But then there’s Louisiana. Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, to be specific.
Now, I’m not saying that the local constabulary either (a) has quotas or (b) accepts kickbacks, but, coincidentally, our parish sheriff is the man who collects all money due the parish, from whatever source, for whatever reason. Personally. That’s right, our property tax checks are made out to “Harry Lee, Sheriff.” (We at least do get a damned efficient department for our property tax money.)
And also coincidentally, Sheriff Harry had stomach-stapling surgery last year. The street behind our house has a 30 mph speed limit on it but is four-lane with almost no traffic lights so is a popular place for speeding, and it was intriguing to see how the speed trap setup where the road curves at the corner near our house increased from the usual 1-2 times per week to 2-3 times per day in the months following Sheriff Harry’s surgery. About eight months later, it went back down to the pre-surgical 1-2 times per week.
Nope, I’m not saying Sheriff Harry is pocketing ticket $$ and possibly assigning plum duties to the cops who collect the most $$ for him. But I’m also not blind. Or stupid. Or lacking in awe at the smoothness with which he runs his (allegedly) corrupt department. Yes, we the Jefferson Parish residents are (probably) getting screwed, but we by God are smiling while it happens!
This was a while ago, but I actually got scolded for writting too many tickets once. Albeit, they weren’t all traffic cites. I was parking by a high school at 3pm and picking off T.M.N.K. I could get a speeding write and 2 or 3 under age smoking pops every-single-day. $300+ in revenue, all within an hour. These were legit offenses, but you wouldn’t believe how many parents showed up at the next public police & fire commission meeting to bitch! Since then, my bounty hunting days are over. I patrol, take calls, and write very few tickets, only on flagrant violations. Every year I get outstanding performance reviews.
Before the ban we had a quota of 1 ticket every 17 hours worked. Where they came up with that strange ratio I have no idea!
I hate to climb back into this septic tank of a thread but it is a dull night.
pkbites, I take it that you are a police officer. I assume that you are at least familiar with the peace officers who work around you – other city cops, county sheriff’s deputies, state highway patrol officers, department of transportation enforcement officers, fish and game officers and Lord knows what else. I challenge you so say with a straight face and a pure heart that you know of no officers who are inclined to write a citation at every opportunity and in situations when other officers in the same geographical area would be inclined to ignore the violation, issue an oral warning or a written warning. Like wise, I challenge you to tell us ( with the same SF & PH) that an officer’s production of citations and arrests is not considered in some departments when considering what officers are attentive to duty, nose to the grind stone guys and what officers are haunting the donut shops and parked in low traffic areas reading Steven King stories.
If you are prepared to tell us that just doesn’t happen in and around West Harness Buckle, Wisconsin, then you are operating in a perfect world or you haven’t been paying attention.
What part of (originally posted by PKBITES)"I am wondering, though, how other departments changed after the ticket quota ban" did you not understand? I obviously, and, already, admitedly, do not know what’s going on up in Northern Bumble Fuck, if I did I wouldn’t have made that statement.
Back to the OP: having been on the side of the highway during a traffic stop while somebody went flying by without slowing down or changing lanes, I think the fine imposed is just about right. People need to use some common sense behind the wheel, knowledge of the local laws or not!!!
I’m glad you mentioned it! I certainly knew nothing of it. No signs ANYWHERE (and I travel extensively on interstates, US Highways and Texas state highways on a regular basis) and I do not have ANY television access, as not even the standard broadcast channels will come in using power-boosted rabbit ears, tinfoil, metal coathangers, etc. I usually move over if there’s room, and if there’s not I try to slow down (if I notice the pulled-over car, which I sometimes don’t, especially when they’re pulled over under an overpass). I knew it was common sense but I had no idea I could get a ticket for failing to do it.