Speeding

[RaistlinOrr]

Hello I have a few questions reguarding speeding as someone who is looking to be in lawenforcment hopefully within the next two years.

First be honest as a cop do you ever speed in your personal vehical?
If so are you more lenient on other speeders?

How important to you is the whole speeding issue?

I will admit I do speed normally five over some times a little more. I have over come all of my other issues but this one it seems to stick with me and it does bother me knowing I will have to pull other over for the same thing.

Anyway thanks for your input.

Raist

[Pudge]

I don't drive any faster than what I would cut someone a break for given the conditions. If I get a ticket in that situation I suck it up and pay it. Haven't gotten one yet.

[Twan007]

I don't drive any faster than what I would cut someone a break for given the conditions. If I get a ticket in that situation I suck it up and pay it. Haven't gotten one yet.

+1 same here, if I would write a ticket for whatever violation, I make sure that I don't do it in my personal vehicle - can't have a double standard, too many folks don't like cops already

[deputysykes]

Ditto. I often drive 10-15 over in my personal vehicle. Therefore, there are only two reasons I'll stop a person for speeding: Speeding over 15 or PASSING ME WHEN I'M DRIVING IN MY CLEARLY MARKED POLICE CAR. Man I think that's so stupid.

[countybear]

I never knowingly violate the law. That includes speeding.

[kjlaw]

I drive the speed limit in my POV.

[jmur5074]

I never knowingly violate the law. That includes speeding.

+1

Not to sound crass, but I think the best way to get over that problem, is to stop speeding.

[TXPO710]

I never knowingly violate the law. That includes speeding.

+2. I have occasionaly zoned out and caught myself over limit though. Honestly it depends on circumstances for each stop. I have my own set of write or not standards as I'm sure we all do.

[Jks9199]

Yes, I sometimes speed when I'm off the clock. (Sometimes, on the clock, I have to drive like a maniac... but safer!) Like some others, I try to stay within "reasonable" sight of the speed limit where I probably wouldn't cite a driver. Professional courtesy starts with not giving the other guy a reason to stop me... Similar thinking applies to other violations; I've rolled a stop sign or two in my life, I've been late renewing tags or getting my car inspected, and so on. There's a reasonable line, and I'll listen to an explanation. While I may have an idea when I stop the car if I'm citing or not -- that decision is absolutely able to be influenced by the driver's conduct and explanation. Either way... Had more than one talk himself INTO a ticket.

However -- with all that said -- you're a prospective applicant. One of the things that will derail an application real fast is a bad driving record. Get that lead foot under control... (It also worries me a little that you seem to be asking "what laws can I get away with breaking?" because that kind of implies maybe a bit of an integrity issue...)

[califgirl94117]

as for me, well I drive like an angel (polishing halo) so have never had any tickets

[phantasm]

I'm not trained/certified in speeding, so I drive as fast as I want.

[RaistlinOrr]

Yes, I sometimes speed when I'm off the clock. (Sometimes, on the clock, I have to drive like a maniac... but safer!) Like some others, I try to stay within "reasonable" sight of the speed limit where I probably wouldn't cite a driver. Professional courtesy starts with not giving the other guy a reason to stop me... Similar thinking applies to other violations; I've rolled a stop sign or two in my life, I've been late renewing tags or getting my car inspected, and so on. There's a reasonable line, and I'll listen to an explanation. While I may have an idea when I stop the car if I'm citing or not -- that decision is absolutely able to be influenced by the driver's conduct and explanation. Either way... Had more than one talk himself INTO a ticket.

However -- with all that said -- you're a prospective applicant. One of the things that will derail an application real fast is a bad driving record. Get that lead foot under control... (It also worries me a little that you seem to be asking "what laws can I get away with breaking?" because that kind of implies maybe a bit of an integrity issue...)

I take that last part sort of harshly. I am not asking what I can get away with in the way of breaking laws.

I understand clearly that my driving five or a little over is breaking the law. I am simply asking if others do this. I ask because I just seem to drive comfortably at that speed not to fast and certainly not dangerously.

I am asking because I would feel bad pulling some one over and giving a ticket for a few over when I do it myself. I don't want to be that type of person. I am simply asking what others do and feel and what they think.

I most certainly am NOT asking what I can get away with. I would answer honestly any question ask of me and have before in the past. I wanted to know if others cut people slack for such things.

I ask an honest question my first here. Now suddenly my integrity is on the line for a question.


Thanks
Raist

[RaistlinOrr]

+1

Not to sound crass, but I think the best way to get over that problem, is to stop speeding.

That sounds great. I tend to always find myself driving five or so over though. I slow down next thing I know I am back to where I was.


Nothing hugh though at times I have had tickets. It has been some time though thankfully.

I just want to get a feeling of how others think when it comes to doing job vs. doing what you feel is right.
I personally would not feel right giving some one a ticket for going a little over since I do it myself that is why I am asking. It is sort of a future advise from those who know and have a respected opinion.

Thanks
Raist

[jmur5074]

That sounds great. I tend to always find myself driving five or so over though. I slow down next thing I know I am back to where I was.


Nothing hugh though at times I have had tickets. It has been some time though thankfully.

I just want to get a feeling of how others think when it comes to doing job vs. doing what you feel is right.
I personally would not feel right giving some one a ticket for going a little over since I do it myself that is why I am asking. It is sort of a future advise from those who know and have a respected opinion.

Thanks
Raist

If that's the case, take an ethics class.
Hopefully an academy or college you go to will offer one.

[Jks9199]

I take that last part sort of harshly. I am not asking what I can get away with in the way of breaking laws.

I understand clearly that my driving five or a little over is breaking the law. I am simply asking if others do this. I ask because I just seem to drive comfortably at that speed not to fast and certainly not dangerously.

I am asking because I would feel bad pulling some one over and giving a ticket for a few over when I do it myself. I don't want to be that type of person. I am simply asking what others do and feel and what they think.

I most certainly am NOT asking what I can get away with. I would answer honestly any question ask of me and have before in the past. I wanted to know if others cut people slack for such things.

I ask an honest question my first here. Now suddenly my integrity is on the line for a question.


Thanks
Raist

Let's see... I phrased that VERY softly, because I realized that may not have been the intent. Let me copy what I wrote for you:

(It also worries me a little that you seem to be asking "what laws can I get away with breaking?" because that kind of implies maybe a bit of an integrity issue...)

Note, first, that I put it in parens. It's an aside. It's not intended to carry the same weight as the rest of it. Next, note the words I bolded here: little, seem, implies, maybe, bit. All of those words suggest smallness or slightness, and mere impression -- not fact. It's easy enough for you to correct -- or to realize that your question can be read that way.

By no means did I say you lack integrity. I DID call you a lead foot; by your own admission, you drive over the limit, and I find that most people's admissions on something like that are along the lines of a drunk's mythical "2 beers." Or an internet dater's attractiveness...

And you blow up over it.

Let me make a few guesses here. I'm bet you're between 17 and 20 years old, since you say that you'll be applying "in 2 years." The attitude in your post doesn't come across like you're serving in the military with 2 years to go... By the way, please don't announce your age. Especially on an open internet forum; it's just not smart.

Now, let me address the third question you asked:
"How important to you is the whole speeding issue?"

VERY important, depending on the circumstances. A car travels 1.466 feet per second for every mile per hour. That means that at "just 5 over" the posted limit of 25 mph, you're travelling about 44 feet per second. Average reaction time is around 2 seconds to see something, recognize it, decide what to do, and do it. That means you've travelled almost 100 feet by the time you're dealing with something that just happened. (It only gets worse as you get faster... I don't understand people following each other at 20 feet or less while driving 70 to 80 mph! They've got ZERO chance of avoiding a crash...)

But, even worse than that... The kinetic energy involved in your car varies exponentially; velocity is squared in the formula. That means that an increase of just 10% over the limit (that "just a few over" we're talking about) produces a 21% increase in the kinetic energy that your car is pushing around. It gets worse as you get faster...

So... speeding is kinda important. It's one of the least acknowledged, but also one of the most common, factors in a crash -- and it's got a very powerful relationship with the severity of a crash.

[RaistlinOrr]

Jks9199

I understand your calling me a lead foot and yes I admit to that.

But I don't think anyone should ever even lightly imply something about another. This is the land where we are innocent until proven guilty. So to even lightly imply is putting forth guilt that is undeserved.

Face to face is a different story we can use other senses to judge and collect information on the other person. But for now I would take your word unless I can prove otherwise.
For instance if you were to say "the grass is red here" I would wonder why at first but say well ok I am sure it can happen some how. But if I go there and it is green then I know you’re wrong.
So until you can say you know me better than I do myself there is no need to imply anything about me that I have yet to tell you.

As for my age you are making an assumption much like the “I have only had two beers” thing and you are wrong. This is why implying and assuming can be a dangerous thing as we can put ourselves in a very bad situation with how other view us.

I know not every one out there is going to like me, nor will everyone respect me. I will not say or believe otherwise. But I do believe in giving people the benefit of the doubt even though I have been screwed over many times I still give people a chance.

I simply feel you judged me incorrectly and let you know about it. If you feel you are in the right and did nothing wrong so be it, I feel judged though when there is suggestion that I might be something other than I am.

You are probably a great person face to face, or you might be someone with no sense of humor what so ever. I have no idea but I am not going to make that judgment call until I have a little more interaction with you.

I deal with people that imply things everyday and I let them know when they are wrong to. I will stand up for what I feel is right and I know I am right when I said what I did about my speeding. I drive five or little over the limit. I know it is wrong, I work on slowing down but find myself driving at that speed again. I simply ask what others thought. You might have made the statement you did with no intention or meaning behind it. I was only correcting that statement and you if you had intention in that way.

Take what I say how ever you like I told what I felt and how I am. If my word is not good enough for you then so be it. Have I had a past that went the wrong direction? Yes. But I pulled out of my past and took hold of my future. My speeding still remains with me though and I am working on that as well. I will answer anything ask of me without fear or worry. I did things I did and learned from my wrongs.

Anyway it has been a long day for me and I am now ready to settle back and relax.
Have a nice day/night which ever it might be for you shift wise but I am done for the day.
Perhaps later we can come to a understanding or a middle ground.

Thanks
Raist

[jmur5074]

This is the land where we are innocent until proven guilty.

You're right...you got me...this is the land where we are innocent until proven guilty. BUT....this is an internet forum, for cops, by cops. It's not a courtroom.

[deputysykes]

I think a major factor you will learn with time and experience in law enforcement is discretion. As a law enforcement officer one has Tremendous amounts of power. How each of us choose to use that power is subjective.

Is it right that I speed in my POV, no and I will not say that it is. And that is why I said I will not write for something I do.

It is not right for me to knowingly violate the law, I know that. My thoughts for someone interested in starting a career in law enforcement, though is to spend a lot of time with many different officers to see how the officer uses discretion. Not ONE of the officers are perfect. Some officers are more strict and some officers cut more breaks (and some are just slugs).

The enforcement of all laws are crucial for safety and order of society. How that enforcement is applied is subjective to those of us given that responsibility.
(my crappy rant is now over)

[keith720]

I don't drive any faster than what I would cut someone a break for given the conditions. If I get a ticket in that situation I suck it up and pay it. Haven't gotten one yet.

I agree 100%. As far as speed enforcement, the statistics show that there are more people killed in car accidents every year than there are in robberies, rapes, assaults and other homicides combined. Therefore, traffic enforcement is an important function as far as public safety is concerned.

[Terminator]

...you are making an assumption much like the “I have only had two beers” thing and you are wrong. This is why implying and assuming can be a dangerous thing.

First be honest as a cop do you ever speed in your personal vehical?

I see where in an earlier post in this thread, you warn against members making assumptions against YOU, yet you make an assumption that we, some of us law enforcement officers, won't be honest with our answers with the above question.

A tad hippocritical, maybe?