Posted on 06/06/2005 7:46:25 PM PDT by tgslTakoma
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Governor Robert Ehrlich has directed the state police to cease using night vision gear to enforce the state's seat belt laws.
State police will continue to enforce the laws, but won't use the special goggles that were tested for the first and only time last Wednesday night in Montgomery County. The governor got plenty of complaints about the practice.
His spokeswoman, Shareese DeLeaver, says Ehrlich doesn't usually support Big Brother tactics when it comes to law enforcement. State police spokesman Greg Shipley says the night-vision equipment was borrowed from the military and has already been returned.
Shipley says the night-vision goggles were used only as a test. State troopers have issued more than 30,000 seat belt citations and warnings this year.
Night-Vision Goggles Help Seatbelt Campaign
Police Use New Tool Against Seat Belt Violators
Seat Belt Violators Caught By Cops Wearing Night Vision Goggles
According to Governor Ehrlich's spokeswoman and Maryland State Police spokesman, the MSP won't be using the night vision goggles to ogle drivers at night for committing the heinous crime of not buckling up.
However, what I didn't read in this news story is that the night vision goggles won't be used by any local Maryland police agencies.
I hope the egg on MSP's face will deter any local agencies from trying the same thing.
That has had we worried since I first read it. I'm glad they stopped it. Very big brotherish.
The un-seat-belted drivers violated the law...they should be found and punished.
A LEO should be placed in every driver's car, just to be sure that they are following the laws. Of course, taxpayers should fund this. Also, taxpayers should fund an LEO to live in every citizen's home, also to ascertain that they are following all laws. This all seems quite reasonable.
I bet you tattle on your neighbors for violating watering restrictions.
I bet you tattle on your neighbors for violating watering restrictions.
The water violators violated the law...they should be found and punished.
I'll bet you were a hall monitor too.
Lololol
The bathroom privilege abusers violated the law...they should be found and punished, preferably by swirlys.
Here's a teaser from that article...
As determined as he is to make sure Marylanders wear seat belts, the thought of state troopers peering into cars on Rockville Pike with the same technology Special Forces use on night raids in Baghdad was a bit too much for Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.
Ehrlich ordered the state police yesterday never to repeat its experiment using night-vision goggles to catch violators of the state's seat belt law.
"The governor is committed to making sure Maryland's safety belt laws are enforced; however, he does not feel that this is an appropriate use of this type of technology," said Ehrlich spokeswoman Shareese DeLeaver. "The governor feels the police, not technology, should enforce our safety belt laws."
(SNIP)
Initial reports of the Rockville enforcement operation on Washington television stations sparked a backlash, largely on talk radio and conservative or civil libertarian Web sites, such as www.freerepublic.com and www.freedomisslavery.info.
Alas, in answer to my other question, "What about local agencies?" the article has this...
Although the state police will not use the technology, that doesn't mean local police won't. Lt. Eric Burnett, a Montgomery County police spokesman, said the department assisted the state police and has night-vision goggles of its own.
"We don't have any plans to use our night-vision goggles for that. ... But we're not going to say we never will," Burnett said.
Maybe it's time for talk radio guys to latch onto MoCo PD's ankles...
;^)
You can eliminate all this BS by reducing the payout on insureance by 50% (or more) if the driver decides not to buckle up. If the driver is happy to pay 4x the regular insurance rates to stay unbuckled fine with me.
Make it an individual financial choice.
Montgomery County PD used to be cool. Now they suck right along with the best of them.
I'm sure glad I live in New Hampshire
No seat belt law for adults
No helmets for adults
No sales tax
No income tax
Legislators make $100 a year
Shall issue state
It's not perfect, but it could be a lot worse.
Kudos for wonderful sarcasm.
I agree, brain implants are best. Imagine how many crimes would be solved if people could be arrested and punished for their thoughts preceeding their crime. This would be joyous.
Ahh, the good old posse comitatus. No military invilvement in domestic law enforcement activities, except of course drugs. And terrorism. And the biggest threat to the free world ever: people who don't buckle up.
I surprises me not one lttle bit that Montgomery County Police will use it.
Thankfully, being on the Eastern Shore I rarelyy have reason to be in MoCo.........in fact after nearly 25 years on DelMarVa I've never been there :)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.