Posted on 03/09/2008 6:07:22 AM PDT by Mr. Brightside
Caught speeding on camera, police officers refuse to pay tickets
16 hours ago
ROCKVILLE, Md. — No matter what the cameras say, some drivers are refusing to pay dozens of $40 speeding fines.
Who? Police officers.
In the last eight months of 2007, Montgomery County's new speed cameras recorded 224 cases in which police vehicles were recorded travelling more than 15 kilometres an hour over the speed limit, according to department records.
Supervisors dismissed 76 of those citations after determining the officers were responding to calls or had valid reasons to break the speed limit.
But that left 148 who didn't have that excuse, and about two-thirds of those citations haven't been paid, said police Lt. Paul Starks.
The police union says officers shouldn't pay because the citations are issued to the owner of a vehicle, in this case the county, and not to the driver.
Police Chief Thomas Manger doesn't buy that argument.
"We are not above the law," Manger said. "It is imperative that the police department hold itself to the same standards that we're holding the public to."
Manger said officers who continue to ignore citations might be disciplined.
If they won’t obey the law then they should not be entrusted to enforce the law. They are not above the law. Fire ‘em.
They’ll figure out a way around it. The law doesn’t apply to them, don’t you know? Besides, with Canada already entrusting the government to take care of their healthcare needs, it’s only fitting that the government should take care of their traffic fines as well. Isn’t that right Comrades??
The state should seriously sue such police officers. Favoritism is not acceptable, and the state can set a good example by not allowing these police officers to get away with what they did. The state would receive even more money to themselves if they decided to take even harsher legal actions against such cops, along with the union that represents such cops.
It goes to show that there are some very fine officers on the police force who deserve our commendations and respect. To them I tip my hat and say thank you for protecting us.
In theory, great. However, the State rarely, if ever, sets a good example.
The story is from Rockville, Maryland, USA.
It sounds like a good reason to get rid of speed cameras.
We are started to get redlight cameras down here in Central Florida and there is a lot of controversy over it. To calm down the masses, the city council has decided to just make the infraction a $125 fine and not a moving violation which would put points against your license. This way the city gets to put your cash in the general fund.
My question is what happens if a police officer is sitting there? Get points then? Higher fine?
If officers are performing their duty, they are allowed to ignore the posted speed limits. Their vehicles have warning lights to inform people that they are in a hurry. But when they are not responding to a call, they should drive a reasonable speed and observe the traffic signals just like everyone else.
GOMER
“Do as I say, not as I do.”
I'll go have some more coffee and see if that helps a bit.
They will get away with it. There IS a double standard, remember. They are the ONLY ONES....
Wow, talk about about Chutzpah
So by the same logic, if I get a speeding ticket my bank who owns the loan on my car should pay for my ticket ?
I have never seen one going the speed limit. And they are required to obey the law unless they have their flashing lights on. But that is not the way it is.
We have several motorcycle cops that go to work in Austin about the same time I do. They seem to ignore all speed limits and other traffic laws. I called the 311 number one day, and they said I needed to get the license plate number. Yeah, like I can read that tiny plate as they are driving 10 - 20 MPH faster than I am and it is still dark.
I really think those crotch rockets were manufactured without turn signals or low beam headlights. I flashed my high beams at one after he passed and I noticed the blue high beam indicator on his “dash” was lit as he passed me. He DID get the message and put them on low beam.
There are more sledgehammers in America than there are traffic surveillance cameras.
“It don’t mean a thing, if it ain’t got that swing!”
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.