Thankfully there were no ladders on the racks (and we were headed east).

Yesterday I was in Mass, from CT north on 91 to rt 2 west to Williamstown, then south on 7 and east on mass pike til 91 back to CT.
I saw at least 8 different vehicles pulled over by the state police on 91 and the mass pike.
Thank goodness for cruise control. :tongue:

This morning a MSP went by me when I first got on the pike. He was holding up traffic in the left lane, doing about 65, then exited 3+1 lanes to the right with no blinker. Then went through a right-on-red from the left lane with no blinker. Then sat in traffic with the rest of us because he wasn't really going anywhere.

Then I get on 128 and actually passed another MSP holding up the left lane doing less than 55.

I was 5-7 min later than usual to work today without any major traffic events, simply because both highways were rubbernecked by slow MSPs in the left lanes, slowing all traffic way down. I wish there was a higher authority that could pull them over.

This morning a MSP went by me when I first got on the pike. He was holding up traffic in the left lane, doing about 65, then exited 3+1 lanes to the right with no blinker. Then went through a right-on-red from the left lane with no blinker. Then sat in traffic with the rest of us because he wasn't really going anywhere.

Then I get on 128 and actually passed another MSP holding up the left lane doing less than 55.

I was 5-7 min later than usual to work today without any major traffic events, simply because both highways were rubbernecked by slow MSPs in the left lanes, slowing all traffic way down. I wish there was a higher authority that could pull them over.


I know of only 2 higher authorities...Mr. Smith and Mr. Wesson

Yay, I got pulled over again!

This time in PRC, returning from warren miller at 12:15am last night. Had to get the other way on mass ave. There were no No U-Turn signs on the block and I turned at the first break in the center island, no traffic either direction for 3 blocks. Got one block up the other direction and cop flipped his lights on, u-turned, and I knew he was coming for me so I just pulled over and waited (I was already at the right I needed to be at and could have kept going, but that probably would not have resulted as favorably). The cambridge cop pointed to the sign in THAT intersection and said no u-turn, didn't even give me the opportunity to say there were no signs in the intersection that I turned in (not that he would know, as he was stopped at a light three blocks away and u-turned before getting to the intersection I turned at...must be that eagle-eyed eyesight he has, in the dark!). As always seems to happen to me (my GF very ticked off and tired, she was sick and had to go to work in the morning), we literally sat for over 15 minutes, he finally walked out and handed me a Warning, written 89-9 Posted No U-Turn, something unintelligible scribbled in the court address section.

Yet again a cop outright lying on my ticket. I'm glad it was a warning, though I still feel like defending it. I guess every cop in mass is corrupt. No point in fighting it as somehow the ticket stands as proof of guilt as if it were a video, and the judges being more corrupt than the cops and ignoring reason and law, I wouldn't get anywhere.

As I was reading up on the candidates of the various positions of last week's election, I read one of them rose through the ranks and power of the mass state police to his current political position. I was sure not to vote for him. It's a shame my opinion of mass cops continues to be confirmed, and in dire contrast of my opinion of CT staties.

If it had been a ticket, I would take that shiny new camera of yours, take dozens of shots of the scene of the crime, blow 'em up to at least poster board size, create charts and maps, and do a dog and pony show in court. Perhaps, seriously for a moment, if the populace kept the cops in the courtroom more and off their assigned posts, their bosses might realize that trivial tickets defeat the purpose of their legit mission.
On another topic, I'm interested in the MA no-hands law. Does it have teeth, are youse guys seeing it enforced, can you be pulled over just for a cellphone to the ear spotting?

...The cambridge cop pointed to the sign in THAT intersection and said no u-turn...
That cop obviously didn't know he was talking to a member of MAMA.

http://www.abc2news.com/index.html

You might want to see the video from WMARTV Channel 2....

Which video?

It's called "Clocking the Cops" and it comes up as the top video after the 15 sec. spot finishes. (You can also click on "ABC News," after the cell phone story spot, under the video screen or on the Tisha Thompson picture on the right side of the screen)

What did they expect? They failed to mention the average speed of the rest of traffic as well.

I don't understand why people complain about cops "speeding." Yet no one will pass a cop, so if the cop does not speed, he will rubberneck the entire road, causing congestion, road rage, and accidents; at the very least, more complaints.

Of course if speed limits were set within reason like other laws , no one would ever be exceeding them and none of these issues would exist.

On Channel 5 news this morning. Another long Thanksgiving holiday weekend has already begun for our heros in blue. Apparently they'll earn three times the normal bonus for each ticket written until Nov. 27.

I'm off to southern CT today along 290 / Pike / 84. Will report back tonight on conditions out there. I sense step-up enforcement already!

The MA Governor’s Highway Safety Bureau (GHSB), a program of the Executive Office of Public Safety, announces the availability of approximately $2,200,000 in grant funding for local law enforcement agencies for high visibility enforcement during five mobilization periods for 2007.

First Deadline for Applications: 4 pm, Tuesday, November 28, 2006

And so it goes...

They shouldn't be earing a bonus in the first place for giving tickets. That's not their job. No wonder they jump on anyone they want and make up lies. Make 'em work for that bonus and bring them to court each time, folks.

On Channel 5 news this morning. Another long Thanksgiving holiday weekend has already begun for our heros in blue. Apparently they'll earn three times the normal bonus for each ticket written until Nov. 27.

I'm off to southern CT today along 290 / Pike / 84. Will report back tonight on conditions out there. I sense step-up enforcement already!

Troopers squawk over ticket reward: Pressure on staties to snub warnings, go for cash
By Dave Wedge (dwedge@bostonherald.com)
Boston Herald Chief Enterprise Reporter
Thursday, November 16, 2006 - Updated: 12:56 AM EST

State police brass are pressuring troopers to dole out speeding tickets instead of warnings in a cash-grabbing mandate cops say is the closest the department has ever come to setting quotas.
The pilot program, designed to monitor troopers’ daily activities, lays out a new system that rewards troopers if they give out a ticket as opposed to a verbal or written warning.
Under the program, troopers get no extra pay but are credited with 1.5 hours on their daily time sheet for writing a ticket, one hour for a written warning and just a half-hour for a verbal warning. All of those activities previously had counted for one hour each in accounting for their workweek and justifying overtime.
The program, which top brass concedes is a work in progress, has already been challenged by the troopers’ union lawyer.
“They have provided these guys an incentive to write tickets and a disincentive to give warnings,” said a union source. “They should have discretion.”
The program, which is in place in barracks in Western Massachusetts and the South Shore, comes as the state faces a budget crunch that has prompted Gov. Mitt Romney (http://news.bostonherald.com/search/?searchSite=true&keyword=Mitt+Romney&mode=all&sorting=pubdate) to make sweeping cuts to social service programs.
Troopers interviewed by the Herald said the number of citations has been down in recent years, which has led to pressure from the courts and the insurance industry, both of which profit from civil fines.
In a statement, state police Lt. Sharon Costine denied the program encourages more tickets, saying it was designed “to ensure we are deploying the most appropriate resources within the Department.”
“As the principal statewide law enforcement agency, it is important for us to be aware of what types of calls for service and assistance our Department is providing,” the statement reads. “The public’s safety is the Department’s main concern, not increasing the number of citations issued or increased fines.”
But troopers say the system is a veiled attempt at setting ticket-writing quotas, which are banned under state law. Union officials said troopers in Western Massachusetts have been told they could face sanctions for not meeting the new guidelines, including suspension or being forced to have a sergeant ride with them.
One trooper who requested anonymity blasted the policy, saying he often gives verbal warnings rather than slap a motorist with a ticket that could ultimately cost more than $600, including insurance charges.
“I absolutely refuse to write tickets unless somebody really deserves it,” the trooper said. “You think twice before you take $600 out of somebody’s pocket.”
Another trooper said the policy flies in the face of academy training where recruits are taught not to “nickle and dime” the public.
“In the troopers’ opinion, (the policy) was changed to encourage troopers to write civil infractions instead of written or verbal warnings,” he said. “Troopers have a real problem with this.”

Back from my three hour each way jaunt today. Not a single trooper in sight in MA or CT expect at construction sites. Rain must be keeping them indoors.

When the sun finally emerges, as predicted this weekend, expect double coverage.

Back from my three hour each way jaunt today. Not a single trooper in sight in MA or CT expect at construction sites. Rain must be keeping them indoors.

When the sun finally emerges, as predicted this weekend, expect double coverage.

yeah, but Dave did you see any impalas with livery plates or gold infinity's or f-150 pu trucks with ladder racks????:hmph:

yeah, but Dave did you see any impalas with livery plates or gold infinity's or f-150 pu trucks with ladder racks????:hmph:

Oh yeah, forgot about those. Saw about 25 of each. LOL.

[COLOR=#003366]“The public’s safety is the Department’s main concern, not increasing the number of citations issued or increased fines.”

I wish they'd follow their own advice!!

That most certainly gets in the way of the officer's better judgement, what little thread of it they have left.

Hmmm, wish my office gave me 1.5 hours of credit for every task I accomplish. Get real.. they'd go out of business fast if we took all those hours in extra pay or vacation.

How do the staties figure they can give troopers more of our tax dollars? I'm glad to hear some of them are against this.

I drove a school bus full of students from Northampton (Western MA) to Amherst and back tonight, and saw no fewer that 3 Staties along Route 9 in very sneaky places. Looks like the WMA Barracks wants their share of the 2 Mil.

Theo :yellow:

I drove a school bus full of students from Northampton (Western MA) to Amherst and back tonight, and saw no fewer that 3 Staties along Route 9 in very sneaky places. Looks like the WMA Barracks wants their share of the 2 Mil.

Theo :yellow:

Wow, MA is liberal. They even let senile felons drive school buses around. :tongue:

Wow, MA is liberal. They even let senile felons drive school buses around. :tongue:

...and educate them as well! Motto: "Have you corrupted a young mind today?" :tongue:

Theo :yellow:

I have :)

I know where all the state police were today. The parking lot at the elementary school in town was filled with state police cruisers this afternoon.

http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/resources/2006/11/policeriotinboston.jpg

As captured before sunday's mini meet by Uptick:

http://static.flickr.com/144/326777118_25bdfbe895.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/uptick/326777118/in/set-72157594427564705/)

Soldier's Field Road is a prime example of profits. A two-lane, divided highway, the majority of traffic is often going 50-60mph, the limit there is 35 or 45.
But it's a surprise, especially to see laser. I usually have my jammer off for short in-city drives, and this being near me I can pass this several times a week, often at night. I do often see them running K or Ka band (once two cruisers with one of each) on Nonantum Rd from the scating rink lot right at the newton line. But there the limit is 45 and the road is nondivided and tight so traffic is rarely doing 10 over.
Also note, of course, the is no tripod or door used to stabilize the laser, so it will often provide errant readings in their favor as it streaks across the hood of cars.

Also note the cruiser is well off the road as not to alert the motorists into slowing down... another federally supported "safety" campaign...

Also note the cruiser is well off the road as not to alert the motorists into slowing down... another federally supported "safety" campaign...

Are they actually pulling people over? I saw one of these safety campaigns last week on Rt 3 in the Westford area. I was doing 75 in a 55 zone, luckily I saw the tail lights over the horizon and was able to get it down to 60 before they could get me with their laser gun. The guy next to me was still doing 70-80 and they didn't go after him.

LW

There are so many speeders the cops can pick & choose. Like out of state people who are less ilkely to fight back...