I ask this because I am curious and some of you are LEOs.
I have been pulled over throughout the years once or twice a decade. Seems like, in the past, if you are cooperative, you were let go with a warning if nothing serious. Bot so last two times. About 5 years ago, I got caught in an intersection and ended up making a left turn on red. Really had nowhere to go. I fought that one in court and ended up getting the points dropped but still had to pay fines and court fees. I never admitted guilt. The thing that really bothered me is that I showed up in court on time and the cop called to say he would be there but was running an hour late. As far as I was concerned, it should have been thrown out if he couldn't be there on time. But that was 5 yrs ago.
Friday, I got pulled over and I did not come to a complete stop at a rural 4 way stop sign. Admittedly, it has excellent visibility all around, and you would be able to see a car coming well before the intersection. I was polite and admitted that I made a California stop. To me, I thought I should have gotten a warning, but I got a fine but it was marked No Points. I thank the officer for that, but it seems if you have no violations recently and admit that it should have been a warning. I will sound stereotypical-- but, when a good ol' boy in a late model vehicle and a clean camouflage ball cap, middle aged, gets pulled over, in the past, it's generally a warning. Or, it could be this state. Maybe they're all about the money! I've been pulled over twice in over a decade of living here, and fines both times. I am here for work only. When I lived in Virginia I was pulled over about twice in 15 years and it was a verbal reprimand.
I'm not saying I wasn't guilty. But it seems that officers aren't like they used to be. It didn't cost the cop lost income to give me a warning.
Two other thoughts:
I am in regulatory enforcement and I could write deviations up all day long. But I don't. Sure, sometimes things do get written, but it's more about making your presence known. To me, he could have pulled me over, "made his presence known", and let me off. Of course, if a second offence...then a whole different ballgame.
Second thought: I've driven in Europe, especially England, a reasonable amount, and intersections such as these would contain a yield sign. Also, there is a much more liberal usage of passing zones overseas vs here. I guess more of a use your own judgment overseas vs more strict regulation of driving--and therefore, more opportunity for violations and the generation of revenue (fines).
So, is something fundamentally different now? Perhaps its from above. For example, years ago, regulatory enforcement in my division was much more stringent. Now, it's more about identifying deviation(s) and working together to find a solution.
My general observations are that cops aren't like they used to be. But, then again, I'm sure the general public isn't like it used to be, either.
Comments?
I have been pulled over throughout the years once or twice a decade. Seems like, in the past, if you are cooperative, you were let go with a warning if nothing serious. Bot so last two times. About 5 years ago, I got caught in an intersection and ended up making a left turn on red. Really had nowhere to go. I fought that one in court and ended up getting the points dropped but still had to pay fines and court fees. I never admitted guilt. The thing that really bothered me is that I showed up in court on time and the cop called to say he would be there but was running an hour late. As far as I was concerned, it should have been thrown out if he couldn't be there on time. But that was 5 yrs ago.
Friday, I got pulled over and I did not come to a complete stop at a rural 4 way stop sign. Admittedly, it has excellent visibility all around, and you would be able to see a car coming well before the intersection. I was polite and admitted that I made a California stop. To me, I thought I should have gotten a warning, but I got a fine but it was marked No Points. I thank the officer for that, but it seems if you have no violations recently and admit that it should have been a warning. I will sound stereotypical-- but, when a good ol' boy in a late model vehicle and a clean camouflage ball cap, middle aged, gets pulled over, in the past, it's generally a warning. Or, it could be this state. Maybe they're all about the money! I've been pulled over twice in over a decade of living here, and fines both times. I am here for work only. When I lived in Virginia I was pulled over about twice in 15 years and it was a verbal reprimand.
I'm not saying I wasn't guilty. But it seems that officers aren't like they used to be. It didn't cost the cop lost income to give me a warning.
Two other thoughts:
I am in regulatory enforcement and I could write deviations up all day long. But I don't. Sure, sometimes things do get written, but it's more about making your presence known. To me, he could have pulled me over, "made his presence known", and let me off. Of course, if a second offence...then a whole different ballgame.
Second thought: I've driven in Europe, especially England, a reasonable amount, and intersections such as these would contain a yield sign. Also, there is a much more liberal usage of passing zones overseas vs here. I guess more of a use your own judgment overseas vs more strict regulation of driving--and therefore, more opportunity for violations and the generation of revenue (fines).
So, is something fundamentally different now? Perhaps its from above. For example, years ago, regulatory enforcement in my division was much more stringent. Now, it's more about identifying deviation(s) and working together to find a solution.
My general observations are that cops aren't like they used to be. But, then again, I'm sure the general public isn't like it used to be, either.
Comments?
But really it is all about the fine. Local government will actually calculate money in their budgets based on past fines from traffic enforcement that were collected. And that quite frankly it is how it all works or doesn't work depending on if you are on the receiving end or not.
It cost the princely sum of $16.50. In those days that violation usually called for a warning ticket. But then I can remember many many times I should have been ticketed but wasn't.
