Friday, July 24, 2009
Jefferson Traffic Police
Why is it that every time I pick up an issue of the Jefferson paper, it is filled with out-of-towners who were stopped and ticketed for traffic violations - many times for speeding 1-5 mph over the posted limit? It seems rather obvious that local police merely pull cars over on a regular basis when they have out-of-area plates. This is why many of us no longer return to the area.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
10 comments:
Actually they usually dont pull ANYONE over unless they are 10mph or over. They simply write down the amount over as a courtesy to keep them from coming to court and fighting it. The fines are also less in that 1-5 over catagory than the 6-10. Anyone going 10 or over in a residential area need a ticket no matter the county or state they are from.
I got stopped down here in Atlanta for doing 82 in a 55 and got a warning. My son was stopped for doing 90 in a 50 mph zone and it was reduced to 23 over so he wouldn't lose his license. They don't write speeding tickets down here unless you're going 85 mph. Looks to me like we're talking to Jackie Gleason.
"Looks to me like we're talking to Jackie Gleason."
- Yes, it's Buford T Justice of Greene County, I-o-way.
I imagine most of the out-of-town tickets are being written on Highway 30 and Highway 4 by State Troopers or maybe deputy sheriffs. City cops may write a few, but the majority have to be passers-by.
So far as being able to drive 85 in a 55 in Atlanta (or wherever) without concern for a ticket, that would not make me feel very safe as a motorist. While it may seem you are getting away with something, the odds are stacked against you. Deadly accidents increase exponentially every mile per hour driven over the speed limit. Just the facts proven by millions upon millions of driven miles and thousands upon thousands of deadly accidents. 10mph over the limit deserves a ticket and could be the deterent it takes for a driver to operate responsibly and save lives. Their own included.
I also live in a city where people routinely drive 85. It works out pretty well, for the most part. I will admit that when people make bad driving decisions at 85, it usually has horrific results. Something you hear out here all the time: "An overturned car on the freeway is blocking traffic..." Usually someone deciding to change two lanes at one time and is surprised...hit their brakes...an the car is now sideways.
I agree that these speeders all deserve tickets for the most part. I guess what I was really driving at with my initial post was that upon reading the local paper, you are struck by the fact that locals ARE NOT being stopped; only out-of-town traffic.
I am suggesting that police are targeting these plates as a way of bringing revenue into the city.
As somebody who occasionally drives in and around Jefferson, I can guarantee that locals are also exceeding the speed limit on a regular basis.
In fact, one local attorney makes fun of me for my "slow" driving, but I assure you that, as an owner of out-of-town plates, I would be stopped if I went any faster - it has happened to me in the past.
Rick: I think these law enforcement personnel are targeting you.
That makes it "safer" for me to drive.
A friend and I were stopped leaving Jefferson earlier this year by the police for no apparent reason and told that the interior of our vehicle smelled like "stale beer", which came as quite a surprise, considering that it was nearly a brand-new car and to our knowledge had never seen food or beverages inside it.
Should have told them it was your friend's aftershave/perfume.
But officer, I didn't think you gave tickets to attractive young women! I don't, sign here.
Post a Comment