Traffic Tickets in Texas gettin out of hand!

[Duckwater 0]

A girl I work with just got a speeding ticket for 48mph coming off the offramp. The sign says 30 for the ramp, the speed limit on the highway is 65 and the access road is 45....If you jacked down to 35, you would get rear ended.

I get zapped with a radar at least twice every day on my drive to work by Northlake cops. I grew up here and never heard of Northlake, now the have at least 3 unmarked cars and 3 regular cars patroling a bare 5 mile stretch of I-35 between Denton and Texas Motor Speedway that they annexed at some point.

The population of Northlake in the 2000 census was 921, yes 921. They have 8 police officers!

There is no part of the town that is anywhere near I-35 but there are at least 2 unmarked cars (Black Camaro and a Black Dodge Intrepid) patrolling almost constantly. The strech of highway doesnt even have on or off ramps and there is nothing on the side of the highway.

They get around the Texas Speed Trap Law, which limits a towns income to a certain percentage of traffic fines to other income because they annexed the front half of Texas Motor Speedway.

I know the classic argument is "don't speed" but they interviewed a Dallas cop on Russ Martins radio talk show last week and he says most every officer in TX is under some sort of quota system. So, the officers might be doing real police work during the first of the month and get to the end, then, "oh crap, I need to write 10 tickets"...Better go sit at an exit ramp where 99.9% are doing over 30.

Texas had 1745 Alchohol Related traffic deaths in 2002, the last measured year. Texas lead the nation in DUI deaths, even more populous states like CA and FL. Look at this chart, it is pathetic. http://www.madd.org/stats/0,1056,6914,00.html

Drunks typically drive the speed limit. While our cops are out furiously generating revenue by ticketing people for doing 70 on a desolate road, the death toll increases.

This is not the cops fault, however. They are mostly all as furious about it as everyone else. Their unions seem powerless against city hall though. It is these politicians that want to increase revenue and they waste our police officers hiding in bushes to ticket someone 10 miles over the limit while people die.

http://www.triggerfinger.org/weblog/entry/5201.jsp

[Duckwater 0]

The more I research this, the more shocking it is. The average police officer per capita in Texas is around 1.6-2 per 1000. Northlake has 4 times that. What do these cops do? Here is the entire crime log for 2001.

Crime in Northlake (2001):
0 murders (0.0 per 100,000)
0 rapes (0.0 per 100,000)
0 robberies (0.0 per 100,000)
7 assaults (760.0 per 100,000)
5 burglaries (542.9 per 100,000)
4 larceny counts (434.3 per 100,000)
4 auto thefts (434.3 per 100,000)
City-data.com crime index = 242.1 (higher means more crime, US average = 330.6)


They have 1 cop per 2 crimes a year. (none serious and Im sure the assaults and car thefts were at the Speedway, whis is a BS Juridiction of theirs.)

Interestlingly, I can find statistics on EVERTHING in a second, except how may traffic tickets are issued anywhere in the state. Why are they hiding this info? Could it be that the increased # of traffic tickets had no effect on safety and they are making a fortune?

I feel like Mike Wallace on 60 minutes.

I think my next move will be to enlighten a reporter with the Dallas Morning News. This has fraud written all over it.

PS, I have not been ticketed by them so this isn't a personal vendetta. I feel sorry for all the poor college students going back to Denton that cant afford a $100 ticket because they were keeping up with traffic.

[AggieDave 6]

Quote

I feel sorry for all the poor college students going back to Denton that cant afford a $100 ticket because they were keeping up with traffic

Heh, yeah, if they go to school in Denton then they probably blew all the cash they had on drugs...wait did I say that? Well, atleast UNT's Jazz Bands are very very good.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[Duckwater 0]

Me and my buds have been trolling Denton for weeks inviting college students (female) to the party. Denton has an amazing amount of cuties.

[Duckwater 0]

OK..This has got to be illegal. I guarantee these cops write 50 tickets a day or more on their 5 miles of interstate. Now we know where the money goes..

From Newsletter:
SLP Customer Appreciation Day at
the Texas MotorPlex in Ennis, Texas
February 15, 2003

When not taking in the action on the drag strip or perambulating the show grounds, Race Day attendees could sample other event highlights, such as the Royal Purple/North Texas Lubricants display and the Northlake Police Department's 2003 PACE (Public Awareness Canine Education) Yukon. Equipped with 22-inch wheels, dual nitrous bottles, a megawatt audio/video entertainment system, and more flashing lights than the mothership from Close Encounters, this pearl white bruiser brings new meaning to the term "police presence."

This town has less than a thousand people and 8 cops and they are spending at least 60 grand on a show truck. There has got to be something illegal here.

[Gawain 0]

One word (plain and simple):

M-O-N-E-Y

My work here, is done.

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[newsstand 0]

I don't agree with what is going on IF it is a speed trap but this streatch of road is not "a desolate road."

"Truth is tough. It will not break, like a bubble, at a touch; nay, you may kick it about all day like a football, and it will be round and full at evening."
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes

[Duckwater 0]

There are no structures whatsoever past 170 all the way to Denton.

[PhillyKev 0]

Quote

The more I research this, the more shocking it is. The average police officer per capita in Texas is around 1.6-2 per 1000. Northlake has 4 times that. What do these cops do? Here is the entire crime log for 2001.

Ever think that maybe the crime rate is low _because_ they have more cops per capita?

[kallend 2,151]

Quote

Quote

The more I research this, the more shocking it is. The average police officer per capita in Texas is around 1.6-2 per 1000. Northlake has 4 times that. What do these cops do? Here is the entire crime log for 2001.

Ever think that maybe the crime rate is low _because_ they have more cops per capita?

I bet they have the safest donut shops in the USA.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[PhillyKev 0]

I hope it's Dunkin Donuts. I don't get the whole Krispy Kreme Kraze. Only white supremecists like that place.

[AggieDave 6]

Quote

Only white supremecists like that place.

Now that is a broad generalization with no data to support it. Especially since I'm sure fat women like Krispy Kreme too...

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[kallend 2,151]

Quote

I hope it's Dunkin Donuts. I don't get the whole Krispy Kreme Kraze. Only white supremecists like that place.

I don't like KKs either, nothing to do with their initials. I'm definitely a DD man.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[PhillyKev 0]

Quote

I'm definitely a DD man.

I thought we were talking about donuts. I asked Kel to show her boobs in the other thread.

[panzwami 0]

Quote

A girl I work with just got a speeding ticket for 48mph coming off the offramp. The sign says 30 for the ramp, the speed limit on the highway is 65 and the access road is 45....If you jacked down to 35, you would get rear ended.

Is it an actual speed limit sign (white with black lettering), or just an advisory sign (yellow with black lettering)? If the former, she was speeding. If the latter, she can argue it in court, because those yellow signs merely suggest safe speeds, but are not concrete speed limits.

[DrunkMonkey 0]

All of this is why I love my military ID. That little bit o' plastic has gotten me outta 4 speeding/moving violations in the past 3 years. Heheheh... Gotta love a country that loves it's soldiers...

[kallend 2,151]

Quote

Quote

I'm definitely a DD man.

I thought we were talking about donuts. I asked Kel to show her boobs in the other thread.

Hey, to each his own, OK?

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[peacefuljeffrey 0]

Quote

Quote

The more I research this, the more shocking it is. The average police officer per capita in Texas is around 1.6-2 per 1000. Northlake has 4 times that. What do these cops do? Here is the entire crime log for 2001.

Ever think that maybe the crime rate is low _because_ they have more cops per capita?

OMG that is fuckin' laughable.

Cops' presence prevents crime?! Okayyyyy...

Kinda like that guy with the miniature bat who got shot to death in Chicago after a Cubs game -- someone posted a thread about that a few weeks ago. Cops were right there on the scene, and still a murder happened.

-

-Jeffrey
"With tha thoughts of a militant mind... Hard line, hard line after hard line!"

[Duckwater 0]

Well, this is going to go somewhere I think.

I sent an email full of data to NBC 5 here in Dallas last night. A well known reporter called me first thing this morning and sent a news crew to Northlake. They could not find the actual city for an hour, nobody answered at the Mayors office or the police station. They are done for today but I think they smell blood. More at 10. I think they finally got someone on the phone as they were headed back to Dallas but they said they patrol the Interstate because that is where 75% of all their accidents are. They live in a town with 900 people! Of course thats where most of the accidents will be. I got radared twice on the way home today.

Mike

PS. That white Yukon with Nitro and DVD and all that didn't look cool enough I guess. I wonder how much this new paint job cost. See attached pic

Also, seems their Chiefs of Police cant stay out of trouble. I found this in the City Hall Minutes:

MOTION FOR RE-HEARING – RICKY LOVELADY
Assistant Attorney General Raymond Winter briefed the Commissioners concerning the case of Ricky Lovelady. The Executive Director filed a claim against Lovelady seeking suspension of his license. Notice was sent to Lovelady at his home address of record according to the Department of Public Safety driver’s license database. Lovelady did not reply to any notices or petition and a default was entered at the administrative hearing. Mr. Winter stated that Lovelady contacted the Commission and filed a motion for rehearing after Lovelady was notified by a colleague, who read in Close Up that Lovelady’s license was suspended. Mr. Winter indicated that based upon his evaluation of the motion for rehearing, it appears that Lovelady did not actually receive notice of the proceedings against him. Consequently the Executive Director recommends that the motion for rehearing be granted and that a new hearing be held in the matter of the allegations against Lovelady for suspension of his license.



Attorney Robert Wendland addressed the Commission reiterating that Mr. Lovelady did not receive notice of the hearing that led to the suspension of his license. He pointed out that at the time Lovelady learned of the suspension he was serving as Chief of Police in Northlake, Texas, and since learning of the suspension, he ceased serving in the capacity as a peace officer and has served in a civilian capacity since that time.



Commissioner Stivers made a motion that the Commission approve the request for rehearing in the case of Ricky Lovelady. Commissioner Markum seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.

[Snowflake 0]

Quote

There are no structures whatsoever past 170 all the way to Denton.

Yes there are theres the gas station, mobile home park, the cement place, and the speedway and it's ancillary buildings, but other then that it's desolate

[PhillyKev 0]

Quote

Quote

Quote

The more I research this, the more shocking it is. The average police officer per capita in Texas is around 1.6-2 per 1000. Northlake has 4 times that. What do these cops do? Here is the entire crime log for 2001.

Ever think that maybe the crime rate is low _because_ they have more cops per capita?

OMG that is fuckin' laughable.

Cops' presence prevents crime?! Okayyyyy...

Kinda like that guy with the miniature bat who got shot to death in Chicago after a Cubs game -- someone posted a thread about that a few weeks ago. Cops were right there on the scene, and still a murder happened.

-

Cops don't usually prevent individual crimes from occuring. But having more cops on patrol in an area definitely makes it a less desirable area for criminals to ply their trade. The crimes are still being commited, just somewhere else.