More Traffic Cops please
Discussion
In the constant war against GATSO's, an argument that needs making rarely seems to come up. I constantly hear of stretches of road that have multiple GATSO's on them, in the "war against speed". Now, whether a road has one or a hundred cameras is irrelevant. If a speeding driver does not know, or who could care less, that he has been "flashed", then he is going to carry on speeding. If he has stolen the car, or not registered it, or it's a clone, then he can carry on his merry way, endangering himself and more importantly, the rest of us.
Alternatively, he could be an innocent, normally law abiding citizen, and get flashed by multiple cameras, and end up losing his licence for a few moments innattention. Either way, the GATSO or GATSO's have failed to do the job they were installed for.
The first driver, if caught by a Traffic Cop, get's the book thrown at him, and at least slowed down for the rest of the day. The second driver hopefully gets a bollocking only, and can rest assured that his licence, and maybe his job, is safe.
In either case, road safety and justice have been given an equal hearing, something that cannot possibly be said about a GATSO.
So, ditch the GATSO, (surely not!
) and get more switched on cops like MADCOP and TONYREC on the road.
Or maybe this has all been said before, and I'm wasting my breath.
Alternatively, he could be an innocent, normally law abiding citizen, and get flashed by multiple cameras, and end up losing his licence for a few moments innattention. Either way, the GATSO or GATSO's have failed to do the job they were installed for.
The first driver, if caught by a Traffic Cop, get's the book thrown at him, and at least slowed down for the rest of the day. The second driver hopefully gets a bollocking only, and can rest assured that his licence, and maybe his job, is safe.
In either case, road safety and justice have been given an equal hearing, something that cannot possibly be said about a GATSO.
So, ditch the GATSO, (surely not!
) and get more switched on cops like MADCOP and TONYREC on the road. Or maybe this has all been said before, and I'm wasting my breath.
I sometimes wonder why I am on pro-car forums like this one.
Under no circumstances do I want the road to be "fair game" for any driving that people think see fit. What I do want to see are properly trained experienced traffic officers exercising their discretion. But also I want them throwing the book at people who put other people's live in danger needlessly.
Do I support the use of ANPR? Yes
Do I support the targetting of drink drivers? Yes
Do I support the targetting of the unlicensed? Yes
Do I support the targetting of the uninsured? Yes
Do I support the targetting of inapppropriate speed? Yes
Why is that if I suggest to people that GATSO's are flawed, that I am viewed as some sort of baby-eater?
Under no circumstances do I want the road to be "fair game" for any driving that people think see fit. What I do want to see are properly trained experienced traffic officers exercising their discretion. But also I want them throwing the book at people who put other people's live in danger needlessly.
Do I support the use of ANPR? Yes
Do I support the targetting of drink drivers? Yes
Do I support the targetting of the unlicensed? Yes
Do I support the targetting of the uninsured? Yes
Do I support the targetting of inapppropriate speed? Yes
Why is that if I suggest to people that GATSO's are flawed, that I am viewed as some sort of baby-eater?
rospa said:
Do I support the use of ANPR? Yes
Do I support the targetting of drink drivers? Yes
Do I support the targetting of the unlicensed? Yes
Do I support the targetting of the uninsured? Yes
Do I support the targetting of inapppropriate speed? Yes
I think the absense of bad, careless, or dangerous driving, poor observation and driving under the influence of drugs from your list highlights your agenda.
>> Edited by toad_oftoadhall on Friday 7th November 08:47
rospa said:
I sometimes wonder why I am on pro-car forums like this one.
Under no circumstances do I want the road to be "fair game" for any driving that people think see fit. What I do want to see are properly trained experienced traffic officers exercising their discretion. But also I want them throwing the book at people who put other people's live in danger needlessly.
Do I support the use of ANPR? Yes
Do I support the targetting of drink drivers? Yes
Do I support the targetting of the unlicensed? Yes
Do I support the targetting of the uninsured? Yes
Do I support the targetting of inapppropriate speed? Yes
Why is that if I suggest to people that GATSO's are flawed, that I am viewed as some sort of baby-eater?
Could not agree more Rospa and Mad Jock.
As soon as one tries to open up a sensible debate, or to question why the powers that be are spending more of our money on another useless scheme be it cameras or some dubious traffic calming then one is immediately assumed to be some sort of freak underclass.
I'm of the old school, ie if you're guilty and you know you are, be it due to a deliberate choice to disobey or inattention then its a case of hands up, it's a fair cop guvnor.
But what I see happening today is making me rethink that opinion, and what worries me is if I am thinking like that then there must be a bundle of folks a lot further down the road.
Similar to that in Julian64's thread elsewhere I can see both sides of the argument. But more and more can only conclude that someone is just extracting the pee.
I'll not trot out the same examples argued ad nauseam.
The Governement can govern, and the police can police only with the consent of the public. I truly fear that consent is about to be withdrawn. Whole host of reasons not just related to SP&L so won't go off topic.
I do not blame and never have blamed the troops on the streets, just that they are getting the snotty end of the stick.
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