WSP and companies...

Is it just me or have the rest of you notice also that there appears to be a lot more officers out setting up speed traps recently? and they appear to be out there with a new toy, wireless speed detection device, not sure if they are laser or the pop guns tho. Is this the handy work of our beloved new gov. ?

 

Nope, new Chief:

http://www.wsp.wa.gov/newsfaqs/releases/nr021405.pdf

 

Think he would trust a guy in a Ferrari to not speed?

-David

 

I've noticed that they seem to have upped their manpower.

I used to commute between Tacoma and Bremerton. There was one thing we could count on daily. You would see ONE trooper on Hwy 16 bewteen the Narrows bridge and Gorst. Usually he was on the westbound side in the morning and the eastbound side in the evening (coordinated of course with the heaviest traffic flow).

Now they seem to be everywhere. There has been a tremendous emphasis lately in Bremerton. Two of the "main drags" through town are technically state highways. Even though they run right through the city, the Troopers have been pounding people for the last six months or better.

It is now not uncommon for me to see three or more troopers somewhere in my enormous drive home of about 6 miles. The one thing to remember is this is usually at about 12:30AM or so. Coincidence? I doubt it. There's a lot more money to be made by getting a DWI than a speeding ticket for 6 mph over.

All of this is, of course, just my personal opinion.

 

Unfortunately I doubt that is true. From what I have learned, a typical DUI stop can literally take up several hours of an officer's time. And even then, no charges may result. A typical stop for speeding takes 5 to 10 minutes, and can result in a $180 to $280 ticket...that are also rarely challenged. Expect any DUI to be challenged in court; though a sucessful prosecution could result in several thousand dollars in fines.

I would believe that speeding tickets are the better revenue source. But, this too, is just my opinion...

I think we are all in agreement that we would prefer to see WSP focus more on DUI, sloppy driving, agressive driving, and assisting folks that are broken down on the side of the road, rather than speed enforcement.

Truth be told, WSP's own stats show that tickets are WAY up, and accidents are down...so they feel they are having a positive result.

 

The reason accidents are down is because congestion is up! This is because the "betas" are all migrating to the left lane and slowing down so they can effectively thwart anybody passing them and the car on their right whos speed they are trying to perfectly match!

 

You may very well be right "Roy". Of course I didn't mean to imply that I condone drinking and driving. And yes I would also much rather see them enfocing ALL the laws not just speeding. I also hadn't thought about the amount of time it takes to process a DUI.


On an un-related note and Off topic: that Roy D Mercer is one funny dude isn't he? Have you heard the pansy one? Cracks me up every time I hear it! "Well maybe I'll just come down there an whoop your a**"

 

Oh man, don't get me started! Harpoons should be legal........................

 

Oh yes, the Marine, that raises pansies!! LOLOLOLOL