do I really have to say it???
Posted on 11/18/2008 6:54:24 PM PST by LibWhacker
In 2002, police in the city of Detroit gave out a total of 126,007 traffic tickets. Last year, the number of tickets grew to over 245,000 - a 94% jump. The increase was even larger in small towns like Plymouth which saw the number of tickets go up from 440 to 2,500 — up 480 percent — over the same amount of time. According to Detroit area police the reason for the increase is dwindling property tax revenue. That lack of property tax revenue has forced local governments in Michigan to use average citizen drivers to fill the coffers. You might call it a new, “random driving tax.”
“When I first started in this job thirty years ago, police work was never about revenue enhancement,” Utica Police Chief Michael Reaves told the Detroit News. “But if you’re a chief now, you have to look at whether your department produces revenues. That’s just the reality nowadays.”
The National Motorists Association pointed to Detroit suburbs as home to some of the worst speed traps in the entire country. Upwards of 18 jurisdictions in the area reported an increase in ticketing of more than fifty percent.
“When elected officials say, ‘We need more money,’ they can’t look to the department of public works to raise revenues, so where do they find it? Police departments,” Police Officers Association of Michigan President James Tagnanelli told the News.
“I’ve spent eight years in traffic services, and I was a crash reconstructionist for five years before that,” Michigan State Police Lieutenant Gary Megge told the News. “So I’ve seen my share of fatal wrecks, and I can tell you: Deaths are not caused by speeding. They’re caused by drinking, drugs and inattentiveness. The old adage that speed kills just isn’t realistic. The safest speed is the speed that is correct for that roadway at a given time. A lot of speed limits are set artificially low.”
The Michigan State Police promotes setting limits according to the 85th percentile rule. This widely used principle is used to determine a practical speed limit by measuring how fast the vast majority of traffic, 85 percent, travel in safety.
“It just doesn’t seem right to me that we would enforce a law where 90-98 percent of the people are in violation of it,” Lieutenant Megge told the News. “It’s not the way we should do business in this country.”
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Is that Duh or Doh?
CAPTAIN OBVIOUS.....we need you!
>Is that Duh or Doh?
Yes.
(To both... “Random Driving Tax”)
****
This is the most honest cop I have ever heard.
lol
too funny!
the local town police don’t want to stop people running a 4 way stop near the local middle school. they tell me it’s “better” for them to sit on the bigger roads outside of town. which are to catch speeders. Until the first kid is killed by someone running the 4-way stop that is.
Best,
L
Selective toll assessments should be met with severe resistance.
Also why they don’t go after criminals other than drug dealers. They don’t have money.
"We need the money." he said.
"For what?" I asked.
"Well, we need it for lots of things." he replied.
"You mean you have to make criminals out of us to pay for the Fire Department, Street Department, Water Department, and Police Department?" I asked.
"Oh no. We need it for all the other programs we run."
I told him that not only could he be sure I wouldn't knock on any doors for him next election, I'd actively oppose his re-election. Now this is a guy I've worked with for nearly 10 years in various volunteer capacities in my little Village.
I have to tell you I'm pretty ashamed of myself. I thought I knew this guy pretty well.
Never again, never again.
L
That’s all they’re for: money.
It's pretty rough being treated like a whore without being either paid or enjoying the benefits of intercourse.
do I really have to say it???
I'm a safety and timing official for a local once-a-year road race in my area. On practice days and race days the officials take to the course early to get into position in preparation for the race. Thus we get to drive the road when it is closed, technically a private road with no speed limit. By actual test even my silly little 4 Dr. hatchback commuter car is capable of 20 mph or more over the posted speed limit, without pushing it. Not violating lanes (ie. taking a racing line through the corners), not even pushing hard enough for tire howl.
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