View from the cop

By Katharine

August 14, 2007 10:41 AM | Link to this

I agree that smart people don’t set themselves up. If you don’t want to get shot, don’t get in the line of fire.

However, police presence does a lot to deter crime, too, and I see police departments spending more on technology, vehicles, and equipment than staff. This has served to distance police more and more from the people they are charged with protecting. Sell some police cars and raise salaries for police walking old-fashioned beats. It is a better use of taxpayer money. Neighborhood cops would be more accessible to law abiding citizens and more threatening to would-be criminals.

By mcgolis

August 14, 2007 11:02 AM | Link to this

THANK YOU! Your article is right on, common sense, no matter how much energy it requires, is the best defense against crime. You should add don’t hang out with drunks or drug users, who like to drive fast and shoot guns. Many crimes are the result of somebody being absent-minded about their safety or being engaged in a destructive lifestyle. I cannot believe how much money goes into “educating” the public that leaving valuable in your vehicle is a bad idea or,better yet, that knowing your neighbors and calling in suspicious activity is a good idea. THANK YOU for a great read!

By Hoof Hearted

August 14, 2007 11:44 AM | Link to this

Steve,

The same people who think 500 more cops are the answer will be the first to complain when they get a minor traffic ticket that there are too many cops out there with nothing better to do than write stupid traffic tickets. These are also the folks who will complain the loudest about their taxes.

By Missandie

August 14, 2007 11:46 AM | Link to this

Luckily, I learned this lesson while still a young adult. My first card (Ford Escort) had a side window smashed for my radar detector. I was really tired that night and when I remembered, I was too lazy to go back out and get it. It was a pretty cheap one at that. My boss had given it to me as a gift (long story.) Since then, I have made an effort to take things out or go back and get them if I happen to forget. Was I angry? Of course but it was my own fault. When I pull into a parking spot and see laptops, MP3 players, cell phones, purses (yes, purses) placed in a seat I feel sorry for the owner because the chances are huge that when they come back, the window may be smashed and the property long gone.

Lately, I have noticed people bringing the dog shopping but leaving them in the car, with the car running, INSANE!!! So now you risk losing both your pet and your transportation. Just because you are in Dunwoody or Sandy Springs, don’t think you are immune to crime. Criminals like these areas because there is more to take!

Be smart people and save yourself the aggravation.

By jabster

August 14, 2007 12:07 PM | Link to this

I think the “attitude problem” is this: the same cop who yawns at your property crime is probably the same cop who wrote you a ticket for doing 75 on the Perimeter last week.

Why can’t the police show the same enthusiasm towards property crimes as they do towards working traffic?

Is it the prospect of getting cheap revenue (cash or money order, no personal checks please) from someone who is scared witless while pulled over versus having to pay for some (possibly packing) lowlife’s three hots and a cot while they cool their heels that makes the difference?

It always seems that whenever you encounter a cop these days, he’s fussing at you about something—some “little bit more” you could have done, or something that you (in his view) shouldn’t have done to avoid this predicament.

Now I fully expect to hear a kindergarten lecture about “good choices and bad choices”, and why calling traffic incidents “accidents” is politically incorrect. Determinism run amok.

When you commit a crime or a “crime”, it’s your fault. When you are the victim of a crime, it’s still your fault.

Hey—my daughter just had a CRASH in her pants. I guess she made a BAD CHOICE in not going to the potty…or maybe she just got scared by Officer Friendly, which is probably her fault as well by some logic.

By Charles

August 14, 2007 12:11 PM | Link to this

Years ago I made a startling discovery. I would not allow my son to play basketball on week-ends with his crew until he understood lessons in the video tutorial, Math Made Easy; Parallel Lines, Constructions, Quadrilaterals, Circles, Constructions, Postulates, etc.

Members of his crew would stop by the house and wait for my son to get it. Most had extremely poor study habits and grades.

It just didn’t click for Derrick. After about two hours of good visual and verbal presentations, the crew decided to help. I be dog gone! It was obvious to me that most of the crew had a better understanding of the concepts than my son. How could it be? My son got good grades. These children were not good students.

I really hate to tell you Steve. As long as the criminal is smarter than the victim, crime and the whining will continue unabated.

By Earl

August 14, 2007 12:37 PM | Link to this

There was a time when some of my friends laughed at me and the measures I took not be a victim to random crime. They don’t laugh so much anymore, not in Atlanta, not with the crime we have here now. I don’t leave anything, not even a book, visable in my car. I think any and everyone could possibly be a crook, trust no one. I have no problem telling someone ‘in my space’ at at teller machine to back off, your’re too close to me. I only use teller machines inside an establshment, never outside. Crooks are always looking for their next victim, my goal is to make myself appear much less vunerable than the person next to me.

By Rudy

August 14, 2007 12:37 PM | Link to this

Hey Jabster, show me a cop who’ll take the trouble to make the stop, run the tag, then write the ticket for 75 on the perimeter and I’ll show you a rookie that’s just getting his feet wet! No vet in his/her right mind would go to all that trouble just to have it dismissed or lowered. Geez, get real!

By jabster

August 14, 2007 12:43 PM | Link to this

Rudy-Feel free to replace 75 with the X of your choice.

By Cubby

August 14, 2007 12:47 PM | Link to this

Where to begin….Hire more cops. Sure, then residents should not complain when the stop sign violation goes from $175 per incident to $350 per incident. Do not whine about getting pulled over for speeding and paying a huge fine.

I learned the hard way during college about having a vehicle broken into.

I accidentally left my wallet in my car one evening. A group of thieves broke into several cars that night and mine happened to be one of them. The good thing about this incident was 1) I was in college so I had very little money (they made off with $3) 2) I was in college and I had no credit cards 3) At that time, the bank cards were ATM only and my PIN was not on the card or in my wallet.

The car was a POS Ford Tempo and all the doors locked but one. The thieves entered through the unlocked door and grabbed the wallet. I was very fortunate that I didn’t have to replace a window like the four or five other cars that were broken into that same evening.

The biggest pain was going to GSP to get a new license and the bank for a new ATM card.

By A Pilot

August 14, 2007 1:08 PM | Link to this

Yes, I noticed people who leave their houses and cars open complain about crime a lot, as do people who leave valuables in their front yard.

On one forum, a guy was complaining that some kids in the neighborhood were eye balling his portable basket ball hoop. The next day it wound up missing. I asked him if he considered padlocking it to something or the possibility of cementing one into the ground. He said, “You shouldn’t have to do that!” and then I became the target.

Same forum, a guy finds a man rummaging through his ash tray for spare change. So he calls the police and then goes out and pounces on the guy. He then goes into a tirade about the police not charging the rummager. I asked if the truck doors were locked and he said, “You shouldn’t have to do that! and what difference does it make?”

Well, first off, opening an unlocked door isn’t much of a crime. However, car burglary is. Besides, in this case, the police did the “victim” a favor for not arresting him for false arrest. Most states do not authorize citizens who are not shopkeepers to simply pounce on people for petty crimes and physically restrain them…so the victim in this case winds up creating a crime.

In a third case, a gun store owner saw three minorities walking toward his store front so he locks the doors because he thinks they are drunk trouble makers.

When the first potential customer gets to the door, he pulls on it a few times which irritated the gun store owner. So, according to him as he related in his internet posting, he went outside to assault these men and as he said in his own words, he put them in the hospital. I never got to hear the rest of the story, but he ended his post with saying that detectives wanted to talk to him about the assault. How do you prevent crime in this case? Don’t assault your potential customers, just leave the doors locked if think they are up to committing a crime and call the police. Maybe, you can take photographs or video while you wait and if they attempt to force the door open and enter, then you can use your Castle Doctrine.

Lastly, don’t insert yourself into a crime in order to stop a criminal unless you know for sure you can do something about it. In the Tyler Texas courthouse shooting a while back, a very proficient hand gunner inserted himself into that crime spree thinking he was going to stop the shooter. Unknown to the citizen getting involved, the shooter was wearing a bullet resistant vest. Even though the citizen was hitting the suspect with fire from his handgun, the suspect then shot the citizen in the hip, wounding him and sending him to the ground. The gunman then went over to the citizen and finished him off with a head shot. Getting involved in this sort of thing can get you shot by the police in accident as well.

By kay

August 14, 2007 1:35 PM | Link to this

I know about using common sense and all, and I know cops can’t be everywhere at once. But the cop who sits outside my old office highrise everyday waiting for people to park in a loading zone so he could jump out of his tinted-window unmarked van and write parking tickets could be doing something else—say, being sentinel at one of those parking lots. Same for the ones who park on the highway and wait for speeders, set up rodblocks in neighborhoods looking for insurance violators, and write f&*%ing jaywalking tickets on Sunday mornings on empty streets. I don’t know how many parking lots could be covered if all these revenue-generating activities were replaced with serving and protecting, but I’d take it. I really hate hearing the no-manpower song sung by the no-willpower choir.

By JJ

August 14, 2007 1:43 PM | Link to this

I park my vehicle in my garage. I never carry valuables in my vehicle. I always lock my vehicle. I hid purchases in the trunk.

I have my keys in my hand when walking to my vehicle. I don’t fumble in my purse looking for them after I have left the store. They are either in my hand or in my front pocket before I leave the store/work/house. Keys, if held properly, can be a weapon for self-defense.

Anyone who leaves a kid or pets in a running vehicle is a complete moron and should have their license suspended for sheer stupidity!!!

I never shop at night.

By kay

August 14, 2007 1:50 PM | Link to this

And while I’m grousing (whining, if you ask the cop); mcgolis crime is not caused by people being absent minded. Crime is cause by people committing crimes! Leaving your things in your car—not a crime. Leaving your door unlocked—not a crime. Not padlocking your kids basketball goal—not a crime. Taking things that don’t belong to you—CRIME!! I don’t care if you call it whining. Jabster is right. The cops should stip whining and go fight crime!!

By This article is short-sighted

August 14, 2007 1:59 PM | Link to this

I agree that it’s a good idea to do whatever you can to prevent crimes from happening (i.e. not leaving valuables in a car, staying away from certain bad areas, etc.), but what about the people that do this and still get burned? When those people complain, they get lumped in with the “just hire another 500 cops” crowd and get little pity from people like you Steve. And the argument that “people shouldn’t be dumb” is used as an excuse for not protecting the public in these cases. All I’m saying is, just because a victim could’ve done something different to prevent a crime from happening doesn’t mean they’re automatically responsible that it happened. I agree with Katharine that more police staff on foot would help tremendously to prevent crime in a lot of areas.

By bren

August 14, 2007 2:10 PM | Link to this

People READ & THINK CLEARLY about what Steve has written. The year is 2007, Common Sense and Street Smart is a requirement from this day forward. Donot give criminal the opportunity to rob you of your personal property. You must use common sense at ALL time,NO EXCEPTIONS.

By Fred

August 14, 2007 2:25 PM | Link to this

Steve, How many times have you been shot since you started this blog. Figuratively of course as in the old practice of shooting the messenger? LOL I saw a few shots at you here today. I like your common sense warnings. Most I already knew but there is always one that makes me go Doh! Why did I never think of that before. It is especially nice to be able to point my wife to your columns for some of her careless behavior. Being the husband of course i am butt stupid but when she sees Super Steve write it in the blog then it is ok for her to heed the advise.

Most people become victims because we are honest and the depths to which criminals will stoop never occurs to us. When I was much younger I lived across the hall from some scumbags, being a neighbor they were rather to free about their exploits when drinking. It was a real shock to find out the things they notice and look for the way normal folks notice a beautiful sky.

Keep up the good work of helping us protect OURSELVES. Crime prevention starts at a personal level.

By Akagi

August 14, 2007 2:28 PM | Link to this

No hoof we complain when we see three patrol cars and five cops on a state highway issuing these mindless “click it or ticket it” seat belt violations and then when you call to have them run a car at least once in my life time through my neighborhood getting this “we just rush from call to call, so we are too busy to do that.”

But not too busy to check for seat belts or not too busy to sit on an overpass with a radar gun that is 20 seconds away from the next county.

By A Pilot

August 14, 2007 2:29 PM | Link to this

** *By kay

August 14, 2007 1:50 PM

And while I’m grousing (whining, if you ask the cop); crime is not caused by people being absent minded. Crime is cause by people committing crimes! Leaving your things in your car—not a crime. Leaving your door unlocked—not a crime. Not padlocking your kids basketball goal—not a crime…The cops should stip whining and go fight crime!!* **

Go ahead and leave your laptop in your car overnight and the police will be more than happy to come by and take your information down for their report so that you can turn it in to your insurance company.

The police’s responsibility isn’t to protect your private property, their responsibility is to serve society as whole (Warren v. District of Columbia).

And, furthermore, there are situations where if you leave yourself open to criminals, you could be charged with a crime or sued. For instance, forget the keys to your automobile in the ignition becoming the victim of a car thief who winds up driving your car against the red traffic light killing a family of six in another car. You could be charged with negligent homicide in an instance like that. Which means that leaving your car keys in the car is a crime.

By harold

August 14, 2007 2:30 PM | Link to this

the only way to be safe is never to park next to nobody. when the person in the next car gets their window smashed for the visible latpot, yours get smashed too. why not. the burglard is already there smashing windows, might as well check to see whats in your car too

By Missandie

August 14, 2007 2:44 PM | Link to this

So Harold,

When you park next to “nobody”, what happens when someone parks next to you? Or do you keep a constant sentry on your car, preparing to move it next to nobody again?

Enquiring minds want to kinow…

By Missandie

August 14, 2007 2:44 PM | Link to this

So Harold,

When you park next to “nobody”, what happens when someone parks next to you? Or do you keep a constant sentry on your car, preparing to move it next to nobody again?

Enquiring minds want to know…

By Cheyenne

August 14, 2007 2:51 PM | Link to this

I think that you guys completly right if you don’t want to get robbed don’t leave important things in your car. also, if some one trys to take your car at GUN POINT give it up take all living bodies that you can out and give it up NO CAR is worth loosing your life over.

By Cheyenne

August 14, 2007 2:52 PM | Link to this

I think that you guys completly right if you don’t want to get robbed don’t leave important things in your car. also, if some one trys to take your car at GUN POINT give it up take all living bodies that you can out and give it up NO CAR is worth loosing your life over.

By Cheyenne

August 14, 2007 2:52 PM | Link to this

I think that you guys completly right if you don’t want to get robbed don’t leave important things in your car. also, if some one trys to take your car at GUN POINT give it up take all living bodies that you can out and give it up NO CAR is worth loosing your life over.

By Prootwadl

August 14, 2007 3:02 PM | Link to this

Cops in some counties are better than others. The police in Cobb County are so busy setting worthless speed traps in relatively quiet area during rush hour that it’s a wonder they have any personnel left over to address the real issues in the county. :-(

By adawgfan

August 14, 2007 3:15 PM | Link to this

I bet Steve is the same person that believes that a woman deserved to be raped because she was walking outside at night by herself. I bet if she had on short shorts, she was asking to be raped!!

By nurse&mother

August 14, 2007 3:20 PM | Link to this

I don’t have a problem with cautioning folks to use common sense. But that does not entitle criminals to get away with the crime, just because the victim did not use their best judgement.

By kay

August 14, 2007 3:45 PM | Link to this

Of course use common sense, but blaming victims for crime is not sense, common or otherwise. Cubby, whose Ford was broken into when he left one door unlocked, said several other cars, all appropriately locked, were also broken into when his was. Except they also got busted windows for their efforts. Of all the times my cars have been broken into, only once has anything been taken: some CDs that I know the thief didn’t listen to and couldn’t sell. That’s because, as instructed, I didn’t leave anything there. Doesn’t matter. I still got stuck with the rain in my car, glass in my kid’s car seat, a fat bill for the repairs, and irritated cops who didn’t even want to show up to write the report.

Hate to get into the chicken-egg thing, but here goes anyway—allowing crime willy-nilly while we blame the victims results in williy-nilly crime requiring all those precautions everyone agrees we should take! No one expects the police to be their personal property guard, but stealing others personal property is a violation of the laws of the state, and thus offends the people thereof. Every felony indictment or accusation in Fulton county, after stating the law violated, ends with “contrary to the laws of said State, the good order, peace and dignity thereof.” All formal charging documents in this country have language to this effect.

Patrolling that parking lot doesn’t just protect your car, Pilot,—it protects the good order, peace and dignity of the society at whole that the Warren case says cops serve. What you describe, and the Warren case says is okay, is a situation where, since the cops serve everyone, they really serve no one at all. And just because a court says this is within the parameters of the law doesn’t mean it’s morally right or that citizens are not entitled to “whine” about it.

My two…um, four cents!

By JohnS

August 14, 2007 3:54 PM | Link to this

Sorry Steve, but we have a right to whine and we’ll keep on whining…squeaky wheels do get the grease. The ones that shouldn’t be whining are the cops that are asked to do what they are paid to do…protect and serve. If resources are short than cutback on stopping traffic so people can get out of McDonalds. I read recently about a couple of people in Sandy Springs that were mugged by some hispanic thug while they were walking down the street. If you guys can’t protect us from those low lifes than you should expect us to take matters into our own hands.

Other metro areas somehow manage not to be at the top of the “worst city for crime” list..yet metro Atlanta is up there every year…that’s not the fault of the victims dude.

By Bo

August 14, 2007 5:06 PM | Link to this

According to ideal, City of Atlanta should have 2000 police officers. That number is calculated without even including the day time commuter and tourist population. Well, we have about half that.

The crooks who get locked up only spend a fraction of their time in Fulton County jail. With or without the victims making bad choices, the crime in Atlanta is raising sharply, while the major, police chief and others do nothing.

I live in Atlanta, and I pay much more in taxes than when I did in the suburbs, even in Dunwoody, yet I see fewer police officers in ths streets around here than I ever did.

Something will have to be done, needs to be done.

Dear Major Franklin, banning guns isn’t the solution because that only disarms the law abiding victims.

By Chris D'

August 14, 2007 5:17 PM | Link to this

On behalf of all victims of crime I would like to apologize to the Cops for bringing this crime upon ourselves. With a little common sense their would be no crime. Please continue to spread the word and keep making the world a safer place by making victims of all these crimes know that they have brought it upon themselves.

By ncgreybr

August 14, 2007 5:22 PM | Link to this

Steve, next time you go out make sure you put on your psychic hat and make sure you get to that street corner to wait for the guy who MAY be going to rob that guy crossing the street. Also make sure to race over to that parking lot and patrol it (while the car is being stolen in the one you just left.)

How many of us have been cut off by some fool in traffic and said “I sure wish a cop was around”? Cops do patrol trying to catch idiots who are driving like fools. They have blockades set up to get drunks off the streets BEFORE they cause an accident. They do the click it or ticket it to STOP some fool from dying (while being ejected from his car)BEFORE he gets his car broadsided from another idiot who didn’t get off his cell phone. Of course, the cops should have known he would run the red light and stop him ahead of time before he got there, right?

No I haven’t been robbed or haven’t had my car broken into. I always leave my car UNLOCKED with NOTHING in it to steal.

YES, sometimes people are in the wrong place at the wrong time but there is NO WAY a cop can be with every person all the time…sometimes they HAVE to be on the expressway trying to stop the foolishness there too.

By fk

August 14, 2007 5:28 PM | Link to this

Sometimes, it doesn’t matter what you do, crime is going to occur. I never left valuables in my car. I always made sure it was locked whenever I parked it. Always parked in line with an entrance, under a light at night. Years ago, during college, after I had taken the hardest of midterms, and had planned on going home for the w/e, my car did not start. Then I realized that the interior light had not gone on when I opened the door. That all too familiar sick feeling came over me…I wasn’t going anywhere. The thief stole my car battery!

Some opportunities cannot be foreseen, but others can be. I would prefer to take precautions so that I find my stuff as I left it, than to feel violated knowing someone walked off with something I bought, with my hard-earned money, knowing that the situation somehow could’ve been avoided. Whine all you want, but eventually, someone is going to turn the volume off.

By Kelly

August 14, 2007 5:43 PM | Link to this

Why is it that people who speed never acknowledge to themselves or anyone else that they are breaking the law? If you are going 20 mph over the speed limit (75 in a 55), you are really breaking the law and endangering the lives of others. The response is usually, “the speed limit is too low and shouldn’t be 55”. Well guess what…it is 55.

Just because you don’t agree with it, doesn’t give you the right to follow only the laws you agree with each day. I bet the people that break into cars also believe that they should be able to have your nice things because they want them. How is the thought process different?

By Kelly

August 14, 2007 5:45 PM | Link to this

Why is it that people who speed never acknowledge to themselves or anyone else that they are breaking the law? If you are going 20 mph over the speed limit (75 in a 55), you are really breaking the law and endangering the lives of others. The response is usually, “the speed limit is too low and shouldn’t be 55”. Well guess what…it is 55.

Just because you don’t agree with it, doesn’t give you the right to follow only the laws you agree with each day. I bet the people that break into cars also believe that they should be able to have your nice things because they want them. How is the thought process different?

By Good Ole Days

August 14, 2007 6:40 PM | Link to this

Here once again, nobody on this blog can find a true solution. It’s not the police, victim, or the criminals fault. It’s society in general!!! We have accepted all of your complianing. Nobody wants any responsibiliy or to be held accountable for their actions or obligations. That goes for each and everyone of you.

If you feel uncomfortable with any of these concepts, go get help.

All three are readily available. It’s called Therapy, Higher Education, and Self Defense: “Karate & Shooting Range”.

By Mike McCurdy

August 14, 2007 6:57 PM | Link to this

Steve,

Your points are in the center of the bull’s-eye. I have a very inexpensive anti-theft device for books, portable cd players or other relatively inexpensive articles that I want to have in my car, but don’t want to lug with me everywhere. I put a small blanket or a beach towel and a pillow in my car (as if for napping during lunch at work or for a beach trip) and cover any items I wish to protect while I’m away from my car. So far, the success rate is 100%: no one will steal it if they don’t know it’s there.

By Charlie Bronson

August 14, 2007 7:05 PM | Link to this

Kelly,

Here’s how the thought process is different: Going 75 in a 55 (like a good portion of 85, for example, in Atlanta) is more safe than going 55. Also, the de facto (look it up) speed limit is more like 75. I guarantee—and facts support the idea—that going 55 in that type of area is more dangerous to yourself and others than going with the flow of traffic (i.e., about 70-80 mph). Have you ever driven 55 in areas where the speed limit is 55 yet everyone goes 70-80? I have once or twice and decided I better speed up before I caused an accident. EXCESSIVE speed is a cause of a certain amount of accidents, but I would say going 55 in certain 55 zones is about as dangerous as going 90. Both people are going about 15-20 miles over the average speed of 90% of drivers. Do you not understand this fact? Do you live in a metro area?

Anyway, putting all that aside, somebody breaking into my car is violating my rights, my property, and my dignity by breaking my property, stealing from me, destroying things I worked hard to earn. If someone costs me $500, they just took 40 hours of my time away from me. I would rather be jailed for 12 hours than have 500 bucks taken from me. (Assuming no anal rape was in the picture, of course ;)) Anyway, your point is asinine. Speeding at a reasonable rate that most people are driving at is not harming anyone and is in fact more likely to prevent accidents than going 50 or 100 would be. Breaking into cars is a crime against an individual. Take a logic class, Kelly. And quit being a hypocrite. We’ve all sped (you including, I’m sure), with no “victims” (except possibly the guy who was picked out of the speeding masses to pony up for the revenue enforcement brigade), but breaking into a car guarantees a victim every time.

By Charlie Bronson

August 14, 2007 7:09 PM | Link to this

Kelly, let’s see if I can help explain:

Here’s how the thought process is different: Going 75 in a 55 (like a good portion of 85, for example, in Atlanta) is more safe than going 55. Also, the de facto (look it up) speed limit is more like 75. I guarantee—and facts support the idea—that going 55 in that type of area is more dangerous to yourself and others than going with the flow of traffic (i.e., about 70-80 mph). Have you ever driven 55 in areas where the speed limit is 55 yet everyone goes 70-80? I have once or twice and decided I better speed up before I caused an accident. EXCESSIVE speed is a cause of a certain amount of accidents, but I would say going 55 in certain 55 zones is about as dangerous as going 90. Both people are going about 15-20 miles over the average speed of 90% of drivers. Do you not understand this fact? Do you live in a metro area?

Anyway, putting all that aside, somebody breaking into my car is violating my rights, my property, and my dignity by breaking my property, stealing from me, destroying things I worked hard to earn. If someone costs me $500, they just took 40 hours of my time away from me. I would rather be jailed for 12 hours than have 500 bucks taken from me. (Assuming no anal rape was in the picture, of course ;)) Anyway, your point is asinine. Speeding at a reasonable rate that most people are driving at is not harming anyone and is in fact more likely to prevent accidents than going 50 or 100 would be. Breaking into cars is a crime against an individual. Take a logic class, Kelly. And quit being a hypocrite. We’ve all sped (you including, I’m sure), with no “victims” (except possibly the guy who was picked out of the speeding masses to pony up for the revenue enforcement brigade), but breaking into a car guarantees a victim every time.

By Charlie Bronson

August 14, 2007 7:21 PM | Link to this

pardon the double post…it was more than five minutes and i’ve had posts disappear before.
Anyway, here’s a neat link for my fellow otherwise-law-abiding speeders.

http://www.speedtrap.org/

If anyone wants a more scientifically-based rebuttal to Kelly’s inane comparison, here’s a good link discussing speed in relation to accident rates, safety, etc. And discussing the original intent and utility of speed limits, i.e., to actually do some good other than raising revenue and giving carte blanche to pull over anyone who a cop feels like.

http://www.ibiblio.org/rdu/sl-irrel.html

By Judge Dredd

August 14, 2007 7:33 PM | Link to this

Charlie, you’re still justifying an illegal act because YOU don’t think it it should be illegal - in fact, your playing right into kelly’s hands by epitomizing the citizen she characterizes.

Your whole post is how you RATIONAILZE(look it up)breaking STATE LAW. And since you can rationalize it, you no longer feel it is necessary to follow.

Funny, in your attempt to ridicule Kelly, you proved her point.

loser.

By Judge Dredd

August 14, 2007 7:34 PM | Link to this

Charlie, you’re still justifying an illegal act because YOU don’t think it it should be illegal - in fact, your playing right into kelly’s hands by epitomizing the citizen she characterizes.

Your whole post is how you RATIONAILZE(look it up)breaking STATE LAW. And since you can rationalize it, you no longer feel it is necessary to follow.

Funny, in your attempt to ridicule Kelly, you proved her point.

loser.

By Chris D'

August 14, 2007 7:34 PM | Link to this

Steve Rose,

Fight Crime Stop Whining

Sincerely, Your Employers the Tax Payers

By laurie g

August 14, 2007 7:35 PM | Link to this

To Steve’s point, having extra officers is a great idea, but what if you can’t afford a real police officer to patrol your neighborhood? Check out what this guy did at www25kidscom. Scroll down to see the sheriff’s deputy. Clever! And cheaper than a real person! (and they make people slow down!)

By laurie g

August 14, 2007 7:39 PM | Link to this

that would be www(dot)25kids(dot)com on the post above. It stripped out my formatting!

By A Pilot

August 14, 2007 8:06 PM | Link to this

How is breaking motorvehicle code anything even remotely close to a misdemeanor crime or a felony?

If you look at driving 75 past someone who is doing 55, the relative difference in the speed of the vehicles is 20 mph.

If you park on a street with a 35 mph speed limit, then cars are moving past you at 35 mph…so what do you do in this dangerous situation? Have the police stop traffic so you can pull out?

By nurse&mother

August 14, 2007 8:50 PM | Link to this

Yes, Kelly you have a small point, however, based on your rationalization, do you think that the punishment should be jail (as it is for theft, murder, rape etc.)? Although both are illegal, in the eyes of the law, burglary must be seen as worse, as it is punishable by arrest and jail time if convicted. Therefore, IMHO, you are comparing apples to oranges.

By Good Ole Days

August 14, 2007 9:30 PM | Link to this

Steve,

You have just proved your point!

You did not say anythiny about speeding however the nimble minded bloggers fill your blog about personal issues. Why do you even try?

By jabster

August 14, 2007 9:42 PM | Link to this

Kelly, Judge Dredd, et al.:

Did any of you stop to consider that having so many excess, silly laws on the books (55 speed limit, etc.) make people disregard ALL laws?

If you pass so many laws that everyone’s a lawbreaker on any given day, at what point does one cease to care about obeying “the law” (as if it was a singular monolith, with all laws created equal without regard to the yucky, icky “laws and sausages—don’t want to see how they’re made” legislative process)?

Want people to respect “the law”? Make “the law” respectable. Get rid on the deadwood. 86 the “nanny state”.

If you still want to argue, “Thou shalt not speed” is NOT one of the Ten Commandments.

Yes, I know exactly what you’re thinking, “thou shalt not kill (actually ‘commit murder’)” is one of the TC’s too. But driving a car is the most dangerous thing any of us ever do—so by that logic I KNOW you’re thinking, we should all destroy our cars lest we kill someone with them.

With that kind of logic, have fun hanging out with the PETA “meat is murder” crowd.

By Judge Dredd

August 15, 2007 6:19 AM | Link to this

A pilot, jabster, nurse,

I never suggested anything in reference to degrees of law breaking. Obviously, the seriousness of charges range from the extremes. No one was comparing apples to oranges because nobody offered or suggested a broken tail light was on par with agg assault. Kelly simply stated that many like to pick and choose what laws they FEEL should be followed, based on their moral compass. Just as some car theives would never consider homocide, they justify their law breaking based upon their needs, wants, and ability to rationalize the act.

By Mike Helms

August 15, 2007 8:00 AM | Link to this

When I leave the air on in my explorer for my dog I pity the theif who tries to open the door.

By Jeffrey

August 15, 2007 8:37 AM | Link to this

I read through these and those that are crying about cops doing this and not doing that need to be quiet. If you don’t park in the no parking zone then you won’t get a ticket. If you stop fully at the sign then you won’t get a ticket. If you don’t go superfast then you won’t get a ticket. Yes I speed however I go with the flow and don’t feel the need to zip past everybody.

As far as “whining” I am one of those that don’t leave things in their car or put purchases in the trunk hidden away from wandering eyes. However my car was broken into while in college. You know what the thief took? NOTHING! You know why? Because there was nothing to take. However the other 5 cars that were broken into had items stolen from them. Sure the guy was caught however all I had to do was spend $50 to replace the window in my car which I really didn’t care about at all.

So to Lt. Steve I say keep up the great work! To all you other “whiners” just stay within the law and pay attention and you too can stop whining!

By nurse&mother

August 15, 2007 9:26 AM | Link to this

I just want to say that Steve has a good point to keep valuables out of your car. Duh! I am not disputing that at all. Kelly also has a point that speeding is unlawful. If she was not comparing apples to oranges, then why did she even bring it up?

I am merely saying that we should not blame the victims when it is the perpetrators fault. This only removes the blame from the criminal. Yes, they may not have made a bad decision by leaving something in the car (or in the case of a woman wearing something provocative and being raped), but that is NOT an excuse to blame them!

By swolf4810

August 15, 2007 12:32 PM | Link to this

Amen sir!

By Not Blaming Victims...Just Stupid People

August 15, 2007 1:17 PM | Link to this

Hi Steve, I’m a long time reader However, you and I will have to wrestle over this Jimmy Buffett thing…I suppose I could just let you off with a warning…

I LOVE YOU STEVE!

By Lee

August 15, 2007 7:23 PM | Link to this

Risk vs. Opportunity.

Yes, we can do something about Opportunity. Lt. Steve gave us many examples.

Risk. That’s the kicker. 50-75 years ago, you caught someone stealing your stuff, you could pepper their butt with a load of birdshot and no one would say anything about it. Today, I’ve heard of accounts where store owners have been charged with false imprisonment when they locked the door to keep a shoplifter from fleeing. Lord forbid if you actually laid your hands on them or ::gasp:: pulled a gun.

The thieves also know that theft is a very low priority for the cops. Most often, the cop show up, write a report, and they’re gone. They might have someone visit a pawn shop every now and then. If the thief doesn’t get caught in the act, he will most likely never get caught.

So, the thieves know when you are at work. They also know that the cops are usually down on the four lane running speed traps. All of which reduces their risk of getting caught.

Risk vs. Opportunity.

By Tony

August 15, 2007 9:05 PM | Link to this

Geez, if thieves would just wear signs around their necks, it would make it so much easier for police officers to catch them. I’ve been a police officer for about 13 years. I still find that most of the time that these scumbags get caught is by pure luck on our part. I could drive through a shopping center parking lot or a residential neighborhood 100 times per day. Unless someone has done something that gives me the legal right to stop them, I can’t. And no, it’s not being on the “four lane” running a “speed trap” (whatever that means). It’s the all important calls like the roommate that won’t pay their portion of the rent, or Burger King overcharged me for my cheeseburger. Oh yeah, I almost forgot, now that schools are back in session, it’s the “parents” that call us because their kid won’t go to school. There are planty more of these type of insane calls that we respond to, but these are my all time favorites. It’s calls like these that keep most police officers from being more proactive. If any of you experts have a better way of catching criminals (without violating their civil rights), by all means speak up.

By charliejoe

August 15, 2007 10:06 PM | Link to this

Tony, You sound like a good cop. Please bear with us folks who question some of the laws you are asked to enforce (which I am sure many of you LEOs don’t agree with either). However, I think it’s information like this that makes people believe that SOME cops are largely being employed to make money.

http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/07/730.asp

P.S. Can you talk to your fellow officers like Judge Dredd types and let them know their BS is making everyone lose respect to all cops, not just the ones with their heads up their arses. I know good cops must cringe when they hear A-holes like him spout off in their officious manner.

jabster, Very good points. I wish I could be as eloquent and concise sometimes. I know that sometimes I do go on so…

Judge Dredd,

Did you read this?

http://www.ibiblio.org/rdu/sl-irrel.html

I imagine not, as you aren’t really interested in “facts”, rational discourse, or the fact that 99% of citizens are “lawbreakers” due to asinine, winked-at laws like ridiculously too-low (is that a word?) speed limits. In your world (I assume the world of movie Judge Dredd, which is probably a utopia to you instead of the messed up dystopia it largely appeared, based on the movie), everyone is a criminal, everyone is rationalizing their speeding, and everyone should be subject to you and your ilk accosting them, searching them, fining them, and possibly Tasering and imprisoning them if they dare to not give you proper obeisance or fail to truckle to your publicly-funded authority.

Most of us that are whiners just want to be left alone to go about our day and be left alone without a nanny state.

By Lee

August 15, 2007 10:06 PM | Link to this

Geez, it’s call police presence. The bad guys walking around looking for a car to break into and then they spot a police cruiser circling the block. They don’t want to get caught and decide today ain’t a good day.

Speed trap is running a radar or laser on a road where the police know the speed limits do not match up with the road conditions. In my hometown, there is a divided four lane road that runs in front of the old Goodyear Mill. The posted speed limit is 25mph. It intersects a two lane street which is more congested and the speed limit on that street is 45mph. There’s probably not a day goes by that I don’t travel down that four lane road and see a cop hid up off the road running radar.

People have complained before the city council about what they are doing and they will stop for a while. That is, until the money starts to run short.

But anyway, every hour that cop is up there running that SPEED TRAP is an hour that he cannot cruise the neighborhoods.

Every hour that cop is up there running that SPEED TRAP lessens the risk that the guy breaking into my neighbor’s car will get caught.

Risk vs. Opportunity.

By nurse&mother

August 16, 2007 2:15 AM | Link to this

Amen, Lee!

My husband has had some personal experience when someone stole an ATV from inside a commercial building that he owns. We live in north ga, and we had an overweight small town cop show up. He came to the site wrote a report (or whatever it is called). He flat out told my husband that he wouldn’t see it again and to notify his homeowners insurance. My husband was shocked that this cop made no effort to look into the matter and didn’t care that he gave the appearance that he was lazy and didn’t care. Oh and by the way, the ATV was locked up (and no windows in the building) so don’t try to blame my husband. He’s a pretty savvy guy.

These were the same cops that didn’t care that a gas station (just down the street from my husband’s commercial property) had had people stealing gas on several a fairly consistant basis a few years ago.

By Resident

August 16, 2007 9:59 AM | Link to this

Have you seen the Sandy Springs crime statistics?! I was shocked when i saw them, ive heard so many people saying what a good job the police are doing, just because they always see them sitting in every gas station (probably waiting for the Krispy Kreme truck). My car got broken into over the weekend. There was nothing valuable left in my 1994 car, my radio was average.. but nonetheless… they broke in, stole my radio and messed up my ignition trying to steal the car and failing. Thats when i decided to look up the crime statistics…. there have been hundreds of break ins in the past months and absolutely NO arrests, there have been rapes, and NO arrests, there have been aggravated assaults and NO arrests, there have been cars stolen and NO arrests, there have been homes broken into…. and GUESS WHAT?!? NO ARRESTS. Sandy Springs police are doing nothing but giving out speeding tickets and that DOES NOT make them good cops.

By Akagi

August 16, 2007 12:55 PM | Link to this

Yes Kelly speeding is in fact against the law—I might add so was drinking a beer from 1920 until 1933 as was harboring an escaped slave under the fugitive slave act and in many states until 1967 so was marrying someone outside your own race—should these laws have been obeyed simply because a legislative body was stupid enough to pass them? As citizens we have an obligation to follow the law and lawmakers have an obligation not to pass idiotic laws—but since the majority in most legislatures are idiots that is perhaps asking too much.

If you drive 55 when everyone else is doing 75-80—IT IS YOU THAT IS THE DANGEROUS DRIVER. If you drive that slow you are going to get someone killed. Someone driving 110 in a 55 is a serious threat to everyone but so is driving 55 when 90% of everyone else is driving 75-80.

And despite what you may think, many governments use the police as a way to increase their revenue—Cobb County and Sandy Springs among others are very bad about this.

And adawgfan:

Steve isn’t saying crime victims deserve what they get; he is saying predators will seek victims seen as soft targets. So if you go out, get drunk out of your mind and walk alone out into the dark streets late at night you can bet your chances of being a victim will greatly increase.

By nurse&mother

August 16, 2007 2:11 PM | Link to this

Akagi, are you saying that only drunk women get raped (and at night)? If this is what you intended to say, you are surely wrong. I live in north Ga and we had a woman get abducted in broad daylight in a Staples parking lot. It was neither night time, nor was she drunk. I have a relative that was raped and she wasn’t drunk. I think you may be making assumptions. If that is not what you intended, then my bad.

By nurse&mother

August 16, 2007 2:13 PM | Link to this

Oh, forgot to mention that the woman abducted in broad daylight was sexually assualted.

By satchseven

August 16, 2007 2:21 PM | Link to this

for you clowns crying because you can,t drive 100 mph.you are the reason atlanta is just dangerous to dive in than any thrid world country.atlanta is just as dangerous than any other so called crime ridden urban area because of the idiots on the freeways in metro atl and your lack of law enforcement on the interstates there.

By Akagi

August 16, 2007 3:20 PM | Link to this

Nurse:

No, didn’t say that at all did I? Anyone can be a victim. My point and Steve’s point is that you can make it more likely that you will become a victim by putting yourself (or your property) in harms way. By making common sense decisions you make it less likely that you will become a victim, but that you can never eliminate the chances entirely.

This was the point I was trying to make to adawgfan and I was thinking specifically of Imette St. Guillen who did in fact get drunk out of her skull and wandered off into the streets of New York at 4 in the morning—even if hours before her friends asked her to go with them. But as Boston’s WKRO John DePetro said she was asking for trouble and sadly for her and her family, she found it.

If you do not recall—she was found later raped and murdered. Did she deserve this. NO But she did make a very foolish decision—one that cost her her life. She made herself more likely to be a victim. This doesn’t mean that even if you make yourself a hard target you won’t be attacked or robbed or broken into, etc, but it makes it less likely. That is my point.

And satchseven:

Please show where I or anyone else here is crying over the fact that we can’t drive 100mph?

By nurse&mother

August 16, 2007 6:02 PM | Link to this

Akagi:

Your point is well taken. I certainly agree that it is good to use common sense.

I have just heard too often, expecially when it comes to sexual assault, the prosecutor bring out in court that the victim was wearing provocative clothing (or something else) in an attempt to discredit the victim (and also an attempt to redirect the blame).

Yes, people should use common sense, but if they do not, it should not give the perp the right to violate another person. I will get off my soapbox.

By Tony

August 16, 2007 6:42 PM | Link to this

Nurse&mother, Was there any forced entry to the commercial building? There’s not a lot that we can do after the fact other than do a report and get it entered onto GCIC as stolen property (provided you have the serial number or vin, which most people don’t). I also apologize to you for the lazy a* that answered the call. Did they attempt to find any evidence like fingerprints, pry marks or maybe shoeprints (where they might of kicked in the door)? I don’t know of any prosecutors that would discredit any crime victim (my wife is a prosecuting attorney). The prosecutor is supposed to be on the side of the victim. Any prosecutor that says to a jury that the victim “asked for it” by what she was wearing should be disbarred. Hopefully, you were referring to the defense attorney.

By Tony

August 16, 2007 6:57 PM | Link to this

Charliejoe, First of all thanks. I try to do the best job that I can do each and everyday. But, I am human and I have days that I don’t feel 100%(just like everyone else). Leglly employed to make money? Are you kidding me? (haha). Police officers that have the God complex do p**s me off also. It’s a matter of time before they are asked to leave or are forced to leave. I feel fortunate that I work for a department that demands excellence. Lee, if they are “hid up off the road” running laser or radar, they are very wrong. Georgia law specifies that we are visible for a minimum of 500 feet (unless it’s the Ga State Patrol).

By fk

August 16, 2007 7:26 PM | Link to this

Akagi…how on earth can you recall a victim’s name? That vicious attack took place a long time ago, yes? I think I was a teenager then, and I remember the awful headlines in the NY newspapers, but, sadly, I would never be able to recall her name…not in a million years. She was an unfortunate example for us. My parents had a universal rule that applied to all of their children, sons and daughters alike. The golden rule: You look out for your friends. When you go out with friends, you come home with friends. Never leave one behind. No exceptions. And, it was not just my parents, all of my friends’ parents said it. Now we say it to our own teenagers.

BTW, who can make a common sense decision when drunk out of one’s skull?

By nurse&mother

August 17, 2007 9:32 AM | Link to this

Tony, yes, I meant the defense attorney (oops). I’m not sure exactly of the details regarding my husband’s building. I do think that there was forced entry. It was a building that was still under construction, but it was almost finished (doors were locked, no windows). The cop made no effort to look for fingerprints etc. I’m not sure if my husband had the serial number or not. He keeps up with EVERYTHING, like all receipts for years. He even staples each receipt to his credit card statments and goes through bank account at least once weekly. So I am willing to bet he may have kept the number.

My husband told the cop that he bet it was a teenager, because he had seen a lot of teens skate boarding many times, months earlier before he had the doors put up. My husband just suggested that the cop look around the area close by. How hard could that be?

By Lex Luthor

August 17, 2007 10:28 AM | Link to this

Cubby,

Why are you worried about a $175 stop sign violation? Do you run them? If you knew it’d cost you $175 every time you ran a stop sign you’d quit wouldn’t you? That’s the point of the fine.

By Akagi

August 17, 2007 12:08 PM | Link to this

fk:

It was spring 2006 when she was murdered and actually I didn’t remember her name—just the incident—I had to look up her name, becuase unlike Natalee Holloway the St. Guillen case didn’t garner months and months of wall to wall coverage.

Bill O’Reilly among others correctly pointed out that through her own actions she put herself in grave risk—in short she was asking for it. And he was roundly attacked for basically stating the truth. And before someone slams me for the comment as they did Bill O’Reilly—again, if you get drunk, and stumble down the streets of a major urban center at 4 a.m. you might as well put a big sign on your back that reads—Victim: Please attack me!

Now that doesn’t excuse the animal for attacking her, but she used very very poor judgment. Just as it would be equally foolish for me to walk down the street late at night in any of a number of Atlanta neighborhoods counting a huge wad of cash in my hand or leaving a laptop in plain sight inside my car.

That is the crux of my argument. Don’t make it easy for criminals to victimize you. Predators usually prefer easy prey and walking alone and drunk makes you pretty easy prey.

By Cubby

August 17, 2007 2:24 PM | Link to this

@Lexx You missed my point entirely. Steve pointed out people wanting more police presence.

You get more police presence by increasing fines for moving violations.

The reference to the $175 stop sign penalty was that if homeowners want more police presence the fines will be higher.

I know the amount of the fine because a) I have many good friends who are officers in this state b) I have a friend who received such a fine.

You might want to try re-reading my initial message about how to pay for the increased officers.

Thanks for stopping by.

By Akagi

August 17, 2007 6:11 PM | Link to this

You could also pay for more officers by eliminating government spending where it is not needed—e.g. government support for artists, performers, etc who can’t seem to earn a living at their craft in the free market.

By fk

August 17, 2007 6:12 PM | Link to this

Bill O’Reilly? Just because he says something, makes it true and right? Have you never done something so amazingly stupid or outlandish in your youth that it is a wonder that you’re still alive? Sadly, there are so many young people who are not here, simply because they made a bad decision that ultimately ended in tragedy…that’s youth and inexperience. It’s hard to get that point across when young adults see themselves as invincible and think that bad things happen to other people. Many grown adults think the same way. No one purposely sets themselves up as a target, no one asks to become a victim of a crime. That is such a ridiculous train of thought to me. This column brings a lot of absentminded behavior to light, so that potential opportunities for crime will be averted. Information is good. Sitting in judgment serves no purpose.

By Akagi

August 17, 2007 6:24 PM | Link to this

No FK, just because Bill O’Reilly says something doesn’t make it true, but in this case he was 100% correct.

If you make it easier for yourself to be a victim you increase the chances that you will be victimized. That is just the way it works. Getting drunk, walking out alone into the deserted streets of a major city at 4 a.m. especially if you happen to be female greatly increases your chances of becoming a victim.

That is the point of all this. The bottom line is you don’t make it easy for criminals to prey on you. This doesn’t mean you still can’t become a victim, but it reduces the chances that you will.

That clear enough for you?

By Tony

August 17, 2007 8:20 PM | Link to this

Nurse&mother, If you have the serial number or vin, call the officer or the department and have them enter it onto GCIC as either stolen property or a stolen vehicle. I’m just not sure if GCIC enters an atv as a vehicle or not. It’s about the best way to get it back provided it hasn’t been that long ago that it was taken.