The Old Folks Home

[vehve]

Would be interesting to get Wisher's two cents in this matter...

*Edit* And, I see Wisher lurking!

 

[casportpony]

Would be interesting to get Wisher's two cents in this matter...

*Edit* And, I see Wisher lurking!

X2!

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

Rolling stop story... Petite friend of mine was riding her new BMW motorcycle, came up to a red light or stop sign (don't remember) to make a right turn, came to a complete stop because that's just the kind of gal she was and was rear ended by a cop! She was spitting mad, lol, and when she asked him why he said that he thought she was going to roll it.

-Kathy

 

[vehve]

I heard a story about a driving instructor telling the student that at a stop sign, all four wheels must stop spinning. After the student went through a turn in a four wheel slide, he started adding "...and the car must be totally still."

 

[hennible]

 

[casportpony]

I heard a story about a driving instructor telling the student that at a stop sign, all four wheels must stop spinning. After the student went through a turn in a four wheel slide, he started adding "...and the car must be totally still."

That's too funny. Future rally driver maybe?

-Kathy

 

[Wisher1000]

Bear in mind that the vast majority of municipalities receive money from tickets through their municipal courts and it is earmarked, a small percent at a time, to fund specific community projects. The money goes into the general fund of the city, not the police departments bank account, much less into the hands of anyone in a uniform. I think people often think the officers can somehow get their hands on the money at will. In the vast majority of places, this is simply not true. It should not be true anywhere.

As for confiscated money, there are strict federal guidelines that determine what can and cannot be seized and what can be used and what can't. Situations like you mentioned, CC, would not cause suspicion, but when a 17 year old has $6,000.00 in his pocket and no visible means of support (no job), and when asked where the money came from, his answer is that he cuts grass, in January, really? Add to that he is holding small quantities of drugs, packaged to sell and has prior trafficking charges and I don't think he should be allowed to keep that money. Once the federal criteria is satisfied, that money is used to buy equipment to assist in arresting more drug dealers. Many times, what is bought is lapel camera's for the officers to wear both in uniform and undercover.

Unfortunately, there are some small communities that rely on revenue from tickets to cover operating costs, but most people know that, and are careful not to fudge on the traffic laws, even a little. Tickets are not written for "supposed" offenses. There are plenty of laws, ordinances, and violations to write tickets for, without having to make up reasons. As a matter of fact, officers often write one or two of the more serious (dangerous) citations and just give verbal warnings in lieu of tickets for other less serious or lesser known violations.

The problem is, no one ever deserves a ticket, if you don't believe me, ask them.

Writing a traffic ticket is one of the least enjoyable parts of being a cop, but it is necessary. Think of all the people who ignore traffic laws. How many more would that be if there were no consequences for it, other than wrecks? Everyone thinks that won't happen to them.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Would be interesting to get Wisher's two cents in this matter...

*Edit* And, I see Wisher lurking!

We PM'd each other and she reminded me about how many good cops there are and how they go above and beyond the call of duty. I don't doubt that and as in all fields of endeavor, the ugly incidents are what stand out.
I think in the issues I brought up today that legislatures are most culpable.
I asked her in an earlier post about the shoot to kill issue, which seems to be the tactic around here.

I heard a story about a driving instructor telling the student that at a stop sign, all four wheels must stop spinning. After the student went through a turn in a four wheel slide, he started adding "...and the car must be totally still."

That's funny. I was a driving instructor for about a year and I have lots of stories. An elderly lady I was with was making a wide turn and over steered. She lost control just wildly swerving from lane to lane in spite of my efforts to gain control of the wheel. This was right in front of a cop and he just drove past shaking his head as he leered at us.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

...

Writing a traffic ticket is one of the least enjoyable parts of being a cop, but it is necessary. ...

Has to be a huge hassle. I wouldn't want the job. A thankless one, I might add.

 

[casportpony]

I had one ticket I didn't deserve, it was a stop sign ticket... Was riding an old motorcycle and came up to the stop sign and used just my rear brake for the final stop. Cop was *way* behind me, so not close enough to truly see. Turns out my rear brake light switch was broken, so from a distance it looked liked I had rolled it. Had I used both brakes, like I did for the initial slowdown, I never would have been ticketed as he would have seen a brake light when I was at the limit line. Didn't find out the switch was broken until long after I paid the ticket. All other tickets, and there were many, I had coming, no doubt about that, lol.

-Kathy