> You know, I sure do wish they'd trade all the stealth spy crap for a few
> more plainly marked police cars and some more open enforcement.  The
> electronics only addresses one issue -- speeding/red lights/whatever.  A
> cruiser can do so much more to keep the peace.
>
> Dale

I hear you on that!  This modern "enforcement" is nothing more than a new
taxation technique.  I think police cars also shouldn't have air
conditioning or "good time" radios.  It's hard to know what's going on
around you when you are zipping around with the windows up and a/c blasting
all while jamming to the radio.

If I were a police officer I would make a point of never writing a speeding
ticket unless it was for something actually dangerous.  But I would make
people well aware of the rest of the traffic laws, like signals and sudden
lane swerving (I ride a motorcycle and I would like to live).

On the motorcycle thing, I would like to take this opportunity to make
everyone aware that motorcycles can NOT stop quicker than cars.  This is a
common misnomer that has resulted in the death of many cyclists.  PLEASE,
the next time you change lanes please turn your head and look first.  Fully
95% of my "close calls" have been a result of this.  Of course when they
finally see you, they nearly always wave and say sorry.  This is a prime
example of where being "sorry" doesn't help.

BTW the other day I was nearly run over by a police car (with no lights or
siren) that was busy running a red light that had been red the entire time
he was approaching it.  Fortunately, I have learned to not trust anyone in a
car that isn't looking me directly in the eye.  Next time you see/hear a
Harley with loud exhaust, remember he is just trying to stay alive, not
annoy/scare you.  Loud pipes allow you to become semi-transparent as opposed
to the normal complete invisibility that a motorcycle achieves when riding
in traffic.

Oops ranting again.

michael (with his silly utopian ideas)

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