WHAT A WASTE !!

12-04-02 | vanity

[genefromjersey]

Christopher Scales , a fifteen year veteran of the NJ State Police , was killed on the NJ Turnpike yesterday , at the Carteret toll booths : not while pursuing the reckless motorists his Tactical Patrol unit is assigned to look for ; not while intercepting would-be terrorists ; not for anything any sane person would consider worthwhile.

Someone, higher up , decided it would be a GOOD THING to divert highly trained Officers from their usual tasks, and send them to the toll booths , so they could " monitor seat belt use ".

Some Safetycrat, you see, had designated this " All American Buckle Up Week "; and I'm sure,if you asked,the Safetycrat would say : " It's for the Chill...dren ."

I may be wrong, but I believe the Safetycrats have been preaching the benefits, and advocating the use of seat belts for at least 40 years . We've had radio and tv spots, " Buckle Up For Safety " jingles, billboards, road signs, and just about every type of seat belt law an increasingly "parental" government can smother us with. Hell, we even have cars that fasten the seat belts for us !

Well: Trooper Scales followed orders, and stood out there at the toll booth : monitoring away for the sacred cause of Safety ; but he was working in one of the nation's most dangerous environments ; and his foot slipped : toppling him under the wheels of a slow moving tanker.

I wonder if his grieving widow and three young children will be comforted or enraged by the circumstances of his death ?

[TopQuark]

You are connecting two unrelated issues. Even worse: you are using an accident to furtehr your personal, somewhat heated, view of the law.

[HaveGunWillTravel]

He was the guy that agreed to be the hired muscle of those who presume to tell others what to do. I'm sure he'd have been just as quick to arrest someone for carrying a weapon to protect themselves as he was for not wearing a seat belt to protect themselves. Interesting that he's willing to enforce a seat belt law that applies to others but has no qualms about taking chances for himself when it comes to asserting himself and shaking people down in traffic. He has a choice who he wants to serve. No sympathy here.

[Blue Screen of Death]

The city where I live just had a week long seat belt campaign. In the meantime a trip down the freeway is a white knuckle experience. They have decided it is more important to protect idiots from themselves than protect others from the idiots. Maybe because it is the idiots that elect them. What a waste of police resources.

[muawiyah]

The toll booth attendants are inside booths because of the incredible level of danger in that environment.

Only a sociopathic personality type would have ordered people to go out to the tollbooths, stand outside, and do anything, to say nothing of leaning over to check seatbelt usage.

The widow and the children are going to be immensely wealthy as a consequence - but I bet they'd like their own daddy.

[genefromjersey]

What is "unrelated" about the needless death of an officer ,sent into a dangerous environment for the sole purpose of reminding people to wear seat belts ?

I've got nothing against seat belts, by the way. I started using them in 1958 , and became a "true believer" in their use when I was sideswiped , and the belt kept me from decorating the highway.

[TopQuark]

Only a sociopathic personality type would have ordered people to go out to the tollbooths, stand outside, and do anything,

Were you the one to give orders? If not, how do you know that they were?

Ease up on that anger.

[TopQuark]

What is "unrelated" about the needless death of an officer ,sent into a dangerous environment for the sole purpose of reminding people to wear seat belts ?

I do not see it to be a dangerous environment you portray it to be. I see someone who slipped and fell --- could've been you or I at a gas station.

The poster is using a pure accident, and nothing more, to ignite passions. He has achieved his objectives, but that does not make the post rational.

[CanisLupus]

Troopers in this state are used all the time for REVENUE. Its the money they want. They dont give a hoot about buckling up, just issuing citations for the money is what its about

[TopQuark]

It's called incentive compatibility. This is exactly how institutions are supposed to be designed.

What you perceive as vice is actually a virtue.

[genefromjersey]

Well, I guess you haven't seen much of the NJ Pike toll areas: Going from one booth to another is a bit like playing Russian Roulette , as one must cross at grade level in front of oncoming traffic that is quite unlikely to see a pedestrian in time to stop.

The concrete slabs on which the booths stand are sloped to permit rainwater runoff, and rounded to reduce the chance of on oncoming motorist blowing a tire if the approach is misjudged. They are not designed as a long-term pedestrian platform.

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

OMG!!! PRAYERS

[TopQuark]

Well, I guess you haven't seen much of the NJ Pike toll areas

Nah, I only live in Union County, and don't get around too much: just to the NY City, North Jewsey, Philadelphia, and Westchester County. Other than that I stay put.

[smoking camels]

Your mouth is flapping. Stop it! There is enough stupidity in this world without you polluting FR with yours.

[TopQuark]

polluting FR with yours.

Oh, judging from your post a great deal of polluting is necessary, especially when it comes to civility.

[FryingPan101]

"No sympathy here."

Honest to God?

[smoking camels]

SWomehow, after reading your earlier arrogant posts I expected another one. Are all of you from NJ so arrogant?

[TopQuark]

Are all of you from NJ so arrogant?

You betcha! But most of us are nothing compared to my aunt from Colorado!

[2timothy3.16]

Troopers in this state are used all the time for REVENUE. Its the money they want. They dont give a hoot about buckling up, just issuing citations for the money is what its about

Not just NJ, but every state in the North East corridor it would seem.

[smoking camels]

Where does she live?

Busted!

PS. I dislike arrogant people.