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Md: Caught speeding on camera, police officers refuse to pay tickets
Canadian Press ^ | 3/9/08

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.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Maryland
KEYWORDS: beserkcop; donutwatch; holdmuhdonut; leo; montgomerycounty; racingfordonuts
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1 posted on 03/09/2008 6:07:22 AM PDT by Mr. Brightside
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To: Mr. Brightside

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.


2 posted on 03/09/2008 6:13:37 AM PDT by steelyourfaith
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To: Mr. Brightside
The only surprising thing here is that ANY of these tickets were paid.
3 posted on 03/09/2008 6:14:40 AM PDT by TCats (The Clintons Are Not Just Wrong - They Are Certifiable AND Dangerous! See my Page)
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To: Mr. Brightside

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??


4 posted on 03/09/2008 6:17:10 AM PDT by Pablo64 (What is popular is not always right. What is right is not always popular.)
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To: Mr. Brightside

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.


5 posted on 03/09/2008 6:19:22 AM PDT by johnthebaptistmoore (Vote for conservatives AT ALL POLITICAL LEVELS! Encourage all others to do the same on November 4!)
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To: TCats
The only surprising thing here is that ANY of these tickets were paid.

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.

6 posted on 03/09/2008 6:25:01 AM PDT by IllumiNaughtyByNature (Senator McCain, what did GWB promise you back in 2000? And you believed him? BWAHAAAAA!)
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To: johnthebaptistmoore
"the state can set a good example"

In theory, great. However, the State rarely, if ever, sets a good example.

7 posted on 03/09/2008 6:26:28 AM PDT by TCats (The Clintons Are Not Just Wrong - They Are Certifiable AND Dangerous! See my Page)
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To: Pablo64

The story is from Rockville, Maryland, USA.


8 posted on 03/09/2008 6:26:53 AM PDT by Mr. Brightside ( Ronald Reagan Would Back McCain - http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1970504/posts)
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To: Mr. Brightside

It sounds like a good reason to get rid of speed cameras.


9 posted on 03/09/2008 6:28:48 AM PDT by Tribune7 (How is inflicting pain and death on an innocent, helpless human being for profit, moral?)
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To: Pablo64
This is in Rockville, Maryland being reported in a Canadian newspaper.

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?

10 posted on 03/09/2008 6:30:17 AM PDT by Normal4me
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To: Mr. Brightside

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.


11 posted on 03/09/2008 6:32:07 AM PDT by JamesP81 ("I am against "zero tolerance" policies. It is a crutch for idiots." --FReeper Tenacious 1)
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To: Mr. Brightside
CITIZENS ARREST, CITIZENS ARREST
SURPRISE! SURPRISE! SUPRISE!

GOMER

12 posted on 03/09/2008 6:33:36 AM PDT by DeaconRed (We must make sure our Brave Military gets the support to Win This WAR. Not another Viet Nam.)
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To: Mr. Brightside

“Do as I say, not as I do.”


13 posted on 03/09/2008 6:33:49 AM PDT by webschooner (A Conservative voting for Juan McCain is like trying to pick up a turd by the clean end.)
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To: Mr. Brightside; Normal4me
Thanks, both of you. I guess I'm not recovered from the time change yet this morning. I just glanced at the byline and saw that it was a Canadian paper.

I'll go have some more coffee and see if that helps a bit.

14 posted on 03/09/2008 6:33:56 AM PDT by Pablo64 (What is popular is not always right. What is right is not always popular.)
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To: Mr. Brightside

They will get away with it. There IS a double standard, remember. They are the ONLY ONES....


15 posted on 03/09/2008 6:34:40 AM PDT by 2harddrive (...House a TOTAL Loss.....)
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To: Mr. Brightside
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.

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 ?

16 posted on 03/09/2008 6:35:44 AM PDT by Popman (Gold Standard: Trying to squeeze a 50 lb economy back into a 5 lb bag)
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To: Mr. Brightside

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.


17 posted on 03/09/2008 6:38:21 AM PDT by YOUGOTIT (The Greatest Threat to our Security is the US Senate)
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Comment #18 Removed by Moderator

To: JamesP81

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.


19 posted on 03/09/2008 6:43:56 AM PDT by Arrowhead1952 (Both dim candidates promise change and/or hope. I don't think the USA can afford their message.)
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To: Mr. Brightside

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!”


20 posted on 03/09/2008 6:44:53 AM PDT by mkjessup (Famous 'Rat Initials: FDR, HST, JFK, LBJ .... to be followed by *B.O.* ?!? - I don't think so!! LOL)
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