GC, Ok, I know that we both feel the same, and yes, I agree, that red light runners are going to be paying closer attention when they know law enforcement is out there watching.  I realize that they (our officers) have to witness it.  Just like when I called in for an impaired driver.  I have given a license plate, yet if the officer is not behind them and witnessed my complaint, nothing can be done.   I do understand that they are doing all they can, and I have to say, it is frustrating when I drive this stretch everyday, there is nothing I can do except stay way back, and pray that when I hit my brakes to stop at a yellow light, that vehicle behind me does not drive up my tailpipe!!!!  As far as Jason's  comment, I have to side with GC on this.  If we are not sitting in that patrol car, we have no way of knowing what is going on in his unit. 

I have no problem cutting them slack for the fact that they could be on a call. It's just the sheer number of times that I've seen police (in general, not just MPD) ignore red light runners combined with the data on tickets issued and that the Phoenix area is #1 for red light running. There's no way you can say that they don't have a quota or at least orders to concentrate on speeders. If they can make the time for the speeders like that, then surely they can catch more than two red light runners in a week. Especially given the fact that they have undercover vehicles that they use to catch speeders. Why not put them to use catching even more dangerous actions?

Jason, I wouldn't be surprised to find that you are right and that there are directives for them to focus more on speeders than on red light runners in Maricopa.  I would be surprised to find out that these directives are given without statistics to back them.  Sheer numbers speak for themselves.  Now I don't have these statistics or these numbers, so I can only speculate, but my speculation would be that there are more accidents resulting in serious injury and fatallities caused by excessive speed than there are as a result of red light running.  The reason for this would be there is a vastly larger number of people speeding than there are people running red lights.  One can say that more often than not, a person who runs red lights probably does a lot of speeding too.  But it cannot likely be said that a person who speeds, more often than not runs red lights.  That tells me that there are very likely many more people speeding than there are people running red lights which in turn would make it a safe bet that speeding is the higher risk. 

Also, the Phoenix area is indeed one of the highest for red light runners, that is correct.  But, are we talking about the Phoenix area, or are we talking about Maricopa, because initially this discussion was referencing MPD thus referring to activities taking place IN Maricopa. 

On a totally different note, I noticed quite often that the bike cop sits illegally on the sidewalk picking up speeders.  Has nobody fought those tickets yet?  

This is to clear up any confusion you people keep experiencing. This is in the ARS book.

28-873. Stopping, standing or parking prohibitions; exceptions; definition

A. Except if necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or if in compliance with law or the directions of a police officer or traffic control device, a person shall not stop, stand or park a vehicle in any of the following places:

1. On a sidewalk.

Yes, you are right...it is in black and white. BUT, so is this...

28-875. Law enforcement exception

The stopping, standing or parking restrictions provided in this article do not apply to a police or peace officer when the stopping, standing or parking is for the purpose of actual performance of a law enforcement duty.

I don't have a problem with that exception, but I don't think it was intended for this case. I feel that it was intended to allow police officers to do their job when actually doing something, like investigating a crime, writing a ticket, etc. What they are doing here is actually dangerous in part, because they impede normal pedestrian flow and that drivers do not expect vehicles to come speeding out off of a sidewalk.

I have seen them parked in the median on the sidewalk of the 347/RED/CF intersection. Relatively, the motorcycles are small and a driver doesn't expect to look there for a police officer. Now, there is ample room at the CF exit for a motorcycle officer to park. The only conclusion I can draw is that they are hoping to catch unsuspecting speeders. I'm not against them catching speeders, but the methodology leaves much to be desired and I believe it adds to the danger by introducing yet another unpredictable element into a difficult intersection.

Jason-

I have decided that talking to you about the police department, their officers, their duties and anything else that has to do with the law is like beating a dead horse. When the LAW is posted for you to see, you come on here with some ridiculous answer, in an attempt to justify your belief that the department may be breaking the law themselves. I have lived here for almost a year. I drive 347 everyday (in and out of town). I have the common sense to read a street sign to see that the speed limit goes down coming into town (with ample time in between signs to allow you to slow to the posted speed). I also can honestly say that I have NOT ONCE seen a person, child or other crossing 347 on foot to go from Cobblestone Farms to RED, or vice versa. I also have NEVER seen a motorcycle cop pull out (from the sidewalk) in front of traffic to catch a speeder.

Yes, the motor cops sit on the sidewalk to radar the people that can't abide by the law. More power to them. If the revised statutes say it is allowed to perform their law enforcement obligation, then so be it. Because that is in fact EXACTLY what the statute says. Better yet, as many speeding tickets as they have handed out, I have never heard of someone trying to dispute the sidewalk radaring.

You are upset because there are so many speeding tickets written. Your claim is why can't they stop writing tickets and start enforcing REAL crimes. What do you suppose those motorcycle officers were hired to do? Strap a man just charged with domestic violence to the back of his motorcycle and head to Florence to book him in jail? Get real! They were hired to write speeding tickets. When there aren't enough officers to run all the calls of this city, yes, they back the city up then. Otherwise, the sole purpose of their time on duty is to write tickets. Then you contradict yourself and say you don't mind them writing tickets to speeders...what is it Jason, are you for or against? What do you suppose the other officers (patrol officers) are doing with their time while the traffic cops are writing tickets? Umm...maybe they are responding to the REAL crimes being committed.

What people need to remember is driving is a PRIVILEDGE not a right. If you aren't going to abide by the law and the rules of the road, you better expect you will be given the proper punishment. I, for one, can't wait till they get more motor cops to help the two we have now!

Last but not least, you claim that intersection as being unpredictable and dangerous...how many fatal accidents have you seen at that intersection since the Maricopa Police Department took over the jurisdiction of the city and started enforcing that intersection?  

We have a difference of opinion then. There is no obligation for them to park on the sidewalk, as evidenced by the copious amounts of tickets written before they thought to do that. But hey, instead of actually debating it or agreeing to disagree, I get painted as the villain here.

You are upset because there are so many speeding tickets written.

No. Try reading what I post.

Your claim is why can't they stop writing tickets and start enforcing REAL crimes.

No, Again, try reading what I post and quit assuming my opinion is like that of other people that actually post that. I said that they need to write less speeding tickets and more tickets for other driving actions that are just as, if not more dangerous.

What do you suppose those motorcycle officers were hired to do?

How about some red light running crackdowns? Tailgating? Weaving? Distracted driving? Take your pick. I have been nearly killed by all kinds of behavior that they are practically ignoring, yet when people complain about speeding, it's perfectly OK. I ask for a little enforcement of things that have nearly killed me and I'm the villain. That makes a whole lot of sense.

Get real!

No, you get real. Read what I post, because what you think I mean is something else entirely.

They were hired to write speeding tickets.

Absolutely not, they were hired to enforce driving laws, not just speeding.

the sole purpose of their time on duty is to write tickets.

Oh gee, I don't know, like maybe red light running tickets? Aggressive driving? You know there is more than just speeding on the books, right?

Then you contradict yourself and say you don't mind them writing tickets to speeders...what is it Jason, are you for or against?

Hint: It would be so much easier if you just read what I posted and not try to read in something that isn't there. You couldn't even show me a contradiction if you tried.

Parity is all I'm looking for. More red light running tickets, more running stop sign tickets, more aggressive driving tickets, more distracted driving tickets, etc. Maybe some enforcement of the CVS area would be nice too. I've nearly been in several head-on collisions because someone from Smith-Enke eastbound crosses the double-yellow as I'm entering the turn lane.

Even though they have stepped up speed enforcement, I still see practically everyone speeding when there isn't an MPD officer around and I'm still constantly dodging accidents from careless and reckless drivers.