Caught speeding on camera, police officers refuse to pay tickets - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Gurkha · #1 03-10-2008, 11:32 PM

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/080308/koddities/oddity_speeding_police

ROCKVILLE, Md. - No matter what the cameras say, some drivers are refusing to pay dozens of $40 speeding fines.

Who? Police officers.

In the last eight months of 2007, Montgomery County's new speed cameras recorded 224 cases in which police vehicles were recorded travelling more than 15 kilometres an hour over the speed limit, according to department records.

Upholding the law nicely I must say.

Crazy_Nate · #2 03-10-2008, 11:43 PM

The cops in our area are crazy drivers. 80% of the time, I see them on their cell phones, zipping around everywhere. You'd think they were going somewhere important at the speeds they drive at...

mpolli · #3 03-11-2008, 02:43 AM

"We are not above the law," Manger said. "It is imperative that the police department hold itself to the same standards that we're holding the public to."

I can't believe the Chief said that. His officers must be laughing their a**es off!

MS Fowler · #4 03-11-2008, 06:31 AM

When I see Police speeding ( when not responding to a need), running red lights, failing to stop at stop signs, etc, I lose a little respect for them.
I understand that every traffic stop is a potential bullet. I understand that Police are always at risk. Yet, when I see them break the law in small ways, they lose my respect. When I get a ticket for doing what I know they never will, they lose a little more of my respect.

WVOtoGO · #5 03-11-2008, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gurkha

...kilometres an hour...

I must have missed something here.

According to the Maryland Department of Transportation. All enforceable speed limits are posted in MPH.
(Ref.: TR 21-801(e)(2), TR 21-801.1(b), etc.)

Stoneseller · #6 03-11-2008, 11:02 AM

I got nailed by one of those cameras. Several of my employees have as well. We all bit the bullet & paid. Montgomery County's "finest", and I use the term loosely, have been photographed flipping the bird as they sped on through the camera's view.
Damn shame. I guess they were all in a hurry to get to the nearest donut shoppe.

Dee8go · #7 03-11-2008, 11:11 AM

I think that when the police fail to obey the laws they are paid to enforce, it also has a detrimental effect on THEM, not just on US.

If you break a little law here and there, the next thing you know, you get a little bolder and start breaking bigger laws.

blkntancj · #8 03-11-2008, 12:59 PM

Well, i can't speak for their dept, but I can for mine. We have to pay our fines. And ours are ALOT steeper. $150 for 12 MPH over. Plus we get a letter of reprimand in our file on top of paying the fine (for the first one, the discipline increases after that). So we are double penalized.

Hatterasguy · #9 03-11-2008, 01:03 PM

Everytime I see a cop on the highway they are going at least 90. They freaken fly.

I know cops and there families just about can't get tickets. All you have to say is my husband/father/brother/friend is so and so and they let you off.

They are just pissed because they can't get out of them like they could if it was one of there buddies. Sucks playing by the rules!

Kuan · #10 03-11-2008, 01:06 PM

The police officers were in their county owned vehicles. Give me a break. Tell the whole story for godamn sakes. Police officers also park on the wrong side of the street. They also make illegal U-turns.

If during the course of their work they find it necessary to go faster than the speed limit in order to efficiently police the neighborhood then they should be able to do it at their own discretion.

Now if they were off duty and they were in county owned vehicles then it's another story.

Hatterasguy · #11 03-11-2008, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kuan

If during the course of their work they find it necessary to go faster than the speed limit in order to efficiently police the neighborhood then they should be able to do it at their own discretion.

Its not a two way street. So if I need to speed for work its ok? Last time I checked the speed limits wern't lifted if you were late for work.

They get pissed when they have to play by the rules like the rest of us. Tough ****.

Stoneseller · #12 03-11-2008, 01:34 PM

A small percentage of the tickets were issued to vehicles that were "legitimately" speeding on one official call or another.

The majority have yet to be qualified as justified speeding, at least that is what I understand from the local media.

Kuan · #13 03-11-2008, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

Its not a two way street. So if I need to speed for work its ok? Last time I checked the speed limits wern't lifted if you were late for work.

They get pissed when they have to play by the rules like the rest of us. Tough ****.

Were they on the job? The article doesn't say. It leaves out a lot of facts and presents it in the worst way possible.

Hatterasguy · #14 03-11-2008, 01:48 PM

Did you read the article?

"In the last eight months of 2007, Montgomery County's new speed cameras recorded 224 cases in which police vehicles were recorded travelling more than 15 kilometres an hour over the speed limit, according to department records.

Supervisors dismissed 76 of those citations after determining the officers were responding to calls or had valid reasons to break the speed limit.

But that left 148 who didn't have that excuse, and about two-thirds of those citations haven't been paid, said police Lt. Paul Starks."

Kuan · #15 03-11-2008, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

Did you read the article?

"In the last eight months of 2007, Montgomery County's new speed cameras recorded 224 cases in which police vehicles were recorded travelling more than 15 kilometres an hour over the speed limit, according to department records.

Supervisors dismissed 76 of those citations after determining the officers were responding to calls or had valid reasons to break the speed limit.

But that left 148 who didn't have that excuse, and about two-thirds of those citations haven't been paid, said police Lt. Paul Starks."

I did. So what? If they were on duty then they should have the discretion to go a faster than the speed limit without compromising safety. If they weren't on duty and they were in the vehicle than they should just pay the fine.

If traffic is moving along on the highway at 10mph above the speed limit then the officer should be doing at least that, using discretion to not ticket all those who are driving faster than the speed limit. He is also using his discretion to drive above the speed limit. Believe it or not, officer discretion is a huge reason why everyone on the highway who does 5mph above the speed limit does not get a ticket.

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