Sorry, couldn't help it.
Posted on 03/09/2006 8:23:35 AM PST by rock_lobsta
Dozens of Central Texas drivers got pulled over Thursday for doing absolutely nothing wrong.
Travis County deputies kicked off what has become a controversial reward program.
You know that heart stopping feeling you get when seeing the flashing red lights of law enforcement in the rear view mirror.
Well, you won't see that if you're a good driver, but you may get pulled over.
Getting pulled over for doing nothing wrong may not sound right to a lot of people.
Travis County Deputy Derrick Taylor says his job is to not only look for bad drivers, but reward and encourage friendly drivers.
"The big cargo truck that was in front of you and you allowed to get in front of you, that was a very nice thing you did and because it was a safe thing, we want to reward you with a Round Rock express baseball tickets," Taylor tells a good driver.
Free baseball tickets for good drivers - some like it and don't mind being pulled over like Erin.
"I was really surprised, but it's cool though. I thought I was like in trouble so a little nerve racking," driver Erin Baker said.
That's the problem with other drivers saying it's an inconvenience.
Deputy Taylor says they're not trying to scare anyone. Deputies will simply wave to good drivers and politely ask them to pull over to the side.
"What I'm trying to focus on and the only thing I'm trying to focus on is rewarding someone for good driving. There are going to be some people who are not going to like it cause the only experience they have with law enforcement is negative," Taylor said.
Drivers like Erin say they'll take this ticket over a traffic ticket any day.
"Yeah, I will probably go with my boyfriend or something," Baker said.
This program will last until this weekend, and it stems from one that worked well some 20 years ago except deputies were handing out money -- up to $50.
No one complained then until the money ran out.
"Howdy, sir. I'm pulling you over to commend you for your courteous driving. Here's a coupon for a buy-one get-one free dinner at the... Oh, I couldn't help but notice that bag you have in the front seat..."
My first thought as well.
What better way to start fishing expeditions???
You read my mind!!
either lay off some troopers or send them to patrol the Mexican border.
Or..."you don't mind if I look in the trunk do you?"
A new excuse for "probably cause".
Fishing expedition.
This is all about PR.
Just layoff the excessive staff. Save the taxpayers some of their money.
Unbelieveably stupid and a waste of people's time and taxpayer $$$. Don't cops have anything better to do??
there's no excuse to pull over a good driver. take down the plate number and mail the reward to their house.
So deputy, the only good drivers you could find to pull over and hand out money had the same last name as you?
What? That information is only culled up when they are mailing you an automated ticket. < /s >
That's what I want to know. Can they nail people who are pulled over for good driving? Is that what this is really about? I like to think that this is genuinely a reward for good drivers. If it really were a fishing expedition, we need to clean house.
You are so right. A big fishing expedition. Why don't they just make everybody line up for a full cavity search everyday?
My thoughts exactly.
You know things have gotten bad when you have to reward people for doing what they are supposed to do.
I'm going to start crapping my pants at work. Maybe after a week of crapping my pants I'll get a bonus if I start using the restroom.
May also be to lull drivers into thinking "this is a good thing" when they are being singled out for a violation ticket.
Often I'll see 1 car stopped out of a pack all travelling the same (excessive) speed.
Trucks are required to travel at a slower speed on the highway in some areas. Yielding to a speeding trucker "may be nice" but maybe the officer should consider ticketing the violating truck driver instead of "thanking" the meek citizen.
Try that in Los Angeles, and you'll start a car chase that ends up as a 5 hour freeway shutdown-standoff...pissing off another 30 or 40 thousand drivers.
Since there is no violation, will they pursue the driver if (s)he does not stop?
I have to think the answer is yes.
You nailed it with that first post!
-Eric
whoa...id hate to have my office next to yours during this experiment
I do commend you though for your willingness to do anything to prove a point :)
In Georgia, it's against the law to obey a lawful order from a cop. If he flags you down and you keep going, that is "failure to comply" at a minimum, possible misdemeanor obstruction and, if he's really ticked at you, fleeing or attempting to elude.
They can paint this how they like - not intimidating because they don't use lights or whatever - but once that cop flags you down and you keep going, if he wants to, he's taking your a$$ to jail.
As with everyone else here, I say this stinks, and if a cop pulls me over for good driving I'll tell him it stinks. Then, likely, he'll find some reason to tote my a$$ to jail.
Fortunately, I have a sheriff who believes in the Constitution and wouldn't do some bone-headed thing like this.
Because that's what the touchy-feely communists running this country tell us you're supposed to do. Don't punish the bad, reward the good.
Thanks!
I crap my pants now so I'll have to think of something else...
Don't know about Texas law, but in Georgia they certainly could pursue because then there would be a violation. Whether or not they would pursue would be entirely up to the cop himself.
:) its time to get that underwear biscuit problem taken care of maybe
This is ridiculous. It's a waste of cop time, a waste of driver's time (imagine you're running late for an important appt., and you get pulled over), plus it causes unwarranted anxiety in law abiding citizens.
I thought people obeyed the traffic laws so the cops would leave them the hell alone.
Give them more money for coffee bacon and donuts, then they won't have a chip on their shoulder..
Telling you to pull over for no reason is considered a lawful order? How??
I think if I were driving along minding my own business, and were stopped -- delayed about my business -- to be told I was a good driver, I would be ripsh*t angry. Especially, if I missed an appointment or a plane as a result of the delay. Police who stop motorists for 'good driving' simply haven't enough to do. Either they aren't out their dealing with crime, or they are redundant.
"...It's a waste of cop time, a waste of driver's time (imagine you're running late for an important appointment, and you get pulled over), plus it causes unwarranted anxiety in law-abiding citizens..."
You are absolutely correct and you mirror my feelings on the subject. The only way it could ever be worth my time is if the officer sprints to my car, peels-off a crisp, new $100.00 bill, hands it to me with a big smile, and thanks me for my time. We all know that's not the way it works and they're going to run your license plates and all that nonsense.
Meanwhile, my clients are at their office fuming and wondering where the heck I am. Thanks, but keep your rewards! I don't need a gift certificate to Burger King right now.
~ Blue Jays ~
Maybe we should ask Patrick Fitzgerald if he would pursue someone if there was no crime committed.
.
Seems the pickles were horrible and that was the only way to get rid of them. I wonder just how much demand there is for the tickets they are giving away.
LOL...I assume you mean that it is against the law to DISobey a lawful order from a cop?
I know a couple of members of the Ryan family, and have a lot of respect for Nolan, but this pissed me off. Hey, anything to get the subjects used to being pulled over and subtly checked out.
I was wondering...what if you ignored the officer...and didn't stop...what would you be charged with?
Well Judge...I was pulling the defendent over to issue "Thank you" for good driving when he failed to yield...
We charged him with resisting praise...
>>>Travis County deputies kicked off what has become a controversial reward program.
Do any of you remember the news stories, about 2? 3? years ago when they were talking about making police officers keep ice cream in their cars and pulling people over to give them cones for good driving?
That was the most ridiculous thing I had ever heard.
If I need 'em, I'll call 'em. On second thought - no, I won't even do that.
Sorry, couldn't help it.
No, I never heard that one.
The first few posts here say it all about this idea.
Driving over 50 years, never had a moving violation ticket.
All I know is that I am going to Austin next week and won't be needing any tickets to any games there. I don't live there and have already planned my entertainment.
Must be a lot of jails in Georgia.
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