I always find it amazing that local law enforcement consistently write over 90% of their traffic violations to drivers from outside the city and county, and it appears that out-of-state drivers are even greater fodder for revenue collecting. Can all these outsiders really be greater violators of the law?
I suppose this profiling is pretty standard in all small communities across the country. Law enforcement doesn't want to piss off the locals and they know that the probability of an outsider coming back to fight the charge is low. Maybe a dedicated campaign by the city/police to set up speed traps before the new 4-lane slab is open would help fund future street repairs? After the next ribbon cutting, the opportunity will be lost forever.
I know for a fact that the tickets the SCPD writes don't even come close to paying for the police department itself, much less do they actually generate enough revenue to actually buy some streets. Nickels to dollars in that respect.
Contrary to what you might think, overall ticket issuing seems to be WAY WAY down lately. As recently as two years ago, there were regularly 7 to 12 pages with the names of people admitting guilt to, and paying their tickets each week.
You're right, though... there have always been a disproportionately high number of out of town folks getting the tickets. I always thought it was just because we locals are aware that dude is going to sitting on Main Street at the old gas station in the 25 zone popping people.
Curtis is exactly right. Any time a state highway runs through a town, there will be a seemingly disproportionate number of out-of-towners/out-of-staters getting tickets. Not only do the locals know where the police sit and run radar, we also know that there IS a 25 mph zone through downtown. It's entirely too common of practice, when entering a town, to slow down to 35 and assume that's the speed limit all the way through town. And it's always a surprise when those pretty flashing lights show up behind you. I can vouch for this personally -- there is a 25 mph zone in the middle of Dunlap that extends for all of about 200 feet. Didn't have a CLUE what I was getting pulled over for until he told me - and I had driven through town countless times before.
And I can pretty much guarantee you wouldn't normally expect to see a 25 mph speed limit on a four-lane road through town.
In addition, if the SCPD really was targeting out of county/out of state drivers (which is the thinly veiled accusation the original commenter is making), I would have been pulled over at least once when I was still 'new' in town - my vehicle did, and still does - bear license plates from another county.
(And before anyone comments - you do not have to change your plates when you move. In fact, unless you specifically request new plates, they won't even offer them.)
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I always find it amazing that local law enforcement consistently write over 90% of their traffic violations to drivers from outside the city and county, and it appears that out-of-state drivers are even greater fodder for revenue collecting. Can all these outsiders really be greater violators of the law?
ReplyDeleteI suppose this profiling is pretty standard in all small communities across the country. Law enforcement doesn't want to piss off the locals and they know that the probability of an outsider coming back to fight the charge is low. Maybe a dedicated campaign by the city/police to set up speed traps before the new 4-lane slab is open would help fund future street repairs? After the next ribbon cutting, the opportunity will be lost forever.
I know for a fact that the tickets the SCPD writes don't even come close to paying for the police department itself, much less do they actually generate enough revenue to actually buy some streets. Nickels to dollars in that respect.
ReplyDeleteContrary to what you might think, overall ticket issuing seems to be WAY WAY down lately. As recently as two years ago, there were regularly 7 to 12 pages with the names of people admitting guilt to, and paying their tickets each week.
You're right, though... there have always been a disproportionately high number of out of town folks getting the tickets. I always thought it was just because we locals are aware that dude is going to sitting on Main Street at the old gas station in the 25 zone popping people.
Curtis is exactly right. Any time a state highway runs through a town, there will be a seemingly disproportionate number of out-of-towners/out-of-staters getting tickets. Not only do the locals know where the police sit and run radar, we also know that there IS a 25 mph zone through downtown. It's entirely too common of practice, when entering a town, to slow down to 35 and assume that's the speed limit all the way through town. And it's always a surprise when those pretty flashing lights show up behind you. I can vouch for this personally -- there is a 25 mph zone in the middle of Dunlap that extends for all of about 200 feet. Didn't have a CLUE what I was getting pulled over for until he told me - and I had driven through town countless times before.
ReplyDeleteAnd I can pretty much guarantee you wouldn't normally expect to see a 25 mph speed limit on a four-lane road through town.
In addition, if the SCPD really was targeting out of county/out of state drivers (which is the thinly veiled accusation the original commenter is making), I would have been pulled over at least once when I was still 'new' in town - my vehicle did, and still does - bear license plates from another county.
ReplyDelete(And before anyone comments - you do not have to change your plates when you move. In fact, unless you specifically request new plates, they won't even offer them.)