Pa. State Trooper
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 10,602
Likes: 721
From: Bellevue, NE
Ha! No one ever told me that WATCHING someone was entrapment! Learn something every day in here! I'm getting smarter all the time, pretty soon I'll be dangerous!
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
Thanks for pointing that out and that's where I'm coming from too. It's just that some of the LEO's around here think they can break speed laws at will without fear of citation, and I don't think this is right.
For example, I had one pass me on a section of I-49 under construction with a posted speed limit of 45mph. I got behind him (at a distance) and clocked him at 90mph, and later on down the road I noticed that he had stopped at a pizza place, so I pulled over to him and politely asked why he was speeding. He said he had no excuse, etc., etc. and invited me to report him, but I told him I had no interest in getting him in trouble and just wanted to know why he thought he was above the law. When I suggested that he could do it with impunity he popped back, "Oh, I can get a ticket too!" Yeah, right, and I was born yesterday. That kind of mindset gripes me, and that's not to say that I don't exceed the speed limit myself, as I do, but not flagrantly like that, and when I do I know I'm not exempt from getting a ticket.
For example, I had one pass me on a section of I-49 under construction with a posted speed limit of 45mph. I got behind him (at a distance) and clocked him at 90mph, and later on down the road I noticed that he had stopped at a pizza place, so I pulled over to him and politely asked why he was speeding. He said he had no excuse, etc., etc. and invited me to report him, but I told him I had no interest in getting him in trouble and just wanted to know why he thought he was above the law. When I suggested that he could do it with impunity he popped back, "Oh, I can get a ticket too!" Yeah, right, and I was born yesterday. That kind of mindset gripes me, and that's not to say that I don't exceed the speed limit myself, as I do, but not flagrantly like that, and when I do I know I'm not exempt from getting a ticket.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 10,602
Likes: 721
From: Bellevue, NE
FWIW, I am human and will occasionally find myself speeding in my cage or on my bike. Never too bad, in fact, my wife says I drive like a grandpa. But I am ALWAYS careful about obeying the speed limit in my cruiser. I realize how people might look at it and I do whatever I can to set a good example. But that doesn't mean I won't kill the lights and siren several blocks out from an alarm call, for example, as it's tough to sneak up on bad guys with that stuff announcing my impending arrival.
On a related note, there are times when I would just as soon leave that stuff ON when I'm coming in...give the idiots a chance to scatter!
On a related note, there are times when I would just as soon leave that stuff ON when I'm coming in...give the idiots a chance to scatter!
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Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 559
Likes: 0
From: Berwick, Pa.
I, in no way wanted to impune or be sarcastic about that officer on the street glide or most other LEOs. There are many times daily that I would wish a LEO to be around to ticket the idiot cage driver endangering lives.
My post wasn't to criticize rather to ask is it safer for a motorcycle riding above the speed limit in the left lane.
I believe it may be. Also, that bike was beautiful and I thought what a great way to make a living, in the saddle of a Harley Davidson.
My post wasn't to criticize rather to ask is it safer for a motorcycle riding above the speed limit in the left lane.
I believe it may be. Also, that bike was beautiful and I thought what a great way to make a living, in the saddle of a Harley Davidson.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,517
Likes: 2
From: the frozen tundra of the "Windy City"
stro1965 100% agreed! Sometimes the siren and lights cause idiots to scatter making the call a lot safer! As for Iclick, I understand your frusteration, but I will have to polietly disagree! Cops gets tickets and get arrested everyday. Maybe not in a squad car, but in their personal car. It has happened a lot lately here in Illinois. I will tell you that the "thin blue line" is getting thinner and thinner everyday! Although I agree that there alot of coppers out there that think they are higher than the law, and have no problem pointing that out to you, but that doesnt mean it is right, or legal! Sorry you ran into one of those guys! There is no excuse to drive like that just to get a slice of za...
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 461
Likes: 21
From: Providence
That is a big issue with bystanders that do not know anything about police work, who watch the police and think that the police are just not doing anything (work).... I remembered one day, when I was working and we were looking for couple of subjects in a vehicle that just fled and dipped on us. So, I briefly stopped in the middle of the street to speak with a fellow officer who was also helping in the search. This Lady who seem to be in a hurry, honk on her horn at us. I quickly drove off the oposite way, she had the nerve to say out loud a few of her choice words at me. I then turned around and activated my over head light to stop her. She continued with her attitute. I responded back in a nice way, "You first honk your horn at us and your languish was just outstanding.... You don't even know if we were looking for someone out here that just committed a crime or you just want assumed that we were just shooting the **** in the middle of the street." I guess that got to her and she did apologized for her behavior and drove off....
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 379
Likes: 1
From: Central Wisconsin
gm9, I know the post is getting old but you need to spend a number of years on the job to know what I mean when I say there are many reasons why the LEO may speed or go against other traffic laws without lights and siren and many here do understand. When doing so, the LEO must use due regard (according to the courts). Some common situations have already been named when a fast response without lights or siren would be appropriate so I won't name more.
I still agree that some are "breaking the laws" which is the term I would use when not justified to do what they did.
I still agree that some are "breaking the laws" which is the term I would use when not justified to do what they did.
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 162
Likes: 3
The bottom line here is that LEO's need to be able to do their job and somtimes it might not make sense to us. But they also need to remember that they don't have special priviledges to break the law for no reason. They don't deserve any more or any less respect than anyone else. They need to remember that they are PUBLIC SERVANTS that are paid by the taxpayers, just like the guys who work in the sewers or pick up dog crap in the public parks. The problem is that authority and power by nature automatically breeds the option to abuse it without the normal reprecussions that the rest of us have to deal with. 90 % of LEO's are great people out there doing a tough job. But then there are those ****** who truly believe that they are above the law. Most LEO's really arn't as bad *** as they think they are. They just have their gang to back them up so they feel that they can do and say whatever they want. Like speeding for no reason. That's just the way it is. So the choice is to live by the rules of their gang, or start your own gang and change the rules if you don't like them. That's what guys like Jefferson, Franklin and Adams did.
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 179
Likes: 0
From: Copenhagen
Yes I was joking... but sometimes my job requires I brake the speed limit even without lights and sirens.
Here we can get tickets too...if we for no reason break the law.
Lucky for us most of us follow the law and only break the speed limit when needed. But as someone wrote in an ealier post there are always that small % that act like an a..hole and I hope those guys get their punisments. We had an officer fired, fined and 10 days jail for braking the law.
The more we (the police) keep a good relationship to people the more help we will get when needed. And most people respect what we do even if we sometimes give these same people a speeding ticket.
If we would just brake the law all the time I dont think these people would respect us as much and really get pissed off when given a speeding ticket from the same officer that constantly brakes the law himself.
I follow the law when I have too and brake it when the job calls for it.
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Jan 27, 2010 07:38 AM
