LETTER: Speed traps are not harassment

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LETTER: Speed traps are not harassment

Posted by

Mike Buffington

in Editorial Archives

Wednesday, March 11. 2009

Comments (20)

Dear Editor:
This letter is addressed to Becky Smith in regards to speed traps. In this day and age all too many people are racing to get somewhere fast and they care not who is in their way.

I am glad the sheriff deputies are out there trying to slow down these people.

How are you harassed by the speed traps if you are driving in a safe and legal manner? Do you have reasons to make such allegations against the sheriff department?

If you choose to waste gas to shop elsewhere, be my guest. I just wish we had more deputies to slow people down.

Sincerely,
Pat Coward
Auburn

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#1 jzmorris1 on 03/11/09 at 02:32 PM [Reply]

Well said!!!!!

#2 jada on 03/11/09 at 03:56 PM [Reply]

I was outraged by this lady's comment in wed paper. It sad that people only want officers around when they need them. Lets say your traveling to Target and you have a car so close to your bumper that your afraid to put on your brakes for fear they will hit you or if your leaving Barrow Crossing and someone passes you at a high rate of speed in the other direction then your going wish they were there.I'm upset that I dont see more. Note to all Speeders THE CLOSER YOU GET TO MY VEHICLE THE SLOWER I WILL GO! Speed limits 55 not 100!

Black Colorado LS
Walton County

#2.1 ex-Navy man on 03/12/09 at 06:40 AM [Reply]

It's true you all tailgate much too close to the vehicle in front of you. Did you all forget about the 2 seconds for every 10 mph? Deer run out in front of you and some clown is right on your rear bumper, there is no way he can avoid a collision.

#3 SWAT COP on 03/12/09 at 07:38 AM [Reply]

Stationary "speed enforcement" is a revenue tool only! A more effective SAFETY tool is to nail lane laggers, those that do not flow with teh traffic and lag in the LEFT lane... this cau ses folks to pass on the right! The tailgaters... I have a severe dislike for them also... But you must understand that teh "jaz is not as heavy with stopping Mr. Pacecar, for going 35 in a 55 .

Understand that laser and radar stationary "enforcement is for REVENUE ONLY!
SWAT COP

#3.1 Anonymous on 03/12/09 at 12:33 PM [Reply]

Slowing down does not cause someone to pass on the right. That is an irresponsible act and choice on their part.
It may create revenue (that by the way helps with our county budget), but it has proven to be effective. And would not create revenue if they were following the law. DUH!
Sounds to me like you are a wanna be, but couldn't qualify cop, calling yourself Swat Cop. Grow up follow the law and you'll not have to contribute to the "revenue".

#3.1.1 SWAT COP on 03/13/09 at 05:26 AM [Reply]

OK.. if you are OBSTRUCTING TRAFFIC by traveling at a speeed less than the flow.... YOU are causing the other drivers to pass on the right! and FYI LANE LAGGING is against the law!

#3.1.1.1 The teacher on 03/15/09 at 06:39 AM [Reply]

You are so right! Speed traps are only for revenue and if Barrow would use their time wisely, they wouldn't be have a similar reputation to that of Braselton or Arcade, and we all know what that is. Barrow citizens have a lot to learn about driving though, like the proper way to stop at a four way stop, that you are NOT supposed to stop on train tracks, you are not supposed to block intersections either. My commute is longer than it has to be because of these hillbilly's. If they would simply learn that when the light turns red, you stop before you enter the intersection, it would reduce the traffic nightmare that we have downtown. Because when you block the intersection because you are too impatient to wait for the next light, you prevent the cross traffic from moving. Oh yeah and the lines in the parking lot...they are painted for a reason, you shouldn't just drive where ever you want, you might hit someone. If Barrow county would start enforcing these laws, that whole speed trap thing wouldn't be necessary.

#3.1.1.1.1 Buford T. Justice on 03/15/09 at 11:44 PM [Reply]

You've got to love a post by a putative savant who presumes to lecture us ignurint southern trash on driving, yet said wiseguy is unable to distinguish between the possessive and the plural. I reckon we dumb ol' country boys should thank this plutocrat for gracing our benighted land with his royal presence and deigning to cast such shiny pearls before the filthy swine we are.

#3.1.1.1.1.1 The teacher on 03/16/09 at 04:43 PM [Reply]

I never said you were all hillbillies. You took that too personally. Perhaps you have heard that before? My intention was to point out that the speed traps were a waste of time when there are so many other violations they could be concerned with. Thank you for being the grammar police as well, it is my own fault for not having proof-read.

#3.1.1.1.1.1.1 Buford T. Justice on 03/17/09 at 12:16 AM [Reply]

If your commute is too long, then why don't you move closer to your precious high-paying job? Out of Barrow county and all these "hillbillies" should suit you fine, Mrs. Drysdale. And, by the way, you sure could use additional citations from the grammar police, since it's obvious that the comma splice offense is one which you habitually commit.

#3.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 The teacher on 03/17/09 at 04:44 PM [Reply]

I only suggest that the commute would be shorter if WE all follow the laws. And I hardly think that one grammatical error can be deemed "habitual". Though I can not speak for everyone, I am thrilled that you have found your thesaurus. My hope is that you will learn to use it properly as your usage seems as poor as my commute is long.

#3.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 Buford T. Justice on 03/18/09 at 05:58 PM [Reply]

Sorry to disappoint your uneducated posterior, but I didn't need a thesaurus to write. Nor did I need a grammar manual to point out your many errors. No surprise that you wish to debate these procedural points. Obviously, you wish to continue to 'back & fill' your hostile and slanderous sentiments in your original post. "I didn't say THIS." "What I MEANT to say was that." "I didn't mean all of Barrow county was hillbilly's [sic]." "If you redneck hicks would learn to drive like me, I could get to my big job a whole lot faster." Only a coward posts material like the drivel you have spewed.

#3.1.1.2 Anonymous on 03/17/09 at 07:28 AM [Reply]

Passing on the right also breaks the law.

#3.1.1.2.1 Anonymous on 04/06/09 at 11:12 AM [Reply]

Not in the State of Georgia...

#3.2 Non SWATCOP on 03/12/09 at 04:59 PM [Reply]

I travel to work everyday on a two lane road with NO passing zones at all. The speed limit is 55 mph. I drive about 50 or so because there are a lot deer on this road and drivers who pass people on the double yellow line even in curves! Just remember that 55 MPH doesn't mean 55 or Must Pass Him!!

#4 Anonymous on 03/12/09 at 08:35 AM [Reply]

I'm with jada on this one!
"I brake for tailgaters".
If a stretch of road is known as a "speed trap", then just slow down! The end result is that people will drive more slowly, which is the whole point!

#5 Anon E. Mouse on 03/13/09 at 06:59 AM [Reply]

A real speed trap IS harassment. But, let's be clear what a "speed trap" really is. A real speed trap is when there are unusual circumstances (such as a nearly hidden speed limit sign, or several speed limit signs very close together that drop the speed unusually fast) which would cause the majority of drivers to find it difficult or impossible to remain within the bounds of the law. Real speed traps are illegal. If you find a REAL speed trap, you should report it to the Georgia State Patrol or your legislator.

There is nothing illegal about speed limits lower than 55 and law enforcement officers are ONLY DOING THEIR JOB if they ticket you for driving faster than the posted speed limit.

If you feel that the speed limit is too low, you should go to the governing body that sets the speed limit for that area and express your concern (city council, county BOC, etc...) Will they change the speed limits? Probably not. But if you don't at least try, then you can be SURE its not going to change.

And the truth is, MOST people drive too fast. MOST people exceed the posted speed limits by 10 mph or more. And speed limits are posted for a reason. Maybe its to generate revenue from speeding tickets in some places, but most of the time it is because people who LIVE in that area think that people shouldn't drive any faster than the posted speed limit on that street or road.

The next time you go zipping thru a 35 mph zone at 55 or 60 (or more), think about how angry YOU would be if someone did that on YOUR street while your children or grand-children were playing in your front yard or trying to ride their bicycle down that street or getting off of the school bus.

Most people are "its all about ME" people, and they don't give a ratz butt about anyone else. They are very quick to whine about people passing them on the right or tailgating them, but then they do that very same thing to others and then get nasty if someone confronts them about it. "Well, THEY should have or shouldn't have done this or that...its THE OTHER GUY'S fault...normally "I" wouldn't do that!" Yeah. Right. Save it, nobody wants to hear your flimsy justifications for breaking the law and being rude and dangerous to other people.

Try obeying the law, drive the posted speed limit, and have a little curtesy and empathy for the other people driving down the road and maybe you won't be so angry and need to cry about how unfair life is to the local newspaper.

#6 King of The South on 03/14/09 at 09:37 PM [Reply]

Speed Traps are harassment. People are extremely busy these days, so step on the gas or get out of the way!!! Quit stopping people for speeding and go bust some real criminals.

#6.1 Anonymous on 03/16/09 at 11:01 AM [Reply]

Dear King:
Besides the very obvious danger that speeders create (out of total disregard for others, btw), speeding is illegal. Therefore, speeders ARE real criminals.
Also, if you feel the need to speed because you are so busy, just remember that nice long vacation you could get (in jail) by creating an accident that kills somebody.
If you read the newspaper or watch the news, you know that there are people from Barrow County in jail TODAY because they killed someone BECAUSE they were speeding.

#7 Oscar on 03/16/09 at 08:23 PM [Reply]

Following the swearing in of our new Sheriff, I noticed that the deputy that cruises my neighborhood didn't seem to be around as often. I work from home about 3 days a week and have spoken with the patrol deputy often when he was cruising my street. I saw him at the courthouse recently and asked him where he had been. He told me off the record that deputies had been advised to help with the budget shortfall. Read what you will into that.

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