Comments on: Busted: Or, Helping Fill the Commonwealth’s Revenue Gap, One Ticket at a Time.

By: Tess Ailshire

Tess Ailshire — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 22:16:33 +0000

Your tax dollars at work…..

Too bad those police officers aren’t paid to stop shootings in Richmond or Leesburg, or robberies along Route 1.

What is it state troopers do, again? Oh, yeah, someone already said it. Revenuers.

By: Jim Schuyler

Jim Schuyler — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 20:07:43 +0000

Thanks for the warning–forty years is a solid record of driving with care.

By: Steve Vaughan

Steve Vaughan — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:31:52 +0000

Bob,
There’s definitely a full-court press on. It seems to be revenue related to me. On June 30, the last day of the fiscal year, I counted eight people pulled over by troopers on I-64 between Richmond and Williamsburg during my commute. There aren’t supposed to BE 8 troopers between Richmond and Williamsburg.

By: Me

Me — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 05:21:53 +0000

J tyler: are you serious? there is medication available. Seriously,,,

By: James Martin

James Martin — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 16:47:07 +0000

Well no, they wouldn’t go after that because thats legitimate (and the WaPo would be like “Who Cares!”). They would however love for David or Eliza (aka the little Brinks, or in David’s case the big Brink) to get a speeding ticket, admit they drank a beer at 20 (GASP!), or go on a killing spree (and all three would be reported with the same horror).

By: J. Tyler Ballance

J. Tyler Ballance — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 01:45:32 +0000

We don’t need to have this.

The citizens are supposed to be in charge, yet we the People, have allowed law enforcement powers to expand to the point to where they prey upon our citizens, using every manner of high tech toys that were bought under the auspices of protecting us from the Muslim boogeyman.

Traffic injuries are at an all time low, so the only rationale for this sort of harassment of drivers is the generation of revenue and to demonstrate police power.

The citizens needn’t just sit back and take this crap. The People must unite and demand that our elected officials severely restrict the activities and power of the police over our citizens. For example, we do not need to fund police agencies to pay personnel to spend their time on the job hiding in bushes with radar guns. Those same resources could be applied to neighborhood and park patrols to help deter burglary and vandalism.

If we citizens were truly asserting our authority, we would not be getting preyed upon, while on the way to grandma’s house. If we were in charge, most highway patrol vehicles would be tow-trucks, operated by skilled mechanics who could stop and assist us if our car broke down.

Now THAT would be an example of government, of, by and for, THE PEOPLE.

Our police agencies need not be cast in the role of enemies of the citizens. All we need to do is to redefine that role to be more of a helpful function by changing laws in order to de-criminalize non-violent behavior, and to target remaining law enforcement assets against real problems, such as burglary, assaults and vandalism.

Of course, if we did this, we could do with far less of our assets devoted to police agencies, something that could create some amount of internal resistance from the cop lobby.

BTW, I will try not to act surprised when I find another tracking device on my car, like the last time I advocated significant reforms and reductions of law enforcement budgets.

By: DanielK

DanielK — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:46:33 +0000

It happens! Definitely not the the end of the world but too bad you got reports who think they are working for the Star or National Inquirer at the Post. I think anyone who knows ANYTHING, even just a little about that charge will tell you it is not that big of a deal given the fact they use it as a learning experience! Too bad about your ticket though, it’s definitely easy to get up to 70 on the interstate!

By: Vivian J. Paige

Vivian J. Paige — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:25:05 +0000

Good move since it seems that reporter has it out for some folks.