Arrogant Cop

I personally don't "hate" cops. I know there are plenty of other "crimes" that need more attention then someone going 5-10 mph over the limit.

C111: sorry to hear about your fellow LEO. I have friends that are LEO's and I understand they have a job to do which sometimes puts them into harms way. I respect all of them just sometimes (maybe because of over work) their judgment is not in anyone's best interest and may not always agree with everyone.

I think this is a dead thread because no one is going to change the way they think over a few posts on a website... I'm unsubscribing from this thread.

 

Good follow up Plasma.

Don't worry about that can of worms. We can always wait until it rains & then stomp on them.

KC-10 FE out...
lane: :usa2:

 

Up until this thread, everybody has been fine... ound: ound:

 

Actually, I think this thread is starting to get really interesting.

BZ

 

I should note i disagree strongly with the current system of both the setting of speed limits and the way they are enforced.

Both seem geared towards generating revenue rather than public saftey.

A change to eather would ensure public saftey.

1) Have speed limits set on average traveling speed on the road, if everyone does 65mph on that stretch of road that is the limit. With exceptions for playgrounds and such. Also some tolerance should be in place so people going 1mph over but keeping with traffic and being safe are not breaking any law.

2) have cops focus on reckless driving rather than busting safe drivers who may be 2mph over the limit due to good conditions and fast flowing traffic.

I should also mention, despite my beliefs that traffic cops simply enforcing limits are scum collecting hard earned cash from good people i am always polite.(I have only been pulled over for speeding once)

 

Molsan:

1) speed limits are set to 85th percentile, that is, the speed at which 85% at traveling at or below. Supposedly. What it really is, is a standard that your local DMV/DOT whatever they call it in your state applies regardless of the real condition of the road. Downtown? 35mph. Rural rd? 55 unless there's a lot of driveways, then it's 45. "urban" interstate? 55mph, even though you're in the middle of nowhere and it's 3 lanes. (I-85 between Anderson and Greenville,SC I'm looking at you)
Also, regular drivers really are idiots. They think 70 means 70, even if it's raining, tornados and hail. People don't pay attention. Should the speed limit really be the same at all times? Well, no, but can't have changing speed limits.

2) low hanging fruit. It's a lot easier to pull someone over for speeding, it's there on the radar gun, no questions. "reckless" driving? It's a bigger ticket, and much more open to interpretation. Everyone would be taking that to court.

Also, cops who are bent/a-holes/power mad tend to gather with others of their own kind. You really can apply stereotypes to the local departments. My county sheriffs office is professional, concentrating on real crime, and only pulling the flagrant speeders. And not pulling based on what the car is, ie they don't just pull over the donks and ricers, but whoever is speeding. My local police are complete morons who couldn't hack it in a bigger department. Never met one of them I liked or respected. The state troopers are universally rather dour and non humorous. Usually non-dicks, but youwon't get out of that ticket.*


*stereotypes only apply in South Carolina. Your mileage may vary. Tax and title due at signing. Do not taunt Happy Fun Ball.

 

1) 85% would be nice, while that is what they should be often they simply say "it's this type of road you go this speed", or oh there is so many intersections you go this speed. No acount is taken into the actuall conditions just the classifications of roads. A highway can be strait and clear with good visability and another can be curverier, more wildlife in the area, and poor visiability and they both have the same speed. Since both are highways they both have the same speed.
Also there is changing speed limits. Some say 110 day, 100 night.
these seem a good idea to me.

2) Agreed, but so many cop cars have camera's.


I also agree i have had good run in's with cops, one even pulled me over to tell me i had a burn't out head light. Been checked for drunk driving 3 times. I have no issue with these.
The people who chose to run speed traps to generate revenue with no intrest in public saftey...while performing that role are not cops, they are thieves.

People can argue we broke the law but if 99% of people are breaking that law would you not question the law. It's not like rape, something people know is wrong and there is a clear line that is very very hard to cross. Anyone can speed without being a bad person. It seems to me speed traps penalize good people.

 

Anybody got some place where I can get something for my hair to turn it grey and a source for some Librium for KC?

http://www.illwillpress.com/FOR33.html

 

they are called kids

 

I am going to jump in here. I too, have read this thread with great interest, and have a general poor view of LEO's in a "traffic cop" role. Regardless, I ALWAYS am respectful and drop any attitude the moment a LEO darkens my window.

I agree that speeding tickets are for generating revenue more than they are about enforcing the law. Others on here have said the same thing.

The thing that burns me is the haphazard enforcement that goes on. In the last month, I have been pulled over twice. Both times were in my cage.

Stop #1.) I was on an interstate connector where the speed limit is 55 (VT highways are 65). Normally when I drive this road, it's 5:30, and packed with people commuting home. This time it was around 7:00 and there was me and one other car. Not paying any attention, and in "highway mode" I get going into the mid 70's quite easily. I crest the hill to see a Statey at the bottom of the dip, pointing his radar straight at me. I know I'm toast, so I pull over, literally 50 feet in front of his cruiser. I admit I was going above the speed limit, really was in no hurry, and apologized for the incident. Not even three minutes later, he wrote me up for 77 in a 55 and handed me the ticket. No "drive slower" or the usual riot act, it was like checking out at Wal*Mart. That'll be $214.00, please. Come again! On the remainder of the trip home, there were 4 more stateys that had others pulled over on the highway. Enforcement my ass - they are milking the public for $$$.

Stop #2.) I was coming down a neighborhood side street that was a slight incline downhill. Speed limit was 25 mph. I was not even in gear - I have a tendency to "coast out" hills to squeeze every mpg out of my gas. Anyways, a local cop got me on radar going 35 in that same area. Again, I apologized (I was actually dumbfounded that I had been pulled over). The LEO explained that now that school was back in session, that there had been some complaints of speeders through the neighborhood. He went back to his cruiser, wrote me a warning, and handed it to me. He said that 35 in a 25 is "not a big deal", and to be cautious of my speed through that neighborhood.

Which officer do you think that I have more respect for? And it has nothing to do with the ticket...

 

On a completely different note - I used to be "profiled" on a regular basis when driving my Honda Civic. Not only was it bright teal green, it was lowered and loud (but not illegal in anyway).

1.) Pulled over in Massachusetts for a "modified" exhaust system, despite the fact that I was driving 65 in a 65, and had VERMONT tags. Complete BS.

2.) Pulled over in Burlington, VT (the biggest city) because my foglights were "blue". Also written a ticket for 42 in a 35. This is after waiting at a stop light with the BPD cruiser RIGHT NEXT TO ME, and I drove NO faster than 35 MPH the whole time. I contested the ticket, and the cop LIED in court, UNDER OATH that he cut me a break, I was actually going 49. He was "pacing" me with his cruiser's speedometer. He actually pulled me over without actually getting behind me... Funny thing is that the "blue light" violation somehow vanished between the stop and the court date...

3.) Followed around and tailgated routinely to try and get me for whatever they could. When they actually DID pull me over, every stop was a 45 minute affair, where they checked out everything on my car before not finding anything except maybe a chip in my windshield or a misplaced front plate.

I don't drive that car anymore, and lo and behold, this sort of thing doesn't happen any longer. Go figure. Don't try to tell me that some traffic cops are just looking for an excuse to pull people over so that they can write a ticket and buy the office another round of donuts, a new box of pens, and a fresh ream of ticket pads.

 

In alberta they recently commisioned a bunch of Sherifs.

Now they are not cops and have no authority over anything but speeding.

They are a huge cash crab and nothing else. how usless are they?
If your driving drunk, they give you a DUI, but can't arrest you or do anything so the let you drive away...Drunk.

Heck I could be getting gang rapped and they could do nothing...

They are only in existence to take cash of hard working people following traffic who may go 1-2 km/h over the limit. Yes 1-2 as there recent crack down was to stop people from traveling slightly over the speed limit. So despite being safe...your going to pay.

Seen there traps and they litterally pull over everyone.

If a speed trap is pulling over the entire traffic streem and take 25 cops to run...it is not about saftey...it's about cash.

these are also the tools that tailgated me out to bragg gcreek waiting to charge me.

If someone tells me there a sherif off duty i will kick them in the nuts and claim self defence...he was attempting to rob me.


Sorry for the rant.

But
1,944 speeding tickets in 24hours
not about cash at all.

 

Hey Molsan, houses are getting cheap in the united states... take a gander at Montana they have highways with no speed limits.

 

Think i could get a loan?

also montana now has limits despite proof that the period when the highways where safest was when it had the safe and proudent law.

Montana - No Speed Limit Safety Paradox - 2001 UPDATE

But making cash and enforcing lower limits for MPG become higher priorities than saftey they put limits on the roads.

 

Whoa...:bs::bs::bs::bs:

 

Hey, I just got a great idea. Each state could institute a "pay up front" speeding option. You fork over $500 in January, and you can collect up to three speeding violations per year with no penalties, points or additional fines, provided that you do not exceed the posted speed limit by more than 35 MPH. Every 5 MPH over the 35 MPH max costs $50, and you get 1/4 point on your record.

 

O...M...F...G... :jaw:


This is one of the best ideas I've heard yet. Sign me the F up.

KC-10 FE out...
lane: :usa2:

 

Radar/laser detector; Zumo 550

So far there've been 90+ responses to this thread, but has anyone yet mentioned using a radar/laser detector on their motorcycle? Also, among those of us who use a Zumo 550, have you noticed that the VFR's digital speedometer consistently reads ~5-7 mph faster than the speed indicated on the Zumo? (I do believe that the Zumo is the more accurate of the two.)

My 2007 VFR is equipped with some really useful electronics, including an Escort Passport 8500X, as well as a Zumo 550, both of which are connected to an Autocom Super Pro AVi Duo kit. All of this gear is hard-wired for power as well as audio. (No batteries or wireless Bluetooth bullshit to contend with.)

My Shoei TZR helmet is equipped with Autocom's headset, so I simply plug into the Autocom rig before I set out, and I'm then able to very clearly hear the warning tones from the 8500X, as well as the Zumo's audio, while wearing 25dB earplugs. (Autocom's are designed with earplugs in mind, and in fact they strongly recommend that plugs be worn. To that end, the Super Pro AVi features automatic speed-adjusted volume which gets its feedback signal from an in-helmet wind-noise sensor.)

In addition to the audio signals I hear within my helmet, I can also quickly glance down at the 8500X to see exactly what the 'threat' is (e.g., X, K, Ka, laser, and Pop-mode bands) although it doesn't take long to memorize the 8500's distinct warning tones for each band.) The military aviators among this forum are surely fond of in-helmet, advanced warning 'avionics'.

So, why go to the considerable expense of purchasing and installing an electronic warning/intercom/communication system, let alone a GPS system, let alone being disciplined enough to consistently use it while riding on the streets?

Many of the reasons are largely self evident within this thread, but the best first reason is greatly enhanced 'situational awareness'. Instead of just getting mad and bitching about speed traps, LEO's etc., why not instead get smart by employing this technology?

If you've been thinking that the price of admission for these gizmos is just too high, yet you find yourself getting pinched and your court costs and insurance premiums are sky rocketing... take a moment to begin adding up those costs and then compare them to what you would've initially spent by installing an early warning system on your motorcycle in the first place.

Some additional concrete reasons for installing and religiously using such a system while street-riding:

Even if you just enjoy the simple fun and pleasure of such onboard electronic gadgets (which can be switched off at any time if you find them to be distracting), they add another element of interest and learning while riding. For example, suppose you find that whenever you pass a Home Depot on your way through West-By-God Virginia, you always get an X-band alert. But what if you ride through that same area and you suddenly hear/see a Ka-band alert? Hmmm... Might wanna slow down, eh?

In those states where a detector is legal (~48 states in the U.S.), it may well help you to avoid a potential ticket so long as you've done nothing really stupid, you're polite, and you offer up some interesting and very respectful conversation with the arresting officer once you've been pulled over. Don't be a dick, and don't try to be an impromptu lawyer, since this is will just piss off a LEO. Just let them know that you knew they were in the vicinity based on the detector, and that you had no worries since you were not speeding. Treat the LEO with the same respect you expect in return, and you may soon find that he/she might be willing to let you go with a warning, as well as something like "That's a nice bike, and I commend you for wearing all of that gear..." Been there!

 

Yeah I am looking into getting a laser jammer and radar detector. Money's a little tight now so I gotta do it old school (look for bridges, make note of speed traps, run if they're going the other way)

There's this really cool page that shows how to make a stealth motorcycle and it's actually tested too: Stealth Street Bike Introduction - RadarBusters.com

 

Joey, Joey, Joey

Are you out there getting trouble with the LEO again. Who let the DOG (Joey_Dude) out:ncb::vader: