Associated Press – February 24, 2007, 10:43 PM EST:
Automated speed and red-light cameras might be catching traffic scofflaws, but they’re also busting police rushing to respond to emergencies, a union representing officers says.
District of Columbia officers are spending months writing letters in an attempt to get out of the tickets from the cameras, which snap pictures of speeders and those running red lights, said Kristopher Baumann, chairman of the D.C. chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police.
“It’s just an enormous waste of resources and an enormous waste of time,” Baumann told The Washington Times.
To fight a ticket, officers often must get a letter from their commanders, as well as radio logs and other records to prove they were responding to a legitimate emergency. Some are still called into court.
“We have had individual instances where officers on legitimate calls for emergency services were captured by photo red-light cameras, and as long as they can justify their actions, then more than likely the infraction will be dismissed,” Gresham said.
Back in the 80s I had a good friend who was a cop. He sped everywhere he drove. If he was pulled over he’d simply flash his badge and they’d laugh and let him go. Now that machines are giving out tickets in a fair manner, the cops want their own private system to get rid of them. And they’ll get it too.
Wow, 20 comments and not a single donut joke. Impressive.
Supposedly in a democracy every one obeys the law, even presidents.
Yeah. Supposedly.
Don’t you people know that the police don’t have to obey the law, because they *are* the law. So says most of the police that I am in contact with daily.
Thank you Lauren. It’s nice to know there’s at least one other person here who’s an adult.
BTW, I agree with you about ticketing cops who are speeding while on-duty but not on a call. Perhaps they should be treated even more harshly than us regular citizens. It’ll never happen but it’s nice to dream.
I also noticed SN doesn’t have the balls to jump in here and defend himself. That’s because he knows he’s wrong. I’m sure it won’t be the last time.
I’m listening to John on TWiT now. You should take some lessons from your mentor SN.
#23,
I also noticed SN doesn’t have the balls to jump in here and defend himself. That’s because he knows he’s wrong. I’m sure it won’t be the last time.
…
Comment by GaryInMiami — 2/26/2007 @ 10:06 am
No, more like SN is having dinner, playing with his kids, taking out the garbage, reading / writing a brief, or anyone of the myriad of things a normal guy has to do.
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I met our Sheriff at lunch today and mentioned this post. He told me about two weeks after the election, and warning his deputies about speeding, he caught a deputy at the end of his shift speeding back to the station. Wrote him a ticket. An hour later, in the exact same spot, the Sheriff stopped him again and wrote him another ticket, this time while the deputy was off duty.
Yes, all the deputies have radios in their personal cars and are expected to respond in an emergency. They are also issued cell phones and must notify their superior if they will be out of the county when off shift.
I like our new Sheriff. Cool guy.
Cops are PIGS! Emergency or not, they should get a ticket, or else use a marked car with lights, etc to break the laws and make other aware! PIGS don’t deserve any exemptions in my opinions. We should perhaps spend our time fighting the system or using traffic cameras or red light cameras at all, rather than arguing about this exemption.