isn't there something better they could be doing?

[Guest uofmeet]

Unmarked Millington police van's radar reels in all kinds of speeders » The Commercial Appeal

[Guest strelcevina]

Unmarked Millington police van's radar reels in all kinds of speeders » The Commercial Appeal

Like what ?

[Guest clsutton21]

What else would two retired LEO's and a reserve officer be doing?

[LagerHead]

Nope. Fighting crime costs money. Issuing tickets makes money. In this case $150,000 minus the $45,000 paid to ATS equals $105,000 of generated revenue. Of course it's not about the money though.

[Raoul]

Nope. Fighting crime costs money. Issuing tickets makes money. In this case $150,000 minus the $45,000 paid to ATS equals $105,000 of generated revenue. Of course it's not about the money though.

Just think of it as a user fee.

[kb4ns]

My favorite part:

In addition to hurried citizens, a handful of Shelby County Sheriff's deputies and Millington Police officers also have received citations courtesy of the speed van.

In turn, a sheriff's deputy recently slapped the police van with a ticket for speeding and driving without proof of insurance. The van is staffed by two retired officers and a reserve police officer.

[LastRebel70]

I see no problem with these. It's simple, don't speed and you won't get a ticket. And this is coming from someone that got one from the one in Jackson. Guess what though, I was speeding at the time so it was my fault not the vans.

[Guest clownsdd]

I think it's great. Would like them to come to my neighborhood.

[dats82]

I see stuff like this, and it really make me think cops do get their jollies out of writing tickets. I guess if your job is to stop crime, and this is indeed one of the very few times they are actually stopping crime instead of investigating crime, then I can see how it would be fun and fulfilling.

[Guest KimberChick]

Nope. Fighting crime costs money. Issuing tickets makes money. In this case $150,000 minus the $45,000 paid to ATS equals $105,000 of generated revenue. Of course it's not about the money though.

If it's not about the money, why not make it a moving violation? Right now it's just a speed tax. No points added to the MVR. It's about money...cause, if you have the money, you can blow the proverbial doors off that thing and just keep paying the fifty bucks for the privilege.

[strickj]

I could care lees if it's about money or not. I can't even understand why people have a problem with that anyway.

Fact is, money has to come from somewhere. It's either gonna come from higher taxes.....or people breaking the law.

My choice is the latter.

I say to all the speeders and red light runners.....thank you!

[kb4ns]

I just don't agree with the methods. It's essentially policing for profit.

[mikegideon]

I just don't agree with the methods. It's essentially policing for profit.

It turns into that. In Nashville, at least our criminals have turned into much better drivers

[LastRebel70]

It doesn't go on your MVR because all they have is a picture of your car and the tags not the driver.

[DaveTN]

I could care lees if it's about money or not. I can't even understand why people have a problem with that anyway.

Fact is, money has to come from somewhere. It's either gonna come from higher taxes.....or people breaking the law.

My choice is the latter.

I say to all the speeders and red light runners.....thank you!

This is exactly how I see it.

Although traffic enforcement is necessary, this certainly is not it; this is revenue generation. However I don’t think I have a problem with it. Our factories and our jobs are leaving. Something or someone has to replace the massive amounts of money they were pumping into local economies. I am lucky enough to still have a job for now, but I would just as soon they don’t raise my property taxes to pay the bills.

If you aren’t speeding I would guess you would drive past those vans without incident.

The Mayor looks like kind of a dip chit saying he doesn’t want to be known as a speed trap. What other name can you put on it?

Can you take these “Tickets†to court? I had to be able to identify a driver I stopped in court. Is that not required here? What happens if the equipment malfunctions, or you think it malfunctioned? What happened to the woman whose mechanic was driving her car?

Inquiring minds want to know.

[Punisher84]

This is exactly how I see it.

Although traffic enforcement is necessary, this certainly is not it; this is revenue generation. However I don’t think I have a problem with it. Our factories and our jobs are leaving. Something or someone has to replace the massive amounts of money they were pumping into local economies. I am lucky enough to still have a job for now, but I would just as soon they don’t raise my property taxes to pay the bills.

If you aren’t speeding I would guess you would drive past those vans without incident.

The Mayor looks like kind of a dip chit saying he doesn’t want to be known as a speed trap. What other name can you put on it?

Can you take these “Tickets” to court? I had to be able to identify a driver I stopped in court. Is that not required here? What happens if the equipment malfunctions, or you think it malfunctioned? What happened to the woman whose mechanic was driving her car?

Inquiring minds want to know.

Wasn't there a website with funny pictures from red light cameras? Seems like I remember a guy in a gorilla mask or something lol

EDIT: Can't find anything so maybe it was photo shopped or I'm imagining crap again!

Edited November 6, 2010 by Punisher84

[strickj]

What points to it being a speed trap? I certainly don't agree with those at all but I don't recall reading anything in this story that indicates that's what this is.

From what I gather, it's a 'speed enforcement' van that's positioned randomly about.

I suppose it could be argued by some that the mere presence of such a high-tech, high dollar van could be called a 'speed trap'.

To me, it's just another tool to help slow people down.

Now if it was positioned down in Benton, or any other infamous area known for ticketing drivers for not slowing quick enough after passing a 55 to 45mph zone...

Edited November 6, 2010 by strickj

[DaveTN]

What points to it being a speed trap? I certainly don't agree with those at all but I don't recall reading anything in this story that indicates that's what this is.

From what I gather, it's a 'speed enforcement' van that's positioned randomly about.

I suppose it could be argued by some that the mere presence of such a high-tech, high dollar van could be called a 'speed trap'.

To me, it's just another tool to help slow people down.

Now if it was positioned down in Benton, or any other infamous area known for ticketing drivers for not slowing quick enough after passing a 55 to 45mph zone...

Traffic Enforcement or speed enforcement should be done by marked vehicles with the public seeing, and understanding what they are doing.

Getting a ticket in the mail a week later is a “trap”. I’m not making an argument against it; just call it what it is. It isn’t Police work.

–noun

1. a contrivance used for catching game or other animals, as a mechanical device that springs shut suddenly.

2. any device, stratagem, trick, or the like for catching a person unawares.

[strickj]

Traffic Enforcement or speed enforcement should be done by marked vehicles with the public seeing, and understanding what they are doing.

Getting a ticket in the mail a week later is a “trap”. I’m not making an argument against it; just call it what it is. It isn’t Police work.

–noun

1. a contrivance used for catching game or other animals, as a mechanical device that springs shut suddenly.

2. any device, stratagem, trick, or the like for catching a person unawares.

Would anyone commit a crime if they knew a cop was watching them?

To me a speed trap is something in which you can not avoid or something in which you have been forced into doing unintentionally or unknowingly. Getting caught when you thought you wouldn't be is not a trap.

[DaveTN]

Would anyone commit a crime if they knew a cop was watching them?

No, that’s the point. And it’s why most departments use marked units for traffic enforcement; they are there to be proactive while catching the most dangerous offenders; the ones that are not only speeding but aren’t paying attention.

Using unmarked vehicles or cameras and mailing out tickets is revenue generation from speed traps.

[strickj]

No, that’s the point. And it’s why most departments use marked units for traffic enforcement; they are there to be proactive while catching the most dangerous offenders; the ones that are not only speeding but aren’t paying attention.

Using unmarked vehicles or cameras and mailing out tickets is revenue generation from speed traps.

Just goes back to "so what"

It's either have an increase in taxes and punish the good, or tax the guilty and punish the outright careless and dangerous.

[Chucktshoes]

Just goes back to "so what"

It's either have an increase in taxes and punish the good, or tax the guilty and punish the outright careless and dangerous.

There is another option you know...