This is a huge and dangerous problem, and I'm glad to see that Woodstock Police will concentrate on it. However, like many other traffic enforcement issues, addressing it one ticket at a time will not solve the problem. But it's a start.
How about using the mobile electronic bulletin board, too? Put up a message: "Obey center-lane laws." That's short enough not to distract a driver. Move the trailer around. Use it in both directions on Route 47. (It could also be used for seatbelt enforcement, rather than wasting the time (overtime pay!) of officers to write those pesky tickets.)
What intersections will get attention?
Northbound and Southbound Eastwood Drive @ Lake Avenue
Southbound Eastwood Dr. @ McConnell Road
Northbound Eastwood Dr. @ Country Club Road
Northbound Eastwood Dr. @ Irving Avenue
Northbound Eastwood Dr. @ McHenry Ave. (Afternoon Shift)
Drivers will be especially interested in this statement in the announcement on the PD's website: "Officers will adopt a zero tolerance for median violations while the outcome of the stop will remain at the officer’s discretion."
A-ha! How will an officer decide who gets a ticket and who gets a warning?
I remember one clear example of abuse of discretion by the Woodstock PD. An officer offered me a warning for a headlight that had been burned out for 10 miles and 15 minutes on a cold January night. That was fair, since I had documented numerous headlight problems on my car and had them repaired on the following day. But then a second officer showed up and reminded him of an order at the PD that, if I got stopped, I got a ticket - no warning.
So it was a case of reverse abuse of discretion. The first officer exercised discretion and common sense. I never found out how high up the order at the PD originated.
During an "initiative", should there be any discretion? Will the $1,000-suit driver of the new, clean Cadillac with Bull Valley Golf Club plates get a warning? Will the guy with the old pick-up truck for his lawn service get a ticket? Care to make a guess?
6 comments:
I think those signs would be helpful because there are a lot of drivers that don't realize they are breaking the law when they cut into the turn lane to early. Iv been conflicted about the discretion because its good yet its rights for abuse at the same time. It's not much of a surprise to me that they want you to get a ticket everytime since if you speak out against the woodstock PD(or for the most part any PD) you will get targeted. I beat a woodstock cop in court over a bogus handicap parking ticket and he was super mad im actually surprised he hasn't pulled me over to get back at me(I think i'v just been lucky)
There was never an order to write you tickets you goof.
There was never and order to issue you tickets you goof.
Congratulations on your victory in court. Conviction would have been expensive.
I thought about fighting the headlight ticket, although I didn't know about the "order" at the time of the ticket. I was going to subpoena a lot of records, cell phone records, audio tapes, four officers. Then I figured that the loss would cost me the fine PLUS $200 in court costs, so I gave in, since the headlight was out. Not that I could have done much at 6:00PM on a winter night except drive straight home.
I would give the working man the pass and written the well to do guy.
You're a good man, Big Daddy. Wish there were more like you around here.
Post a Comment