A woman in Houston Texas warns drivers with a makeshift "Speed Trap" warning sign and gets arrested for it.
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=8715510 (http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=8715510)
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A woman tried to save drivers from getting ticketed by police and instead ended up in jail herself. Now she claims she was wrongfully arrested.
It all happened as officers were clocking speeders and pulling them over last week near downtown. Natalie Plummer now fears police retribution. She says she was just trying to get people to stop driving so fast, and that instead of being seen as helpful, she was arrested for it.
Plummer admits she probably will never hold up a similar sign again out near any road.
"I was completely abiding by the law," she said. "I was simply warning citizens of a situation ahead."
Last Thursday on West Dallas, Plummer was on her bike headed home from the grocery store when she saw Houston police pulling over alleged speeders. She took some video while riding by.
She said, "I felt like he was just pulling random cars over."
So Plummer went up the street a few blocks, made an impromptu sign on a grocery bag reading 'Speed Trap!' and stood, she says, on the sidewalk.
"I for sure did not step into the street," Plummer said. "(I stayed) on the sidewalk the entire time."
After a few minutes, Plummer claims one of the officers drove up, jumped from his car and started pulling at her backpack. She says he searched it without consent, and then arrested her.
"He was telling me he was taking me to jail for obstructing justice, that was an automatic three to five years," Plummer recalled.
She was instead only cited with a misdemeanor. Court documents show her accused of "...walking in the roadway where there is a sidewalk present."
Plummer says, though, that she spent 12 hours in jail before bonding out.
The Houston Police Department refused our request to talk about this incident on camera. A spokesperson says Plummer was "in the roadway" and "was a danger to herself and others and "...the sum total of which was is an arrestable offense."
Plummer said, "He couldn't take me to jail for holding up this sign or he would have. So all he could do was make up something fake about it."
Police say Plummer was combative and resisted arrest. But our KTRK legal analyst says Plummer should not have been arrested.
(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
She should sue the police department and the municipality for everything they've got. It was wrongful arrest, and all the local assholes..er..cops were doing was revenue fishing.
Indeed. If she gets a good enough lawyer, maybe she could blow the lid off the whole "speed limits = free money for the state" conspiracy.
Being the son of a police officer, I'll say everyone who has crap to talk about them can shut up.
She shouldn't have been arrested, a ticket would have been fine. Whether she feels they pulled over random cars or not, it's none of her business. I've talked to my dad plenty of times, there really is a whole lot you can pull a person over for.. Although this is another example of everyone wanting to be a "hero".
BigMatt
Quote from: BigMattFromTexas on June 29, 2012, 10:05:08 PM
Being the son of a police officer, I'll say everyone who has crap to talk about them can shut up.
She shouldn't have been arrested, a ticket would have been fine. Whether she feels they pulled over random cars or not, it's none of her business. I've talked to my dad plenty of times, there really is a whole lot you can pull a person over for.. Although this is another example of everyone wanting to be a "hero".
BigMatt
Fuck you. This is America, and we're not shutting up. There's enough incompetence and corruption in the police force to bring down a small African nation, and it's up to us to stand up and shout about it until people take notice.
And whining on a forum helps our nation.. how? And considering I knew a cop in Austin from San Angelo who was shot and killed, kinda have a higher respect for them. Don't do stuff to even involve them, then ain't nothing happens..
BigMatt
Quote from: BigMattFromTexas on June 29, 2012, 11:50:25 PM
And whining on a forum helps our nation.. how? And considering I knew a cop in Austin from San Angelo who was shot and killed, kinda have a higher respect for them. Don't do stuff to even involve them, then ain't nothing happens..
BigMatt
What whining on a forum? She went out and exercised her right to freedom of speech. She got arrested for it. That's abuse of power. So because you knew a police officer who was killed, they are above reproach? That's like saying that because I'm a Jew, Israel has not done anything wrong in its fight against the Palestinians. And I know you're young and dumb, but honestly, you can get police involved by doing nothing wrong. They do what they please because who's going to stop them?
I never knew you were so anti-authority towards police, Steve. :-P
For the record, I think she shouldn't have been arrested, provided that she really was not unduly hindering traffic.
Reminds me of the big SPEED TRAP AHEAD signs painted on the side of trailers on US 69 when the Big Cabin speed trap was still active.
In an ideal world police officers would be widely respected but so many of them have proven themselves unworthy of that respect by abusing their power that these days it's mildly surprising when one lives up to higher standards.
Quote from: Scott5114 on June 30, 2012, 01:28:47 AM
Reminds me of the big SPEED TRAP AHEAD signs painted on the side of trailers on US 69 when the Big Cabin speed trap was still active.
In an ideal world police officers would be widely respected but so many of them have proven themselves unworthy of that respect by abusing their power that these days it's mildly surprising when one lives up to higher standards.
I would state it the opposite way. I think a majority, a
strong majority, are respectable and honorable, but it's the minority that paints them all in a negative light. Look at it like this - most cops are not traffic cops or beat cops.
Quote from: Steve on June 30, 2012, 02:24:13 AM
Quote from: Scott5114 on June 30, 2012, 01:28:47 AM
Reminds me of the big SPEED TRAP AHEAD signs painted on the side of trailers on US 69 when the Big Cabin speed trap was still active.
In an ideal world police officers would be widely respected but so many of them have proven themselves unworthy of that respect by abusing their power that these days it's mildly surprising when one lives up to higher standards.
I would state it the opposite way. I think a majority, a strong majority, are respectable and honorable, but it's the minority that paints them all in a negative light. Look at it like this - most cops are not traffic cops or beat cops.
I can see how it is very possible that there are more "backroom" cops than street cops, but most police interactions occur with street cops of course. There isn't much immediate danger if the "backroom" cops mess up (well, unless it is your case), but a street cop messing up could result in a death and general panic.
Someone had better arrest these guys:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm3.staticflickr.com%2F2162%2F2239411045_e92970d3a2_z.jpg%3Fzz%3D1&hash=83f958a683b9ff34362a5e9a560f4549c0c265d3) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/osgoodphotography/2239411045/)
If I were doing what she did, I'd probably make a homemade "strictly enforced" plate and hold it up near the speed limit sign.
Quote from: Zmapper on June 30, 2012, 02:31:07 AM
Quote from: Steve on June 30, 2012, 02:24:13 AM
Quote from: Scott5114 on June 30, 2012, 01:28:47 AM
Reminds me of the big SPEED TRAP AHEAD signs painted on the side of trailers on US 69 when the Big Cabin speed trap was still active.
In an ideal world police officers would be widely respected but so many of them have proven themselves unworthy of that respect by abusing their power that these days it's mildly surprising when one lives up to higher standards.
I would state it the opposite way. I think a majority, a strong majority, are respectable and honorable, but it's the minority that paints them all in a negative light. Look at it like this - most cops are not traffic cops or beat cops.
I can see how it is very possible that there are more "backroom" cops than street cops, but most police interactions occur with street cops of course. There isn't much immediate danger if the "backroom" cops mess up (well, unless it is your case), but a street cop messing up could result in a death and general panic.
I was referring in particular to police looking for traffic enforcement or just walking the streets (typical in big cities only). Most police are around "on patrol" or at the precinct waiting for a call.
Be careful when on US 101 as you drive through Port Orford OR. The speed limit for a very wide 4-lane street with center left turn refuge is 30 MPH. The city of Port Orford has as part of their expected revenues listed in their city budget $160K from traffic tickets. You will not see such a heavy police presence in any other small town on the Pacific Coast.
Rick
I have an idea! Let's list all the speed traps we know!
Quote from: BigMattFromTexas on June 29, 2012, 10:05:08 PM
Being the son of a police officer, I'll say everyone who has crap to talk about them can shut up.
She shouldn't have been arrested, a ticket would have been fine. Whether she feels they pulled over random cars or not, it's none of her business. I've talked to my dad plenty of times, there really is a whole lot you can pull a person over for.. Although this is another example of everyone wanting to be a "hero".
BigMatt
I've got some very close friends who are retired police officers.
But I'm the camp that wishes that police officers would pay more attention to "real" crimes that involve persons or property than speed or traffic enforcement.
Yesterday I saw a state policeman parked running radar. Since it's the last of the month, he must not have met his quota. (And yes, they have quotas even though most deny it. One of my policeman friends told me he had a quota.) As soon as I passed him I Tweeted his location and my Tweets automatically go to Facebook. One of my friends jumped on me for disclosing his location.
I say more power to this woman. If the purpose of issuing speeding tickets is to get people to slow down and obey the law, then telling drivers where a speed trap is located serves the same purpose without the revenue collection aspect of it.
I hope this woman sues and ends up owning the police department. Her First Amendment rights were definitely violated.
I've been very glad to see police officers at times, and I certainly agree that the great majority of them are good people and good officers. However, that doesn't mean we should tolerate bad ones. If the officer was lying in his report about where this woman was standing, it's perjury, and it should go on his record and make his testimony in any future case highly suspect. His career as an officer should be over.
Good police officers should be the first to want the bad ones off the force.
I wasn't even issued a ticket for this one, but....
Back in the Chicago suburb of Wheaton, I was hitchhiking along Roosevelt Road, going to Geneva. I was standing on the sidewalk with a backpack and a sign that said "Geneva". A police officer parked in the TWLTL, came over, told me soliciting rides is prohibited in the town of Wheaton, demanded that I walk until I was outside the city limits, and then didn't leave until I started walking. So I walked until the "Welcome to Winfield" sign, got my sign out again, and got a ride the rest of the way to Geneva.
A couple of days later, I went to the library, got a copy of Wheaton's municipal code, and searched it. Found nothing–except that, unless otherwise stated, state laws apply. So I emailed the chief of police, stating exactly what happened at what location at what time of day. I included the exact wording of the laws. The deputy chief replied to my email, offered an apology, and stated that the officer would be dealt with.
So, yeah, a cop can nail you for breaking a law you're not breaking, because most cops don't actually know what the law says. Assuming this lady was not impeding traffic, I applaud her actions and hope the police force there takes a good look at what its function in society is actually supposed to be.
Quote from: BigMattFromTexas on June 29, 2012, 10:05:08 PM
Being the son of a police officer, I'll say everyone who has crap to talk about them can shut up.
She shouldn't have been arrested, a ticket would have been fine. Whether she feels they pulled over random cars or not, it's none of her business. I've talked to my dad plenty of times, there really is a whole lot you can pull a person over for.. Although this is another example of everyone wanting to be a "hero".
BigMatt
Whatever, I'm the grandson of a Detroit policeman, so stuff it, Matt. I also know that cops drive just as bad as anyone else (worse in some cases).
Quote from: kphoger on June 30, 2012, 03:44:14 PM
I wasn't even issued a ticket for this one, but....
Back in the Chicago suburb of Wheaton, I was hitchhiking along Roosevelt Road, going to Geneva. I was standing on the sidewalk with a backpack and a sign that said "Geneva". A police officer parked in the TWLTL, came over, told me soliciting rides is prohibited in the town of Wheaton, demanded that I walk until I was outside the city limits, and then didn't leave until I started walking. So I walked until the "Welcome to Winfield" sign, got my sign out again, and got a ride the rest of the way to Geneva.
A couple of days later, I went to the library, got a copy of Wheaton's municipal code, and searched it. Found nothing–except that, unless otherwise stated, state laws apply. So I emailed the chief of police, stating exactly what happened at what location at what time of day. I included the exact wording of the laws. The deputy chief replied to my email, offered an apology, and stated that the officer would be dealt with.
So, yeah, a cop can nail you for breaking a law you're not breaking, because most cops don't actually know what the law says. Assuming this lady was not impeding traffic, I applaud her actions and hope the police force there takes a good look at what its function in society is actually supposed to be.
Either that cop was just being a jerk, or like all too many cops, they don't actually know all of the laws and just assume what the law is. Part of the problem is that there really are too many laws, IMHO.
I suspect he didn't know what the law was. If he wanted to be a jerk he could have given kphoger a ticket... it looks to me like he honestly thought that was the law and was looking for any excuse to not give a ticket.
I have heard speed traps mentioned in on air traffic reports, the AAA, and of course everyone knows about Waldo, FL. Then the Houston Police should arrest these people in the reporting and tourism industry and all who mention in conversation about the US 301 corridor to each other.
Steve is right, she was excersizing her First Amendment right! Also you have a few bad cops that ruin it for the whole force that give the law a bad name. In general the whole law enforcement is not totally corrupt.
Crappy photo, but I thought this sign on NY 40 north near NY 196 got the point across.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm4.staticflickr.com%2F3201%2F2969922245_7112cb1f32.jpg&hash=84ede1bbc8299af4c9c7d4bab9e80e808ffe694f)
My question towards this is a) why do they care? and b) the locals probably enjoy her fair warning, so why make citizens upset if you're supposed to protect them?
Usually the locals are the ones who want the lower limit in the first place. They don't want non-locals to speed through and disrupt what they think is a quiet residential street (regardless of whether said street is actually a major through route), and the revenue from speeding tickets gives the local government more money.
Quote from: deanej on July 05, 2012, 02:49:53 PM
Usually the locals are the ones who want the lower limit in the first place. They don't want non-locals to speed through and disrupt what they think is a quiet residential street (regardless of whether said street is actually a major through route), and the revenue from speeding tickets gives the local government more money.
And in fairness to the police (not going to comment on the original story since I wasn't there), in some areas they get it from both ends. The locals complain that people drive too fast (cause you know everyone has radar eyes) and demand the police "do something". The people who drive through (and even lots of the locals, if it's a road off the beaten path) then complain when they start getting speeding tickets. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
With most cities, counties and states begin close to broke we will more enforcement campaigns for the "public safety". Its a way to build up revenue without raising taxes. When you make under 50K a year a 150-200 speeding ticket can break the budget. ( please no lectures) not to mention increased insurance rates. Insurance companies have a vested interest in more tickets being issues for sure.
My dad is a retired police officer and he didnt have quotas but rather "expectations" of the number of tickets issued. The cops doa great job but they are turned into collection agents for cities and counties
Quote from: deanej on July 05, 2012, 02:49:53 PM
Usually the locals are the ones who want the lower limit in the first place. They don't want non-locals to speed through and disrupt what they think is a quiet residential street (regardless of whether said street is actually a major through route), and the revenue from speeding tickets gives the local government more money.
Is that the case everywhere? In Kentucky, the local government is the last agency to get a cut from a traffic ticket. The state gets its cut first.
Quote from: deanej on July 05, 2012, 02:49:53 PM
Usually the locals are the ones who want the lower limit in the first place.
That is correct.
Quote from: deanej on July 05, 2012, 02:49:53 PM
They don't want non-locals to speed through and disrupt what they think is a quiet residential street (regardless of whether said street is actually a major through route), and the revenue from speeding tickets gives the local government more money.
Not in all states. In my home state of Maryland, the state collects all fines from
all "moving" violations (where an officer stops a vehicle and issues a ticket). Even if the ticket was issued by a county or municipal officer, the revenue goes to the state.
Different rules apply regarding parking tickets and tickets issued by automatic enforcement systems (such as "red light" cameras and "speed" cameras).
Quote from: cpzilliacus on July 05, 2012, 09:17:41 PM
Not in all states. In my home state of Maryland, the state collects all fines from all "moving" violations (where an officer stops a vehicle and issues a ticket). Even if the ticket was issued by a county or municipal officer, the revenue goes to the state.
AFAIK, Indiana is like this on state roads and that is why you rarely see local police speed traps on highways. State Police speed traps do exist. Occasionally during high enforcement periods, local police are recruited to patrol state roads.
Quote from: Roadgeek Adam on July 04, 2012, 07:57:53 PM
Crappy photo, but I thought this sign on NY 40 north near NY 196 got the point across.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm4.staticflickr.com%2F3201%2F2969922245_7112cb1f32.jpg&hash=84ede1bbc8299af4c9c7d4bab9e80e808ffe694f)
That sign is stupid.. If I was driving at 40, I probly wouldn't look at the small lettering on there, so I'd see "55" so I'd go 55, then I'd get ticketed for 55 in a 40. All because of that B.S. sign...
BigMatt
Quote from: hbelkins on July 05, 2012, 09:01:49 PM
Quote from: deanej on July 05, 2012, 02:49:53 PM
Usually the locals are the ones who want the lower limit in the first place. They don't want non-locals to speed through and disrupt what they think is a quiet residential street (regardless of whether said street is actually a major through route), and the revenue from speeding tickets gives the local government more money.
Is that the case everywhere? In Kentucky, the local government is the last agency to get a cut from a traffic ticket. The state gets its cut first.
It's the same here in Illinois, for all roads and streets, even the local residential ones. This method usually cuts down on the number of speed traps and Barney Fifes.
Well, when they say its all about safety, this is proof it's not, it's just about writing tickets. If they really cared they'd put their own signs up before every speed trap. This would A) make the people who still got tickets look like real idiots and B) they could put fake signs up wherever they wanted to get people to slow down.
Quote from: texaskdog on July 06, 2012, 08:21:26 AM
Well, when they say its all about safety, this is proof it's not, it's just about writing tickets. If they really cared they'd put their own signs up before every speed trap. This would A) make the people who still got tickets look like real idiots and B) they could put fake signs up wherever they wanted to get people to slow down.
Isn't this supposed to be the point of areas where they have the Speed Limit sign with a smaller "Radar Enforced", "Speed Enforced from Aircraft", "Speed Strictly Enforced", or as we get here in PA "Speed Electronically Enforced"? I think there does need to be a balance of warning signs and actual enforcement, or people learn to ignore them. I've seen the NJ Troopers doing this on I-95 in Ewing. They sometimes park a car in a "hiding spot", but every now and again, I've seen a Trooper in the car. Since you never know if there's going to be a cop in the car or not, you slow down. Unfortunately, because there's only so many places to hide, you also learn to slow down in specific places and speed up in others. Personally, I just stick with a speed I'm comfortable with and that I'm confident the cops won't bother me at, but at the same time, I'll tend to go slower through unfamiliar areas, especially if it's off an Interstate or major highway where you have local police to contend with, since they can be unpredictable.
Quote from: Compulov on July 06, 2012, 08:39:55 AM
Isn't this supposed to be the point of areas where they have the Speed Limit sign with a smaller "Radar Enforced", "Speed Enforced from Aircraft", "Speed Strictly Enforced", or as we get here in PA "Speed Electronically Enforced"?
Or my personal favorite, often erected by municipalities, "Speed Controlled by Radar." WTF?
Quote from: Compulov on July 06, 2012, 08:39:55 AM
Personally, I just stick with a speed I'm comfortable with and that I'm confident the cops won't bother me at, but at the same time, I'll tend to go slower through unfamiliar areas, especially if it's off an Interstate or major highway where you have local police to contend with, since they can be unpredictable.
Not that it'll do anyone any good in Virginia, but I still maintain that a good radar detector is about the best investment a driver can make. After not having one for years, I got a speeding ticket in Ohio a few years ago. I bought a Valentine One after that and it has more than paid for itself in the intervening years.
Quote from: texaskdog on July 06, 2012, 08:21:26 AM
Well, when they say its all about safety, this is proof it's not, it's just about writing tickets. If they really cared they'd put their own signs up before every speed trap. This would A) make the people who still got tickets look like real idiots and B) they could put fake signs up wherever they wanted to get people to slow down.
Or use unmanned scout cars as the Illinois State Police used to. They'd set one up under a bridge and people did believe for a while until they noticed that the things were empty 24/7.
Quote from: hbelkins on July 06, 2012, 09:55:42 AM
....
Not that it'll do anyone any good in Virginia, but I still maintain that a good radar detector is about the best investment a driver can make. After not having one for years, I got a speeding ticket in Ohio a few years ago. I bought a Valentine One after that and it has more than paid for itself in the intervening years.
I've used a Valentine One in Virginia without any problems (only at night, mind you, with the concealed-display module on). It's an outstanding device and it appears the anti-VG2 feature works quite well, as I've driven past state troopers who had the radar mounted on the outside of their car when I had the V1 on and they didn't notice. Only thing in Virginia is that if you have a detector on and you slow in response to it, and the cop sees you do it, you've given him probable cause to search your vehicle for a radar detector (the Virginia Court of Appeals ruled exactly that way when someone tried to challenge a search). But depending on how fast you're going, that might be the better option than the speeding ticket. My V1 went off on northbound I-85 near the US-460 exit one night back in the 1990s when I was on my way back from Duke and I was doing in excess of 90 mph. In that situation, stomping on the brakes and risking a detector ticket made sense.....and it turned out the cop already had someone stopped and he was just being an asshole by not turning off his radar.
Lately I just drive slower than I used to and I haven't felt the need to use a detector. Didn't even take it with me on our trip to Florida last month. I suppose it's fair to note that I purchased my V1 in 1996 when I was in school at Duke and so there's a good chance it's a bit obsolete because I haven't taken advantage of the company's upgrade policy.
I recently saw full-sized (flat) wooden mock-ups of the Federales in México. I saw probably five of them set up along the highway within, say, 200 miles.
Quote from: 1995hoo on July 06, 2012, 05:47:45 PMOnly thing in Virginia is that if you have a detector on and you slow in response to it, and the cop sees you do it, you've given him probable cause to search your vehicle for a radar detector (the Virginia Court of Appeals ruled exactly that way when someone tried to challenge a search).
How does the cop know that you are slowing in response to the detector going off and not in response to seeing him?
Wish I was technical-minded: I'd invent an under-the-hood detector unit that works in conjunction with an iPhone app.
Quote from: Brandon on July 06, 2012, 04:17:57 PM
Quote from: texaskdog on July 06, 2012, 08:21:26 AM
Well, when they say its all about safety, this is proof it's not, it's just about writing tickets. If they really cared they'd put their own signs up before every speed trap. This would A) make the people who still got tickets look like real idiots and B) they could put fake signs up wherever they wanted to get people to slow down.
Or use unmanned scout cars as the Illinois State Police used to. They'd set one up under a bridge and people did believe for a while until they noticed that the things were empty 24/7.
Haha i ran into one of those in effingham. I did a double take to make sure it was empty.
Quote from: texaskdog on July 06, 2012, 08:21:26 AM
Well, when they say its all about safety, this is proof it's not, it's just about writing tickets. If they really cared they'd put their own signs up before every speed trap. This would A) make the people who still got tickets look like real idiots and B) they could put fake signs up wherever they wanted to get people to slow down.
When I went to Brazil a couple years ago, the professor I was visiting pointed out to me that there's a law there (I'm not sure if it's a federal or state law, so it might just apply to Sao Paulo) that all speed traps have to be marked in advance with signs. The signs are always fairly obvious: big white signs that read (translated to English) "Electronic Enforcement". He said that he once got out of a ticket because the police had failed to put a sign in place before the speed trap that caught him. To deal with the issue of people ignoring the signs in dangerous areas, they put flashing lights on the signs if, as it was explained to me, "they really mean it."
edit - just searched Google for an example of the signs, and found this article (http://www.salaodecarros.com.br/blog/carros/radares-ja-podem-ser-colocados-sem-aviso), which says that the law I mentioned was recently repealed.
Quote from: algorerhythms on July 08, 2012, 05:57:48 PM
When I went to Brazil a couple years ago, the professor I was visiting pointed out to me that there's a law there (I'm not sure if it's a federal or state law, so it might just apply to Sao Paulo) that all speed traps have to be marked in advance with signs. The signs are always fairly obvious: big white signs that read (translated to English) "Electronic Enforcement". He said that he once got out of a ticket because the police had failed to put a sign in place before the speed trap that caught him. To deal with the issue of people ignoring the signs in dangerous areas, they put flashing lights on the signs if, as it was explained to me, "they really mean it."
I always thought it was funny that all of the speed cameras in AZ had warning signs at around 1/2 and 1/4 miles before the cameras (at least for the permanently mounted units). I did manage to get caught by one on I-10, though that was a van-mounted unit, and they usually do a lousy job of putting up the "PHOTO ENFORCEMENT ZONE" sign with enough warning to slow down. I didn't slow down because I *thought* was going under their enforcement threshold. Little did I know it was a 55 zone, not 65. Even my dad (who was in the car with me) thought it was a 65 zone. I managed to get out of the ticket because they issued it to him (his car), and he gave them my info on the form he sent back and they never contacted me about it.
Quote from: hbelkins on July 06, 2012, 11:31:56 PM
Quote from: 1995hoo on July 06, 2012, 05:47:45 PMOnly thing in Virginia is that if you have a detector on and you slow in response to it, and the cop sees you do it, you've given him probable cause to search your vehicle for a radar detector (the Virginia Court of Appeals ruled exactly that way when someone tried to challenge a search).
How does the cop know that you are slowing in response to the detector going off and not in response to seeing him?
Wish I was technical-minded: I'd invent an under-the-hood detector unit that works in conjunction with an iPhone app.
I'd have to find and re-read the original Court of Appeals opinion. I suspect the guy slowed right as the cop activated his radar gun, which gives probable cause.
Quote from: BigMattFromTexas on July 05, 2012, 11:23:43 PM
Quote from: Roadgeek Adam on July 04, 2012, 07:57:53 PM
Crappy photo, but I thought this sign on NY 40 north near NY 196 got the point across.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm4.staticflickr.com%2F3201%2F2969922245_7112cb1f32.jpg&hash=84ede1bbc8299af4c9c7d4bab9e80e808ffe694f)
That sign is stupid.. If I was driving at 40, I probly wouldn't look at the small lettering on there, so I'd see "55" so I'd go 55, then I'd get ticketed for 55 in a 40. All because of that B.S. sign...
BigMatt
I would replace NOT with SHOULD BE :colorful:
Quote from: texaskdog on July 06, 2012, 08:21:26 AM
Well, when they say its all about safety, this is proof it's not, it's just about writing tickets. If they really cared they'd put their own signs up before every speed trap. This would A) make the people who still got tickets look like real idiots and B) they could put fake signs up wherever they wanted to get people to slow down.
Wouldn't this be the same as how they put up warning signs before DUI Checkpoints? In fact, don't they post warnings for those in newspapers? Seems like it would make sense.
I'm reminded how I read years and years ago about some teenagers who set up on a highway in Northern California...a couple had a "SPEED TRAP AHEAD" sign, then at some distance past the cop, another couple had a sign saying "TIPS". They were doing pretty well for themselves.
Quote from: kphoger on July 06, 2012, 06:00:32 PM
I recently saw full-sized (flat) wooden mock-ups of the Federales in México. I saw probably five of them set up along the highway within, say, 200 miles.
in stark contrast, I've never seen a single bit of evidence of speed limit enforcement in Mexico. I was doing 130 km/h in a marked 80 km/h and getting passed by double-trailered trucks!
There was a local Facebook viral going around about how a couple of 12 year old kids in Bend, OR, had a cardboard sign before the speedtrap, and a tip jar right after. I don't think the local law enforcement took action against the kids, but I thought it was pretty awesome. Much better than the typical lemonade stand. lol
I'm so fed up with police abusing their power and authority, but this is pretty ridiculous. It really depends where you are, and there's obviously plenty of cops who are respectful and do their job, but there's so many bad cops that give them a bad name in general. Portland is a good example of a city with a corrupt police system. The cops only really care about being on the news. Unfortunately for them, they do appear on the news, but not necessarily in good light.
Quote from: KEK Inc. on July 09, 2012, 07:18:28 PM
There was a local Facebook viral going around about how a couple of 12 year old kids in Bend, OR, had a cardboard sign before the speedtrap, and a tip jar right after. I don't think the local law enforcement took action against the kids, but I thought it was pretty awesome. Much better than the typical lemonade stand. lol
I'm so fed up with police abusing their power and authority, but this is pretty ridiculous. It really depends where you are, and there's obviously plenty of cops who are respectful and do their job, but there's so many bad cops that give them a bad name in general. Portland is a good example of a city with a corrupt police system. The cops only really care about being on the news. Unfortunately for them, they do appear on the news, but not necessarily in good light.
You are SO right on that. And our mayor is a complete doofus.
Quote from: drummer_evans_aki on July 09, 2012, 09:33:07 PM
Quote from: KEK Inc. on July 09, 2012, 07:18:28 PM
There was a local Facebook viral going around about how a couple of 12 year old kids in Bend, OR, had a cardboard sign before the speedtrap, and a tip jar right after. I don't think the local law enforcement took action against the kids, but I thought it was pretty awesome. Much better than the typical lemonade stand. lol
I'm so fed up with police abusing their power and authority, but this is pretty ridiculous. It really depends where you are, and there's obviously plenty of cops who are respectful and do their job, but there's so many bad cops that give them a bad name in general. Portland is a good example of a city with a corrupt police system. The cops only really care about being on the news. Unfortunately for them, they do appear on the news, but not necessarily in good light.
You are SO right on that. And our mayor is a complete doofus.
But he appears as a cameo on Portlandia! He has his priorities straight!
Quote from: KEK Inc. on July 09, 2012, 07:18:28 PM
There was a local Facebook viral going around about how a couple of 12 year old kids in Bend, OR, had a cardboard sign before the speedtrap, and a tip jar right after. I don't think the local law enforcement took action against the kids, but I thought it was pretty awesome. Much better than the typical lemonade stand. lol
I'm so fed up with police abusing their power and authority, but this is pretty ridiculous. It really depends where you are, and there's obviously plenty of cops who are respectful and do their job, but there's so many bad cops that give them a bad name in general. Portland is a good example of a city with a corrupt police system. The cops only really care about being on the news. Unfortunately for them, they do appear on the news, but not necessarily in good light.
Another thing they do is photo enforce lights. They program the light for 28 MPH when the limit is 30. It causes more accidents and unlike a traffic stop where they might let you off, this is automatic guilt. It's never about safety its all about money.
Quote from: NE2 on June 30, 2012, 12:19:45 PM
I have an idea! Let's list all the speed traps we know!
Done and done.
http://www.motorists.org/speed-trap-listings/
Quote from: texaskdog on July 10, 2012, 10:18:07 AM
Another thing they do is photo enforce lights. They program the light for 28 MPH when the limit is 30. It causes more accidents and unlike a traffic stop where they might let you off, this is automatic guilt. It's never about safety its all about money.
Hmm. Source?
Quote from: texaskdog on July 10, 2012, 10:18:07 AM
Another thing they do is photo enforce lights. They program the light for 28 MPH when the limit is 30. It causes more accidents and unlike a traffic stop where they might let you off, this is automatic guilt. It's never about safety its all about money.
Hmm. Source?
Quote from: DTComposer on July 09, 2012, 06:12:26 PM
Quote from: texaskdog on July 06, 2012, 08:21:26 AM
Well, when they say its all about safety, this is proof it's not, it's just about writing tickets. If they really cared they'd put their own signs up before every speed trap. This would A) make the people who still got tickets look like real idiots and B) they could put fake signs up wherever they wanted to get people to slow down.
Wouldn't this be the same as how they put up warning signs before DUI Checkpoints? In fact, don't they post warnings for those in newspapers? Seems like it would make sense.
I'm reminded how I read years and years ago about some teenagers who set up on a highway in Northern California...a couple had a "SPEED TRAP AHEAD" sign, then at some distance past the cop, another couple had a sign saying "TIPS". They were doing pretty well for themselves.
The reason DUI checkpoints have warnings is because they're a 4th amendment violation but exploit the idea that driving near one despite the warning constitutes consent to be subjected to the checkpoint (this is the same loophole the TSA uses at airports).
Quote from: Special K on July 10, 2012, 10:55:10 AM
Quote from: texaskdog on July 10, 2012, 10:18:07 AM
Another thing they do is photo enforce lights. They program the light for 28 MPH when the limit is 30. It causes more accidents and unlike a traffic stop where they might let you off, this is automatic guilt. It's never about safety its all about money.
Hmm. Source?
Quote from: kphoger on July 10, 2012, 10:32:07 PM
Quote from: texaskdog on July 10, 2012, 10:18:07 AM
Another thing they do is photo enforce lights. They program the light for 28 MPH when the limit is 30. It causes more accidents and unlike a traffic stop where they might let you off, this is automatic guilt. It's never about safety its all about money.
Hmm. Source?
http://www.motorists.org/red-light-cameras/
Quote from: Special K on July 10, 2012, 10:55:10 AM
Quote from: texaskdog on July 10, 2012, 10:18:07 AM
Another thing they do is photo enforce lights. They program the light for 28 MPH when the limit is 30. It causes more accidents and unlike a traffic stop where they might let you off, this is automatic guilt. It's never about safety its all about money.
Hmm. Source?
Cant find the one I read but this mentions it http://www.politicsol.com/guest-commentaries/2001-07-26.html