Don't cops have better things to do than using speed guns ?

[canabiz]

OK folks this is the first time i saw this today, i've seen something like this before on the highway but not in a residential area

A fully uniformed cop standing right on the curb of a so-so (in terms of traffic level) street pointing a huge speed gun if you call that at oncoming traffic. Behind him, in the small side street, are a couple of cruisers, i could only assume the lights and horns will be blazing for the poor folks who don't see this one in time

Now don't get me wrong and i'm all for safety and whatnot and you can flame me all you want with your 'Speed kills' rhetoric but honestly don't the cops have better things to do than this ? Like busting out the real criminals who are still trolling the streets out there or sniffing out increasingly well-organized and sophisticated gang networks, for a change ?

Maybe Canada is too safe or what ?

[canadiandeals]

they are just lazy/afraid to chase after criminals, the only way to meet their monthly quota is to catch innocent ppl.

[chickenbones]

not another one...

[Montague]

OK folks this is the first time i saw this today, i've seen something like this before on the highway but not in a residential area
dunno about you but I got a problem with people speeding through a residential area.

[TheOneBarton]

Well, if you get caught, you are speeding. Which means you can't follow simple traffic regualtion, you deserve it. Imagine what would happen if a truck carrying gasoline speed and hit someone??? The damage will cause a lot of sorrow and grief. As for the people speeding, I feel no sorrow for you.

[henryh]

dunno about you but I got a problem with people speeding through a residential area.

BINGO

[eon90210]

if the cops never show their power or are never in the view of the public with these speeding guns, people won't fear going those extra few km's/h. they should, cause people die. so you writing that message, and being a little ticked about it, is actually a good thing, they are achieving what they set out to do.

[pandaharo]

The cops should be out with their speed guns more, at least they will be outside and not clogging up the line-up at Tim Hortons.

[astrogirl]

Hey, who gets the money that comes from speeding tickets?
I'm genuinely curious- does the police department get a cut of the money from these fines?
Maybe that's why they are out ticketing so much- they need funding?

[confused]

i see someone is a little butthurt by accumulating a few speeding tickets in residential areas? j/p

[Suresh]

BINGO

i second that

[hagbard]

What, like eating donuts?

[devious9191]

Traffic cops are hired to do just that.. Handle DUI stops, spot checks, speeding violations.. that sort of thing. So really.. no they don't have anything better to do.. That's what they're hired for.

[deep]

That's NOT what they are hired to do, and that's NOT what they're doing when they make a big show of a speed trap. They don't make money by handing out a few tickets and tying up resources for the duration.

What they ARE doing is reminding people of their presence. I guarantee that the next time you drive through that residential area, you'll think "here's where that big speed trap was" and you'll slow down.

Since signs don't make people slow down, they try to put the thought in your head that there could be a speed trap anywhere, anytime. It's not true, but that's what they'd like you to think.

[devious9191]

That's NOT what they are hired to do, and that's NOT what they're doing when they make a big show of a speed trap. They don't make money by handing out a few tickets and tying up resources for the duration.

What they ARE doing is reminding people of their presence. I guarantee that the next time you drive through that residential area, you'll think "here's where that big speed trap was" and you'll slow down.

Since signs don't make people slow down, they try to put the thought in your head that there could be a speed trap anywhere, anytime. It's not true, but that's what they'd like you to think.

How does what I said contradict that? The point of my post, is that the police officers in question aren't taking time out of their busy day of busting grow operations, and catching pedophiles to setup a speed trap.. That they are traffic cops, who are involved in policing the roads.. whether that involves prevention or whatever the case may be, rather than catching actual criminals.

[gilboman]

its a big waste of resources to have these cops who are paid quite a bit to do speedtrap work. they should be out raiding grow ops or something. They should hire traffic cops to handle speed traps, like how they hire ppl just for giving out parking tickets. any idiot can stand behind a tripod and press the trigger button at a car and write a few numbers down, the police should be doing something more constructive and serving the public. like fixing my leaking basement :lol:

[Shiifty]

Never go to the states then. In my recent trips to NY state, I ALWAYS see patrol cars doing speed traps. They are numerous down there, and have the funds for the police to actually make a presence, instead of trying to cope with regular crime.

We get away with tons more here than down there, because of lack of funds for the police.

[ah802]

Hey, who gets the money that comes from speeding tickets?
I'm genuinely curious- does the police department get a cut of the money from these fines?
Maybe that's why they are out ticketing so much- they need funding?

Police do not decide to 'trap' speeders.. they get direction from the community. That means here in Toronto, someone complained about speeding cars. That request is transfered to a duty officer, who decides merit. Sometimes these requests originate with the municipality itself when they need more funding..or sometimes when an law needs addressing (drunk drivers) The fines for parking & bylaw infractions goes into the general municipale fund, but I guess there is some sharing between the province and the local governement. Traffic act violations are probably shared too... Sometimes northern communties like Vermillion lake (lots of unemployed) known as speed trap towns... Local Police are trying to support their local communities. Percentage wise... more people die in auto accidents than murders.

Eventually we all get the money back in some form of infustructure support.

Look at this issue as a tax and you'll live easier.

[Newt]

There aren't many criminals in this city. Compared to the states at least..

[kornstar369]

its a big waste of resources to have these cops who are paid quite a bit to do speedtrap work. they should be out raiding grow ops or something. They should hire traffic cops to handle speed traps, like how they hire ppl just for giving out parking tickets. any idiot can stand behind a tripod and press the trigger button at a car and write a few numbers down, the police should be doing something more constructive and serving the public. like fixing my leaking basement :lol:


agreed.



Hey, who gets the money that comes from speeding tickets?
I'm genuinely curious- does the police department get a cut of the money from these fines?
Maybe that's why they are out ticketing so much- they need funding?


the cops have a certain number ...a quota...to meet...this does affect their pay check indirectly cause if they dont meet the requirement....they dont get a pay check :) i think they could loose their job.

[Ripcat]

its a big waste of resources to have these cops who are paid quite a bit to do speedtrap work. they should be out raiding grow ops or something. They should hire traffic cops to handle speed traps, like how they hire ppl just for giving out parking tickets. any idiot can stand behind a tripod and press the trigger button at a car and write a few numbers down, the police should be doing something more constructive and serving the public. like fixing my leaking basement :lol:

How is raiding grow ops not a waste of resources? 95% of that pot goes to the United States. Shouldn't the US be paying for these raids if they don't want the pot shipped across the border? It's not like we generate any tax revenue from the pot that does get shipped to the US. It's worth billions by the time it reaches the street level.

As for police doing something constructive and serving the public, how is letting people speed like mad through residential areas not constructive or serving the public? Shall we just let our kids get run down by inexperienced or dangerous drivers? Is it more important to stop the flow of pot to the US than it is to protect our citizens from maniac drivers?

[gilboman]

How is raiding grow ops not a waste of resources? 95% of that pot goes to the United States. Shouldn't the US be paying for these raids if they don't want the pot shipped across the border? It's not like we generate any tax revenue from the pot that does get shipped to the US. It's worth billions by the time it reaches the street level.

As for police doing something constructive and serving the public, how is letting people speed like mad through residential areas not constructive or serving the public? Shall we just let our kids get run down by inexperienced or dangerous drivers? Is it more important to stop the flow of pot to the US than it is to protect our citizens from maniac drivers?

it takes more skills to raid a grow op than standing behind a tripod or sitting in the car idling with a coffee point a radar gun at cars. the whole speeding and killing ppl thing is just a big propaganda blitz..find some numbers and you'll be amazed how LITTLE injuries/deaths occur in residential neighborhoods from cars.

you remind me of Mrs. Lovejoy on the simpsons "think of the children" :lol: :lol:

yes it is more important to take grow ops out of neighborhoods than having a bunch of high paying cops standing behind tripods and scribling on a pad.

[Menace]

never liked cops and never will, period!

[Roninvancouver]

http://www.001abc.com/CultMovies/i/Bad%20Lieutenant%20(1992).jpg

[kornstar369]

......As for police doing something constructive and serving the public, how is letting people speed like mad through residential areas not constructive or serving the public? Shall we just let our kids get run down by inexperienced or dangerous drivers? Is it more important to stop the flow of pot to the US than it is to protect our citizens from maniac drivers?

my buddy once got a ticket going 10 OVER!...and that was in a 40 zone in a college area.

have you guys driven 40 before....never the less 50???

if someone was going like 100-120-140 in a 40 zone, than id think thats reasonable cause for a ticket, but come on....10 over....if there are no cars around...who cares if your doing 10-20-30-40 over...using proper judgement is a part of driving on the roads as well......

[urameatball]

somebody's gotta pay their pensions.

might as well be a speeder... cuz they're not allowed to resell the weed confiscated by grow ops :P

[kornstar369]

somebody's gotta pay their pensions.

might as well be a speeder... cuz they're not allowed to resell the weed confiscated by grow ops :P


lol.
tru.

[mrmoe]

They should forget using radar guns and just start ramming speeding cars off the road to keep with current standards.

Beware j-walkers!!!

[simms]

http://www.001abc.com/CultMovies/i/Bad%20Lieutenant%20(1992).jpg

Whoa, looks like a good movie!!

[webdoctors]

Well, if you get caught, you are speeding. Which means you can't follow simple traffic regualtion, you deserve it. Imagine what would happen if a truck carrying gasoline speed and hit someone??? The damage will cause a lot of sorrow and grief. As for the people speeding, I feel no sorrow for you.

exactly, like what if U have a nuke and u r speeding and u hit someone in a RESIENTIAL area, u will take out the residential area, as well as the business area and the local hospital too.

THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!!!

[PrinceMS]

According to the official statement. The traffic has doube in last year or two. Meaning much more traffic - much less chance of error. If they are not strict about these little things, people will not learn.

I do agree that 10 over is absurd. also, they need to find a better way to regulate that.

"Its not the law that stops crime, its the fear of law!"

[Ojam]

the cops have a certain number ...a quota...to meet...this does affect their pay check indirectly cause if they dont meet the requirement....they dont get a pay check :) i think they could loose their job.

Wrong.

Police don't have quotas, it's a myth, they used to exist in the US in the 1930's, don't anymore. If your going to say something, please for everybody's sake at least try to research it some to make sure you are not wrong.

Yes and this information it taken, from a website who suggests you fight your tickets, not the police themselves, so analyze that bias.

http://www.insurancehotline.com/motoristsrights.html

[Ripcat]

my buddy once got a ticket going 10 OVER!...and that was in a 40 zone in a college area.

have you guys driven 40 before....never the less 50???

if someone was going like 100-120-140 in a 40 zone, than id think thats reasonable cause for a ticket, but come on....10 over....if there are no cars around...who cares if your doing 10-20-30-40 over...using proper judgement is a part of driving on the roads as well......
I speed all the time.

How does that cop know you are one of those people that uses proper judgement? Do you have special flag on your car that says, "I only speed when I feel it is safe to do so?"

Also, why post speed limits if they aren't going to ever enforce them? They need to pay for those speed limit signs somehow.

As for the college area, at my local college there were tons of pedestrians getting hit by cars and I believe one even died. They couldn't reduce the speed limit but they did build a fence across the whole of the school so it was pointless to j-walk because you had to go to a gate at a controlled crossing anyway. Obviously a lot of college students don't like to be safe when crossing the road so we have to make it safe for them. I guess at your local college the big losers are those who speed and the college students live on to stroll across the street at their leisure like they are immune to death.

If you see a speed trap in your neighbourhood its because someone complained about speeders. The police are there responding to the complaint and to see if there really is a problem with speeding. This is another reason why they throw up all-way stops everywhere, to reduce speeding. Wait till they start putting in huge speed bumps everywhere like they have in Vancouver. Maximum speed on some of their side streets is like 30kph and if you don't want to wreck your car you need to slow to like 10kph when going over the speed bumps.

Of course, if we put speed bumps everywhere then we wouldn't need cops to set up speed traps. Which is the lesser of the 2 evils here?

[gman]

If you speed and are caught, you should not speed. If you can't sense a speed trap, you should not speed. I would say there is not enough traffic cop on the road to stop those red light runner, stop sign runner, etc. There should be more traffic cop to catch these guys.

[Tricia]

10 km/hour on a highway is no biggie. 10 km/hr over in a 40 km/hr zone is a huge deal. You are going like 25% faster than you should be. how is that fair to the little boy or girl who runs out to get their ball? If you were going the right speed, you may see them, or they you and it could prevent a deadly situation.

If your child is the one who gets hit by the driver who is only going 10 clicks over the speed limit, will you still feel that getting ticketed for those 10 km/hr is stupid?

[kornstar369]

you guys are right when it comes to school areas....but 10 over stil seems very tight for me.i think thats b.s. i mentioned college where my friend went because in college, you dont have kids with balls croossing the street, you have anywhere from 20 year old to 40-50 year olds. im sure thats of age to know if theres a car comming, to cross or not to cross.

but on a highway or other roads it should be fine.....theres roads that have a 40 or 50 limit ...for no reason,lol....its all open, lanes everywhere, no schools...buh?
cmon, you guys tell me when u see a sign that says 50...you do 50...or 60 on some main roads, you do 60?with 3 lanes wide open?
60 is slow, when there are no cars around, when you look up and its all road...you wanna drive, first instinct.

i say its you slow guys who do limit is what kills people. everyone speeds. on a highway, 120 for sure. then you have the odd turtle who is doing 90-100....that destroys the entire flow of traffic, people changiong lanes and so on...thats more dangerous, sorry

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