Cop in middle of road for speed trap?

Well, I certainly wouldn't sit there and do speed enforcement. In fact, I preferred to NOT sit anywhere and just drive around doing this thing called patrolling. Could find way more violators doing stupid things than just sitting somewhere waiting for them to come to you. Plus, the ominous vehicle with lights all over it and "police" in big bold letters usually got me plenty of voluntary compliance. Didn't have to do anything for that. Work smarter. Incidentally, most of our focused enforcement actions were complaint driven. And of course, most of the violators were the complainers.
 
Most are nothing more than road pirates.
When they have to hide from the public, their interest isn't protecting any public person. but to server their master, the mayor or governor.

They are NOT exempt form the laws. you can as a citizen, do a citizens arrest, and take them before a magistrate. you can call in a different agency for assistance if needed.

Hold them accountable, see them parked on the sidewalk on the motorcycle, take pictures and file complaints.
when complaints do work file charges. yes anyone can file charges on anyone. but one must be able to defend those in court.
see them parked in fire zones, pictures and complaints.
can't be scared to hold the public servants accountable.
 
The issue as I see it is what would happen if you parked in the same place without an emergency and your flashers activated ? Assuming theres no emergency and no lights are activated I would say they are breaking their own traffic rules. A police agency is required to follow the same traffic rules as everyone else up until theres an emergency and even then there are a set of rules for that. Contrary to what so many would have you believe they do not have the right to drive however they want.
 
Police should follow the same laws as everyone else, with the exception when following the law, will cause more harm than following it. Of course, civilians have the same power, commensurate to their responsibility.

It is known as the "Doctrine of Competing Harms"
 
Killer223 said:
Most are nothing more than road pirates.
When they have to hide from the public, their interest isn't protecting any public person. but to server their master, the mayor or governor.

They are NOT exempt form the laws. you can as a citizen, do a citizens arrest, and take them before a magistrate. you can call in a different agency for assistance if needed.

Hold them accountable, see them parked on the sidewalk on the motorcycle, take pictures and file complaints.
when complaints do work file charges. yes anyone can file charges on anyone. but one must be able to defend those in court.
see them parked in fire zones, pictures and complaints.
can't be scared to hold the public servants accountable.
Click to expand...
So how many times have you arrested a LEO ? Blowhard ... :rolleyes:
 
There was one this morning at 5:45 here in Ames, IA, sitting on the shoulder. He had to drive up a curve, into the grass, and was sitting with lights off on a curve. It's a 35 and I had the cruise set at 37 (4 lane). That car won't get it, but it seemed like an odd spot to me.
 
Was coming home last night after dark and there was a blacked out, fully unmarked unit with no lights on sitting on the side of the road, several feet into the late. I'll add too that this is a road close enough into town to have sidewalks and no shoulder. but enough out that there are no streetlights. The car really wasn't visible until you were nearly on them, and it's a road with a posted 40mph limit so even people going the speed limit(as I was) really are moving along pretty decent.

I will freely acknowledge that speeding is an issue on this road, especially given that there are both farms and neighborhoods off of it so there's both school bus and agricultural traffic. Still, though, physically intruding into the driving lane being all but invisible, and incidentally also at the top of a hill where people who need to go into the other lane to safely go around you can't see the oncoming traffic well, is just a recipe for disaster. I'm amazed that there wasn't an accident.
 
4WD said:
Ours did that with stealth units - black, dark grey markings, lights hidden. New chief has flipped all that around the other way …
Click to expand...

There was a small town on I-15 which had a sage green Crown Vic. I mean they must have really spent time getting the color just right... They'd park in the median amongst the sage brush, and wait for the next victim who was over the posted speed limit even slightly... He got so well-known for his speed trap, his name became famous.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 4WD
svtrit said:
There was one this morning at 5:45 here in Ames, IA, sitting on the shoulder. He had to drive up a curve, into the grass, and was sitting with lights off on a curve. It's a 35 and I had the cruise set at 37 (4 lane). That car won't get it, but it seemed like an odd spot to me.
Click to expand...
What stretch? My wife drives to campus from the Boone area every day and has seen more than her share camped out.
 
supton said:
Sitting in a turn lane like that? seems kinda dangerous, but maybe not.

Seems illegal though... cops can exceed the speed limit as they have exception to do so (which is spelled out I'm sure in law) (and perhaps overruled in certain jurisdictions, no high speed chases allowed in some areas for example). But sitting in a turn lane is a lane obstruction, no? Wouldn't they only be allowed to "park" there if they had their lights on? Otherwise they are only allowed to be in the turning lane for as long as it takes to make their turn, like anyone else.

Maybe it is legit. Reminds of stories of them parking on overpasses over the highway, with chase cars a mile up the road. Running radar from the overpass, dispatching who to chase. Good idea to keep an eye out for any parked van on an overpass. Haven't seen it for a while though.
Click to expand...
I saw it in Alabama on I-10 between Mobile and Pensacola last year right next to a Bucee's.
 
Killer223 said:
...When they have to hide from the public, their interest isn't protecting any public person. but to server their master, the mayor or governor. ...
Click to expand...

What an incredibly baseless position. Unless you truly believe no investigative action should be taken covertly, your beef is clearly with what is being enforced. I presume your actual position goes something like this:

"They're hiding while enforcing laws I break regularly, and I don't want to get caught that way. I don't murder, sell drugs, or commit terrorism, so they can be sneaky while catching those people all they like."

If you don't think traffic laws should be enforced, take that position and stand behind it. If you think high-visibility enforcement is more effective, present that data - I'm skeptical, but I am open to facts. My personal experience is that a marked police car parked in the median (in a relatively safe way, not an insane case like the OP example) is a good reason to slow down until they're out of sight, before hitting resume on the cruise control. In comparison, seeing someone get lit up by a beige Toyota Sienna makes me think real hard about what other vehicles are being used.

And yep - some jurisdictions (a lot, probably) are motivated to enforce traffic laws for money. It's bad, and it shouldn't be that way. If we assume there is a utopia where that doesn't happen, can that jurisdiction hide in order to be more effective while enforcing the law for the right reasons? If not, why?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S
I love the snow but ... Kinda done with it
2 3 4
Replies
66
Views
2K
Ranger83
wwillson
GM Super Cruise - 15,000 mile review
2 3 4
Replies
72
Views
8K
MCompact
AZjeff
Saw a trailer wreck yesterday
Replies
12
Views
2K
andyd
N
Do you "flash" to warn of police patrol ahead? Speeding content and rant.
11 12 13
Replies
243
Views
12K
andrewg
B
Transit 350 Ecoboost Road Trip Vacation Rental
2
Replies
20
Views
2K
Ranger83
Back
Top Bottom