[Grizzly]

Jack G,

For some reason I can't quote your message, but you are right, that was a bad analogy. I was just being silly, while trying to make a point. My point is that not only do we want law enforcement to overlook certain laws, but we want to be able to choose which laws they overlook.

Law enforcement, as an unwritten rule, gives us 9-10 miles an hour over the limit. Even the speed devices are set to make an allowance, which varies with jurisdiction. How much do we want? How many miles an hour over is enough?

Yes, I think the local governments rake in a ton of cheese from these devices and that may truthfully be their primary reason for existence (though the governments vehemently deny this). Even so, if they slow the flow of traffic, then they've been an effective deterrent. Take Rail26, who started this thread. When he comes through that stretch again, he will be travelling at the speed limit, as will everyone else who got hammered that day...and every other day. Soon, you've calmed the traffic flow through that area. Maybe, just maybe, that kid on the tricycle will not get squashed, because the traffic device has effectively scrubbed off 20 miles an hour from the average speed through that stretch of road and the braking distances have been significantly reduced. Now that speed is no longer a problem in that area, the Police are truly free to pursue other interests, where before they really were not. Why? Because they had to look out for the kid on the trike. Again, if speed, red light running, etc is not held in check, by whatever means, it won't be long before people get hurt. You made a comment about no valid, reasonable thought regarding the speed devices. There actually was some valid, reasonable thought in the process, but it came long before the placement of the speed device. The valid, reasonable thought came from the traffic engineers, who studied the road, location, topography, whatever and decided on a reasonable speed. The speed device is just a governor to regulate the flow.

ESLAI,

I can't seem to quote your post either, but I'm not saying I'm an angel. I DRIVE my cars. All I'm saying is that when I'm caught, I'm caught. I started my tyrade here for two reasons. First and foremost because certain members of the forum felt it necessary to bash the doughnut eating, pork scented Police, which was truly unfair as the Police had nothing to do with this ticket in the first place. Secondly, I got wound up because people whined about HOW they were being caught. Nobody said they didn't commit the violation, they were just fired up about the means by which they were being caught and claiming all kinds of B.S. like entrapment. Whatever. You violated some rule or law and were caught.

The larger issue of whether speeding and traffic violations should or should not be crimes is certainly beyond me. In the system of government in which we live, they are crimes, punishable by fines. They always have been, and I'm willing to bet they always will be. If you want that system changed, run for Emporer. I don't know what else to tell you except as long as there are rules, you gotta play by them or you spend two minutes in the penalty box. If you cry in the penalty box, you look like a punk.