As an old retired sort I had an idea to buy a speed gun and keep up with the traffic going by the front of my house. It is a city street with the speed limit of 25. I am sure I will see someone doing 70 with in the next week. The city closed the police department about two years ago so all of our enforcement is up to the county. See a deputy once in awhile but I have never seen them stop anyone for speeding except out on the highway. Don't expect it to do any good and I sure wouldn't confront anyone speeding but maybe if I keep a record and give it to the Sheriff's department they would patrol more. About a year ago the neighbor's dog ran out into the street. They buried the poor thing that afternoon.
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There ain't a radar gun in a county car anywhere in the bootheel . . .
OP
Our county boys have radar guns they just don't seem to use them in town. When we had a two police car local law enforcement they had radar and kept the speed down.
The only police authorized to use radar guns in PA are the State Police.
This has been a point of controversy as the local municipal authorities want to have their departments be able to use radar for speed enforcement.
The controversy is that some people believe that the municipal police departments will use tickets to fill their coffers by having many speed traps or by lowering speed limits to ticket more drivers.
This has been bouncing around in the state legislature for a while.
We'll see what happens.
This has been a point of controversy as the local municipal authorities want to have their departments be able to use radar for speed enforcement.
The controversy is that some people believe that the municipal police departments will use tickets to fill their coffers by having many speed traps or by lowering speed limits to ticket more drivers.
This has been bouncing around in the state legislature for a while.
We'll see what happens.
Ivan the Butcher
Member
Here in Ohio, we have a few towns that use tickets as revenue enhancement! Two were so bad the state pulled their charter to be a town.
Having lived in a semi corrupt small town in the 60's and 70's, no matter how long you sat at the stop sign, you got a ticket! Eventually the Chief screwed up and the courts made the town pay to reverse all the charges and D.L. points. They also gave permission to sue the town for monetary damages! That Chief lost his job, but the town could have stopped him anytime, so they were part of the problem too!
Then there was the patrol officer (same town, same time frame) that ask girls out (or get a ticket!), he got shot by his wife! (My brother knew him and his wife, I knew 2 of the teenage girls!) He also lost his job, but was lucky his wife wasn't a better shot!
Ivan
Ivan, I remember many small towns, townships and villages here in the tristate that were fleecing motorists with traffic light/speeding ticket cameras. After a lot of lawsuits most of them have since been removed.
coltle6920
Member
Denver police enlisted volunteers many years ago. They were issued radar guns and trained how to use them. The police would then send a 1st warning to the drivers.
They also have these mobile trailers that can be parked anywhere there are speed issues. The older trailers only tell you how fast you're going but the newer ones can compile the information and let LEO take it from there.
Another local town here was having issues with speeders around a school zone. Speed signs were installed that automatically changed the traffic lights by the school if a speeder was detected.
They also have these mobile trailers that can be parked anywhere there are speed issues. The older trailers only tell you how fast you're going but the newer ones can compile the information and let LEO take it from there.
Another local town here was having issues with speeders around a school zone. Speed signs were installed that automatically changed the traffic lights by the school if a speeder was detected.
Missouri fixed that after Ferguson by capping the percentage of income a municipality may bank from court fees and fines. And then the state eliminated payment review dockets for those who owed back fines. Gone are the days of incarceration for failing to pay a fine. The balance goes to a collection agency, and the municipality receives a small percentage . . .
The last time time I was caught in a speed trap (Dumont ?) the young woman in the passenger seat so charmed and rattled the young deputy he forgot to write me a ticket. I was teasing her about it further down the road…Whut?? :-D
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Jon651
Member
You could probably sit out front of your house holding a blow-dryer and get the same reactions! 
Down in Maryland one county was flashing the school zone lights all night long and started ticketing drivers long after school was closed for the day. A conservative morning radio show blew the whistle on the government and this practice was stopped.
This isn't something that might happen. It has already happened. Check out the list of speed traps found by the American Motorists Association.
I feel no pain for speeders in a school zone, getting a ticket.
Here in Nevada, else where they might let you slide by 8-10 mph but
20 over will get you a major cash set back and double the points.
I talked to on officer that was on a bike and he told me that if they think
the speed is too high and dangerous to the public, you can go directly to jail.
To me, speeding is not worth the points and higher insurance rates.
Here in Nevada, else where they might let you slide by 8-10 mph but
20 over will get you a major cash set back and double the points.
I talked to on officer that was on a bike and he told me that if they think
the speed is too high and dangerous to the public, you can go directly to jail.
To me, speeding is not worth the points and higher insurance rates.
We didn't have any speed camera's, but there were great multitudes of traffic light cameras. I guess the same thing happened here, because their all gone now.
Our local police love to give out speeding tickets. Their pretty stealthy too in their cool Mustangs that have no front markings. So anytime I see a white Mustang behind me I gotta be cool.
They have regular cars, SUV's, and pickup trucks too, but I see the Mustangs pulling over people the most.
In my department we did not issue citations unless they were going in excess of 10 MPH over the speed limit. A lot of officers did not issue citations unless drivers were 15 MPH over the speed limit. With this policy, people still complained that we were running a speed trap.
If you want to clock em, have fun, if you want to scare people by pretending to be a traffic cop, don't.
Alternately, suggest that your town become a speed trap town, like Morrison CO, the one town where everybody obeys the comically low speed limit they put on the highway because there is always a ticket being given. Hell, I got a warning for going 20 in a 15...on my road bicycle.
Alternately, suggest that your town become a speed trap town, like Morrison CO, the one town where everybody obeys the comically low speed limit they put on the highway because there is always a ticket being given. Hell, I got a warning for going 20 in a 15...on my road bicycle.
We have a small town by us (Galway NY) that on many occasions leaves their reduced school speed limit signs active. Say we have a holiday on Wednesday they do not bother to shut the signs off like they are supposed to for the day. Sometime even during a Christmas break. Definitely a PITA as this is on a well traveled road and you can get a ticket.
Doug M.
Member
Stringtown OK was infamous for this years ago when I was trucking. I think the road bypassed the town when it was made 4 lane.
But: I've also been a small town cop, and the number of people who drove like raging idiots was staggering. 60 in a 30 was not unknown - and that was the sober ones. In two of the towns in which worked there were fatal car vs. pedestrian crashes (preventable, speed related) after I quit. That's a bad sign.
Sadly, with the hatred for LE we are seeing so much of now, local agencies are cutting back on enforcement of a lot of things. I see a lot of that while walking the dog - stuff that should be resulting in stops and tickets are being ignored because the officers don't want to put up with the BS and frivolous complaints. I know an officer here who had his tint meter taken away a few years ago because he was writing " too many" tinted window violations. That's obscene - if it a valid ticket, it is not "too many".
But: I've also been a small town cop, and the number of people who drove like raging idiots was staggering. 60 in a 30 was not unknown - and that was the sober ones. In two of the towns in which worked there were fatal car vs. pedestrian crashes (preventable, speed related) after I quit. That's a bad sign.
Sadly, with the hatred for LE we are seeing so much of now, local agencies are cutting back on enforcement of a lot of things. I see a lot of that while walking the dog - stuff that should be resulting in stops and tickets are being ignored because the officers don't want to put up with the BS and frivolous complaints. I know an officer here who had his tint meter taken away a few years ago because he was writing " too many" tinted window violations. That's obscene - if it a valid ticket, it is not "too many".
OP
"If you want to clock em, have fun, if you want to scare people by pretending to be a traffic cop, don't." Me being a fat old dude in bibs using a speed gun will not fool anyone into thinking I am a traffic enforcement offcer. Should anyone stop to ask I will inform them that I am watching to see how fast the deer in the woods across the street are moving. Of course that may bring me a visit by the fine gentleman in the white coats. No matter they may feed me after checking my sanity. I was checking the meat prices in a new meat market for the local AM-VETS and I may have to give up beef. $16.89 lb for a rib eye
Kevin, remember Elmwood Place? Around 2012 they cut a deal with a California company to manufacture and install cameras. Snapshots were taken of license plates and $105 tickets were issued via mail with the California company taking a cut of each one paid. They raked in millions.
A lot of bogus infractions were issued and folks didn't have much chance in arguing their case.
After several investigations, in 2013 a Judge ordered all cameras removed.
In 2014 the same Judge ordered Elmwood Place to refund $1.8 million to those who paid their fines (including all court costs) Elmwood Place had already spent the money (most of it foolishly).
Most folks in neighboring Winton Place, St Bernard, Carthage, Bond Hill and Norwood still drive around Elmwood Place.
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