http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/virginia-state-police-help-with-budget-crunch/

Over the weekend, State Police gave out 6996 citations on Interstates 95 and 81 in "Operation Air, Land & Speed." They were ordered to do so by officials looking for help with the state's $2.2 billion deficit.

Troopers are concentrating in areas where the speed limit is expected to rise to 70 mph.

Nice!

Two points:

1. I-81 has always been a speed trap haven for cops, especially between 66 and about an hour south of Harrisonburg.

2. While it's no surprise, it's disgusting that they blatantly flaunt the fact that it's strictly a revenue operation. They're barely trying to disguise it as "keeping the roadways safe".

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That's not a ladybug, that's a cannapiller.

McDonnell! Fucking bastard! Way to sock it to the residents of Virginia. And this is the guy who campaigned on increasing the speed limit to 75mph... now he is slamming every one with tickets! Nice!

Warhawk Wrote:
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> 2. While it's no surprise, it's disgusting that
> they blatantly flaunt the fact that it's strictly
> a revenue operation. They're barely trying to
> disguise it as "keeping the roadways safe".


They don't. A blog claims they do. The government didn't "flaunt" anything. This is not a reputable news source.

It was, at least according to the source given above, a regularly scheduled blitz that has happened regularly since 2006.

Once again, people want to believe the worst, and given the slightest provocation, they will. Jumping to conclusions doesn't help anything.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/10/2010 02:00AM by Kardinal.

Kardinal Wrote:
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> It was, at least according to the source given
> above, a regularly scheduled blitz that has
> happened regularly since 2006.

Since 2006? Isn't that just about when Virginia's budget shortfalls began to reach $500MM?

Kardinal Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Warhawk Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > 2. While it's no surprise, it's disgusting that
> > they blatantly flaunt the fact that it's
> strictly
> > a revenue operation. They're barely trying to
> > disguise it as "keeping the roadways safe".
>
>
> They don't. A blog claims they do. The
> government didn't "flaunt" anything. This is not
> a reputable news source.
>
> It was, at least according to the source given
> above, a regularly scheduled blitz that has
> happened regularly since 2006.
>
> Once again, people want to believe the worst, and
> given the slightest provocation, they will.
> Jumping to conclusions doesn't help anything.



While The Truth About Cars isn't CNN or MSNBC, you have to admit it is a more than a coincidence that the Troopers have these blitzes when state officials are faced with budget issues. They are using law enforcement as a revenue maker, which sucks.

Let's be honest, it's not a coincidence that around the end of each month you see a lot more cops on the road looking for speeders, HOV violators, tag violations, etc. I have driven 66 and the FFX Co. Parkway almost every day for the last 10 years, and I know the prevailing patterns.

This is complete internet hearsay, so take it for what it's worth - I know a guy who is in the FCPD, and started out as a patrol officer in the Annandale area 10 years ago. At a mutual friends wedding 6 years ago, I asked him point blank - do you have quotas on tickets? And his answer was "officially no, but there is pressure to bring in a certain amount of revenue each month and I catch shit when I haven't written enough tickets".

__________________________________
That's not a ladybug, that's a cannapiller.

Re: Operation Air, Land & Speed new
Posted by: Warhawk ()
Date: March 09, 2010 05:52PM


Two points:

1. I-81 has always been a speed trap haven for cops, especially between 66 and about an hour south of Harrisonburg.

2. While it's no surprise, it's disgusting that they blatantly flaunt the fact that it's strictly a revenue operation. They're barely trying to disguise it as "keeping the roadways safe".


I drive to Staunton once a month to visit my parents and 81 is always lousy with cops

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W.W.S.D. what would Scooby Doo

It just sucks that this is the way our state legislature is deciding to fix budget issues.

Qwest Wrote:
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> It just sucks that this is the way our state
> legislature is deciding to fix budget issues.


Right. Except we have no actual EVIDENCE to believe that's how they're doing it.