westin Nerf Bars

Lund Bug Deflector

Kenwood 10 disc CD changer

Bodyguard Bed Liner

 

JPF1715: I see you're familiar with the articles I've read on the flaws of radar. That being you've probably also noticed they mentioned the cars radiator fan giving false indications. That being said with your apparent training you seem to be a well trained professional. I'm glad they train them well in the state I live in . As far as being fallable, they are a machine. Just seems the judges take them to be like fingerprints as far as evidence goes. As far as the "war on drugs", I'm not gonna touch that one...besides you've just about won that by now, haven't you? Frog: If I rob that store will you ticket me and send me on my way? To bad about the guy in the hospital, but also keep in mind if he was going 10 MPH faster he would never have been at the accident site at that point in time and it may have never happened (I agree conversely 10MPH slower and possibly the same results). You guys are out there every working day and you know most accidents don't involve just driving off the road and wrecking, it's usually a combination of many circumstances, speed only being one of them. I could just as easily get killed in a Yugo as my Lightning...in fact with the handling characteristics of the Lightning I would feel safer at 100MPH in that as opposed to the legal 65 in the Yugo.

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Red 99.5 Lightning,#0975,Born 5/6/99...Adopted 5/27/99 Chipped w/SuperChip Flipchip chip,Water Wetter, Mobil 1, Foglamp Covers, 13.573@101.08

 

Thunder,
>>>>One last post and I wont touch this subject anymore, at least on this thread....honost Radar is a machine and therefore can malfunction, but the point I try to make is that if the officer uses all the methods I mentioned to verify it is operating properly then you take out the possibility of a mechanical malfunction causing a false charge. As for judges taking them as fingerprints in court, I believe that the court takes more weight and belief in the operator than the machine, that they the operator know there stuff and that they use it properly.

>>>>I think we spoke about this before Thunder, you have an awesome vehicle and one that is an excellent performer, hell I'm jealous. Unfortunatly I need my 4x4 here in the mountains. But...when you operate at those speeds given no obstacles in your way you might never have a problem. Now place Joe Blow or Grandma/Grandpa with their head up somewhere, and they pull out in front of you because they misjudge your speed and distance. I don't care if you are in a Vette or Ferrari, at those speeds your reaction times and physics of the vehicle work against you. Cut the mph's back many notches and your chances of survival go up greatly. Same thing goes with a deer or god forbid a cow walks/runs out in front of you. When you hit em at that speed it aint pretty, trust me on this one I've seen it. Take out the unexpected and with the nice truck you have with it's capabilities, you might never have a problem. But unfortunatly, it's the unexpected that gets us every time. But deep down, if you think about it, you have to agree with me, when you run speeds that fast you can't react as well to others mistakes as you might at a more resonable speed. When you do that, then you're making a mistake also.

>>>>I think you stated before you have a wife and child. Let me give you this little scenario. Your wife has your child in the car with her. She approaches an intersection that she has frequented many times before, stops, looks left and sees nothing but a vehicle that appears to be way down the road too far away to matter or so she believes, she then looks right and sees no traffic. Still remembering that the vehicle to the left was too far away to matter based on previous experience she starts to pull out. Suddenly tires squeal, metal crunches, glass shatters, and if your extremely lucky you might still have a family left. All of which happened in a matter of seconds. My question to you is this....what if the person that struck your family said to you or said in court that if only he had been going 10 mph faster the accident wouldn't have happened, that if your wife hadn't pulled out in front of him the accident wouldn't have happened, that it couldn't have been his fault because of the fact that he is a skilled driver and his vehicle is a finely tuned performance machine. The above scenario is all too real, happens all to often, and could happen to anyone. Be it the person pulling out or the person doing the speeding. If this happened to you or someone you knew, would you accept the scenario of if the person had been doing 10 mph faster it wouldn't have happened, or would you place the blame squarely where it belongs? Because someone was going way too fast when they had no reason to. I only pass this on because I and other officers have seen this kind of thing too often and to give you another possible viewpoint to think about. Lets hope that none of us ever experience this kind of tragedy on a personal level. Take care..

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99 F150 XLT SC 4x4 4.6 liter Deep Wedgewood Blue

Westin Nerf Bars

Lund Bug Deflector

Kenwood 10 disc CD changer

Bodyguard Bed Liner



[This message has been edited by JPF1715 (edited 11-09-1999).]

 

I mentioned the flip side(the 10MPH slower) in my post because a lot of it all boils down to being in the wrong place at the right/wrong time. Factors we have no control over, the deer, the cow, grandma. I'm really not trying to advocate traveling at 100MPH. It's just that like my last citation, 78/65, on the Ohio Turnpike. I probably was going that fast, but consider:3 lanes of excellent highway, 03:00, light traffic, no weaving in and out of traffic(that is my rule of thumb, if ya have to weave in and out constantly, you're too fast for conditions) and here comes the Ohio trooper with his laser. I'm all for safety but c'mon gimme a break. He just wanted his money. Oh, by the way, I think I read radar causes testicular cancer. If ya don't reply, no prob. Go easy on 'em.

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Red 99.5 Lightning,#0975,Born 5/6/99...Adopted 5/27/99 Chipped w/SuperChip Flipchip chip,Water Wetter, Mobil 1, Foglamp Covers, 13.573@101.08

 

you are beating the dead horse now. Trust me, you can NOT convince a resonable person that by going 20 mph faster then almost everyone else on a road designed for slower traffic that you are not only a risk to yourself but to others. When you come blowing by me in the left lane and I am doing the speed limit, you are taking away ONE of my options if the person in front of me has a problem. PERIOD.

I won't even mention the number of nutbars who pass me on the right going 20 over when their is no traffic in the left lane!

So stop trying to justify WHY you are a speeder because the bottom line is if your actions ever kill or injure anyone including yourself all your reasoning won't justify it. All your well meaning ideas like no weaving, come on, give me a break, unless everyone is doing 78 in a 65 your passing traffic at a speed which they are probably not prepared for, period.

Do you think the speed limit was set just to annoy people like you???? to make money???? It was set so that we could all operate safely together, thanks for putting everyone else at risk because you are a "better" driver then I am.

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David
'99 F150 XLT SC, STYLESIDE
3.73, 4X4 ORP 5.4L, AUTO,
139wb, Medium Red Tor.,
Rhino, K&N, BugGuard,
RainGuards, Superchip, Soft Tonneau
f150online sticker!!! GET ONE NOW!

 

Well I guess we just better end this now..its getting us no where. I dont think the members replying negatively will ever change (remember that attitude thing), seems like their are atleast two who will probably never get that break on the ticket, and they will drive away calling us dumbasses....Oh well......Hopefully they will LIVE AND LEARN..
Lets just stop here fellow officers, we will talk to those who may seek our help and opinions and stop wasting our time here......
Dave

PS..Our Dept is also Accredited....


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1998 F-150, SC/Flairside, 4x2,4.6,auto,3.55s,nerf bars,cls 111 towing,bed liner w/mat,atlas polished wheels w/285/75 R/16 BFG A/Ts,all plastics guards/bug shields,air raid/k & n filter, superchipped, duals out the back corners, flow master 3 chamber, snug top lid, f-150 online sticker back window-honk if you see me!!! Fabtech 3 1/2 lift .coverking dash cover.
San Antonio
DWESSELS89@AOL.COM



[This message has been edited by DAVENSA (edited 11-09-1999).]

 

WOW!!!!! I haven't looked at this in a few days and it is starting to get ugly. In October of 1972 I was promoted from patrolman to Detective and the day they notified me was the day I wrote my last ticket. I'm telling everybody this because most cops hate this part of their job more than any other. Most people who receive tickets are otherwise law abiding. It is unfortunately a very negative experience for both parties but a very necessary one. Imagine what the roads would be like if the laws were not enforced.
I am still a cop and I use a radar detector on long trips. I move with traffic which is normally speeding. I like hearing the thing go off every once in awhile, it helps keep me focused and alert. Beleive it or not some cops do write tickets to other cops. I rarely get stopped but if I do and I get a ticket, so be it. BOTTOM LINE, IF YOU ARE GOING TO DANCE, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO PAY THE BAND.

STEVE, SHUT THIS THING DOWN.

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98 Nascar Edition, Superchip, Airaid, Flowmaster 70 series, bedliner, in bed tool box, Profile bug deflector and window vents, Class III receiver hitch.

 

I have a Radar Dectector, but I never use it, I just leave a few minutes early. I do usually go over the speed limit 7-10 miles per hour, but there is always someone else who goes faster. A guy in a Tahoe passed me the other day, and I caught up with him about 20 minutes later stuck in traffic. Does it really pay to speed? I don't think so, you lose mpg in higher speeds anyways.

 

Cloaker: 13 over is not nearly 20, besides most everybody else was running about 75 at the time on an interstate turnpike, so get off your holier than thou crap unless your gonna tell me some crap about never speeding yourself. EVERYBODY speeds, including the damn judge.

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Red 99.5 Lightning,#0975,Born 5/6/99...Adopted 5/27/99 Chipped w/SuperChip Flipchip chip,Water Wetter, Mobil 1, Foglamp Covers, 13.573@101.08

 

Well its only speeding if you get caught. Speeding is one of those crimes that you can do alot of and maybe get caught every once in awhile. Its up to you if you want to take that chance.

 

Ok guys, lets take it easy. As for me and speeding, well I hardly ever drive on the highway, the only time I do is when I drive to Oklahoma once a month. So the speed limit is 70 and I set the cruise on 75 maybe even 80 at some points. But since I have made this trip about 10 times, I pretty much know where to speed, and where not too. I'm not too big on speedin, well definitely not now, since I'm still on probation

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Patrick aka Mudder
Arlington Texas (DFW), member of Fordified.
Mudder,Black 98 Styleside S/C F150 4x4 0RP 5.4 3.55ls, Ramsey Pro 8000 hidden winch, Grizzly roll bar,2 Baja lights, 4 165 watt KC lights (I can light up the night with these), Manik grille guard, Westin step bars, Magnum bug shield, Sonic aluminum treadplate 36" tool box, Flowmaster dual exhaust, K/N air filter, 265/75/16 BFG AT/S, American Racing Baja wheels, a Mobil Speed Pass on the back window, a F150 Online sticker, and a Stone Cold sticker on the front windshield . More to come for the 3:16 machine: 4 more KC lights, shocks, and tail light guards. If you would like to see pics, email me at mudder46@hotmail.com or see pics at me and pony's new website www.angelfire.com/ok3/ponysix8/index2.html, and to hear the exhaust http://www.angelfire.com/ok3/ponysix8/images/T005.wav
Ford Trucks: "when you absolutely have to have the very best".

 

I know where you're coming from mudder. I used to steal in the middle-east and it's no probation over there, they just cut off a digit. I got caught eleven times and now I'm typing this with my nose.

The ultimate hunt and peck!

 

Cloaker: How can you keep focusing on speed and only speed as being an accident cause? And could you please rationalize how that guy could have gotten in that accident if he was not in that place at that point in time, whether it be going faster or slower he couldn't have had it if he wasn't there. Just because you don't like that fact doesn't change it. And I have made no reference to my driving skills. All I've done is point out I would feel safer at 100MPH in my Lightning as opposed to the 65MPH speed limit the state has deemed safe to drive in a Yugo. That was to point out not all vehicles are created equal. One of the many factors in driving. I rarely drive over 70MPH...then I get on the interstate...no, a joke. But I rarely drive over 70 with the exception of trips. Mine are hauls from VA to MI, 750-900miles, depending on which relative. Around town 5-10 MPH doesn't do much but irritate the cops. On a trip like that you shave about an hour for every 5MPH. Although I take breaks a 15 hour trip still takes a toll. Making it into a 17 or 18 hour trip is even worse. And the cops in Ohio DO have a rep for collecting large amounts of taxes, not a rep started by me but observed by me. Maybe Detroit out to put limiters on all vehicles that would limit them them to 65. Think of all the money we could save when all those troopers get laid off and all those accidents that won't happen because no one can exceed the limit. Hmmm...don't sound right...nevermind.

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Red 99.5 Lightning,#0975,Born 5/6/99...Adopted 5/27/99 Chipped w/SuperChip Flipchip chip,Water Wetter, Mobil 1, Foglamp Covers, 13.573@101.08




[This message has been edited by 4D THNDR (edited 11-11-1999).]