Recently I vented about the Woodstock Police breaking the law to enforce the law. That had to do with using four minors to buy tobacco in Woodstock.
This morning's Daily Herald reports on a prostitution sting in Schaumburg. Read all about it at www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=365659
The part that interested me the most? "Five men were arrested and fined $500, with 24 hours to either pay the fine or face criminal charges."
The five men were then named in the article. What part of arresting them and "fining" them $500, to be paid within 24 hours, could possibly be legal?
The police don't fine anybody. Courts fine those who plead, or are found, some version of guilty. Unless law enforcement is taking a new tack in this area. And, if it is, the public had better stand up now and start screaming.
The State's Attorney and Attorney General should be all over the Cook County Sheriff's Police and any other law enforcement agency active in that sting. Arresting someone and offering to release him upon immediate payment of a $500 fine sounds like extortion to me. Did Sheriff Tom Dart approve that step in the arrest procedure?
Is the CCSP going to start collecting "fines" at the time of every arrest now? So, if you get a ticket for speeding, just hand the cash to the deputy and be on your way? "Have a nice day, sir. No, we don't issue receipts for cash fines."
Or maybe the Daily Herald reporter didn't get it quite right. Somehow, though, I think that Ted Cox probably got it right.
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9 comments:
Fines are a deterant to crime/violations... ie. follow the rules or we'll take your money.
Frankly, and you're NOT gonna like this-- TMB speeds on Interstates. I generally go at least 19-20mph over the limit. Why? Cuz if I get nabbed, I get "the most miles for my speed" versus being over 20mph and having to pay a higher fine.
IMHO only, its all about the revenue- TMB has never had a crash, and concider myself a consciencious driver.
I know you are a speed-enforcement advocate, and are clenching your teeth while reading this. But I'll challenge you when you're wearing the Tin Star >>> bring in TMB!!! DOH!!!
Lax traffic enforcement by police (cops, deputies, troopers) nationwide have resulted in speeds of 10-20 over the posted limit. On the Illinois Tollway troopers themselves frequently travel 12-15 over when just driving down the road.
Cops should be the first to obey the laws, including traffic laws, not the last.
I know a trooper who was chastised by his boss for driving 55 in a 55 zone in the right lane.
On two different days when I called to gripe about speeders on the Tollway, two troopers told me to "just go with the flow." Well, the "flow" was 72 in a 55 zone.
Were they going to go to court with me, if I got a ticket?
Zactly...ISP Troopers are correct. It's the damn SLOW drivers that create the log jam and cause problems. If the SLOW drivers would keep their buggies in the far right lane and keep out of the way it would be a better world. Troopers look for aggressive drivers and the lane changers. I say do like they do in most other states. Put the speed at 70-75 and then write tickets at 80. Trust me they stay busy.
I was on the 101 the other day by LA. I was traveling along with "the flow" which was about 75 when I was passed by a CHP motor officer that drove between me and the car in the next lane. Traffic moves and the CHP only goes agter the "hot dogs".
The speed limit is the speed LIMIT. The law is clear on obeying speed limits.
When your "damn SLOW driver" IS in the right lane and traveling at the posted speed limit, this is where the problem starts. And not because of the "slow" driver.
I don't need to re-hash all the violations that occur. Anybody traveling at the speed limit in the right lane on the Illinois Tollway has experienced all the same road rage and abuse that I have. The only difference is that they don't call ISP.
You can ccomplain to the Tollway District of the Illinois State Police at 630/231-6000; then press "0" for the dispatcher or desk officer.
When speed limits are set, the state is already aware drivers will exceed them by approximately 10mph. (depending on road type) Like it or not Gus, the state recognizes that it is human nature to take chances and push the limit. It is not that cops are laxed but that there is just not enough of them.
Hey Sgt it's that Gus Crankpot on the line, bitching about someone going ten over the speed limit..... Yup that's the one, the guy in the Bug poking along.....Yea I know the WGN copter just had a report of a Slow driver on the Northwest holding up traffic.....Will he learn? I doubt it, you know how zelots think.
Hey, NotA. You're getting your shorts in a wad over 10-over.
I don't complain until drivers pass me at 15/20-over (15-over, if they are cops).
I will add that two troopers learned not to tell civilians to speed up and "go with the flow."
Also, one learned not to tailgate a driver while pacing him or to try to intimidate a driver who is obeying the posted speed limit.
Yes, there are too few troopers on the roads, and it is sounding like Illinois may soon have fewer. This will mean higher speeds, more traffic violations, because more than a few drivers think they are "special" and that the laws are not for them.
And it is likely to mean more injury accidents involving troopers, because of drivers who are texting or chatting away on cell phones.
They could cut the ISP in half and we'd never see a change. They should have been changed over to a Highway Patrol like in most states. They do little other than traffic anyway. Any of the troopers assigned to criminal investigations should be transfered to highway patrol. Except for Southern Illinois they do little police work anyway.
Wisconsin has the expressways posted at 70 and they will write a ticket at 76 ( me only nows 2well)
BTW they are the "State Patrol" and ONLY handle traffic. They don't even have a investigations unit and arem not allowed to make a criminal arrest without DA approval and then must do so within 24 hours.
Just,it's all in the name anyway.
Usually a Highway Patrol or State Patrol is a traffic only unit. CHP in Kalifornia is a great example. Traffic only. Florida HP, they don't make any criminal arrests. They find a car full of drugs they call the Sheriff or local PD.
State Police are usually dual function. Here in Northern Illinois the ISP is primarily traffic and most troopers have never handled a fight, domestic or even responded to a criminal complaint. Traffic only. Down in southern Illinois they do handle calls in areas where the Sheriff's Departments are real tiny.
I'm dating myself, but Adlai Stevenson III ran for Governor many years ago,(mid 80's) One of his promises was to save money and refocus the state police back to their orginal purpose which was highway safety. He wanted to make them Highway Patrol.
If you find a police patch collector, the old State patch said STATE HIGHWAY POLICE. In the 30-50's's they were still the State Highway Patrol Officers.
I think they gave the Wisconsin State Patrol 24 hour police jurisdiction. They can make a on view arrest as long as they do it within 24 hours. After that they must call the Sheriff. Usually they do not even make arrests. Like Florida, if they find a criminal violation, they usueally call the local Sheriff.
Also until recently ( 3-5 years) they only had jurisdiction on STATE highways.
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