More Cops on the Road?

Got a ticket a month ago in a spot where I never saw any cops before. Since then I have been paying attention and see a lot more cops on the road in the Sarasota area as well as the St Pete area. Blue lights are everywhere handing out tickets.

A friend told me its state wide in an attempt to raise more $$$'s in the budget crunch.

You east coast folks notice the same thing?

 

Its bad enough when the Gendarmes start handing out fundraisers in person, but now Naples has red light cameras at the intersection of Airport & Pine Ridge which will veruy shortly begin generating $$$ like an ATM. ECM is fair game now & I never ride without a laser diffuser (jammer) and a great radar detector.

 

I knew they would do that afterall theres $ in "law enforcement"

Just wait till BO's private police hits the road

 

Had to drive from Miami to North Broward and back today. On the 112 xpress, 1-95, Broward Blvd and SR836. I was behind a different law enforcement car on ALL the roads.

I am also seeing more unmarkeds pull cars over than ever before.

 

Near where I live they have been changing the speed limits back and forth, which I think should be a crime itself!! It was 50, then 45, now 50 again...after they screwed with that portion of the road and people caught on, they did it about a mile down with the same back and forth BS. They have also installed the red light cameras at several intersections nearby, some of which are not even entirely busy!

I've just been really cautious with my speed (and lead foot) these days...but since I just said that, I'll have a ticket within a week.

 

Many more patrol cars issuing tickets in the past 6 months. Also many more undercover cars issuing tickets recently.
Obviously they are trying to raise revenue.
BT

 

There's 1 benefit of driving my Prius
No tix

 

Yes, alot more on Sawgrass Expressway, turnpike and side streets that used to be ok- For sure no speeding in Parkland or Coral Springs! Watch out...

 

Double edged sword for law enforcement if they write more tickets: Generate revenue, but have to pay overtime for cops to appear in court. Depending on the value of the ticket, could be a negative return.

From what I hear though, the State of Florida is in bad shape financially. FDLE is closing offices simply because of budget issues.

 

Drilling for oil will make more $ and wont PO FL drivers

that and legalizing prostitution would be cool too

 

Lou, this is true. Been seeing them a LOT lately around here. They are especially aggressive on 41 near Van Wezel...they'll sit at the corner of Hampton/41, two at a time on motorcycles and just run the laser gun. They'll come after you for 5mph over. They also convene over by Renaissance.

They're also setting up shop on 301 just north of University. You'll see them sometimes in black Dodge Chargers sitting in the median.

I hadn't used my Valentine 1 in a few years and now it's back on the windshield.

RMX

 

No wonder Mark Gold can afford all of his toys...........yo Mark, need a partner??

 

I'm luvin it!!!

 

By the way, opening in LA Sept 1st !!!

 

3-4 weeks ago, I am going north on I95, 75-80 mph .. I see *WHITE CHARGER*DARK TINTED WINDOWS*ANTENNAS* coming on highway, going north @ Atlantic, I obviously slow down, he comes FLYING behind me, follows me for like 1-2 miles, I get ANNOYED this cop is on my behind, I move -using blinkers- to my left, so he can pass me, BLUE LIGHTS TURN ON, got ticket for "changing the lane too aggressive" .... he even said, "BTW, nice car, i haven't seen one of these in such long time" .. I told him "SIR I knew you were a cop, and I was letting you go" he said: "I saw you slowing down, you got lucky i don't give a ticket for speeding" ..... so frustrating ...

Oscar

 

There are a ton of officer friendlys out in N FL and South GA on 95. $$$ makes the world go round.

 

The issue here is very simple: both the city of Sarasota and Sarasota County are getting royally hosed on the tanking real estate market via declining property and sales taxes. They've been laying off employees left and right. They are trying to make up the shortfall in any way possible, traffic and speeding citations are easy money.

RMX

 

I've been seeing more and more of 'em in unmarked SUV's and those half SUV/minivan things.
Overall, definitely noticed more tickets being handed out.

 

As noted above I do see more police and especially unmarked cars locally. However, as I said in the Campbell Run picture thread, I was pulled over recently, and got a warning. The FHP guy was really nice, he certainly could have made the trip end poorly!

BT

 

Maybe I should have said, "I've noticed more people being pulled over". Not more tickets being handed out.

 

The guy goes for 8 hour and hands out say 30 tickets (that is very low end and will allow those 'warnings') for speeding at average $150 each. 15 pay immediately, that is $2,250. 15 fight it and he has to appear in court. Court summons the tickets now all in one shot. So of the 15 lets say he will get 10 in the first run. 5 are dismissed and 5 get reduced points but still have to pay the ticket. So there is another $750. The other 5 he may catch on the next run in Court or simply let go. One days of work $3000 collected and he was paid about $200/day plus the $20/h overtime, say another 3 hours. State spends $260 and collects $3000.

In the meantime the liquor store gets held up an nobody shows....they are all working the radar gun. We all know where the real "crime" is.

Now will someone please beat me up and arrest me.?

 

That would never happen.... Cops are all soooo gooodddd....
They are here to help us.
They keep us save.

To Collect and Serve

 

What took you so long?

 

Wow Martin, I have to comment... where do you get your information? Being in the biz, and a supervisor at that I review my guys stats on a weekly basis. (And no there is no such thing as a quota..it is illegal to do so) No Officer except for Highway Patrol and Motormen, whose sole job is traffic enforcement, write 30 tickets a day... or month for that matter. My guys average about 15-20 a month. We are just too busy with other calls and paperwork. (and yes we do show up to the robbery call and frequently catch them too)

Yes perhaps there are those few jurisdictions around the country that have low crime and nothing else to do, but Broward and Dade counties are not among them.

I have never been ordered or have had it suggested in my department to increase the amount of tickets written by me or my guys ever... My guys are expected to be "productive" and that is calculated in many ways. ie: reports generated, calls handled, arrests made, area checks / directed patrols and yes tickets. Every supervisor wants to see a good mix of productivity, too many tickets and too few of everything else brings up a "red flag" that the officer is concentrating too much on traffic and may not be comfortable with doing other things such as confronting "suspicious persons casing parking lots, persons engaged in drug dealing etc... (Rookies do this a lot, because traffic stops are easy and plentiful if you want to find them) In busy areas, supervisors and more seasoned officers put a stop to this quickly advising the rookie to curtail the traffic stops and to be available for emergency calls and backup on serious or high risk calls.

I understand that this is your perception and the perception of others that Law Enforcement is another method of revenue collecting. This is a VERY narrow minded view, and is not based on reality. Also, in the end, the department does not gain a whole lot of revenue. Google it sometime, I have before, The monies are divided up between so many entities that include .. hospitals, research funds, development programs, women in distress... and the list goes on.

I know that you and others are just waiting for this tpye of response, so you can continue your bashing, complaining, belly aching or whatever. Just understand that I do not believe that the "System" is perfect.. but its the best we have so far... and I am a true believer that no matter what one does, you can never make everyone happy... so take it with a grain of salt...... FLAME SUIT ON!!!

 

Ed you are a good guy. I believe you. But I can understand why Martin feel the way he does. Image.

One thing, tell the Broward deputies that work for you, not to drive the Florida Turnpike on their way to or from work doing 80-90 mph in the left lane in Palm Beach County, and in Broward for that matter, thinking if they ride my bumper I will move over for them. I wait for the day I drive a piece of crap and I can brake check the GD F'n idiots. I am being kind with my words. Having travelled Boca to Coral Gables everyday for 12 years, I experienced this almost daily. Same applies to Dade and Palm Beach County Sherrifs deputies. Absolutetly NO excuse. Broward are the worst.

And try calling in their commander to complain, you are treated like you are the criminal.

Ask me about my robbery experience with PB County Deputies. Had a store at Town Center, alarm, they drew their guns and told me to go in the store first, and they would follow. I told them to take their guns and shove them up their fat out of shape asses and just leave as they were useless. Morons.

Sorry, you know me, but I find this behavior to be pathetic. So you wonder why law enforecement has such a bad image, even to us that haven't had a ticket EVER? This is one very very small example.

As for this thread, and the topic. Just do not speed. I do not care what you are driving, just do not speed. You get a ticket, you deserve a ticket. I always found it to be more "cool" to just cruise in your Ferrari at speeds even below the limit. I wish some deputy had the balls to give one of those off duty cops I mentioned before a speeding ticket. That would be poetic justice. I will not hold my breathe.