# WI State Trooper = Prick **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 25, 2004, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wi-state-trooper-prick/276636 "2004-11-25T14:57:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![catsix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@catsix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catsix)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wi-state-trooper-prick/276636/61 "2004-12-03T00:27:52Z")
If you think that the number of tickets and the amount of money they bring isn’t on the mind of cops, you’ve obviously never driven through New Rome, Ohio. Before the village was disbanded this year, it was known the country over as Traffic Trap Central and honored by the [New Rome Sucks](http://www.newromesucks.com) website. ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Dragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecc23a/32.png) [@Uncle\_Dragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Dragon)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wi-state-trooper-prick/276636/62 "2004-12-03T00:54:03Z")
> [@kidchameleon](#): > > Those Cheeseheads love to pull over FIBs, as if we don’t already provide plenty of economic aid to their poor state. No wonder y’all are known as FIBs. :wally ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wi-state-trooper-prick/276636/63 "2004-12-03T05:06:52Z")
> [@UncleBeer](#): > > Yeah. A _technical_ violation which is very likely posted prominently every thirty or forty along the interstate, just like it is in every other state where this law has been enacted. Lived there for over 15 years and don’t recall ever seeing this law posted on any Wisconsin highway. As I’ve stated before, I don’t have a problem with the law or with it being enforced. What I do have a problem with is multiple troopers teaming up with the sole intention of it’s enforcement. I guess it’s really no different than a speed trap, but I don’t find it acceptable to set up the hazard. IMHO it reeks of entrapment. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wi-state-trooper-prick/276636/64 "2004-12-03T19:11:19Z")
Good lord, why jump straight to entrapment? Around here, most cops, if they see a fellow officer stopped on the side of the road will check in to make sure everything’s okay. It’s not at all uncommon to see a police car with a highway patrol car right behind it. “Routine” traffic stops are potentially among the most dangerous things a cop does (breaking up domestics is another) and most cops keep an eye on each other. I had exactly this same thing happen this weekend. I just bought a jeep ('76 CJ-7, thank you very much) and was out driving it without tags (office didn’t open until Monday). We came up on a traffic stop, I switched lanes, the car ahead of me did not. The second trooper pulled off the side of the road and drove past me (no tags, remember) to get the other car. They take their safety and the safety of their fellow officers seriously. **Hampshire** , I’d really like to see your response to the revelation that had your Mom simply done what she’s required to **in her home state** that she would have been fine. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wi-state-trooper-prick/276636/65 "2004-12-03T20:35:34Z")
My main gripe about the situation is that this “new law” which has been around since about 2001 never seemed to be introduced to the public. I’ve traveled through Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois and have never seen such signs that people are talking about. Don’t get me wrong, being ignorant of the law is no excuse, however if your going to introduce a law there has to be some responsibility to make the public aware. I don’t accept the policy of creating a law then not telling someone about it until they’ve broken it. I’ve taken a written driver’s test in 86’ to get my license, taken another in Florida in 95’, and had to take another in 01’ to get a Minnesota license and I don’t recall this being covered on any of them. Not to say it isn’t a good law, but please let me know the rules before you penalize me. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wi-state-trooper-prick/276636/66 "2004-12-03T22:25:17Z")
**Hampshire** - please explain again - apparently moving over OR slowing down is the law in you MiL’s home state as well. We all agree that it’s a good idea, that smart, safe drivers should have/probably were doing it anyhow. so, even if it wasn’t posted don’t you think your MiL should have done it anyway? ---
**Author:** ![coleridge78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@coleridge78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coleridge78)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wi-state-trooper-prick/276636/67 "2004-12-03T22:54:09Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > I would like to point out that, in ten years experience traveling through Wisconsin and in talking to a bunch of people who have been doing the same for a lot longer, including a wife who grew up near there, Menominie county has been infamous for balancing their budget with radar guns, seemingly targeting people from out of state. The Somerset area, directly across the river from MN on 94, is also known for this. The PD there has been filmed standing by while unidentified someones direct concertgoers (the town has one of the largest outdoor concert venues in the Midwest) to park on road shoulders, back streets away from traffic adjecent to railroad right-of-ways. What the parkers don’t know is that there is a city ordinance banning this sort of parking _only on the days of concerts_ which is not posted anywhere. So the cops sit by and watch, and once everyone is in the venue they call out the tow trucks. From four different companies. The closest is about a mile out of town, furthest is seven miles out. When 500 people come out that night to find their cars missing, the police and the kindly towing reps, who sit by in the trucks to watch the hiilarity, won’t tell anyone where any particular vehicle is, so you get to walk to each yard until you find yours. Then you hope you have $150 on you to get your car out. The towing company gets their cut, the cops get theirs, everyone is happy. This is also the city where the police chief was, eventually, forced to resign. Seems the town liked having a nice kitty for city improvements, but drew the line at the Chief giving their 14 year old daughters beer in a hot tub. [http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandforks/news/state/7512816.htm](http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandforks/news/state/7512816.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Largo62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Largo62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Largo62)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2004, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wi-state-trooper-prick/276636/68 "2004-12-04T00:43:27Z")
I vote DICK!!! This “ignorance of the law is no excuse” crap is just bullshit. They were out of state on a holiday, and the trooper probably didn’t get any the night before. He should have noted the foreign plate, explained the law and let them off with a warning. But he’d rather hit them for $250 and boost his kill ratio. Like I said, he’s a fucking **DICK!!!** Of course, I _could_ be wrong. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2004, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wi-state-trooper-prick/276636/69 "2004-12-04T01:56:36Z")
> [@DesertGeezer](#): > > I vote DICK!!! > > This “ignorance of the law is no excuse” crap is just bullshit. They were out of state on a holiday, and the trooper probably didn’t get any the night before. He should have noted the foreign plate, explained the law and let them off with a warning. But he’d rather hit them for $250 and boost his kill ratio. > > Like I said, he’s a fucking **DICK!!!** > > Of course, I _could_ be wrong. Did you happen to note, as explained above, that the same law exists in the home state of the operator cited? Ignorance of the law when out of state is one (albeit weak) issue. When the out of state statute parallels that of your home, then ignorance of the law=justifiable citation. Obviously, YMV. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2004, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wi-state-trooper-prick/276636/70 "2004-12-04T04:03:28Z")
> [@danceswithcats](#): > > Did you happen to note, as explained above, that the same law exists in the home state of the operator cited? Ignorance of the law when out of state is one (albeit weak) issue. When the out of state statute parallels that of your home, then ignorance of the law=justifiable citation. Obviously, YMV. :rolleyes: I think you’ve just been whooshed. (See the small print at the bottom of his post?) ---
**Author:** ![Stufish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stufish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stufish)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2004, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wi-state-trooper-prick/276636/71 "2004-12-04T08:19:21Z")
I’ll save us all some time and not bother to go back and pluck one of the quotes about safety from some cop or pro-cop poster and just say to police officers: \*\*Stay out of the street dumb-ass. \*\* All right, all right, I’m sure there are times when you can’t get your squad car over far enough to avoid having to step out into, and walking along, a traffic lane for several seconds. Then I say: Check your rearview mirrors dip shit, and when the coast is clear, exit and approach the suspect vehicle from the passenger side. (With your hand lightly, suggestively, touching your gun of course.) But if you’re still too scared… Use your tough-guy loud speaker and tell the perp to move his vehicle as far over as possible. Plus, if he doesn’t comply that’s all the more reason to give him the baby seal treatment. (Safely on the other side of the guard rail if possible. ) Keep in mind this is strictly in the case of a standard traffic stop, not some kind of emergency or accident or something. All that being said… I always try to slow down and move away from _any_ kind of activity on the side of the road, it’s common sense, doesn’t everybody? So you try to use some common sense, and I’ll try to do the same and then there should be no reason for unreasonable fines \*or \* lavish tax-payer funded funerals. \*\*“The personality type least suited to responsibly wield the power granted police officers, is the type most drawn to the profession.” \*\* _Some insightful guy_ ---
**Author:** ![Largo62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Largo62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Largo62)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2004, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wi-state-trooper-prick/276636/72 "2004-12-04T09:02:25Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > I think you’ve just been whooshed. (See the small print at the bottom of his post?) Not exactly a whoosh, **Guin**. I didn’t catch the part about Illinois having the same law. I tend to get visceral about things, especially since November 2. Hence the wimpy disclaimer at the bottom of my post. I was in the Pit for a reason, namely, I wanted to get mad at somebody, preferably somebody in another state who couldn’t hurt me. 😉 I have seen some (not all) cops just throw their weight around because they could, and I was ready to believe this trooper was guilty of the same thing. Guess I really _was_ wrong. But thanks for seeing me as better than I was. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2004, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wi-state-trooper-prick/276636/73 "2004-12-04T14:12:20Z")
> [@](#): > > I’ll save us all some time and not bother to go back and pluck one of the quotes about safety from some cop or pro-cop poster and just say to police officers: Stay out of the street, dumb-ass. My sister’s son’s classmate is an orphan now because his father stopped to help a stranger change his tire on the side of I-75. They were both pulled well onto the shoulder but a passing motorist, curious to see what was going on, slammed into the back of the car and killed them both. Another 18 year old kid was killed a few months later in a similar scenario. The news media put out the word that if your car breaks down on the highway, you should never attempt to fix it yourself because it’s not uncommon for other motorists to inadvertently steer _towards_ these cars in an attempt to see what’s going on. I would imagine that most cops (or civilians) who are killed on the side of the highway aren’t hanging their ass out onto the highway. ---
**Author:** ![Stufish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stufish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stufish)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2004, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wi-state-trooper-prick/276636/74 "2004-12-04T19:33:09Z")
While the story about your sisters’, sons’, friends’ father was sad and tragic it’s also off the point. I am all for the aggressive prosecution of drivers that, for whatever reason, steer out of the traffic lane and onto the shoulder killing innocent people. The discussion here concerns people cited for not killing anyone while staying in the traffic lane. You are right about fixing a car on the side of the freeway it is quite dangerous-another excellent opportunity to use some common sense. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2004, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wi-state-trooper-prick/276636/75 "2004-12-04T20:03:33Z")
> [@Stufish](#): > > I’ll save us all some time and not bother to go back and pluck one of the quotes about safety from some cop or pro-cop poster and just say to police officers: \*\*Stay out of the street dumb-ass. \*\* > > All right, all right, I’m sure there are times when you can’t get your squad car over far enough to avoid having to step out into, and walking along, a traffic lane for several seconds. Then I say: Check your rearview mirrors dip shit, and when the coast is clear, exit and approach the suspect vehicle from the passenger side. (With your hand lightly, suggestively, touching your gun of course.) > > But if you’re still too scared… Use your tough-guy loud speaker and tell the perp to move his vehicle as far over as possible. Plus, if he doesn’t comply that’s all the more reason to give him the baby seal treatment. (Safely on the other side of the guard rail if possible. ) Congratulations schmucko-you’ve earned the ignorant sack of shit award. Police officers aren’t playing hop-scotch on the roadway. They are doing their job, a point which you’ve conveniently overlooked. As far as passenger side approach and degree to which the highway may be safely exited, that isn’t always feasible-pesky issues such as width of berm and terrain. Every time an officer approaches a car, they have to anticipate some asshole who may want to kill them. Heaven forbid that they act towards preservation of their own safety and well-being, things about which you apparently have little concern. I hope Santa takes a dump in your stocking-you don’t deserve coal. :wally ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2004, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wi-state-trooper-prick/276636/76 "2004-12-05T15:25:06Z")
> [@](#): > > While the story about your sisters’, sons’, friends’ father was sad and tragic it’s also off the point. No, it’s not. You admonished cops to use their common sense and not be in the street (lest they risk getting hit): “Stay out of the street dumb ass.”\* I responded that the cops don’t have to be _in_ the street to be at risk for getting hit. Merely being on the _shoulder_ carries a high degree of risk, as evidenced by three recent deaths here. Unless you equate being on the shoulder of the highway with being on the highway, your admonishment is off mark. Where else would you have the police officers pull people over? > [@](#): > > The discussion here concerns people cited for not killing anyone while staying in the traffic lane. Logic puzzles cause you headaches, don’t they? By your logic, if you get a ticket for going 50 in a school zone, you are being cited “for not killing anyone while staying in a traffic lane.” ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2004, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wi-state-trooper-prick/276636/77 "2004-12-05T20:18:38Z")
> [@Spavined Gelding](#): > > While a Trooper’s standard response is that he is permitted to write as many tickets as he wants, there is a quota. **WRONG!** Ticket quotas have been illegal in Wisconsin for about 5 years. ---
**Author:** ![Largo62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Largo62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Largo62)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2004, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wi-state-trooper-prick/276636/78 "2004-12-05T20:28:49Z")
Sure. Sure. But, as an L.A. cop once explained to me, “Well, there’s no quota exactly, but if you can’t write x number of citations in a shift, you’re spending too much time at the donut shop.” Legal or not, written or not, of _ **course** _ there’s a quota. On the other hand, there are more than enough violations for a good cop to make his quota without padding or picking on the innocent. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2004, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wi-state-trooper-prick/276636/79 "2004-12-05T20:45:42Z")
> [@DesertGeezer](#): > > Legal or not, written or not, of _ **course** _ there’s a quota. You sound like an authority on this. Where in Wisconsin are you a cop?😉 When the law went into effect the department I work for did away with it’s quota policy. It was replace with…nothing! There is no quota. In fact the Captain routinely sends out memos reminding that there is no quota. I _am_ wondering, though, how other departments changed after the ticket quota ban. ---
**Author:** ![Largo62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Largo62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Largo62)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2004, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wi-state-trooper-prick/276636/80 "2004-12-05T21:11:07Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > You sound like an authority on this. Where in Wisconsin are you a cop?😉 > > When the law went into effect the department I work for did away with it’s quota policy. It was replace with…nothing! There is no quota. In fact the Captain routinely sends out memos reminding that there is no quota. > > I _am_ wondering, though, how other departments changed after the ticket quota ban. I’m no authority, just a skeptic. The cop I cited (heh) was a friend, and this was many years ago. Apparently you are a cop. Does your captain not expect a certain standard of work from you? As I said, there are plenty of miscreants out there. How few citations do you have to write before he/she gets it that you’re blowing off the job? As far as I know everyone who works in whatever capacity has to face a review periodically. There may be no pressure to turn out a certain amount of work in a day, but there’s always a standard below which you get a poor review. Enough poor reviews and you get replaced by someone who will meet the standard. That may not be called a quota, but it’s purpose is similar. Again, so you know I get it, there are so many idiots driving cars that you couldn’t possibly write too few citations unless you were a slacker. There is no need for the pressure of a “magic number” for you to be doing a good job. Are we okay now? 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wi-state-trooper-prick/276636.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wi-state-trooper-prick/276636.md?page=5)