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Gov. Robert Ehrlich Ends use of Night Vision Gear for Seat Belt Enforcement (Follow-up story)
WMAL - AM 630 (AP story) ^ | June 6, 2005

Posted on 06/06/2005 7:46:25 PM PDT by tgslTakoma

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Governor Robert Ehrlich has directed the state police to cease using night vision gear to enforce the state's seat belt laws.

State police will continue to enforce the laws, but won't use the special goggles that were tested for the first and only time last Wednesday night in Montgomery County. The governor got plenty of complaints about the practice.

His spokeswoman, Shareese DeLeaver, says Ehrlich doesn't usually support Big Brother tactics when it comes to law enforcement. State police spokesman Greg Shipley says the night-vision equipment was borrowed from the military and has already been returned.

Shipley says the night-vision goggles were used only as a test. State troopers have issued more than 30,000 seat belt citations and warnings this year.


TOPICS: Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; US: Maryland
KEYWORDS: bigbrother; donutwatch; ehrlich; erlich; nannystate; nightgoggles; seatbelts
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This is a "Good News" follow-up to these earlier stories.

Night-Vision Goggles Help Seatbelt Campaign

Police Use New Tool Against Seat Belt Violators

Seat Belt Violators Caught By Cops Wearing Night Vision Goggles


According to Governor Ehrlich's spokeswoman and Maryland State Police spokesman, the MSP won't be using the night vision goggles to ogle drivers at night for committing the heinous crime of not buckling up.

However, what I didn't read in this news story is that the night vision goggles won't be used by any local Maryland police agencies.

I hope the egg on MSP's face will deter any local agencies from trying the same thing.

1 posted on 06/06/2005 7:46:31 PM PDT by tgslTakoma
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To: tgslTakoma

That has had we worried since I first read it. I'm glad they stopped it. Very big brotherish.


2 posted on 06/06/2005 7:50:19 PM PDT by processing please hold (Islam and Christianity do not mix ----9-11 taught us that)
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To: tgslTakoma

The un-seat-belted drivers violated the law...they should be found and punished.


3 posted on 06/06/2005 7:54:53 PM PDT by ddantas (q)
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To: ddantas

A LEO should be placed in every driver's car, just to be sure that they are following the laws. Of course, taxpayers should fund this. Also, taxpayers should fund an LEO to live in every citizen's home, also to ascertain that they are following all laws. This all seems quite reasonable.


4 posted on 06/06/2005 7:57:58 PM PDT by Mad_Tom_Rackham (Delenda est Liberalism!)
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To: ddantas

I bet you tattle on your neighbors for violating watering restrictions.


5 posted on 06/06/2005 7:59:30 PM PDT by RushingWater
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To: ddantas

I bet you tattle on your neighbors for violating watering restrictions.


6 posted on 06/06/2005 8:00:11 PM PDT by RushingWater
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To: RushingWater

The water violators violated the law...they should be found and punished.


7 posted on 06/06/2005 8:01:02 PM PDT by ddantas (q)
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To: ddantas

I'll bet you were a hall monitor too.


8 posted on 06/06/2005 8:02:41 PM PDT by fhayek
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To: Mad_Tom_Rackham
A LEO should be placed in every driver's car, just to be sure that they are following the laws.
I personally prefer the black box implanted in the forehead oe buttocks...imagine how quickly crimes would be solved.
9 posted on 06/06/2005 8:02:58 PM PDT by ddantas (q)
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To: ddantas

Lololol


10 posted on 06/06/2005 8:03:24 PM PDT by processing please hold (Islam and Christianity do not mix ----9-11 taught us that)
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To: fhayek

The bathroom privilege abusers violated the law...they should be found and punished, preferably by swirlys.


11 posted on 06/06/2005 8:04:08 PM PDT by ddantas (q)
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To: pbrown
The Baltimore Sun wrote its own story about the MSP Night Vision Goggle fiasco. Read the whole story HERE.

Here's a teaser from that article...

As determined as he is to make sure Marylanders wear seat belts, the thought of state troopers peering into cars on Rockville Pike with the same technology Special Forces use on night raids in Baghdad was a bit too much for Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.

Ehrlich ordered the state police yesterday never to repeat its experiment using night-vision goggles to catch violators of the state's seat belt law.

"The governor is committed to making sure Maryland's safety belt laws are enforced; however, he does not feel that this is an appropriate use of this type of technology," said Ehrlich spokeswoman Shareese DeLeaver. "The governor feels the police, not technology, should enforce our safety belt laws."

(SNIP)

Initial reports of the Rockville enforcement operation on Washington television stations sparked a backlash, largely on talk radio and conservative or civil libertarian Web sites, such as www.freerepublic.com and www.freedomisslavery.info.

Alas, in answer to my other question, "What about local agencies?" the article has this...

Although the state police will not use the technology, that doesn't mean local police won't. Lt. Eric Burnett, a Montgomery County police spokesman, said the department assisted the state police and has night-vision goggles of its own.

"We don't have any plans to use our night-vision goggles for that. ... But we're not going to say we never will," Burnett said.

Maybe it's time for talk radio guys to latch onto MoCo PD's ankles...

12 posted on 06/06/2005 8:04:30 PM PDT by tgslTakoma
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To: ddantas

;^)


13 posted on 06/06/2005 8:05:28 PM PDT by fhayek
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To: tgslTakoma

You can eliminate all this BS by reducing the payout on insureance by 50% (or more) if the driver decides not to buckle up. If the driver is happy to pay 4x the regular insurance rates to stay unbuckled fine with me.
Make it an individual financial choice.


14 posted on 06/06/2005 8:05:55 PM PDT by ProudVet77 (Warning: Occasional intelligent posts hidden by sarcasm.)
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To: tgslTakoma
We don't have any plans to use our night-vision goggles for that. ... But we're not going to say we never will," Burnett said.

Montgomery County PD used to be cool. Now they suck right along with the best of them.

15 posted on 06/06/2005 8:07:06 PM PDT by VeniVidiVici (In God We Trust. All Others We Monitor.)
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To: ddantas

I'm sure glad I live in New Hampshire

No seat belt law for adults
No helmets for adults
No sales tax
No income tax
Legislators make $100 a year
Shall issue state

It's not perfect, but it could be a lot worse.


16 posted on 06/06/2005 8:07:32 PM PDT by Poser (Joining Belly Girl in the Pajamahadeen)
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To: ddantas

Kudos for wonderful sarcasm.


17 posted on 06/06/2005 8:08:08 PM PDT by mysterio
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To: ddantas

I agree, brain implants are best. Imagine how many crimes would be solved if people could be arrested and punished for their thoughts preceeding their crime. This would be joyous.


18 posted on 06/06/2005 8:09:36 PM PDT by Mad_Tom_Rackham (Delenda est Liberalism!)
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To: tgslTakoma
the night-vision equipment was borrowed from the military and has already been returned.

Ahh, the good old posse comitatus. No military invilvement in domestic law enforcement activities, except of course drugs. And terrorism. And the biggest threat to the free world ever: people who don't buckle up.

19 posted on 06/06/2005 8:16:18 PM PDT by coloradan (Hence, etc.)
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To: tgslTakoma

I surprises me not one lttle bit that Montgomery County Police will use it.

Thankfully, being on the Eastern Shore I rarelyy have reason to be in MoCo.........in fact after nearly 25 years on DelMarVa I've never been there :)


20 posted on 06/06/2005 8:17:50 PM PDT by Gabz (My give-a-damn is busted.)
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