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<misc> Re: Rants about cops, speeding...

> From: "Kennedy Simon" <Kennedy_Simon@domain.elided>
> Date: 6 Sep 1996 22:11:24 -0500
> Subject: <misc> Rants about cops, speeding...
> 
> 

[snip]

> As a card carrying member of the NMA, I have to agree that all too often
> speeding tickets are simply a source of local government revenue, and that the
> vast majority of traffic-police time could be much better spent ensuring
> safety, rather than insurance company profits.  I won't even get into the
> absurdity of the NSL, "Speed Kills" simpletons, and the rest.
> 

I am an NMA member too. I agree about the fallacy of the "speed kills" argument.

> However, police are definitely, overall, a force for good in society.  There
> are many amongst us who would cheerfully kill, steal, and otherwise make life
> much less pleasant, if they were not discouraged from their antisocial actions
> by the police.  While police are not taking particularily huge risks (compared
> to 7-11 clerks, used car salesman, and a host of other much more dangerous
> professions) they are out there defending us (when they're not writing
> tickets), it is a tough job, and they deserve our respect and understanding. 
> They are enforcing laws the rest of us voted into existence (cops making up
> something under 2% of the US population), and instead of heaping abuse on
> them, we should be actively trying to change the real target of our
> displeasure, namely an often absurd traffic code.

Yes, but how effective is a police officer at deterring crime (rape, murder,
theft, etc), when he sits in one place, behind the bushes on the highway, doing
nothing but watch his radar gun? The way I see it, the use of radar and other
such methods of enforcing arbitrary speed limits has fostered complacency in our
police forces. A cop could be so much more effective by patrolling the streets.
Many things could be observed, like possible break-ins at a house or car as they
pass by. Assisting a stranded motorist (which may be a half mile down the road
for all he knows). And, yes, along the way, he will likely nab a few speeders
(and maybe other traffic infractions as well). It wouldn't surprise me to learn
that speeding tickets are by far the most common citation that people receive,
probably because the police never patrol anymore, so they don't watch
intersections and such where other infractions may occur (running red lights,
etc). I bet that as many or more people roll through stop signs as exceed the
speed limit, but you don't see many of those citations issued.

It may not be the individual officers fault, the policy of the police force may
be in error, and that is what needs reviewing, but it is unlikely to change
until there is more awareness by the public.


- --
Russ Poffenberger               Engineering Specialist
Schlumberger Technologies ATE   DOMAIN: poffen@domain.elided
1601 Technology Drive		CIS:	72401,276
San Jose, Ca. 95110             Voice: (408)437-5254  FAX: (408)437-5246