Politicians at the Federal level, and in most states and many localities, have become overly enamored of their "authoriteh" and it is difficult, if not impossible, to seek redress of grievances under the current system. There has always been a "Boss Hog" mentality in local governments, but with the increase in laws and regulations and the element of greed, abuse of power is far greater than it was 50 or 100 years ago.
“There has always been a “Boss Hog” mentality in local governments, but with the increase in laws and regulations and the element of greed, abuse of power is far greater than it was 50 or 100 years ago.”
Perhaps it is only our ability to communicate instantly about the abuse of power that is greater.
That particular evil ‘abuse of power’ has been around a long time, and has been, at times, far worse.
Unless I have missed something in this news story, there is no indication at all that he was caught in a speed trap.
I'm quite aware of what the term means.
There is effectively little redress for someone who is technically in violation of an unjust law. The choices are to shut up and pay the fine within the prescribed time, lose a day's work to go to court, plus the cost of an attorney, or get in the face of a cop who can inflict pain and humiliation, plus send you to a short stay at the local jail, more or less at whim. Even if you choose to fight the citation, the local magistrate is in on the racket and will dismiss your complaint in most cases, especially if you are not a local.
All of that is correct, if it was a speed trap, but also beside the point.
It is ultimately useless to fight a law at the point of enforcement, fair or not. The trooper has neither the means nor the authority to change the law. It's his job to enforce the law, not change it.
Speed traps are much more effectively dealt with by the creation of state laws which forbid them. A significant group of travelers complaining to the state of the offending city or county could cause such a law to be passed.
Politicians at the Federal level, and in most states and many localities, have become overly enamored of their "authoriteh" and it is difficult, if not impossible, to seek redress of grievances under the current system. There has always been a "Boss Hog" mentality in local governments, but with the increase in laws and regulations and the element of greed, abuse of power is far greater than it was 50 or 100 years ago.
That's a good bit of generalization. Fortunately, there are states which limit the authority of local jurisdictions to play with speed limits. (See The Speed Trap Exchange for some examples)
All of your general contempt for overbearing (or worse) LEOs etc. is one that I share. But confrontations with such jerks are more easily avoided than won.
Don't violate the law, and you're much less likely to face a jerk cop.