Cops Everywhere!!!
Evolving Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 119
Likes: 0
From: Singapore
I once read an article in TIME magazine i think regarding how some developing countries channel traffic/parking/speeding fines into a government slush fund to buy weapons, missles, secret projects and what have you. We are talking about billions of dollars here which do not need to be accounted for.
Anyway, if any of you here are from Australia, you should get your hands on a back issue of Motor, I think 2 years ago. They did some serious investigative jounalism into the correlation between speeding = traffic accidents/road safety and speeding fines = revenue for govt coffers.
OK this has nothing to do with what happens in the USA but hey, I think it is applicable. Basically the article caused such a stir that it went right up to parliament. Essentially the jist of it was statistics about how speeding causes deaths/accidents is a load of bull. The reason how the authorities can keep on relying on statistics is this: When you are travelling at even 5mph above the limit and a mad man or a blind old lady crosses the road right in front of you, you hit her. Govt. accident specialists derive that along with the crazy guy, a contributing factor was speed. NOW THE key word here is contributing. Stats and traffic cops and politicians always highlight speed as the contributing factor in almost every accident. BUT the fact of the matter is, it is hardly ever the leading motivating factor. Like in the above example illustrates. THUS becos its so easy to generalise, they equate almost every accident as SPEEDING = ACCIDENTS with stats to back them up. Even if you were within the speed limit for example, like in a school zone's limit is 30mph, u were travelling at 25mph, but some kids were running around and you knocked one of them... now the cops will say that you were travelling too fast according to road conditions, THUS SPEEDING = ACCIDENTS. Now before I go any further, I think we must be clear that we are talking only about speeding and not drunk driving etc... becos I think everyone would agree that enforcement against drink driving is as entirely justified.
The second part of the article exposes how much revenue speeding fines make for the relevant state and federal govenments. It was a hell of a lot, ran into billions annually, so much so that budgets were seriously reliant on fines. I cant give references from the article but i remember it gave unflinching and unstiniting evidence to support its findings. No one ever talks about re-education, rehabilitation, driving courses, awareness.. with speeding.. its always about straight punishment. Of course the idiot going at twice the speed limit in a school zone is asking for it. But driving down a deserted highway road at 20-30mph with a good car and driver above the speed limit can hardly constitue as dangerous driving.
In an imperfect world where honestly, in an accident, there are so many factors that contribute to it... some more responsible some less. The problem is its hard to pinpoint the sole "most responsible" cause becos every accident is different. But its easy to blame it on speed cos its so easy to prove that it was a contributing factor. We have heard the one liners so often:" IF you were travelling at 5mph lesser, you could have braked in time" YAH RIGHT... The fact of the matter is that it is easy to blame speed and due to the consequential huge amounts of revenue speeding tickets generate, us road users will always be at the losing end
Anyway, if any of you here are from Australia, you should get your hands on a back issue of Motor, I think 2 years ago. They did some serious investigative jounalism into the correlation between speeding = traffic accidents/road safety and speeding fines = revenue for govt coffers.
OK this has nothing to do with what happens in the USA but hey, I think it is applicable. Basically the article caused such a stir that it went right up to parliament. Essentially the jist of it was statistics about how speeding causes deaths/accidents is a load of bull. The reason how the authorities can keep on relying on statistics is this: When you are travelling at even 5mph above the limit and a mad man or a blind old lady crosses the road right in front of you, you hit her. Govt. accident specialists derive that along with the crazy guy, a contributing factor was speed. NOW THE key word here is contributing. Stats and traffic cops and politicians always highlight speed as the contributing factor in almost every accident. BUT the fact of the matter is, it is hardly ever the leading motivating factor. Like in the above example illustrates. THUS becos its so easy to generalise, they equate almost every accident as SPEEDING = ACCIDENTS with stats to back them up. Even if you were within the speed limit for example, like in a school zone's limit is 30mph, u were travelling at 25mph, but some kids were running around and you knocked one of them... now the cops will say that you were travelling too fast according to road conditions, THUS SPEEDING = ACCIDENTS. Now before I go any further, I think we must be clear that we are talking only about speeding and not drunk driving etc... becos I think everyone would agree that enforcement against drink driving is as entirely justified.
The second part of the article exposes how much revenue speeding fines make for the relevant state and federal govenments. It was a hell of a lot, ran into billions annually, so much so that budgets were seriously reliant on fines. I cant give references from the article but i remember it gave unflinching and unstiniting evidence to support its findings. No one ever talks about re-education, rehabilitation, driving courses, awareness.. with speeding.. its always about straight punishment. Of course the idiot going at twice the speed limit in a school zone is asking for it. But driving down a deserted highway road at 20-30mph with a good car and driver above the speed limit can hardly constitue as dangerous driving.
In an imperfect world where honestly, in an accident, there are so many factors that contribute to it... some more responsible some less. The problem is its hard to pinpoint the sole "most responsible" cause becos every accident is different. But its easy to blame it on speed cos its so easy to prove that it was a contributing factor. We have heard the one liners so often:" IF you were travelling at 5mph lesser, you could have braked in time" YAH RIGHT... The fact of the matter is that it is easy to blame speed and due to the consequential huge amounts of revenue speeding tickets generate, us road users will always be at the losing end
Evolving Member
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 266
Likes: 5
From: New York
Originally posted by HobieKopek
Oh, supposedly there was a street racing accident out on LI recently involving two Vettes as well. No fatalities so far as I was told. Also no confirmation since I was basically told buy a guy outside 7-11 on my way home from my girlfriend's house.
That sorta thing in combination with quotas (which don't exist ) could be enough to raise the presence in known, probable and suspected street racing spots.
Uh...thanks, O.
Oh, supposedly there was a street racing accident out on LI recently involving two Vettes as well. No fatalities so far as I was told. Also no confirmation since I was basically told buy a guy outside 7-11 on my way home from my girlfriend's house.
That sorta thing in combination with quotas (which don't exist ) could be enough to raise the presence in known, probable and suspected street racing spots.Uh...thanks, O.
I haven't heard anything about an accident you described. I don't hear everything of course. I am a member of a Long Island Corvette club and no one has mentioned anything about it.
Keep the shiney side up....
Flybyevo...
The kid who told me about it said it happened on Edison. Said it was in an industrial district and people ran there a lot. 
Good to hear from you, Brad. I was beginning to think you were abandoning us.
Good to hear from you, Brad. I was beginning to think you were abandoning us.
Evolving Member
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 266
Likes: 5
From: New York
Originally posted by HobieKopek
The kid who told me about it said it happened on Edison. Said it was in an industrial district and people ran there a lot.
Good to hear from you, Brad. I was beginning to think you were abandoning us.
The kid who told me about it said it happened on Edison. Said it was in an industrial district and people ran there a lot.
Good to hear from you, Brad. I was beginning to think you were abandoning us.
Edison is between Pinelawn Road and Straight Path running east west.
It is industrial and near cemetarys but it is neither a wide or particularly nice road. But what do I know.
Thanks for inviting me back. I thought you would never ask.
Flybyevo...
Originally posted by Pitbul09
U really belive that tickets are used as revenue so cops go out there and write more tickets to make money for thier town or county? Your a fool then i write as many in the beging of the month , the middle of the month and the end of the month, so dont comment of **** u have no clue on ..... nuff said!
U really belive that tickets are used as revenue so cops go out there and write more tickets to make money for thier town or county? Your a fool then i write as many in the beging of the month , the middle of the month and the end of the month, so dont comment of **** u have no clue on ..... nuff said!
What whole system is corrupt cupOZnj law enforcement I hope that’s not what you are referring too?
Thats right i dont agree cause i live it, and u sir dont! Lets be honest! U think i would risk my life when pulling over a car so a municipality can get revenue? You are highly missed informed.
Bro come on thats just unrealalistic. I which i could do 90 on the highways, but there are too many idoits on the road
Last edited by JaReDbOy; Nov 10, 2003 at 06:14 PM.
Originally posted by Pitbul09
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Oh maybe you should apply for the grammar police!
Changed my mind what i really wanted to say thats why i put a period if you must know. Did i offend you, did i bother you, do i know you. If you have to troll around and correct peoples spelling grow up! You must have alot of time on your hands.
Last edited by Pitbul09; Nov 10, 2003 at 08:15 PM.
Thread Starter
Evolving Member
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 451
Likes: 14
From: North Jersey
I'm thinking about going as long as the weather holds up and no fire drills occur at work this week. The forecast is for 50s during the day so it looks good.
I'm not going to change the Yokohamas for the winter (i.e. car will be in for most of the season) and they SUCK when the temperature is under 40. I was at my parents house tonight for a couple of hours and the temp dropped like a rock (they live in a valley and it gets cold on clear, calm nights) to around 30 or so. Let's just say I wasn't too worried about getting any speeding tickets tonight.
I'm not going to change the Yokohamas for the winter (i.e. car will be in for most of the season) and they SUCK when the temperature is under 40. I was at my parents house tonight for a couple of hours and the temp dropped like a rock (they live in a valley and it gets cold on clear, calm nights) to around 30 or so. Let's just say I wasn't too worried about getting any speeding tickets tonight.
Originally posted by Pitbul09
Changed my mind what i really wanted to say thats why i put a period if you must know. Did i offend you, did i bother you, do i know you. If you have to troll around and correct peoples spelling grow up! You must have alot of time on your hands.
Changed my mind what i really wanted to say thats why i put a period if you must know. Did i offend you, did i bother you, do i know you. If you have to troll around and correct peoples spelling grow up! You must have alot of time on your hands.
im not out to make enemies on this site.. especially when they are cops and i'll probably end up seeing them at meets.
my bad!
