#I'm back
9 messages in this thread
Well, there are fewer exceptions here. Enforcement is actually sort of
loose on seat belt laws in this state, but the mere existence of the law has
cut down on fatalities by a fair number.
Speed limits here are a joke–the most abused and ignored law I know of,
but one that most of the folks I know SWEAR they always obey (except,
apparently, when I'm trying to follow them somewhere). The federal government
never had anything to do with speed limits here until the first Arab oil
embargo back in 1973; then the Congress saw a wonderful way to control yet
another part of everybody's life and imposed them. They've eased up, although
they're still there, but mostly all they did was make a major industry out of
the radar detector and citizen's band makers. Most states have now raised their
limits to more reasonable speeds, but not here or in many other eastern states,
where they've discovered over the past 20 years just how much money could be
made from unreasonably low limits. Many towns and even counties face severe
budget shortfalls or even financial collapse if the limits went back to being
set by the state….
Speeding and parking tickets must be the best ways for any local authority to
increase their revenue. Hmm 'not enough revenue this month, let's cut the speed
limit in a few places and impose some parking restrictions'<g>
Adrian
Well, I'll give them this–they don't put up speed traps and change things
all that much in this state. They don't need to. Just keeping that interstate
limit absurdly low is more than sufficient. The last 3 days of the month is
when you really have to watch it here; they turn in their old ticket books and
pick up new ones (and hence are tallied) on the first of each month.
Jack,
It's always amazed me, that there are people who actually _do_ that job. Must
be something in their character for being naturally vindictive.
Adrian
>>It's always amazed me, that there are people who actually _do_ that job. Must
be something in their character for being naturally vindictive.<<
Adrian:
Vindication has noting to do with it, usually.
I always considered it getting even for the little guy who can't get
even for himself. Haven't you been driving when some 'Adam Henry' pulled some
stunt and nearly killed you. Your first thought was probably wishing you had a
bazooka; the second was hoping there was a cop nearby.
-Ed
Ed,
>> little guy
Strange you should say that<g> Most of the traffic wardens (the ones who issue
parking tickets) _are_ small people.
Adrian
Radar trap types tend to be tall and thin and seem to be manufactured in
the same factory worldwide (sort of like taxi drivers, who come from a
different factory). It's the parking ticket issuers who tend to be small.
State Police here do all manner of police work, but are expected to defray
much of their cost by ticket revenues.
Anyone joining the Maryland State Police must spend at least two years in
four 6 month shifts in different parts of the state doing nothing but speed and
traffic duty. It's a requirement to get into the more interesting aspects of
police work.
Jack,
That's what worries me. Is their performance measured by the number of tickets
they issue? Sounds an open invitation to issue tickets irrespective of whether
an offence was actually committed or not, and then they wonder why the general
public doesn't have a lot of respect for them<!>
Adrian
While State Police performance isn't measured by the number of tickets they
write, it is certainly true that unless they turn in a lot of fully used ticket
books during this period they aren't going to get the plum assignments. Faking
stops, however, isn't necessary in any highway system in the entire western
world, as you must know. There are always places where the limit will drop
dramatically and suddenly, or where it's nearly impossible to obey the limits
(exit ramps off high speed highways is a good example of that).