OT - speeding tickets for cash.

[David Mac]

The State Troopers do not have a quota to meet for issuing tickets as far as the state is concerned, however, under a new federal program Troopers are being paid overtime to use thier State provided cars and issue speeding tickets.

They get paid overtime pay to work their off-duty hours as long as they issue at least three tickets per hour for speeding and/or seat belt violations.

Sounds like mercenary work to me.

[coolhand]

I don't think that they should be able to give you a ticket for not wearing a ticket when you dont have to wear a helmet on a motor cycle if your over 18.

Luke,

[sugarmtngal]

Harrassment is huge, especially in West Fork and Greenland, AR areas for me! I know every cop who usually talks to me and gives me a written warning or just verbal warning on gently going thru a stop sign after I get off the Freeway (540)................."I'm sure I stopped, looked both ways and then proceeded, but how can you argue with them?
It is revenue for the states! It's happening all over this country and I've paid my share already!

Watch your back driving, wish I could paddle all the time and not have to drive; then I'd get a speeding ticket!

[Ryan Center]

gently going thru a stop sign after I get off the Freeway (540)................."I'm sure I stopped, looked both ways and then proceeded, but how can you argue with them?

The Washington County Sheriff's department is pulling people over and saying they were doing something wrong just hoping to find something else like drinking and drugs. Don't get me wrong some things need to be done around here but there tactics are wrong. If you get pulled over in Winslow, be ready for a search. And if your driving around late at night, be ready to get pulled over. Every time I see them with a car pulled over, they are searching it. I've been lucky so far but have friends that are getting pulled over for no reason.

[stormcrow]

I got harassed in Damascus for going 6 miles over. No warning despite having a perfect record. I Sent all requested documents to the court to request probation. Request denied for no damn reason other than they can do what they want. Put on some N.W.A. and sing along.....

[nike54_la]

I really probably shouldn't speak up on this since I'm pretty much pro-LE, but I dislike the idea of a few cops all a bad name. If you (or someone you know) truely feel you have been harrassed, you should report it to that agency. Enough reports, and something will be done sooner or later. Also, LE's cannot search you unless they have PC or you give them consent. People think they HAVE to give them consent, but that's not the case. Do some research and get informed about your rights and if there are truley some bad LE's in the area (which I'm sure there are) reporting is about the only way to solve it.

Flame away....

[David Mac]

I personally don't think there are that many "bad" cops out there. I know quite a few including the one that tipped me off to this new program and I think they are good people. But that is just the thing, they are people. Like everyone else there are good ones and there are bad ones and this program is throws a big temptation out there right at the ones most likely to be tempted.

Let's face it if a guy wants to volunteer to work overtime he is probably either greedy or hard up for cash. In either case let's say he's gotten two of his three speeders but needs one more or he won't get paid for his overtime....how many do you really think will resist that temptation to tell a little lie and say they saw you speeding to get the money they worked that overtime to get in the first place?

[panicman]

or just say you were driving to close to the center line or swerved. They can pull you over whenever they want to and harrass you. Every piggy knows every trick in the book on how to bend the law and they use it whenever they can.

[Drifter]

a new federal program Troopers are being paid overtime to use thier State provided cars and issue speeding tickets.

Federal program? Interesting. Could you post a link or provide source information?

[JTarver]

i actually got pulled over here in Benton one night coming home from hot springs late. I was five minutes from home,,got pulled over..they asked me politely if they could search the truck, after asking if I had anything illegal on me. I told them I had a Genetics book from class on me that should be illegal. They weren't that amused.
Anyway, after searching my truck, which was a mess, the guy asked me again.." are you sure you don;t have anything on you"

Now I was beginnign to get agitated. I said no, I meant no. I didn't stutter. Either way, I replied No, once again.

The guy actually told me that he saw my Bob Marley sticker on the back glass of my truck, along with others ( what is it about kayakers and stickers anyway ) and so he thought I might be a pothead tooling around in the wee hours stoned.
I was speechless. I said no, just trying to get something to eat before I get home.
Anyway, the guy was dumbfounded that I had nothing on me, since I was surely a stoner as I had a Bob marley sticker on my back glass.
The other officer with him just hung out with me at the back of the truck talking about Nissans. He had one too, and like the truck. They were both very agreeable guys, and let me go after a few minutes of BSing about trucks.
-shrugs-
Thought it might be on topic for this off topic.

Joe

[stormcrow]

Joe, you didn't get your complimentary bag of weed when you bought your Bob Marley sticker? Shafted.

[JTarver]

Well I got a bag..but turns out it was oregano. Probably a good thing, cause if I would've had reefer on my spaghetti, I would've just kept on eating and eating.

Joe