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Speeding Cops
Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 1:46 am
by dukalmighty
ROCKVILLE, Md. - No matter what the cameras say, some drivers are refusing to pay dozens of $40 speeding fines. Who? Police officers.
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In the last eight months of 2007, Montgomery County's new speed cameras recorded 224 cases in which police vehicles were recorded traveling more than 10 mph over the speed limit, according to department records.
Supervisors dismissed 76 of those citations after determining the officers were responding to calls or had valid reasons to break the speed limit.
But that left 148 who didn't have that excuse, and about two-thirds of those citations haven't been paid, said police Lt. Paul Starks.
The police union says officers shouldn't pay because the citations are issued to the owner of a vehicle, in this case the county, and not to the driver.
Police Chief Thomas Manger doesn't buy that argument.
"We are not above the law," Manger said. "It is imperative that the police department hold itself to the same standards that we're holding the public to."
Manger said officers who continue to ignore citations might be disciplined.
How about suspend their drivers license until the fine is paid,I'm sure that would probably happen in a citizens case
Re: Speeding Cops
Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 7:50 am
by jimlongley
The police union says officers shouldn't pay because the citations are issued to the owner of a vehicle, in this case the county, and not to the driver.
I would like them to name one, just one, instance where that EXCUSE has worked for any other driver caught speeding.
Talk about assinine arguements.
Re: Speeding Cops
Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 10:51 am
by gregthehand
As someone who was one I can tell you that most every cop I know is a bad speeder. Most guys I knew always drove over the speed limit. I will say that a few were at least "decent" in that they said they won't pull someone over unless they were going faster than they were. Many cops in Texas think that they are exempt from the Transporation code but in actuality that is only if they are on emergency. When it gets down to it most do it "just because they can".
Oh by the way it's taught at the Academy (and I don't doubt it) that the number one cause in Texas for citizen complaints against peace officers is.... Drum roll......... DRIVING TOO FAST/SPEEDING
Re: Speeding Cops
Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 11:00 am
by ProudNativeTexican
It seems to be one of those times when it is "Do as a I say not as I do".
Re: Speeding Cops
Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 1:02 pm
by KBCraig
Last year I saw a Texarkana PD car exit from I-30 to Richmond Rd., stop short of the stop line, properly use his turn signal, then make a right turn.
It stood out in my mind, because it's the only time I've ever seen an officer in a marked car use a turn signal. Not to mention that he properly stopped short of the stop line on a red light, instead of coasting right on through into a turn.
I should have gotten his unit number to send a positive comment, but I was too shocked to think that quickly.
Just one more quick little pet peeve: officers (usually DPS) who drive continuously in the left lane on the interstate. It's illegal. You write tickets to ordinary motorists for this. Stop doing it.
Re: Speeding Cops
Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 4:06 pm
by gregthehand
KBCraig wrote:Just one more quick little pet peeve: officers (usually DPS) who drive continuously in the left lane on the interstate. It's illegal. You write tickets to ordinary motorists for this. Stop doing it.
This is the optimum place to run radar. You are more in line with the fast lane on the opposite side of the freeway, and directly in line with your fast lane behind you. Therefore your dopler radar can pick up faster moving traffic (usually in the inside lane). Also it is safer since you have to whip around really fast. If you drive on the outside lane their may be a car between you and the otherside meaning you would have to speed up and then stop to turn, or slow down and do the same. If there were multiple cars their this would be harder. Also a problem called shadowing can occur when shooting radar around other cars. Suffice it to say they don't do it to be annoying but do it because it helps them perform their job better, and it's safer once they activate their overhead lights.
Re: Speeding Cops
Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 6:46 pm
by KBCraig
gregthehand wrote:KBCraig wrote:Just one more quick little pet peeve: officers (usually DPS) who drive continuously in the left lane on the interstate. It's illegal. You write tickets to ordinary motorists for this. Stop doing it.
This is the optimum place to run radar. You are more in line with the fast lane on the opposite side of the freeway, and directly in line with your fast lane behind you. Therefore your dopler radar can pick up faster moving traffic (usually in the inside lane). Also it is safer since you have to whip around really fast.
Oh, I know
why they do it, but shooting oncoming lanes isn't a good excuse any more. At least on on I-30, most of which is separated by barricades or restraint cables. On most of the highway, it can be miles before an officer reaches a turn-around point.
As for traffic moving the same direction, I think they'd have better luck in the right lane directly in front of a large truck, where the fast movers (most of whom are
also driving continuously in the left lane) would blow by without seeing them until it was too late.
And the point stands: they're not in emergency, so they're not exempt. It's illegal. Don't do it.
Re: Speeding Cops
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 1:45 pm
by DoubleJ
Kev, buddy, I just don't think you'd be able to handle it on my commute to work everyday. and I know that mine is not that bad! two lanes, bumper to bumper, doing about 40mph average.
Re: Speeding Cops
Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 5:42 pm
by dozerboy
Cops should be held to a higher standard like people with CDLs are if not more so.
Re: Speeding Cops
Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 8:25 pm
by KBCraig
DoubleJ wrote:Kev, buddy, I just don't think you'd be able to handle it on my commute to work everyday. and I know that mine is not that bad! two lanes, bumper to bumper, doing about 40mph average.
I could, but I choose to never live in such places. Just a personal preference.
My commute is 6.5 miles, which takes 10 minutes tops, if I hit red lights (3 of them) all the way.
Re: Speeding Cops
Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 1:03 pm
by texasmr2
Crazy stuff as I interviewed with Montgomery County Sheriffs Dept yesterday!!
I have ALWAY'S had an issue with the police speeding and making their own rule's and have heard of a few instance's where officer's were actually pulled over and ticketed by a fellow officer. Not a way to make or keep friend's in the dept but still the law is the law! I have been told that my uncle who is a deputy sheriff in Montgomery County is very well liked but also has a few people within the dept who do not care for him because he dont take no crap especially from other officer's who try to bend the rule's!
Re: Speeding Cops
Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 8:05 pm
by dac1842
Someone mentioned in Texas an officer is exempt it responding to an emergency. Unless the law has been changed that is not correct. The law used to read and not sure if it still does, that an officer on patrol was exempt. No condition of being enroute to an emergency.
Re: Speeding Cops
Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 9:51 pm
by KBCraig
dac1842 wrote:Someone mentioned in Texas an officer is exempt it responding to an emergency. Unless the law has been changed that is not correct. The law used to read and not sure if it still does, that an officer on patrol was exempt. No condition of being enroute to an emergency.
I'll let someone who knows the Traffic Code better than I do, give the final answer, but I believe the exemption is for "emergency vehicles", and that it's not an "emergency vehicle" unless lights/sirens are activated, or responding to an emergency.
I welcome correction.
Re: Speeding Cops
Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 9:52 pm
by texasmr2
dac1842 wrote:Someone mentioned in Texas an officer is exempt it responding to an emergency. Unless the law has been changed that is not correct. The law used to read and not sure if it still does, that an officer on patrol was exempt. No condition of being enroute to an emergency.
My view is an officer on patrol should be abiding by the rule's of the state and traffic law's and rule's. From what I have gathered a patrol officer must recieve PERMISSION to run light's and stop sign's by their commanding officer.
I have witnessed first hand, as I'm sure we all have, police abusing their power's pertaining to the law of the raod so to speak. No doubt I will make enemy's when I become a patrol officer, kinda like my uncle, because the traffic law's and rule's apply to everyone.
Re: Speeding Cops
Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 11:32 pm
by jbirds1210
§ 546.001. PERMISSIBLE CONDUCT. In operating an
authorized emergency[0] vehicle[0] the operator may:
(1) park or stand, irrespective of another provision
of this subtitle;
(2) proceed past a red or stop signal or stop sign,
after slowing as necessary for safe operation;
(3) exceed a maximum speed limit, except as provided
by an ordinance adopted under Section 545.365, as long as the
operator does not endanger life or property; and
(4) disregard a regulation governing the direction of
movement or turning in specified directions.
§ 546.002. WHEN CONDUCT PERMISSIBLE. (a) In this
section, "police escort" means facilitating the movement of a
funeral, oversized or hazardous load, or other traffic disruption
for public safety purposes by a peace officer described by Articles
2.12(1)-(4), (8), and (22), Code of Criminal Procedure.
(b) Section 546.001 applies only when the operator is:
(1) responding to an emergency[0] call;
(2) pursuing an actual or suspected violator of the
law;
(3) responding to but not returning from a fire alarm;
(4) directing or diverting traffic for public safety
purposes; or
(5) conducting a police escort.