Archive for March, 2008

There is a speed trap near where I live in Indiana and it annoys me every time I drive by it and see someone pulled over. I’ve been considering this article for six months now because of my annoyance with speed traps. What better time to write this article than two hours after receiving a speeding ticket. This is my first ticket in 13 years. The last ticket I received was on a highway late at night the day my Grandmother died and there wasn’t a car within sight of me.

Neither 13 years ago nor today was I driving in a reckless manner, nor was I driving in a way that endangered other drivers’ lives. In today’s case I was driving behind a couple of cars at a slower speed. The tickets issued (13 years ago and today) were not the product of an officer protecting the lives of a tax payer. The tickets were a way for the city to generate revenue, in my opinion. Is that why we have police officers? The officers are paid from our tax money. The officers pull us over to generate revenue. Why do we have officers generating revenue for a job in which they are already paid? It’s like he’s being paid by me to fine me.

Sidebar: I’m only talking about when officers are instructed to ticket people (speed traps) for money, which is not what they were hired for. I’m not talking about an officer risking his life or protecting mine, which is what they’re hired for.

But can you blame the officer? I don’t really think we can. As an employee (the officer) of an agency he doesn’t own, he can neither make rules or change them. For the most part, he simply follows the rules that have been laid out before him. He and I are alike in the sense that we are working to feed our families. I would think to an officer this would be one part of the job they would find most embarrassing.

The entire incident:
It was noon and I had just left Indian Hills neighborhood in Louisville, KY after doing a support job. Instead of taking a left and heading towards the highway (North East) I thought I would roll down my window and head right on Brownsboro Rd. (South West) towards Zorn Ave. and get a little fresh air because it’s 65 degrees and a very nice, sunny day. Less than a quarter mile from Indian Hills I was listening to a podcast and traveling behind a grey van and a black Acura when all of the sudden the Acura slowed down abruptly, I don’t remember having to even tap my brakes since I was driving slower and slightly further behind them. After the Acura slowed down I saw a police car parked in the right emergency lane. His car was facing the same direction we were traveling as was the police officer. After all three of us passed the parked police car, he turned his lights on, pulled out right behind me and followed me for about a half block. As he got closer I looked in my review mirror and pointed at myself to see if he wanted me to pull over or get out of the way. His hand gesture indicated he wanted me to pull over, which actually surprised me. I pulled over between a couple mailboxes and put my car in park. My window was already down. As the officer approached my window I asked, “How can I help you?” He said, “May I see your license please?” I said, “Yes.” I then removed it from my wallet and handed it to him. He proceeded to ask, “Is the address on your license correct?” I said, “Yes.” The officer asked, “Do you know what the speed limit is?” I said, “No, I don’t normally go this way.” He said, “You were doing 51 in a 35.” I didn’t respond (it’s unlikely that he actually targeted my car at 51 since I didn’t even see his car until after the Acura slowed down. Both the van and the Acura blocked my view of the police car. He said, “I’ll be right back.” I said, “OK.” After about 4 or 5 minutes he returned with my license and a piece of paper. I put my license away and looked at the paper. It was a Uniform Citation. I quickly glanced and saw $161. I said to the officer, “Does that say $161?” He said, “Let me see, yes it does.” I replied, “I barely made more than that to come over here.” He replied “Then it wasn’t worth it.” He then said, “Thank you.” and turned and walked away. As he pulled away from me he did a U-turn; I would assume to return to his position in the emergency lane.

By no means am I saying the officer is lying. I don’t know if the officer radared the van or the Acura that were in front of me. However, it’s obvious to me that he is mistaken and he did not witness or radar me at any speed.

I kind of picture the whole situation like the officer was The Lion and I was The Gazelle at the back of the herd.

I will be reporting to court at said date. The only thing on my mind will be “Not Guilty.” I may have some diagrams as well.

These are some illustrations I’ll taking with me to show that the officer would not have been able to get a read off my car. I’ve done my homework, I hope the judge will see that.