# Well! HERE'S some local fun from Dogpatch. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 10, 2006, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-heres-some-local-fun-from-dogpatch/347830 "2006-03-10T15:15:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2006, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-heres-some-local-fun-from-dogpatch/347830/1 "2006-03-10T15:15:13Z")
[http://www.azcentral.com/offbeat/articles/0309SpeedTrap09-ON.html](http://www.azcentral.com/offbeat/articles/0309SpeedTrap09-ON.html) > [@](#): > > NASHVILLE, Tenn. - After Nashville motorist T. Allen Morgan got a speeding ticket in Coopertown, he tried to pay his ticket like a good citizen. > > But he added a little note on his check which angered Mayor Danny Crosby. The mayor refused to accept the check, sparking the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to launch an investigation Monday. > > Crosby told Morgan that he had to either write another check that didn’t have the words “for speed trap” written in bold letters or face the charges in traffic court. > [@](#): > > “As mayor of this city, if I accept that check from that gentleman, I’m admitting we run a speed trap, and that’s a bald-faced lie,” Crosby said Tuesday. > [@](#): > > Coopertown lies about 20 miles northwest of Nashville on a state highway used by motorists to travel between interstates 24 and 65. The town generates nearly 30 percent of its revenue from traffic tickets. The Truth Hurts, don’t it Mr. Mayor? 😃 And payback is a bitch. True word, the community **is** a fucking speed trap. OG knows, they’ve got nothing else. Few, if any, of the ticketed are _actually_ speeding. The “tickets” are nothing more than robbery, under the cloak of legality. Nothing I get more pleasure out of than seeing one of our local Stuffed Shirts get the glee let out of him. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2006, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-heres-some-local-fun-from-dogpatch/347830/2 "2006-03-10T15:36:10Z")
I freely admit that this “knowledge” comes from TV lawyer shows, but isn’t it the case that if the check is in all respects a legally valid instrument and it’s refused by the recipient, the debt is satisfied? I’m reminded of all the stories one hears of people writing checks to the IRS on shirts (the shirts off their backs) and the like. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2006, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-heres-some-local-fun-from-dogpatch/347830/3 "2006-03-10T15:43:33Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > I freely admit that this “knowledge” comes from TV lawyer shows, but isn’t it the case that if the check is in all respects a legally valid instrument and it’s refused by the recipient, the debt is satisfied? I’m reminded of all the stories one hears of people writing checks to the IRS on shirts (the shirts off their backs) and the like. The Law has very little to do with the way small Tennessee towns are run. They’ll bust him, if higher authority doesn’t intercede. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2006, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-heres-some-local-fun-from-dogpatch/347830/4 "2006-03-10T15:54:22Z")
I would also suppose he could sue the town for harassment, or some such thing. If you pay, they can’t just refuse to accept the money then punish you for non-payment. If they state that they accept checks as payment, then they have to accept it when you provide them a legally valid check. I also didn’t know that when I put “for sexual favors” in the note section of a check (what a funny joke THAT is) that the person cashing was admitting to being a prostitute. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2006, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-heres-some-local-fun-from-dogpatch/347830/5 "2006-03-10T16:17:38Z")
It appears that the mayor has decided to [accept the check](http://www.newschannel5.com/content/news/17858.asp), although it is yet to be determined whether he faces any action for refusing it in the first place. And am i the only one who thinks “Boss Hogg” when i look at the mayor’s [picture](http://www.rctimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060308/COUNTY06/603080412/1006/MTCN0301)? Way to reinforce the stereotype of southern local politicians. 🙂 According to the town’s [Citizen’s Forum](http://www.coopertown.org/) a local citizen has issued a Recall petition, seeking to remove the mayor from office for “financial mismanagement, conflict of interest, abuse of power, use of police department to intimidate citizens.” ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2006, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-heres-some-local-fun-from-dogpatch/347830/6 "2006-03-10T16:24:41Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > And am i the only one who thinks “Boss Hogg” when i look at the mayor’s [picture](http://www.rctimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060308/COUNTY06/603080412/1006/MTCN0301)? Way to reinforce the stereotype of southern local politicians. 🙂 The Ridley brothers of Smyrna were much, much worse. Mayors for more than 35 years, between em. Foul rascals, to the core. One died in self-imposed exile in South America, to avoid answering questions, I believe involving his taxes. The other died in office. Identical twin brothers, _both of whom_ looked like Boss Hogg, & **were** like him, to boot. Smyrna was a speed trap, too. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2006, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-heres-some-local-fun-from-dogpatch/347830/7 "2006-03-10T17:27:41Z")
On the positive side, the infamous speed trap of [New Rome, Ohio](http://www.newromesucks.com/main.html) recently was abolished after a long and contentious history of exploiting drivers. By sheer coincidence, I was driving through town during the Third March On New Rome. It was fun. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2006, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-heres-some-local-fun-from-dogpatch/347830/8 "2006-03-10T18:43:16Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > True word, the community **is** a fucking speed trap. OG knows, they’ve got nothing else. Few, if any, of the ticketed are _actually_ speeding. The “tickets” are nothing more than robbery, under the cloak of legality. How do you establish this, other than that it’s widely known by locals? ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2006, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-heres-some-local-fun-from-dogpatch/347830/9 "2006-03-10T18:46:39Z")
Well, if you read some of the linked articles you might find out: > [@](#): > > AAA officials have said the town could become the organization’s third “Traffic Trap” — a designation reserved for cities that target drivers to raise money from fines. > > AAA’s concerns include the fact that speed limits on Highway 49 have changed multiple times in the last year, and that Coopertown officers patrol Interstate 24 looking for speeders. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2006, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-heres-some-local-fun-from-dogpatch/347830/10 "2006-03-10T18:51:50Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > How do you establish this, other than that it’s widely known by locals? By locals, by State Troopers, by truckers, by your Aunt Tillie’s lacey underthings; you name it, they know about the Coopertown area. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2006, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-heres-some-local-fun-from-dogpatch/347830/11 "2006-03-10T19:17:44Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Well, if you read some of the linked articles you might find out: And how does that establish that the tickets are baseless?? The fact that it is a “strict enforcement area” doesn’t prove that people got tickets _when not speeding_, which is what Bosda said. Around here, I refer to a “speed trap” as an area cops frequent to nab speeders, not an area where they pull people over fraudulently and give bogus tickets. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2006, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-heres-some-local-fun-from-dogpatch/347830/12 "2006-03-10T19:50:03Z")
A “speed trap” has a very definite meaning, IIRC. It means a stretch of road where the posted speed limit drops abruptly, then a police officer pulls you over immediately past the new sign. The idea is that people either don’t have time to slow down or don’t notice the new, \*significantly lower \*posted limit. A “speed trap” is NOT a heavily patrolled stretch of road where a lot of people get caught speeding! ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2006, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-heres-some-local-fun-from-dogpatch/347830/13 "2006-03-10T20:22:46Z")
“Speed trap” has different regional meanings. Around here, a “speed trap” is just a spot where limits are enforced, either by police or a radar camera. > [@gigi](#): > > And how does that establish that the tickets are baseless?? The fact that it is a “strict enforcement area” doesn’t prove that people got tickets _when not speeding_, which is what Bosda said. I don’t think there’s any argument that the tickets aren’t _technically_ legal – they’re baseless in a more philosophical way. It’s clear that the tickets are predatory, and the laws have been jiggered to catch people who are unaware that they’re speeding. They set a limit of 45mph on a stretch of _highway_. There’s no reason to do that except to increase revenue for the town. [Who expects that?](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_limit) [quote] Speed limits on United States roads are usually as follows:[ul][li]25–30 mph (40–50 km/h) on residential streets in cities and towns[_]35–45 mph (60–70 km/h) on major arterial roads in urban and suburban areas[_]50–65 mph (80–100 km/h) on major divided highways inside cities[_]45–65 mph (70–100 km/h) on rural two-lane roads[_]55–70 mph (90–110 km/h) on non-Interstate highways and rural expressways.[\*]65–75 mph (100–120 km/h) on rural Interstate highways[/ul][/li][/quote] You can bet your ass that they haven’t got huge signs with flashing lights saying **SLOW DOWN: THIS STRETCH OF HIGHWAY HAS A SPEED LIMIT OF 45MPH BECAUSE WE’RE _REAL_ CAUTIOUS AROUND HERE**. The mayor is [totally disengenous](http://www.rctimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060201/MTCN0301/302010126/1304) about it: > [@](#): > > “I do think the motive is revenue,” Alderwoman Peggy Ruth said. “The budget has escalated beyond belief. When you look at the numbers, it’s pretty clear where the money comes from.” > > The city’s police budget has nearly tripled, from $155,880 during the last fiscal year to $451,550 this year. Coopertown’s budget calls for $400,000 in traffic court revenue, 29% of the city’s budget and a dollar amount higher than in many Midstate cities with more people. > > Crosby insists those numbers aren’t out of line. He said speeding was a problem long before he was elected mayor last year and previous officials weren’t doing anything to stop it. > > “It doesn’t matter what that percentage is … if they’re running through this city at 80 or 90 miles an hour, they’re going to get a ticket,” he said. No argument with that, but things are set up so that many more people are going to get a ticket for running through at _55mph_, because they missed the sign. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2006, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-heres-some-local-fun-from-dogpatch/347830/14 "2006-03-10T20:30:02Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > Identical twin brothers, _both of whom_ looked like Boss Hogg, & **were** like him, to boot. **Boss Hogg** also has a [identical twin brother](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln_Hogg)!!! Weird. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2006, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-heres-some-local-fun-from-dogpatch/347830/15 "2006-03-10T20:57:45Z")
You can’t just have a thread about a speed trap without a mention of [Ludowici, GA](http://makeashorterlink.com/?L2EC626CC). Now _that_ place defines “speed trap”! ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2006, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-heres-some-local-fun-from-dogpatch/347830/16 "2006-03-10T21:21:35Z")
And [Golden Meadow, LA](http://www.speedtrap.org/speedtraps/comments.asp?state=LA&city=Golden%20Meadow&st=31104). ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2006, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-heres-some-local-fun-from-dogpatch/347830/17 "2006-03-11T00:18:02Z")
Also watch out for that booming metropolis of [Waldo, Florida](http://www.speedtrap.org/speedtraps/ste.asp?state=FL&city=Waldo). ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2006, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-heres-some-local-fun-from-dogpatch/347830/18 "2006-03-11T15:05:00Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > You can’t just have a thread about a speed trap without a mention of [Ludowici, GA](http://makeashorterlink.com/?L2EC626CC). Now _that_ place defines “speed trap”! I have a pic of me standing next to the Ludowici highway sign 🙂 Thankfully the speed trap is no longer, or so I’ve heard. ---
**Author:** ![SoulFrost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f07891/32.png) [@SoulFrost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoulFrost)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2006, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-heres-some-local-fun-from-dogpatch/347830/19 "2006-03-11T15:28:16Z")
Back to the question about the check’s notation… I have been advised by my attorney and by my manager to never **ever** cash any check from a publisher which contains the words “work for hire” anywhere on the document. As I understood their legalese, were I to do so, I may not be entitled to royalties on my published work. Also, my work may become the property of the publisher, and I would not be entitled to market it elsewhere after the original publication (per the First North American Rights clause). It would suck to discover that their debt to me was legally considered satisfied if I rejected such a check. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2006, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-heres-some-local-fun-from-dogpatch/347830/20 "2006-03-11T15:40:23Z")
Do realize that for many small towns, main street is also a state highway. No stop signs or traffic lights. Just a little burgh built along the highway. And they must get people to slow down or people are gonna get killed. Yep they enforce it. And I bet it makes a bit of money for them. I don’t blame them. Otherwise you would have people zipping through town not 25 feet from houses and businesses at 60 mph. In a related note, tourists can be idiots. That’s sort of the default mode. I know. I’ve been a tourist plenty of times. The two towns closest to me do have signs. Plenty of them. The speed drops either from 65 to 25 or 55 to 30. I would agree that there may be ‘speed traps’. But they are mostly places where people need to start slowing down, but have not yet done it. Sign regulations on highways are pretty strict. My last ticket was my fault. I had been in a 65 mph zone (for about 2 hours), dropped to 25 mph, then to 65 mph, then to 30 mph then to 55 mph. I went back up to 65 instead of 55. My fault really. I know the area. It’s my home. I was stopped by a state cop there. Not a local. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-heres-some-local-fun-from-dogpatch/347830.md?page=2)