Rabbit
Posts:237
 | | 03/06/2008 8:30 AM |
 Alert | Since they started population and traffic has increased while fatalaties have decreased. That's a good start.
i dont know that anyone is specifically against all the speeding tickets, and i dont think anyone really thinks its a bad thing to be stopping speeders. its just that when there are more dangerous isses than 6mph over the limit that appear to be going unchecked, that it causes frustration, and makes people wonder what the cops are really concerned with, safety, or revenue. | |
"Sometimes I think you have to march right in and demand your rights, even if you don't know what your rights are, or who the person is you're talking to. Then on the way out, slam the door." | |
|
|
|
Jason
Posts:3286
| | 03/06/2008 9:43 AM |
Alert | Posted By maricopacabana on 03/06/2008 6:42 AM
Jason's customary exageration aside, I'll broach the red light subject at next weeks meeting with the Chief. Love it or hate it look at the impact MPD has had since taking over enforcement of our city. Since they started population and traffic has increased while fatalaties have decreased. That's a good start.
I may have exaggerated a little bit, but thanks for bringing it up with the chief. I wouldn't necessarily pin the decrease on their efforts to reduce speed, remembering that some of our most horrible fatalities were due to red light runners.
| |
Joined: Jul 2005 | |
|
|
|
Granny5X
Posts:287
| | 03/06/2008 4:01 PM |
Alert |  I have zero tolerence for red light runners. They have no concern for ANYONE including themselves. Instead of running red lights and killing the innocent, I wish these idiots would just go out and wrap their vehicle around a pole and get it overwith. One day soon I am going to take a patio chair, my digital camera, and snap pictures of the red light runners. So, when you see my tripod, those of you choosing to run the light will be photographed. Granny is Ticked Off! I just saw an a-s---e run the light at Bowlin that had been red for 4 good seconds. I-D-I-O-T!
| | | |
|
|
|
maricopacabana
Posts:306
| | 03/07/2008 6:55 AM |
Alert | Posted By Jason on 03/06/2008 9:43 AM Posted By maricopacabana on 03/06/2008 6:42 AM
Jason's customary exageration aside, I'll broach the red light subject at next weeks meeting with the Chief. Love it or hate it look at the impact MPD has had since taking over enforcement of our city. Since they started population and traffic has increased while fatalaties have decreased. That's a good start.
I may have exaggerated a little bit, but thanks for bringing it up with the chief. I wouldn't necessarily pin the decrease on their efforts to reduce speed, remembering that some of our most horrible fatalities were due to red light runners.
Ah Grasshopper you failed to notice I didn't pin this strictly on speed enforcement. The overall effort of which speed is a part has contributed to this. The problem we initially faced is the history of the 347, aroad you could use as a short cut to SD and Rocky Point. For years there was minimal enforcement so people would fly through town. We then had a large influx of laborers commuting daily with no concern about local safety. With stepped enforcement the city is getting the attention of these drivers and the result is a more controlled traffic flow. There can still be improvement, and Red Light running is one of these issues. The assertion by some here that speeding tickets are the prime focus of the department is plain foolish. | | | |
|
|
|
Jason
Posts:3286
| | 03/07/2008 9:42 AM |
Alert | The assertion by some here that speeding tickets are the prime focus of the department is plain foolish.
As far as traffic enforcement goes, it would seem that the number of tickets points to speeding being the primary focus of the department. Do you see many or any tickets for:- Red light running - Stop sign running - Improper lane change - Failure to use turn signal - Following too closely - Going too slowly Not only do you not see many (or any) tickets for these things, I have witnessed them happen in front of MPD officers and they let them go. Sometimes multiple violations at once. Now, combine that with the data about speeding tickets and how are we not supposed to think that there is a "quota" for speeding tickets? | |
Joined: Jul 2005 | |
|
|
|
Ringo
Posts:52
| | 03/07/2008 9:53 AM |
Alert | Posted By Jason on 03/07/2008 9:42 AM The assertion by some here that speeding tickets are the prime focus of the department is plain foolish.
As far as traffic enforcement goes, it would seem that the number of tickets points to speeding being the primary focus of the department. It shows that most people are speeding. Fact : I drive the road every day, I can say that is true. Fact: Multiple dangerous lane changes because of speed. | | | |
|
|
 |
Ringo
Posts:52
| | 03/07/2008 10:05 AM |
Alert | Posted By Jason on 03/07/2008 9:42 AM The assertion by some here that speeding tickets are the prime focus of the department is plain foolish.
As far as traffic enforcement goes, it would seem that the number of tickets points to speeding being the primary focus of the department. Do you see many or any tickets for: - Red light running - Stop sign running - Improper lane change - Failure to use turn signal - Following too closely - Going too slowly Not only do you not see many (or any) tickets for these things, I have witnessed them happen in front of MPD officers and they let them go. Sometimes multiple violations at once. Now, combine that with the data about speeding tickets and how are we not supposed to think that there is a "quota" for speeding tickets? Speeding is assumed as the cause of all the infractions you listed other then driving to slow, and that can cause speeding as well. | | | |
|
|
|
Jason
Posts:3286
| | 03/07/2008 10:26 AM |
Alert | | Nope, speeding is not the cause of the infractions I have listed. As an example: I was almost plowed into yesterday by a red light runner going under the speed limit. | |
Joined: Jul 2005 | |
|
|
|
Ringo
Posts:52
| | 03/07/2008 11:28 AM |
Alert | I did say assumed, and I did say under speed drivers as well.
What do you think about bad timing as I stated also? I am guessing that you do not drive further then the railroad tracks? What I have found is that the lights are not timed correctly. If you don't drive over the speed limit you will hit every light. This may cause more red light running IMO. | | | |
|
|
|
Rabbit
Posts:237
| | 03/07/2008 1:12 PM |
Alert | | light timing, in my opinion has nothing to do with red light running. as long as the yellow is long enough, then any running of lights is because people are just not willing to stop. | |
"Sometimes I think you have to march right in and demand your rights, even if you don't know what your rights are, or who the person is you're talking to. Then on the way out, slam the door." | |
|
|
|
Ringo
Posts:52
| | 03/07/2008 1:22 PM |
Alert | Posted By Rabbit on 03/07/2008 1:12 PM
light timing, in my opinion has nothing to do with red light running. as long as the yellow is long enough, then any running of lights is because people are just not willing to stop. That goes without saying I guess. But you should expect some kind of timing in lights, If I speed I can make them all if not then I stop for all. The engineering in this state is very "OFF" from where I come from, tthat is why I have been able to notice this flaw. | | | |
|
|
|
Rabbit
Posts:237
| | 03/07/2008 1:29 PM |
Alert | i agree that the timing is funky in a lot of places...go 5 over and make all the lights, or go the speed limit and make none of them.
either way, there isnt really ever an excuse to run a red light...even going 5 (or more occasionally, im not an angel) over i dont recall having seen a yellow that wasnt long enough. | |
"Sometimes I think you have to march right in and demand your rights, even if you don't know what your rights are, or who the person is you're talking to. Then on the way out, slam the door." | |
|
|
|
Ringo
Posts:52
| | 03/07/2008 1:55 PM |
Alert | I'd hope I was not trying to make an excuse...Just a observation on why.
Just a point on the OP that there is a lot of red light running. There was a list: Oh here it is
| Civil Citations |
|
| Speed |
67 |
| Speed in a school zone |
8 |
| Failure to stop at a stop sign |
1 |
| No driver's license |
6 |
| Expired vehicle registration |
19 |
| No insurance |
24 |
| Failure to change address |
4 |
| No seatbelt |
22 |
| No child restraint |
2 |
| No brake lights |
1 |
| Total |
154 |
| |
|
| Criminal Citations |
|
| Extreme driving under the influence |
1 |
| Driving under the influence |
1 |
| Suspended driver's license |
5 |
| Total |
Easy to get many Speeding tickites..if that is how you design it. | | | |
|
|
|
OldTownCopa
Posts:28
| | 03/07/2008 2:34 PM |
Alert | From Ringo: "IMHO: Red light running is a direct cause of poor light timing. Not speeding!!"
If you've been able to time the lights and see that you can make all of them in town by driving 5 over the speed limit, then perhaps that's why MPD is ticketing so strictly for 6 over the speed limit. Although, it would be kind of strange for the lights to be timed like that. The lights are timed to allow a smooth traffic flow depending on the time of day.
While speeding tickets are easier to pull offenders over for than red light running, I would think that MPD would want to try and cite red light runners more than speeders. After all, red light running is an automatic trip to Traffic Survival School (not Defensive Driving). Red light running resulting in a fatality is 6 points and the same, but resulting in a serious injury is 4 points. The fines are generally greater for red light running, as well. And, Arizona is #1 in the nation when it comes to red light running accidents resulting in serious injury or fatality.
At this point in time, I've accepted that I'm going to be stopped by just about every light in town. Why risk speeding and getting a ticket? If the police are so strictly enforcing the speed limits, then I'm better off waiting the extra 5 minutes to get out of town. No big deal.
Imagine if Maricopa ever decided to install red light cameras at the intersections. Then what? | | | |
|
|
|
Jason
Posts:3286
| | 03/07/2008 2:47 PM |
Alert | Imagine if Maricopa ever decided to install red light cameras at the intersections. Then what?
We'd have more rear-end accidents and Maricopa would be rolling in money. | |
Joined: Jul 2005 | |
|
|
|
Ringo
Posts:52
| | 03/07/2008 3:07 PM |
Alert | Posted By OldTownCopa on 03/07/2008 2:34 PM
From Ringo: "IMHO: Red light running is a direct cause of poor light timing. Not speeding!!" LOL can you quote me directly on that? OldTownCopa for you to add that to this you are a complete *** and most likely a idiot. | | | |
|
|
|
Rabbit
Posts:237
| | 03/07/2008 3:16 PM |
Alert | I'd hope I was not trying to make an excuse...Just a observation on why.
sorry, didnt mean to imply you were making excuses. i was just making observations as well. | |
"Sometimes I think you have to march right in and demand your rights, even if you don't know what your rights are, or who the person is you're talking to. Then on the way out, slam the door." | |
|
|
|
Jason
Posts:3286
| | 03/07/2008 4:05 PM |
Alert | Posted By Ringo on 03/07/2008 3:07 PM Posted By OldTownCopa on 03/07/2008 2:34 PM
From Ringo: "IMHO: Red light running is a direct cause of poor light timing. Not speeding!!" LOL can you quote me directly on that? OldTownCopa for you to add that to this you are a complete *** and most likely a idiot.
You edited one of your posts, because I saw that too. | |
Joined: Jul 2005 | |
|
|
|
Colgate
Posts:573
| | 03/08/2008 6:13 PM |
Alert | | We had red light cams in the town that I came from and very few rear end collisions at all. Not to mention that it was a much larger town than tiny Copa! It is all about paying close attention to what you are doing while driving! Too many people in their own little world either yip yapping on their cell, texting, messing with their mp3 or ipod, traveling to close, and lets face it the list goes on! | |
Live every day as if it were your last and smile! | |
|
|
|
OldTownCopa
Posts:28
| | 03/08/2008 10:34 PM |
Alert | Unless my understanding of grammar is mistaken, I believe the proper English would have been: AN idiot, as opposed to "a idiot". Maybe you should look that up.
And just to prove that I did properly quote you (not that I have any reason to make up quotes... please, I have better things to do):
From Ringo (hopefully you won't delete this from a past post):
"What do you think about bad timing as I stated also?"
Soooooo..... if I just fabricated your past quote out of thin air, why did you post this statement? Previously, you had been referencing poor light timing as the reason people choose to run red lights. You removed the quote I referenced earlier, but must have missed this statement during your haste to edit. Besides, insulting people only makes you look like a fool, not me. | | | |
|
|
|