'Camo Cops' Patrol for Speeders on Freeway

Star Tribune ^ | 06.03.04

[wallcrawlr]

PITTSBURGH -- State police are taking to the woods, dressed in camouflage and armed. But the weapons are radar guns, the quarry is speeders and the season never closes.

Police at the Rockview Barracks near State College began using so-called ``camo cops'' patrols after a 44-vechicle crash on Interstate 80 that killed six people in January.

``As a result, there were many, many letters and questions and fingerpointing - What are you doing? What are you not doing enough of?'' said Lt. Jeffrey Watson, station commander.

The tactic is catching on with state police in other counties.

In one five-hour blitz in Indiana County last week, troopers issued 25 citations to motorists zooming along at least 15 miles faster than the posted 55 mph limit - including one lead foot cited for going 90 mph.

``It's going to continue throughout the summer months,'' said Shawn Houck, a spokesman with the state transportation department, which partnered with the barracks.

[silverdog]

Sorry I misinterpreted your post. I thought you meant that the individual cop got all or part of the collected fine money. Mea culpa.

[1Old Pro]

after a 44-vechicle crash on Interstate 80 that killed six people in January.

Probably caused by someone going too slow, not too fast. I'd rather have camo cops patrolling bad neighborhoods and locking up real criminals who engage in robbery, burglery, and violence against others. But als, there's no $$$$ in it for the cops to buy new toys.

[SoothingDave]

Any suggestions on how to keep yourself safe without drawing the wrath (and the gun) of a real cop?

Uh, you use your cell phone to call 911. They can verify if an actual police officer is in pursuit. If that is the case, you can still inform them that you are going to proceed to a well-lit public area before stopping.

SD

[Sloth]

A marked police car "prevents" the crime only when he is visible. A consistent threat of unmarked police surveillance may prevent the crime anytime, because the drivers will never know whether they are being tracked.

[hopespringseternal]

I have only gotten one speeding ticket in my life, and boy was I speeding. But I was a kid, and I was nice and respectful so the cop only wrote it for 23 over so I could take defensive driving.

I have been let off numerous times, and I have only run into a couple of cops who were real jerks.

Still, it is unfortunate that the real offenders often aren't just speeding. They are tailgating, making sudden lane changes, etc. and are seldom caught.

Most cops not directed to raise revenue seem to treat the speed limit as more of a guideline than a set-in-stone law, and that is the way most of society views it.

[society-by-contract]

For the life of me, I cannot figure out what the state is doing being involved in the road business: road socialism. Transportation, like the production of boots, is best left to private enterprise.

[night reader]

Washington state is now doing much the same type of thing. They patrol in all kinds of unmarked vehicles now.

Soon after you cross into Florida going south on I-95, you'll get into a construction area. One of the workers is a land surveyor surveying with a transit mounted on a tripod... 'cepting he ain't no surveyor, and that transit ain't no transit. Plus he gits yuh in a construction zone! More points, more fines!

[GrandEagle]

Still, it is unfortunate that the real offenders often aren't just speeding. They are tailgating, making sudden lane changes, etc. and are seldom caught.
How true!
I wish I could say I had only had a couple of speeding tickets. Have een driving around 70,000 or so miles a year now for 10-15 years or so. Sheer exposure gets me.
I will have to say though that what your drive gets you more tickets than how you drive. At least down here in Alabama.

I too am always respectful - I wouldn't want their job!

[Tahoe4x4]

The CHP does the same thing here in Santa Cruz County on parts of Highway 1 in California

[Joe Brower]

So those sworn "to serve and protect" are devolved to nothing more than tax collectors with guns.

Meanwhile, somewhere, there is a real crime happening in the so-called "land of the free, home of the brave".

[geopyg]

Thanks! A great suggestion, and sure wouldn't have thought of it while being pulled over. I'm one of those nervous types. Get my wallet and registration out beforehand, both hands on the wheel, dome light on, respectful words.

I had one cop ask me all sorts of questions ("where are you coming from?" "Church choir practice Sir" He asked me more questions before he believed I was telling the truth - which I was!).

I had a friend back in college who assualted a cop after a traffic stop gone bad. The two cops thought he and his friend were armed robbers. They pulled them over for what they thought was speeding. One cop started beating on the friend when he didn't react quickly enough. The other guy freaked out and took the other cop's gun to get the cop off his buddy.

Soon other cops where there and they got everyone to calm down. He spent quite a while in jail.

[GrandEagle]

bosses regard a cop who writes ONE ticket a DAY as a "good" performer.
Doesn't appear to be the case in the city of Mobile, AL.
State and county - probably so but the city guys will try and make you do something to write you a ticket for.
Had one behind us one day (wife was driving) at a light. The light had a red arrow pointing to the right. He was back there blowing his horn and flashing his headlights to try and get her to make the right. She did and he hit the blues and wrote her a ticket for "running" the light.
We got out of it only because a red arrow pointing to the right is undefined (or was at the time) by the law.

Got a couple of other first hand incidents - all with the city guys.

[Redcoat LI]

License plate deflectors,radar/laser detectors and laser/radar jammers.

Happy motoring.

[Gefreiter]

You're thinking metric minutes!

Cops-in-camo is a great tactic. Sucks to get bagged with it, but it is clever. When I was in the Guard, I served with alot of guys who were MA state police in their real lives. One told me about a nifty little trap: you know those abandoned cars you see on the highway sometimes?

Well, not all of them are abandoned. One will have a man with a radar gun who'll tag you, and radio for a unit further down the way to do the stop and issue the ticket.

[GrandEagle]

Hey, Didn't mean to belittle officers (just notice that you once were one), their job is one that I have a GREAT deal of respect for and teach my children to respect.
We just seem to have more that the usual amount of questionable characters on the force here in the city.

[J. Semper Paratus]

"Any suggestions on how to keep yourself safe without drawing the wrath (and the gun) of a real cop?"

Yes. Real cops must have probable cause to pull you over. They can't just randomly pull anyone over for no reason.

If you:

Are not speeding...

Have all your license plates and tags up to date...

Have nothing wrong with your vehicle (like lights out, cracked windows or lights...

Have nothing hanging from your mirror (California and other states...)

Have committed no turning, signaling, lane change or following violations...

Aren't under the influence...

Then a cop CAN'T pull you over. If they do they are inviolation of department policy, and state law... and may be in violation of federal law.

Now, when you are pulled over do not get out of the car unless asked by the officer. Turn off your engine immediately. Keep your hands visibly on top of the steering wheel. Make slow and smooth movements. Tell the officer immediately if you have a CCW and where you have your firearm if you have one. Be kind to the officer and do not escalate the situation by being uncouth and/or rude. Own up to your violation and don't lie to get out of it. Always sign the citation unless you want to go immediately to jail.

Realize that the officer meets rude, lying people often, is just doing his/her job, and wants to be safe and go home at the end of the day.

[VaBthang4]

More of our runaway, evil, tyrannical [Jooo loving] government and their war against personal licens...err I mean personal freedom.

No doubt this scheme is an offshoot of the Patriot Act. I betcha the ATF is involved somehow./Loserdopian Perspective

[Hermann the Cherusker]

I'm constantly amazed that Americans in the "Land of the Free" put up with this sort of imposition on freedom. Highly regulated Germany is much freer regarding driving than the US is.

Speeding Tickets are a modern day form of Highway Robbery.

[RetiredArmy]

This socialist empire uses it as a tax haul! More tax monies since people got tired of their over taxing and voted down a bunch of their socialist agendas.

[GrandEagle]

Realize that the officer meets rude, lying people often, is just doing his/her job
Yes they do - quite often I imagine. BUT, that makes it even less likely that they will listen when they really have made a mistake.
Being polite and respectful is an absolute must though, no matter what.