It's legalized theft, and highway robbery. It's also lazy -- instead of spending time on patrol, they pull people over for these minor infractions and go fishing.
Where I live, there is a cop on the interstate that hides behind a bridge column and catches people speeding before they even have a chance to brake. If it was really about getting people to slow down, he'd sit out in the open. Instead, he gets one speeder out of many.
I can't even imagine it if he had night vision goggles.
"Where I live, there is a cop on the interstate that hides behind a bridge column and catches people speeding before they even have a chance to brake."
The Smyrna, Tn. police department actually used to ticket people on bicycles for speeding. Of course that was years ago, they probably Tazer them now.
>>If it was really about getting people to slow down, he'd sit out in the open. Instead, he gets one speeder out of many.
The most effective means I have seen to slow down interstate traffic is for a police officer to drive the speed limit in the right hand lane. I've seen people (on a 4 lane interstate) come whipping up in the left-most lane doing 80 (in a 65) and then slow way down when they see the CHP guy in the slow lane.
Had one CHP do about 10 mph under on a particularly stormy evening commute, and I have to say he probably saved some people from skidding off the road.
I remember one Saturday morning on the outer loop of the DC Baltway - immediately before Holy Cross Hospital - when a Montgomery County policeman was holding a large 4x3 foot sign saying "Smile, you're on candid camera."
He sure did get people to slow down, and without writing a single ticket.
By the way, he was laughing as we drove by, and so were we.