Hmmmm... PC for doctors... interesting. One BIG difference, that PC is usually lower fees... NOT for covering up illegal activity. Every other day I watch a Washington DC LEO violate every traffic law on his way through Maryland to work in the District. So, shitty pay, holiday work... love that one... with 32 years in the US Navy (so far)... MANY years on sea duty, stationed overseas, deployments to the big sand box... kind of hard to hear about shitty pay and working on holidays.

However, with that said... yes, I speed. I get caught, I pay the fine. Like it's been said... they should just be held to the same requirements as the rest of us. The law is the law. And, yes, I have reported the DC LEO to his superiors along with time and locations of his behavior. If he has to be disciplined... so be it. Just like me, he knew the consequences of his actions... if he choses to violate the law, he has to deal with it too.

 

Sorry I take exception to this statement. So if you're going 60 MPH in a posted 65 MPH limit area and someone passes you, but they're obeying the speed limit, it's disrespectful? Aren't you being disrespectful by slowing down traffic since by nature most drivers won't pass a marked law enforce unit?

 

This is the problem that I see with SOME, NOT ALL LEO's when it really comes down to it.

The word is ARROGANT.
Definition:
[ol][*]Having or displaying a sense of overbearing self-worth or self-importance.[*]Marked by or arising from a feeling or assumption of one's superiority toward others: an arrogant contempt for the weak. See Synonyms at proud. [/ol]
Here is why I say this.
All LEO's want respect for authority. I was taught you earn respect, and respect will be given. Just because you are LEO's, you still can be a JACKA$$. Just because you wear a uniform doesnt give you RESPECT, and all should bow down to YOU..because you are serving a community that has hired you to perform a job. A JOB, that also requires you to inforce laws handed down through law makers, judges, city & county residential mandates. A JOB, just because you wear a uniform, and have a badge does not give you privelage to over-extend your boundries of breaking those laws yourself as a LEO's. Laws that as a LEO's you are also required to OBEY..

That brings me to the key word "Professional Courtesy"....

Professional courtesy, however, is not diplomatic immunity for LEO's. In the old days there were no limits to what cops were suppose to do for each other. Those guys though didn’t make the salaries that LEO's do today. There aren’t many readily available jobs with the money, benefits, and pensions that LEO's have, so risking your job to fix a traffic ticket is no longer part of the equation.
If after returning to your car you find a parking ticket, pay the friggin thing. Don’t risk your job and the job of the officer who gave it to you.If you get pulled over for speeding. Don't risk your job and the job of the officer who is about to give you the citation YOU deserve.

If you feel Professional Courtesy is such a standard in your life as a LEO's, think about the person your handing the ticket too. Why couldn't you extend your Professional Courtesy to that person and everyone else out there?

I have a little story for you LEO's, and its a sad that I cant figure a way to do this like I did in the past to fix a problem. And show to a Judge how you all break the law, and dont get slapped for it.


When I was 17yrs old, I was downtown. Walking to get to the Municipal Building to meet a girlfriend who was just getting off work. At that age I didn't care to wait for the cross walk to post walk, or even walk in the regulated areas. I had a officer give me a ticket for JAYWALKING. At that time the ticket was for $25.00.. The fine today is like $75.00...

I went to court (asked for trail by Judge), and pleaded guilty to the Judge in standing that day. And asked before I pay my fine for Jaywalking. If the Judge would please issue tickets to the following (28) Officers of the Law for doing the same thing. The Judged looked at me vary seriously and said excuse me. I looked at the Judge with a straight face, and handed him a folder with pictures of (28) Officers of the Law doing the same thing I was cited for (Jaywalking). Pictures so clear, distinct, that the face, badge number, and so on, could not be denied of there offense. I asked the Judge in a clear and distinct voice so I could be heard by everyone in the gallery, DOES THE LAW NOT APPLY TO EVERYONE, Jaywalking is Jaywalking. Should

 

For those that have read this post, here is a break down on the revenue generated per my ticket.

Court Automation $5.00

Document Storage Fee $5.00

State Police District #6 $28.93

County Percentage Share (McLean County) $25.14

State Percentage Share $10.93

Traffice Safety School $25.00 --> required if you want court supervision, and you must attend 4 hours of schooling.

Now lets do the math, average LEO's gives out 20 tickets a month, and they have 25 officers just working that section of the highway. Those state troopers now have generated $14,465 per month for there District #6. Not a bad generator of money for them without having to tax.

And for McLean county, they have generated additional money of $12,570.00 per month for there county.

ToadsUltra07

 

quote:drbillk
So, shitty pay, holiday work... love that one... with 32 years in the US Navy (so far)... MANY years on sea duty, stationed overseas, deployments to the big sand box... kind of hard to hear about shitty pay and working on holidays.


I wasn't trying to justify anything, just commenting on how things work. Every job has its down side, and its perks. I am not going to get into what is or is not fair. This life ain't, nor will itever be, fair. When you BMW about a ticket you got, think about all the times you should have had one and didn't get one.

 

Nope, they can't either.
http://www.snopes.com/autos/law/fourway.asp

 

I really try not to speed. On the occasions where I have been preoccupied and distracted or pissed off about something and consequently was caught speeding I have to say that I have been given "breaks" locally,state wise and in other states. I don't know if its because I am a gray back or my veterans plates or I don't argue or what but I have been given many passes of late. I am not nor have ever been nor will ever be an LEO. I have appreciated the passes on the speeding and continue to conduct myself in a manner that does not draw the LEO's attention towards me. I will be very content to drive off into the sunset without any future legal dilema's of any kind.

 

ToadsUltra,

I found myself immersed in a very same type of LEO beg to differ moment here awhile ago when I first started posting. I was pissed. Bullsh** in fact. Luckily I didn't realize a few things because I was new here. I am also appreciative I wasn't banned or warned and the conversation was able to play itself out. My positionwas much like yours.

If I may:

1)There are many who post here who are LEO's and ride.Most sound cool some sound not socool.

2)As you stated not all LEO's are bad. In fact I am sure thatunder different circumstances the LEO thatI had a beg to differ moment with here, there is a good chance we would perhaps get along under different circumstances.There are LEO's who are LEO's for the wrong reason and I can assure you they are as much a burden to there co workers as to you. Whatta ya gonna do about it? They leave they just go some where else and not until they've caused unecessarily collateral damage (poor moral, hate and discontent etc..) Its a hard to difficult problem to fix. Appreciate the good ones. Try real hard not to break the law. It gets expensive and really gets on your nerves after a while. I am glad yours worked out for you. I have similar stories.

3)LEO's and bikershave a lot in common in the sense that people either want to kick or kiss your **** (thats how it use to be with bikers when Iwas a rooster). While I in no way will defend the bad cop I think its worth remembering that sometimes we find ourselves on the oposite side of the same law. What to do what to do. The LEO has the full and complete backing of the system for free. You have to higher a lawyer. If it comes down to your word or his don't think twice which way it will go, thank god you had visual proof. That was funny. However and with that said todays technology is really going a long way with weeding out the bad ones. The papers are full of that. However how about the truly great Officerwho is liedon by a female that she was raped by him because she got a ticvket, didn't like it and its not true? That sux in any avenue of the work place. By time they get to the bottom of the problem damage done.

4)The problem you have so eloquently layed out is common knowledge. Its a given. And its true amoung all slices of the eco stratem. Have many aholes do you know that ride an HD? Work with? get my point.

5)While I can guarantee the active and retired LEO's get tired of hearing there profession raked over the coals here regularly I hope they take with them that the good ones are appreciated and the frustrations voiced here are as a consequence of being disrespected and unwarrantedly talked down to and unprofessionally treated by a cop who over zealously over stepped his/her capacity.

6)I work with Police officers as an admin person. I am sleeved with Tattoo's,been riding for almost35 yearshaven't always been a good citizen and with the exception of one cop in the department the rest are great. Courteous, compassionate, and throw down in a moments notice if need to. Even they don't like the one azzh*le. So you more then likely either got the bad one orgood one who had a bad day(we all have them). I wonder do the bads ones eventually weed themsleves out?

I hope your experience doesn't turn you against one of the professionsthat will continue to have an impact on your life. Its a job, one I wouldn't want. Bad will always be a part of life, so isn't good though.

 

Well said, badinfluence. I've been retired for 17 years, so I really have no dog in this fight. Yes, I wrote plenty of tickets during my career, it's part of the job, but just a part. Besides traffic enforcement which I did and still do consider important, I was involved in hundreds of criminal investigations and I put away a lot of muy malo hombres, evil sons o'bitches who belong in a cage. I'm proud of the work I accomplished as a trooper and feel privileged to have served the state for as many years as I did.

Oh, and for the record, you're right..........the "us vs them" attitudes do get old. Police officers mostly get accused for having this kind of attitude, but I find it's, more often than not, the other way around. Not that this isn't to be expected; the nature of the job simply isn't conducive to making friends or otherwise generating goodwill. Most of us bristle at the thought of being told what to do or having to pay, financially or otherwise, for our transgressions. This is why I tried not to take things personally; sometimes successfully, sometimes not.

 

hello Xtrooper,

How you doing? Pleasant surprise to see you chiming in such a timely manner. Hope all is well with you and yours.

My what a difference a few weeks make,eh? And for the record, thanks for the compliment.