Ticked troopers threaten ticket blitz

**BEB** · 05-04-07, 01:13 AM

Passing this one along, thought you'd find it interesting, briskly clicking away from thread in search of one about cats...

http://courierpostonline.com/apps/pb...WS01/705030392

Ticked troopers threaten ticket blitz

Thursday, May 3, 2007

By TOM BALDWIN
Gannett State Bureau
TRENTON

Some state troopers, feeling they have been publicly ridiculed for the accident that almost killed Gov. Jon S. Corzine, appear to be plotting a ticket blitz against the public this month, followed by a slowdown in June, according to a chilling series of anonymous online postings.

And the state's top trooper says he won't tolerate it.

"Great idea," wrote a person posting under the name "soundsgood." "Absolutely hammer everyone (obviously except cops and family) who does 1 m.p.h. over the limit. . . . Let's really give them something to complain about."

"I am all for the May 1st blitz. . . . Better start pre-signing my summonses," wrote another poster going by the handle of "reckrids."

"Everyone has to take part in this," wrote "20alphabravo." "We are taking an absolute beating from the public and media, and the so-called "officers' are doing nothing about it to protect or support us in any way. . . . May 1st. Spread the word. It's go time."

The comments appeared on a password-protected section of the Web site for the state troopers' union, the State Troopers' Fraternal Association. Union president David Jones issued a lengthy statement, saying it was irresponsible for the media to traffic in the postings.

"Nothing written on that bulletin board, which is anonymous, can be taken as fact or as the opinion of the STFA as a result of the postings of authorized and unauthorized individuals," Jones said.

He wrote that the idea troopers would "engage in a ticket-writing assault and or slowdown on the public is false and without merit."

But State Police Superintendent Col. Joseph "Rick" Fuentes took the postings seriously enough to order commanders to try to make sure troopers don't launch the ticket storm. "He made it clear to the command staff, what is posted there he won't tolerate," said Capt. Al Della Fave, spokesman for the patrol.

The comments were first reported publicly by Craig Carton and Ray Rossi, the afternoon "Jersey Guys" on New Jersey 101.5 FM radio.

"We must all do this together. Don't let the brass tell us any different," wrote "soundsgood." "When they were on the road, they could deal with people the way they needed to be treated, but unfortunately it is a different time."

"Soundsgood" went on: "No matter how junior you are, you must stick it out regardless of threats to be "sent to the pike.' We can't all be sent to the pike and it's not that bad a gig out there anyway. Crush 'em in May."

Corzine's trooper-driven sport-utility vehicle was leading a two-car state police caravan at 91 mph with its emergency lights flashing when it crashed on the Garden State Parkway April 12, critically injuring the governor, who was not wearing his seat belt.

Corzine spent 18 days in the hospital and is now rehabilitating at the New Jersey governor's mansion in Princeton Township.

While Corzine has said state police helped save his life, the crash has focused attention on the patrol's executive-protection detail. An independent panel is reviewing its procedures; Gannett New Jersey has learned not all members of the unit have received the prescribed enhanced Secret Service training for high-speed driving.

The Web postings suggest the authors want to punish the public in May and then deprive the state in June of revenues from traffic summonses.

"There are many more of "us' than there are of "them,' " wrote "letsroll," adding, "The tickets generate a large revenue for the state, and if the slowdown is done properly, we can make a change!"

"Crush the whole month of May and slow down for the next 5-7 weeks," urged "letsdoit."

"It's a union Web site," said Della Fave, noting it is a place where troopers vent frustrations. He said the remarks "in no way reflect on this organization."

A writer claiming the moniker "UncommonSense" advised, "Just hang out in the right lane doing 70 and pick off the first (expletive) that goes by, shouldn't take long considering our plummeting respect."

**countybear** · 05-04-07, 01:28 AM

But State Police Superintendent Col. Joseph "Rick" Fuentes took the postings seriously enough to order commanders to try to make sure troopers don't launch the ticket storm. "He made it clear to the command staff, what is posted there he won't tolerate," said Capt. Al Della Fave, spokesman for the patrol.

The State's top trooper will not tolerate his troopers doing their job? Interesting!

"Great idea," wrote a person posting under the name "soundsgood." "Absolutely hammer everyone (obviously except cops and family) who does 1 m.p.h. over the limit. . . . Let's really give them something to complain about."

Last I checked, driving even 1 m.p.h. over the limit was still speeding... no one here that I see is threatening to do something illegal... Zero tolerance has been excersized by other States before, and it was found highly effective.

Surefire way to 'beat the blitz'... don't speed.

**phantasm** · 05-04-07, 09:43 AM

this whole article is BS.

**Beans** · 05-04-07, 09:55 AM

Originally Posted by phantasm

this whole article is BS.

You got that right!

**Ducky** · 05-04-07, 10:31 AM

+ about a million. I wonder how they got the password protected info?

**Buttercup** · 05-04-07, 11:04 AM

Supposedly the host of a NJ radio show received an email containing the information. Check out these links.

http://nj1015.com/personalities/cart...usly/5-01.html

http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index....340.xml&coll=1

**Ducky** · 05-04-07, 11:47 AM

Those DJs are assholes, and paranoid to boot. I hope they get fired.

**rob84** · 05-04-07, 12:58 PM

Originally Posted by countybear

The State's top trooper will not tolerate his troopers doing their job? Interesting!

Last I checked, driving even 1 m.p.h. over the limit was still speeding... no one here that I see is threatening to do something illegal... Zero tolerance has been excersized by other States before, and it was found highly effective.

Surefire way to 'beat the blitz'... don't speed.

**ninjamom** · 05-04-07, 02:27 PM

Originally Posted by countybear

Surefire way to 'beat the blitz'... don't speed.

But that would require the use of common sense. . .

**conalabu** · 05-04-07, 03:51 PM

Wow. That sucks. The only way I can think of that they could have got that is if someone was a rat. Boo on that. Horrible decision making skills on someones part. Forums like that are intended to vent, let off steam, not have to worry about how you are going to be interpreted. Not the place to be looking for something to nit pick.

**Virginian** · 05-04-07, 03:58 PM

Keep in mind that people are probably reading this looking for reasons to pass on officer comments to the media.

**Jackalope** · 05-04-07, 10:36 PM

I hate the media. I don't take anything they say, especially in this article, as truth. The quotes could have been taken out of context, exaggerated, or just plain made up. It wouldn't surprise me a bit.

Having said that, if the Troopers were to actually do this, then they don't deserve a bit of respect from the people of New Jersey. Writing tickets for one mile over is ridiculous. Nobody can drive exactly the speed limit all the time.

The citizens of the state are not the enemy (most of them, anyway). But this would be a sure-fire way to make enemies out of everyone, including those who previously supported the police. And ultimately, the people are the ones in charge. This sort of thing Could very quickly lead to new laws that restrict how police do their jobs, as well as budget cuts to the State Police.

The best "statement" a cop can make to his community is to go out every day and do the best job he can to protect the public.