Stupid cops!

Jacsracing · 05-09-2002, 10:42 AM

Being a new member, I haven't made many posts, but this subject strikes dear to my heart so I thought I'd add my perspective on the issue.

First, let me put it in context by citing a personal experience from the other day. I got a "not wearing seat belt" summons, which in New Jersey is a citable offensive now. The reason I got this ticket was not due to a cop worried about my safety, but rather a problem in the town I work in. I work at an Army base. The base traffic tends to use a certain road to commute to/from the base that is highly populated and has a grammer school on it. The local folk have been complaining of excess traffic. In response, the police set up "seat belt check points" on this road only. Obviously, the objective is to harass the Army folk traffic into taking another path. They've issued many seat belt tickets now and apparently they intend on keeping the program up until us Army folk "get the hint."

The perspective I'm trying to introduce is that in many cases the individual cops are the center of citizen hatred when in fact the real problem is the underlying policies generated at the political level. In other words it's the local political hacks, backed by the court systems, causing problems just as much as the cops themselves.

At the root of this problem is a new business model that has been emerging in the last 20/30 years...that law enforcement is a profit-making venture now. These local towns/counties have realized that enforcing trivial traffic laws, focusing cops on this type of duty, generates income and alot of it. It would seem a good cop (in their eyes) can not only pay his own salary, but actually generate a profit for the local town coffers. One of my fellow engineers lives in a town that is only 2 square miles, yet has 22 police officers! In other words, the more cops you hire, the more income raised for the town, which enables them to hire yet more cops. All of whom the taxpayers will have to support when they retire at the ripe old age of 42.

In New Jersey, the police are out of control now. Too many. They are not interested in persuing real criminals such as thieves, rapests, murderers. And as a class of citizens, they are themselves without a doubt the largest group of criminals, and to make it worst they are organized and above the law. (ever see cops wooping it up in a bar and then drive home?). However, behind the scenes are the politicians they answer to, and behind them are the stupid soccer moms that asked for more police protection in the first place.

Be careful what you wish for...

Just my opinion.

John

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05-09-2002, 10:42 AM	#14
Jacsracing Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Neptune, NJ Posts: 12	Being a new member, I haven't made many posts, but this subject strikes dear to my heart so I thought I'd add my perspective on the issue. First, let me put it in context by citing a personal experience from the other day. I got a "not wearing seat belt" summons, which in New Jersey is a citable offensive now. The reason I got this ticket was not due to a cop worried about my safety, but rather a problem in the town I work in. I work at an Army base. The base traffic tends to use a certain road to commute to/from the base that is highly populated and has a grammer school on it. The local folk have been complaining of excess traffic. In response, the police set up "seat belt check points" on this road only. Obviously, the objective is to harass the Army folk traffic into taking another path. They've issued many seat belt tickets now and apparently they intend on keeping the program up until us Army folk "get the hint." The perspective I'm trying to introduce is that in many cases the individual cops are the center of citizen hatred when in fact the real problem is the underlying policies generated at the political level. In other words it's the local political hacks, backed by the court systems, causing problems just as much as the cops themselves. At the root of this problem is a new business model that has been emerging in the last 20/30 years...that law enforcement is a profit-making venture now. These local towns/counties have realized that enforcing trivial traffic laws, focusing cops on this type of duty, generates income and alot of it. It would seem a good cop (in their eyes) can not only pay his own salary, but actually generate a profit for the local town coffers. One of my fellow engineers lives in a town that is only 2 square miles, yet has 22 police officers! In other words, the more cops you hire, the more income raised for the town, which enables them to hire yet more cops. All of whom the taxpayers will have to support when they retire at the ripe old age of 42. In New Jersey, the police are out of control now. Too many. They are not interested in persuing real criminals such as thieves, rapests, murderers. And as a class of citizens, they are themselves without a doubt the largest group of criminals, and to make it worst they are organized and above the law. (ever see cops wooping it up in a bar and then drive home?). However, behind the scenes are the politicians they answer to, and behind them are the stupid soccer moms that asked for more police protection in the first place. Be careful what you wish for... Just my opinion. John