You'd think they could find something better to do: Off-topic discussion forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

Subscribe get a full year for only $23.95 Sample Free Test Drive—no strings attached

Aug. 12, 2010 4:15 p.m. Strizzo SuperDork

There has a been a cop camped out on the intersection by my office for the last three days. about every ten minutes i hear "woop woop" someone said they saw her hassling some kids for jaywalking the other day, and i just heard her on the P.A. telling somoene "don't cross here, walk down and cross at the light!" Seriously? can't you find something more productive to do with your time?

the street is a small 4-way stop with a speed limit of 30mph in both directions. the only accident i know of happening there in the last year was some lady that drove up onto the median and got stuck on the curb.

I live about 10 minutes down the street, where there have been about a half dozen burglaries during this same time of day in the last three months. if there were an accident in this intersection, it is unlikely to result in any significant injuries or damages. meanwhile peoples houses are getting cleared out while they're at work and this officer is trying for a tax-collecting record.
Aug. 12, 2010 4:19 p.m. triumph5 Reader

Did anyone get car-mushed there recently? That might explain it, or, someone "respected" by the police has complained about the intersection. ???
Aug. 12, 2010 4:21 p.m. cwh SuperDork

I live at a tee intersection, and the Ft. Lauderdale cops hang out here. FINE with me. We have drug deals on the street, "domestics", speeding, which is hard to do with the short spaces, as well as some gang activity. This is the only place I have seen unmarked cars do traffic stops, but rather regularly you can see a young gentleman sitting down with his hands behind him in cuffs. Saw that twice today. One dark gray Hemi Charger cop car parks next door, and is the most inconspicuous cop car I've ever seen. Glad to have them here.
Aug. 12, 2010 4:30 p.m. Strizzo SuperDork

In reply to triumph5:

not that i've heard of, and i drive through that intersection 2-4 times a day. its three office buildings and a marriott on this corner, so it doesn't see much foot traffic outside of M-F 9-5
Aug. 12, 2010 5:56 p.m. blaze86vic Reader

I had a similar situation back at my old neighborhood I used to rent at. One entrance/exit, quiet, all houses in the $280K to $350K range, total of maybe 40 houses. Cop was at the entrance and would pull anyone for anything. Nothing ever came of it, a bunch of people got hassled and never heard anyone getting any tickets, besides my seat-belt ticket as a passenger. Was there for almost a month every night. All this in a neighborhood where the worst reported crime in more than 30 years was one run-away kid.

Funny part is it was officer Stuttering Stanley too! Every time you looked him in the eyes he couldn't finish the word he was on. The driver I was with should have just stared at him and he wouldn't have been able to tell me I was getting a ticket.
Aug. 12, 2010 6:58 p.m. DrBoost Dork

Yeah, cops are just tax officers. I see them sitting, or hiding waiting to give out road tax forms all the time. The few times I've called the cops they either don't show up or it's way after the fact and it's pointless.
Aug. 12, 2010 7:00 p.m. alex Dork

triumph5 wrote:

That might explain it, or, someone "respected" by the police has complained about the intersection. ???

Bingo.
Aug. 12, 2010 7:44 p.m. rebelgtp SuperDork

Oddly enough the most peaceful town I have EVER lived in had zero local law enforcement, state guys came through from time to time but that was it. Every one knew just about every house in town had guns and the owners knew how to use them.

Everyone was very polite and helpful once they got use to you living in the town.
Aug. 12, 2010 7:50 p.m. Appleseed SuperDork

rebelgtp wrote:

Oddly enough the most peaceful town I have EVER lived in had zero local law enforcement, state guys came through from time to time but that was it. Every one knew just about every house in town had guns and the owners knew how to use them.

Everyone was very polite and helpful once they got use to you living in the town.

So you've been to Montana, too?
Aug. 12, 2010 8:23 p.m. Hal Dork

Strizzo wrote:

There has a been a cop camped out on the intersection by my office for the last three days. about every ten minutes i hear "woop woop" someone said they saw her hassling some kids for jaywalking the other day, and i just heard her on the P.A. telling somoene "don't cross here, walk down and cross at the light!" Seriously? can't you find something more productive to do with your time?

Police department probably got one of those "pedestrian safety" grants. Local department is always applyling for grants. When they get one then they have to assign someone to do whatever it is the grant was for.

They have gotten several grants for "pedestrian safety" in the last few years, but then we do have a problem with dead "non-English speakers" who think they can cross a 6 lane highway any place they want to.
Aug. 12, 2010 10:21 p.m. Strizzo SuperDork

In reply to Hal:

i guess that could be it, but there are two roads with tons more traffic, more foot traffic, and lots more people running lights, failing to signal, and tons of people jaywalking across an 8 lane road with an average traffic speed of 50+ mph. i guess they'd rather get the officer paid for free and make a ton of money on tickets.