Where are the traffic cops?

[Alpo]

Do they even still exist?

 

About 4 months ago I started a thread about a guy that lives down the street from me, and how he does not have any tail lights. Pondering whether I should track him down and tell him or call the cops and tell them.

 

While out walking the dog one day I saw that his truck was in his yard so I went out to tell him, but he had a couple of vicious dogs tied to the front porch so I didn't.

 

Week or so later as I was going by he was out in the yard, so I told him. For at least 3 months, maybe longer, he has been aware that he has no tail lights. He's got brake lights, but no tail lights. And he still has no tail lights. He drives by my house at least twice and sometimes four times every night. Out and back, out and back. Every night. My street is not all that busy, but he turns on to an extremely busy street. And he goes up and down it every single night and the cops don't pull him over.

 

There is a new family that has moved in three or four houses down. They have three vehicles. They had out of state license plates. They have all been removed - possibly because they were out of date. But they do not have Florida plates on them now. These people are driving around town with these cars with no license plates. Why don't the cops stop them?

 

I realize the police have got important jobs. Taking reports after crimes have been committed ay the criminal has escaped. Pulling over speeders, because speeding tickets get a whole lot more money than a ticket for not having a license plate would. And really, the license plate thing is all about revenue. The only problem I really have with the people driving without a license plate, is that I know if I did it I would get a ticket.

 

But the guy driving after dark every night with no tail lights - that's dangerous. Not just for him, but  also for the guy that runs into him. The cops should be ticketing his butt.

 

But it ain't happening.

[PaleWolf Brunelle, #2495L]

Why not forward your post (as written) to your local PD? 

[Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984]

My experience is that no one cares. But woe unto the offender if actually stopped for something more significant is found then they double or nothing.

 

oh! Small town cops have a boring existence unless they care, so they care.

 

 

 

Edited August 6 by Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984

[Oak Ridge Regulator]

VT seems to be the same way now, when I travel the interstate I’m usually going at least 70 which is 5 mph over the limit and I’m always the slow guy, lots of people doing 80 plus. I see some police now and then but I haven’t seen anyone pulled over for 3 or 4 years. I also see a lot of vehicles on the road that I know are not inspected and when the pass me at 80 plus with parts flapping in the wind it make me wonder what happened to our police

[Cold Lake Kid, SASS # 51474]

I see similar issues here.

A couple of years ago, I found myself becoming amazed at the number of cars I stopped behind, at stop signs or red lights, who had expired tags. Some as many as three and four years.

I guess people started commenting on it.

The Province of Ontario solved the problem however.

The Province stopped issuing new tags with any dates, so now, all Ontario vehicles have what appears to be expired tags, on their license plates.

Problem solved.

You do have to "Renew" at no charge, but here is only a paper sticker, attached to the vehicle registration slip.

So, unless there is a traffic stop and the registration is examined, you can't tell.

[Rye Miles #13621]

I would call the non-emegency number and when they're not real busy they will probably check it out. Give them the license plate number of the guy with no tailights of course. They should be interested in the folks with NO plates I would think.

[Eyesa Horg]

10 minutes ago, Oak Ridge Regulator said:

VT seems to be the same way now, when I travel the interstate I’m usually going at least 70 which is 5 mph over the limit and I’m always the slow guy, lots of people doing 80 plus. I see some police now and then but I haven’t seen anyone pulled over for 3 or 4 years. I also see a lot of vehicles on the road that I know are not inspected and when the pass me at 80 plus with parts flapping in the wind it make me wonder what happened to our police

I've noticed the same! Wonder if it has anything to do with the cop having to show up in court on his own time only to have the court throw it out.

[Texas Joker]

Current political stance is that traffic enforcement is racist.  The other post with the guy stealing across the street from the cop shop shows average mindset.

 

[Alpo]

10 minutes ago, Texas Joker said:

Current political stance is that traffic enforcement is racist

Now that's an interesting thought. The guy with no tail lights is black.

[Pat Riot]

I would contact the police department and contact the political body that holds the purse strings for that police with the same information. I would be sure and let each one know that you contacted the other. I would also send it to the local newspaper as an editorial opinion. 
 

I saw it in CA and a couple of times here in WV. 
 

Here there are annual inspections that catch things like that, but bulbs do burn out or morons wire in a new stereo and muck something up. 

[Chantry]

No criticism is intended, but at the local police and state police level, it's rare to see them doing a traffic stop anymore, at least up here in the Northeast.  I get the impression that most police have reverted back to be reactive, meaning they will respond to calls.  They are generally not being proactive anymore because it just isn't worth to the officer, police department or town (or state) to risk losing a lawsuit.  According to a retire Federal LEO who lectures at some of the police academies here in CT, police officers were or are being required to pay for their own liability insurance instead of being covered by the town's liability insurance.

 

The only state I've been in in the past couple of years where police were aggressively enforcing speeding laws was VA and the VA State Police.  If you travel through VA, don't speed.

[Pat Riot]

Just now, Chantry said:

If you travel through VA, don't speed.

And don’t use a radar detector. They have radar detector detectors. Not kidding. 

[Ozark Huckleberry]

With the proliferation of edited cell phone ‘gotchas’ that every other moron posts to either show they outwitted the cops, or was the victim of LEO profiling/racism/abuse/ignorance as they tried to draw the LEO into escalating the stop so they could pull a few extra ‘Likes’ — I’m not surprised there are fewer stops. It’s a no-win for the LEO — push it, and it’s bad. Walk away, and it’s bad. Every a$$hat wants the officer to ‘call a supervisor’. 
 

 

[Cypress Sun]

 

Around here, they'd pull you over in a heartbeat for no tag. None working tail lights/brake lights/signals...not so much. 

 

Enforcement of traffic laws is about generating revenue, plain and simple. That's why I wish they'd raise the fine for driving and texting to $300...maybe they'd actually enforce that law for once.

[Subdeacon Joe]

With the current political situation I don't blame police for not doing anything about minor stuff like that.  About the only thing I've seen people pulled over for a unsafe driving - which is usually excessive speed and weaving in and out of traffic, or violation of the diamond lane.  That one the California Highway Patrol will light you up faster than an Independence Day BBQ grill.  

[Rye Miles #13621]

In my town of 35k the police will stop you for expired plates, no plates, tailights, brake lights etc. They stopped one guy for too heavily tinted windows! It was the Facebook community page. We have a great PD dept. here.

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

California almost didn't have any cops by the time we left.  It was a welcome surprise when we got to Central Arizona and found LEOs who are not only doing a great job, but seem to be honestly and genuinely concerned about the people they have to deal with.

[Calamity Kris]

One of my co-workers found out the hard way about expired tags.  He met his now fiance in college.  He was a local, she was from out of state.  While in school, she kept her out of state tags, since she technically was a resident of the other state.  Fast forward to now, 7 years later.  She has since graduated and has a job in the area, as well as purchasing a house with my co-worker.  She was still driving around with expired out of state tags when she was stopped for a minor moving violation.  It cost them $3K to pay off the tags in the other state, pay back registration in this state as well as fines for not re-registering the car.  An expensive lesson. 

[The Shoer 27979]

4 hours ago, Ozark Huckleberry said:

With the proliferation of edited cell phone ‘gotchas’ that every other moron posts to either show they outwitted the cops, or was the victim of LEO profiling/racism/abuse/ignorance as they tried to draw the LEO into escalating the stop so they could pull a few extra ‘Likes’ — I’m not surprised there are fewer stops. It’s a no-win for the LEO — push it, and it’s bad. Walk away, and it’s bad. Every a$$hat wants the officer to ‘call a supervisor’. 
 

 

I watch a bunch of those videos on Facebook. Some of those LEOs make stuff and laws up to pull people over then act like a nazi. Before you say I am bashing LEOs I am not because some of those drivers are like you said a$$hates to get out of tickets.

[Trailrider #896]

I was stopped once, several years ago for an expired plate.  I had just forgotten to send in the renewal, and it was about four days past the end of the month.  Officer was nice about it, and just gave me a warning, and I got the new tag the same day.

 

I also suspect that the cops are very leary about traffic stops except for reckless driving, as there have been too many officers shot making what first appears to be a routine violation, only to discover the driver is wanted!   If the local DA's let bad guys off with no cash bail, what else can you expect?

 

IMHO, drunk drivers ought to face much more severe consequences that they do in many places!  Maybe the penalty for a repeat offender, especially one who causes injury or death while driving drunk is to be sumarily hanged to the nearest lamppost! 

[Subdeacon Joe]

It always makes me twitchy when I hear/see people advocate doing away with due process.

 

I will agree that an equipment violation isn't worth the chance of getting shot.

[Gungadin]

We defunded the police and even the ones that are funded have gotten the message.

 

VA requires plates front and rear.  I looked at a German Car last month with a German plate on the front.  The rear was VA.  I asked the driver about it.  He said 'they won't bother me about it'.

 

Care to guess what his minority status was?

 

We only enforce the laws that are politically correct and the Justice Department seems to be biased.

[Smokin Gator SASS #29736]

Slap a Gadsen flag or other sticker that's associated with conservatives on there. 

[Dusty Devil Dale]

Most of the Highway Patrol officers I see are watching double-fine construction zones, trying to keep workers safer.  

 

But recently I called 911 to report a drunk driver on the road ahead of me near Jackson, Ca..  Out of nowhere a CHP car showed up w/in a couple minutes and pulled the driver over.   Just because you don't notice them doesn't mean they are not there and responsive.  

[Texas Maverick]

On 8/6/2023 at 12:23 AM, Alpo said:

Do they even still exist?

 

About 4 months ago I started a thread about a guy that lives down the street from me, and how he does not have any tail lights. Pondering whether I should track him down and tell him or call the cops and tell them.

 

While out walking the dog one day I saw that his truck was in his yard so I went out to tell him, but he had a couple of vicious dogs tied to the front porch so I didn't.

 

Week or so later as I was going by he was out in the yard, so I told him. For at least 3 months, maybe longer, he has been aware that he has no tail lights. He's got brake lights, but no tail lights. And he still has no tail lights. He drives by my house at least twice and sometimes four times every night. Out and back, out and back. Every night. My street is not all that busy, but he turns on to an extremely busy street. And he goes up and down it every single night and the cops don't pull him over.

 

There is a new family that has moved in three or four houses down. They have three vehicles. They had out of state license plates. They have all been removed - possibly because they were out of date. But they do not have Florida plates on them now. These people are driving around town with these cars with no license plates. Why don't the cops stop them?

 

I realize the police have got important jobs. Taking reports after crimes have been committed ay the criminal has escaped. Pulling over speeders, because speeding tickets get a whole lot more money than a ticket for not having a license plate would. And really, the license plate thing is all about revenue. The only problem I really have with the people driving without a license plate, is that I know if I did it I would get a ticket.

 

But the guy driving after dark every night with no tail lights - that's dangerous. Not just for him, but  also for the guy that runs into him. The cops should be ticketing his butt.

 

But it ain't happening.

One of my pet peeves as well. After spending over 12 years in law enforcement and knowing in Denver we actually had a traffic division that was there for enforcing the traffic laws. The department depended on the revenue generated from those citations. Here in my town now I can count on both hands how many traffic stops I have seen since moving here in 2011. People run red lights, stop signs and speed knowing that the odds of them being pulled over is almost non-existent. The streets are becoming very dangerous because of the lack of traffic enforcement around here. You learn not to pull out on a green light without looking first because a lot of the times there will be someone running the red light and flying through the intersection. You better drive defensively or you will be run over.

 

TM

[Okie Sawbones, SASS #77381]

Don't even ask about Texas, where speed signs are only a suggestion.

 

 

[Texas Maverick]

3 minutes ago, Okie Sawbones, SASS #77381 said:

Don't even ask about Texas, where speed signs are only a suggestion.

 

 

Yeah, we have a toll road on the east side of Austin that has a speed limit of 80 on the north end of it and 85 on the south end of it and people still feel they have to speed on it. 90+ is the norm for most of the drivers on it. Then you have the wild hogs that like to cross it at night and cause some pretty severe accidents. Going that fast and hitting a big hog in the middle of the street can really mess up your night.

 

TM

[Michigan Slim]

3 hours ago, Texas Maverick said:

One of my pet peeves as well. After spending over 12 years in law enforcement and knowing in Denver we actually had a traffic division that was there for enforcing the traffic laws. The department depended on the revenue generated from those citations. Here in my town now I can count on both hands how many traffic stops I have seen since moving here in 2011. People run red lights, stop signs and speed knowing that the odds of them being pulled over is almost non-existent. The streets are becoming very dangerous because of the lack of traffic enforcement around here. You learn not to pull out on a green light without looking first because a lot of the times there will be someone running the red light and flying through the intersection. You better drive defensively or you will be run over.

 

TM

Fort Wayne is exactly the same. No traffic division anymore. You can't buy a ticket here. The cops with take-home cars had to pay 50.00/month and they had a fit. Boom. No more ticket writing. 

[Lawdog Dago Dom]

Where we live now, a local radio station had a contest to see who could get a picture of the oldest temporary license plate! Don't know how it turned out, but I did see they had a good supply to pick from.

 

Cars with no plates in a yard could be a zoning issue.

 

If you live in a town, contact your city council member.

 

No friends or neighbors who know a cop you could talk to?

[Lawdog Dago Dom]

 

[Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984]

In ‘94 I moved to a small town. Two numbered routes through town, five speed trap locations.

 

About ‘05 they acquired land and started a safety complex, ambulance garage first. Couple years later they came back to the town meeting and asked to add a police station . Voted down. The speed traps went away. The next year they got the bond issue for the police station.

[bgavin]

One of my lodge brothers is a LEO.
He tells of the 7 page report he has to fill out for every citation issued, including his take on the sexual orientation of the ticket recipient.

[Yul Lose]

When my oldest grandson was a kid I’d take him into Escondido for lunch and ice cream and stuff. Well, he got really good at identifying cars with expired registration stickers on their license plate. I believe the highest number of expired tags he announced he saw was 37 in one day. Boy have times changed, I drove into Escondido on Wednesday and counted 53 vehicles with expired registration stickers. My granddaughter was stopped at a stoplight out here one night and a van ran into the back of her car, totaling her car. 3 firefighter/paramedics were at the Macdonalds across the street and saw it happen. They came over and helped out but it took the CHP an hour and a half to get there and they didn’t even fill out an accident report.

[Rip Snorter]

2 minutes ago, Yul Lose said:

When my oldest grandson was a kid I’d take him into Escondido for lunch and ice cream and stuff. Well, he got really good at identifying cars with expired registration stickers on their license plate. I believe the highest number of expired tags he announced he saw was 37 in one day. Boy have times changed, I drove into Escondido on Wednesday and counted 53 vehicles with expired registration stickers. My granddaughter was stopped at a stoplight out here one night and a van ran into the back of her car, totaling her car. 3 firefighter/paramedics were at the Macdonalds across the street and saw it happen. They came over and helped out but it took the CHP an hour and a half to get there and they didn’t even fill out an accident report.

Had similar experience last year.  Had to ask the officer to write up an accident report.  He was glad to do it and cited the guy who hit me.  I'd guess there are less officers and more to do.

[Utah Bob #35998]

I got nothin. Actually I do. But I’m going for a walk instead.