Texas State Troopers - Watch Out

Thats an incredibly weak blow

I've lost a lot of respect for authority lately.

 

Sounds like pretty typical skunk behaviour.

If you want some entertainment, ask a local Sherriff or PD officer what they think of skunks... there is absolutely no love for them even amongst their "brethren".

Although, I did get pulled over by one that let me go with a warning for speeding and out of date inspection sticker. I must assume he was fresh from a Sherriff or PD. At least he didn't try to shoot me like the one before him...

 

I got a ticket for no seatbelt at night. I suppose these bastards have nothing better to do.

 

frequently "directed patrol" activity (the toll booth scenario could be one) is a result of citizen's complaints, so the law enforcement agency is responding to a public perceived problem. Its not necessarily the cops having "nothing better to do".

 

some good points Johnnie

 

Seems like our tax dollars would be better spent on ticketing (or at least educating) the folks making those last second lane changes right before the plaza or who come to a complete stop to wait for an opportunity to get out of the express lane. It amazes me that people will risk their life, and others' lives, to avoid running through a toll plaza (because it snuck up on them?) without paying the toll which would only result in getting a ticket in the mail, worst case scenario.

 

two words = valentine one

 

My sentiments exactly. Understanding a broken white line vs. a solid white line seems to be a big challenge for many drivers whether it be at the toll plazas or merging lanes/on ramps. People are always trying to cross over when the lines are solid white.

 

I don't know if it will be good enough if they keep upping the ante.
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Not suprised. I also think it's a load of crap how Houston has a 'Safe Clear Tow' program and HPD still sits on the sides of the freeway pointing their radar guns at oncoming traffic in the middle of rush hour.

 

Pretty ridiculous but great tip and much appreciated. I know of people who drive near 70 via cruise contol on 190/Tollway... which would be in excess of 20 over the limit going through the toll areas. I think there's a harsher fine for that, right? Anyway, THX again!

BTW, I predict a lot of rear-end collisions from people slowing down (or not slowing down depending how you look at it) to 45 mph. I can't figure out why they expect you to slow down so much in the first place.

 

A little known fact about the Texas State Troopers that patrol the Tollway & George Bush is that they are contracted through the North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) to enforce traffic laws. The Troopers are assigned to patrol these areas & this is their only job.

 

This is correct

as is the fact that the tollway and GHWB are considered to be Private Property....

 

Our tax dollars would be better spent, by reducing the # of police on our roads, that sit in the car all day, writing worthless tickets. - It would be better to spend the money on special operations, and deploy small tactical teams overseas, to combat the war on terror (tactically).

Instead I have gotten my 2nd ticket this year for no seatbelt. They can write all the seatbelt tickets they want, I am NOT going to wear a seatbelt.

 

This morning (about 9:30) I drove south on Custer from Parker to the G.Bush; there was a cop at the light and just south of Parker he blared his siren and put on the flashing lights and pulled over a pickup truck in the left lane. I have no idea why he stopped the truck; we were all sitting at the light together.

I came home (about 11:00 am) and there he was again - just north of Parker on Custer with someone pulled over in the right lane.

It is April 3 - he must be working on his April 1 quota. I didn't need to get on the tollway, so I didn't see them at work at the tollbooths.

 

I don't see why we can't drive the speed limit through the EZ tag lanes. That's why we have them; so we can keep driving without fiddling for change. The EPA wants us all to consumer less fuel, so wouldn't that defeat that purpose as well? I'm just nit-picking.

The three encounters I've had with the THP have been good, for the most part. The first time I got pulled over my speedo was slightly off, I was actually keeping up with the flow of traffic but still getting passed up. I'm sure he pulled me over b/c of my truck(had too many problems with cops following me just cuz), then saw my friends nor I had a record and let me off with a warning.

The second time, my friend was pulled over for no front licence plate. We (3 of us) had weed in the car, he actually asked politely before searching our bags. Even while doing a pat down he kept the situation very relaxed, cracking jokes here and there. My friend got arrested, he let us 2 go.

I got my first ticket, lady pulled me and car following me over. Actually had passed them up 15 minutes before and didn't realize they were following me. She just came to the window said she's writing me a ticket and that was that. Almost like a fast food drive-thru, in and out in 5 minutes.

Those are examples of who LE should be represented by. It's the bad ones that make us hate them all, unfortunately.

 

I feel compelled to take responsibility for this whole scenario. The weather here in Dallas has been pretty nice lately and I have been flying up and down the tollroads in the Countach. Someone was bound to complain about my 140MPH passes through the tollbooths!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'll take it easy until the heat is off ;-)

 

I'm all for it. Seeing people blast through the booths at 70 MPH + is crazy. Most are idiots who are talking on the phone or putting on make-up, eating or attempting to do all three. While I myself do not slow down to 45 MPH, I do slow down and make a consious effort looking for booth employees who may be attempting to cross the lane.

Texas tollroads have become the Autobahn. If you're in the fast lane and not doing 90 MPH you're going to get your ass run over.

 

Click it or ticket.

 

You can. That limit is 45 MPH. For pete's sake, people are blasting through those toll plaza at 80+, someone's going to twitch someday and splatter sheetmetal 300 yards down the George Bush. I'm no fan of the LEOs, but they have a point in this scenario.

 

Ok, now I'm confused. Are they ticketing for speeding while going through the booths, through the "boothless" express lanes, or both?

I'm all for ticketing the folks speeding through the booths... I've seen car parts scattered 300 yards down the Tollway, a booth absolutely demolished, and a Ford Ranger wedged at about a 45 degree angle between 2 booths... it's just insane the way some people fly through the booths.

In the express lanes, however, I see no reason to have to slow down... except maybe as a precaution against the folks who slam on the brakes and swerve across 3 lanes at the last minute because the toll plaza suddenly appeared out of nowhere.