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Author Topic: Buy Your Way Out of Speeding Tickets in the USA!
DrConway
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 490

posted 11 October 2008 12:56 AM      Profile for DrConway     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Only in America, I swear to god.

quote:
It was the kind of move that would usually mean a ticket for a young guy in a tricked-out BMW: unsafely zipping around a truck and another vehicle - which happened to be a California Highway Patrol cruiser - while zooming down the road.

But rather than getting slapped with a fine last year on Interstate 101 south of San Francisco, Nick Palefsky was let go with a warning.

"He said, 'Next time, be a little bit more cautious,' " Palefsky recounted in a recent interview. It was one of four occasions in the last three years in which Palefsky, 22, said he was stopped by California Highway Patrol or local police officers; only once did he receive a ticket.

Palefsky believes a license plate frame proclaiming membership in the California Highway Patrol 11-99 Foundation helped him avoid the tickets.


How typically American. When you're rich and politically connected, commit legalized bribery to set yourself above the law.

Oh, I'm sorry, did I hear "But the USA is the Land of Opportunity" and the snap of a flag waving? I'll just turn my brain off now and pretend what you just said makes any sense, and ignore the inherent unfairness of buying get-out-of-jail-free licence plate covers.


From: You shall not side with the great against the powerless. | Registered: May 2001  |  IP: Logged
Boom Boom
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Babbler # 7791

posted 11 October 2008 05:02 AM      Profile for Boom Boom     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
I'm told that having a membership decal on a vehicle window proclaiming you are a police - fire - medical - or even clergy person can get one off with a warning as well. I used to belong to a volunteer fire department and never got a ticket on the very few times I was pulled over for speeding (and wasn't a rich person's car, either - just a Honda Civic and later a Ford Escort) because in my rear window I had a VFD decal.
From: Make the rich pay! | Registered: Dec 2004  |  IP: Logged
Agent 204
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posted 11 October 2008 05:49 AM      Profile for Agent 204   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
I seem to recall the Toronto police having a fundraiser for their campaign to defeat politicians who they considered to be cop-unfriendly, and they were giving out stickers for your car (gold, silver, or bronze, depending on how much you donated). So, sadly, not only in the USA.
From: home of the Guess Who | Registered: Nov 2003  |  IP: Logged
Lard Tunderin' Jeezus
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Babbler # 1275

posted 11 October 2008 06:19 AM      Profile for Lard Tunderin' Jeezus   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
see below

[ 11 October 2008: Message edited by: Lard Tunderin' Jeezus ]


From: ... | Registered: Aug 2001  |  IP: Logged
Lard Tunderin' Jeezus
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Babbler # 1275

posted 11 October 2008 06:21 AM      Profile for Lard Tunderin' Jeezus   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Sadly, that's true - although the scheme only lasted a couple of weeks. More sadly, neither Mayor Melvin nor that fascist bastard the Police Chief Fantino had the nerve to shut it down immediately, before the public started screaming.

[ 11 October 2008: Message edited by: Lard Tunderin' Jeezus ]


From: ... | Registered: Aug 2001  |  IP: Logged
thorin_bane
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posted 11 October 2008 06:36 AM      Profile for thorin_bane     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
YOu can add the firefighter boot campaign. Personal experience, my best friend during highschool never got tickets. He had a little business card from his stepdad and would always hand it over with his ID when we got pulled over. Always a warning. I odn't know if tat is because he was relaxed and knew how to talk to him cuz his dad told him, or because of the card, But I am always polite and have gotten a ticket everytime except maybe twice. Take it for what you will, but there is clearly an advantage to knowing the police.
From: Looking at the despair of Detroit from across the river! | Registered: Jun 2004  |  IP: Logged
Tommy_Paine
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posted 11 October 2008 06:40 AM      Profile for Tommy_Paine     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
I think this kind of thing goes on all the time, and when it comes to things like speeding tickets, I am not too concerned. The amount of energy it would take to control this kind of petty corruption doesn't positively pass the cost benifit analysis.

But, there are larger fish to fry.

When it becomes an extention into political activities by police, as we saw attempted in Toronto, that is far and away more serious.

And, when the province has a major initiative against street racing, then off duty police have to be subject to the same laws. Which, apparently, they are not.

They should also be required not just to give lip service to things like the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and should be subject to long jail sentences if they, for example, cooked up a flimsy pretext for a wire tap.

And, if police set up their own criminal organization to take money from the safe deposit boxes of drug dealers, then they should be investigated with vigour, instead of given a free pass.

And, if someone in law enforcement, like the RCMP or CSIS sends an innocent citizen off to be tortured in Syria, well, they should also be subject to some significant penitentiary time.

Ah, the list goes on, doesn't it?

Pardon me for not being too outraged over speeding tickets.


From: The Alley, Behind Montgomery's Tavern | Registered: Apr 2001  |  IP: Logged
The Heat
recent-rabble-rouser
Babbler # 15391

posted 11 October 2008 11:43 AM      Profile for The Heat        Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
I think you all really need perspective from a actual cop on this one.

In the Mounties, we are under a lot of pressure from the Officers in Charge not to give fellow members a break. I'm not a traffic cop, so don't give out too many tickets anyways, but I have written up prison guards and an idiot fireman who thought the law only applied to someone else.

You're all correct if you think cops can get away with Motor Vehicle Act violations. It would have to be a pretty serious offense to give another cop a ticket. The cop I pull over might work with me in another section, or could end up being a supervisor. I have had the situation where I pulled over cop, very senior to me in rank and years of service. He admitted he was wrong and I said it was up to him to deal with it with his supervisors (which he did). In the section I work at, some of us have received tickets from highway patrol constables on days off, but it's pretty rare.

As for nurses....we have such a difficult relationship with the ER nurses already, a police officer would have to be complete moron to start writing tickets to hospital staff which would make things worse when we deal with the hospitals.

One funny story...I was racing off to a call, in a marked car, and I got waived in to a roadblock set up by one BC's Integrated Road Safety Unit. They are paid by ICBC to hand out a ton of tickets. I wouldn't have stopped, but I figured the member wanted help with something. The guy checked my seatbelt. I still have no idea if it was joke or not....and anyways, I had my seatbelt on.

There are people here who think that because a person is rich and white he/she will get a break from the cops. Definitely not!! Look, we're people too. No one wants to hand an expensive ticket to a poor single mother on her way home from work to pick up her kids from day care in her beater of a car. Sometimes we have to....and then if they go to court, I usually hope the Judge gives them a break (I don't say that of course). It feels a lot better writing tickets to rich people in BMWs, especially if the guy is a complete asshole.

As for more serious stuff. I can assure you, if we find another cop (or anyone else) committing criminal acts, there are no breaks. They make the whole force look bad. Usually the file is passed off to internal standards, and rather than criminal charges, forced resignation is the outcome. Fortunately I have never been involved with anything like that.

Have a nice thanksgiving everyone


From: British Columbia | Registered: Jul 2008  |  IP: Logged
Tommy_Paine
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Babbler # 214

posted 11 October 2008 12:46 PM      Profile for Tommy_Paine     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
quote:
In the Mounties, we are under a lot of pressure from the Officers in Charge not to give fellow members a break.

I take it you are about to arrest Zachardelli then, over the pension irregularities?

I take "speeding" with a grain of salt to begin with. I feel comfortable ( meaning "safe") driving 30k over the limit on good, non-residential roads in nice weather. But I take a good 10k off of that because I know we all over estimate our abilities in this regard. That still puts me 10-15k over. There's no science behind most speed limits, and I would give cops discretion over how they ticket, and would hope they use it. Particularly since I'm years over due for a ticket myself.

And, I bet those that think cops not giving cops a ticket is wrong have bent rules or personal ethics for friends and co-workers. I know I have. Call it professional courtesy. It's refreshingly human.

quote:
As for more serious stuff. I can assure you, if we find another cop (or anyone else) committing criminal acts, there are no breaks. They make the whole force look bad. Usually the file is passed off to internal standards, and rather than criminal charges, forced resignation is the outcome.

Well, the fact the cop committing a criminal act only loses his job and faces no jail time is a very substantial and priveleged "break". Remember, the rest of us citizens who commit criminal acts get the job loss-- and the jail time.

And, as much as I would love to believe you, I think your statement only jives with my observations because maybe there is a much different tradition of policing in B.C. than in Ontario.

I really hope so, and it heartens me that you believe what you say even if I think it is misstaken.

You have a nice, and safe, Thanksgiving, too.


From: The Alley, Behind Montgomery's Tavern | Registered: Apr 2001  |  IP: Logged
DrConway
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Babbler # 490

posted 12 October 2008 06:47 PM      Profile for DrConway     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
You wouldn't be so nice to the police forces here in BC if you knew how often they whitewash any acts of wrongdoing by their officers.

The same easy acceptance of bending rules for friends and family in non-law-enforcement workplaces does harm in law-enforcement, because LEOs (as the shorthand goes) are the moral model for the rest of us. Society has no reason to respect enforcers of the law who mock and disrespect the very laws they are charged to enforce.

The widespread use of influence to get out of speeding tickets is just a symptom of a much larger problem in our society: the belief that laws are for "other people". Rich people belief they can buy their way out of trouble and that only little people should have to actually suffer for their wrongdoings, as just one commonly-cited example used on babble.

Nobody likes being called to account for what the law says is illegal, but to compound the act by openly proclaiming you'll get off without being punished for it? That takes chutzpah to a new level.

And as for this?

quote:
There are people here who think that because a person is rich and white he/she will get a break from the cops. Definitely not!! Look, we're people too.

Nice words. How about the fact that someone in this very thread mentioned a kid who use that little business card trick to get off speeding tickets?

And if you're really honest with yourself, you'll admit that there are certain officers who just might not write a ticket for the mayor's son because the mayor might inappropriately use his or her influence to get said officer fired.

Don't think it happens? Look at Sarah Palin. She tried to get a cop fired because she didn't like the guy. Hell, I remember Colin Thatcher (yes, that Colin Thatcher) berated a police officer who told him his car was parked the wrong way, and successfully avoided a ticket for improper parking.

Inappropriate use of power and the inappropriate enforcement of that power is one of my biggest complaints about the RCMP and Vancouver PD as it stands right now.

[ 12 October 2008: Message edited by: DrConway ]


From: You shall not side with the great against the powerless. | Registered: May 2001  |  IP: Logged
The Heat
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posted 13 October 2008 06:49 AM      Profile for The Heat        Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Tommy Paine,

The only reason I posted here was to try to educate people like yourself who seem to think there is this vast conspiracy to cover up wrong doing by members of our police forces and let rich people get away with stuff. You are not cop and therefore do not have first hand knowledge of what goes on so please stop talking to me like you do.

In the Lower Mainland most cops I know are too busy to worry about the "mayor's" son...or about you. I don't know what abuses you think you have suffered, but unless you're committing a crime, the police are going to leave you alone. I know mistakes happen, but they are just that....mistakes.

As for Sarah Palin, what does that have to do with anything? Are you trying to imply police forces are corrupt in Canada because the Governor of Alaska tried to get her idiot brother-in-law fired?

And one more thing....on the road we try to target drug dealers, gang members, and other shit heads involved in crime. So, if you're a member of the UN gang or the Hells Angels, yes, you're likely to be the target of aggressive traffic enforcement. I don't think most Canadians would object so this is unlikely to change. And for any of you activist types out there: unless you commit some criminal offense (mischief, B&Es, theft, assault,) the cops don't care about you. Sorry, but its true, we have other things to worry about.

I'll leave with one last thing. I'll use the example of traffic tickets. I write them based on the offense. I have discretion and use it frequently. If you want to guarantee yourself a traffic ticket from a cop, try to pretend you have influence. If someone asked to be let off because they are the mayor's son or related to someone else important, it's pretty certain they're going to get served a Violation Ticket. Having said that, I do think women get away with more stuff than men, but that's usually because they have less attitude when pulled over (or they are better actors).


From: British Columbia | Registered: Jul 2008  |  IP: Logged
Stargazer
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 6061

posted 13 October 2008 07:08 AM      Profile for Stargazer     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
quote:
And for any of you activist types out there: unless you commit some criminal offense (mischief, B&Es, theft, assault,) the cops don't care about you. Sorry, but its true, we have other things to worry about.

OCAP has always been a police target. So are poor men, homeless people, sex workers, and people who made complaints against the police.

Thing is, because you are an officer, and you may be a good guy, you have to realize there are a lot of police out there who love to act all tough with their power on the most vulnerable people in society.

I have met a lot of nice, decent cops but in my lifetime (and I have no criminal record) I have had my fair share of horrible police officers who think nothing about breaking a couple laws while they go about getting some kicks in (literally and figuratively).

Don't even get me started on the way the police (a lot of them) treat rape victims.

Look, if you make a complaint against the police as a civilian, the cop knows who you are. Even if that cop did something inexcusable all the cop has to do is lie at his hearing. I know, I have a complaint in, and the officer continues to lie about what he did. He knows his 30 plus years on the force will be taken over a civilian's words. Worse? I'll have to go to court and listen to him paint me as a liar, while the fact is, he lied. And who is going to believe me over this guy? There is no tape recording. Its my word against his.

I like you Heat, because you have guts and integrity to come here and post. I wish there were more police you thought like you do (although I do have to agree that rich and white gets you a hell of a lot farther than poor and not white. As an example, look at all the celebrities who get off with nothing. If an average citizen was found with heroin, they'd be in jail waiting for someone to bail them out. The rich get next to no punishment compared to the poor.


From: Inside every cynical person, there is a disappointed idealist. | Registered: Jun 2004  |  IP: Logged
thorin_bane
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Babbler # 6194

posted 13 October 2008 07:03 PM      Profile for thorin_bane     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
In every instance in traffic court where a driver was by himself, the result was "The officer has no reason to lie and it is of no benefit." Thanks your honour I guess the money raised from tickets don't matter. However if you had 2 witnesses you MIGHT get off. Just make sure you have enough witnesses.
Conversely when I went to a paralegal(former officer and nice guy) he assured me he would get my ticket dropped to 15 over from 30 an no points. True to his word, he has managed this twice. I only had to pay his 240 fee and voila no points and only a 52 dollar ticket. This is like one of those third world country's where if you pay off the officer you go free otherwise expect a lot of problems. Corruption is a lot more widespread then we would like to believe.

Hell we had an Officer cuaght stealing a pick nik table WITH THE UNDERCOVER DAKOTA(opp) He got off. How the hell does that happen. So no, this isn't as simple as helping out a co-worker this is a fraternity that lets their members get away with crimes that they call us scumbags for. Obviously not every officer is corrupt. But the system is. As I know a few officers and hear their stories, you get to know they do some stuff that ain't so bad like maybe speeding, to a stuff that we would be gone for a long time. Again as pointed out, it is hard to take them serious as they break the very rules they are so morale and have to enforce.


From: Looking at the despair of Detroit from across the river! | Registered: Jun 2004  |  IP: Logged

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