$300 speeding ticket

[Ming]

Originally posted by Sprayber
I have been told a cop knows if he will be writing a ticket within the first minute of the conversation with the motorist. Most of you talk your way into a ticket with your attitude. Most of the time it's not a matter of your car going to fast but your mounth.

I've heard the same things from my cop friends.

They also say, that the best thing you can do when being pulled over is to put both hands on the steering wheel the minute the lights go on behind you... They watch your shoulder blades... If they see them twist, it usually means that you are trying to hide something. The minute they see that, they get really suspicious. Remember, for all they know, anybody they pull over could have a gun, and be ready to use it...

As far as quotas go... There are such things. Some cops do need to write so many tickets, just as you mention that some have to report contacts. But as I said in an earlier post... people speed, and no cop I know has EVER had a problem meeting any set quota in a legal fashion.

[Sprayber]

Originally posted by Ming


An interesting site... but very misleading. Out of the 11 states, only California really has a no speed trap law.
And even the California law allows for the setting of speed traps as most people would define them as long as they follow specific guidelines and the speed of the road is determined as a legal limit.

Ming: Part of the way Arkansas laws determine if a city is abusing police powers by setting up speed traps is by limiting the % of income that can come from traffic fines and court fees. That usually is a good indication if the city in question is a small one. Tyronzia and Gilmore are both under 500 in population and most of their revenue came from outsiders paying court costs and tickets. Even now after the state police came in there are still problems but not as bad. A person I know in the Sheriffs department tells me that most of the warrents she processes are for failure to appears for traffic violations. Those in the Sheriffs department despise the the local cops for that.

[Ming]

Originally posted by David Floyd
One should not be respectful to a police officer when that officer is abusing their power.

As you mentioned, in this case, it was admitted that the person was indeed speeding, so there was no abuse.

But a tip... even if a policemen is abusing their power, that's probably the best reason to respect him. He has already proved to be a jerk, and pissing him off even more is NEVER a good idea.

If they are in the wrong, fight it out in court where you have a chance to win... pissing a cop off in the field is probably the stupidest thing you can ever do, even if you are innocent.

[Sprayber]

[QUOTE] Originally posted by David Floyd

One should not be respectful to a police officer when that officer is abusing their power.

If you have a complaint then make it and go to court. The more you show your ass, the more he will show his. And I'm betting that you will come out on the loosing end of it

[Ming]

Originally posted by Sprayber
Ming: Part of the way Arkansas laws determine if a city is abusing police powers by setting up speed traps is by limiting the % of income that can come from traffic fines and court fees.

I did indeed mention that some states do limit that percentage in the same post of mine you quote.

Again... it doesn't mean that they can't set speed traps, it just means that the city can't do it for the sole purpose of funding their budget

[Sprayber]

Originally posted by Ming


I did indeed mention that some states do limit that percentage in the same post of mine you quote.

Again... it doesn't mean that they can't set speed traps, it just means that the city can't do it for the sole purpose of funding their budget

Yeah your right. The towns that I mentioned are still bad about doing that. The state authorities just kept them off the state highway that went through their town and away from the tourists


edit: it was actually officials from Jonesboro (my city) that raised hell about it because business people and tourists were being ticketed between here and Memphis (about 40minutes away)

[1]

Ok, saying "you should get a ticket...because you broke the law!!!" even if its a stupid law, is a horrible argument. That's like making chewing gum illegal, then when everyone is arrested or fined, you saying "well they deserved it, they knew it was illegal!" Anyone see a hole in this logic?

[David Floyd]

As you mentioned, in this case, it was admitted that the person was indeed speeding, so there was no abuse.

Agreed, although that was no my initial impression.

Although, in the general sense, such as cops trying to make you let them search your car and things of that nature, one should not let them just as a matter of general principles (the idea that if you have nothing to hide you shouldn't worry about it is idiotic).

But a tip... even if a policemen is abusing their power, that's probably the best reason to respect him. He has already proved to be a jerk, and pissing him off even more is NEVER a good idea.

If they are in the wrong, fight it out in court where you have a chance to win... pissing a cop off in the field is probably the stupidest thing you can ever do, even if you are innocent.

You are correct in a sense, because of laws against resisting police officers. Unfortunately, innocent people are not allowed to fight back physically against police abuses and excesses, as they could against any other person. But we've had this discussion before, and if it gets started again I'm just gonna get labeled as a cop-killer by all the word-twisters here.

[Ming]

DF...
I've never labeled you that... and yeah, in the field, their is nothing you can do legally... But to fight back or to start abusing the officer will only make the situation worse. Not fair, but it is reality.

Save it for court...

[David Floyd]

I've never labeled you that

I know. I believe it was Guynemer, could be wrong though.

and yeah, in the field, their is nothing you can do legally... But to fight back or to start abusing the officer will only make the situation worse. Not fair, but it is reality.

Which is the problem, in my opinion.

[Ming]

Originally posted by 1
Ok, saying "you should get a ticket...because you broke the law!!!" even if its a stupid law, is a horrible argument. That's like making chewing gum illegal, then when everyone is arrested or fined, you saying "well they deserved it, they knew it was illegal!" Anyone see a hole in this logic?

And what hole is that...

Besides being a bad analogy... what's your point?

If you break a law, you should suffer the penalities.
If you don't like the law, work to change it in a legal fashion.

Just because you don't like a law doesn't mean that you can break it and not be responsible for your actions. I think some speed limits are insane... but I also know that if I break them, and get caught, I will get a ticket.

That's the law... deal with it.

[David Floyd]

If you break a law, you should suffer the penalities.

So, speaking from a "right and wrong" perspective, should people fighting for civil rights have been punished for violating the law? Should Rosa Parks have been prosecuted, for example?

Or, should people have been prosecuted for drinking during Prohibition?

Both are situations where the actions were clearly illegal, but the laws were clearly wrong.

[Ming]

Originally posted by David Floyd
Which is the problem, in my opinion.

While it is a problem in my opinion as well... I can see why it is this way. A policeman is only doing his job. In MOST cases, you are being arrested for a reason, and in a legal fashion. In many of these cases, policemen are subject to abuse and physical harm, possibly even death for just enforcing the law in a legal and reasonable fashion. They need this protection!

There are bad apples in every profession... and yes, there are some cops who do not operate within the letter of the law. But even in those situations, it's better to take it... and not make matters worse. I've been manhandled by cops in the past (my long hair days), but me fighting back or heaping abusive language on them would probably have only made things worse... it's just not smart. I do as I'm told, I do with it respect... and I can always sue their asses in court later if they were in the wrong.

[Boris Godunov]

I fail to see, however, how the speed limit laws are in any way wrong. It is unjust enforcement I don't like, not the laws themselves.

[David Floyd]

A policeman is only doing his job. In MOST cases, you are being arrested for a reason, and in a legal fashion. In many of these cases, policemen are subject to abuse and physical harm, possibly even death for just enforcing the law in a legal and reasonable fashion. They need this protection!

True, but this protection would already fall under laws against assault, murder, etc., wouldn't you say?

On the other hand, if you are innocent, and being harrassed or abused - for example, innocent bystanders or even innocent protestors who are swept up, hit with tear gas or weapons during various protests - then you should be able to fight back.

Specifically, let's say I am participating in some sort of anti-government protest, which is within my rights to do, but some of the people in the protest begin to act illegally and violently. The police, who are already there, basically come in with riot gear and tear gas, and use it against everyone. Shouldn't I, who has done nothing illegal, be able to fight back against these actions, which are basically assault against me?