NorthSide.Talk

By zoom

November 17, 2006 10:58 AM | Link to this

Edge is an idiot. It is possible to get on 400 or northside-285 and do 75mph for your entire journey, have many people passing you, and never once get a ticket. Why? Because no police are out there in the first place; the freeways are completely lawless at the moment.

I think the 55mph speed limit is stupid, too, and needs to be raised — but a total lack of enforcement presence means the speed limit is actually “whatever each person is willing to drive”… and for some, that means 100MPH while weaving in and out of traffic, an obviously-unsafe circumstance.

GSP needs to get their butts out there and start doing their jobs; and if they don’t have the manpower to do it, then the cities need to.

By Ranger1

November 17, 2006 10:59 AM | Link to this

ABSOLUTELY!! And not only that. Dangerous, aggressive, idiotic driving should be treated as the serious issue that it is. A motor vehicle is a deadly weapon. I truly believe that not only should there be a very visible police presence on these death routes, but that traffic accidents causing bodily harm, property damage, or death should be treated as serious assaults. No aggressive driver should go home with a ticket after causing others such loss. They should be arrested, post bond, go to trial, and prison depending upon the seriousness of the offense. I for one am sick and tired of having my life, or anyone elses life for that matter threatened by aggressive, dangerous drivers.

By da kimmer is a bozo

November 17, 2006 11:33 AM | Link to this

Zoom is correct.

Cities and municipalities have no business on the interstates. Speeding tickets are revenue generators. Period.

Woodstock, I hear, lost the privilege of running radar on 575 for this reason. Holly Springs’ section of 575 is a major money maker for them.

As for Ranger1’s comment that he is “sick and tired” of having his life endangered - he is probably one of the idiots sitting in the far left lane, doing 50 while cars are going around him. Think that isn’t unsafe??

Law enforcement should aggressively enforce laws on drives that are “impeding the flow of traffic” ie the left lane losers who are too dumb or too selfish to let faster traffic have those lanes

By lmm

November 17, 2006 11:33 AM | Link to this

In my experience, these idiots who drive 30 mph over the posted speed limit and are weaving in and out of traffic as well as those the folks who get on your tail (so close you can see their nose hairs), whip around you and then cut you off when passing you have no clue the havoc they are wreaking behind them! I’ve nearly had my bumper taken off dozens of times by people like these and have had to slam on my brakes to avoid hitting them, which starts a chain reaction behind me.

Yes, I think there should be more of a cop presence on the interstates.

By RW

November 17, 2006 11:57 AM | Link to this

As long as the interstate runs through the municipality, and the local cops are expected to respond to accidents on the interstate, they should be able to write tickets there.

By Lee

November 17, 2006 12:20 PM | Link to this

The only reason these local PDs are on the interstates is to generate revenue. A cop writes two tickets an hour per shift at say $150 per ticket - you do the math.

Here’s how it works. The mayor, city council, city manager, et al face a budget shortfall. They instruct the police chief to write more tickets. The chief knows if he writes tickets to city residents, he will catch hell from the residents. So, he parks a couple of squad cars on the interstate to run speed traps. After all, these people are just passing through and they don’t vote in his district.

I guarantee you if the state legislature passed a law that says all local traffic ticket revenue gets forwarded to the state, you would never see a local cop on the interstate.

Law enforcement quit being about public safety years ago. Y’all just now figuring that out??

By Rod

November 17, 2006 12:55 PM | Link to this

We need more cops on the roads. Let the cops be on every road and highway they want! The only people who would be against this are those who plan to deliberately break the law and speed and drive recklessly.

Lee - there is some revenue generated, but it also saves lives. Those lives probably aren’t to important to you - but just think, they may have saved the life of you or someone in your family. Grow up.

And, da kimmer is a bozo - you’re wrong. Woodstock did not *lose the privilege of running radar on 575.

By Ranger1

November 17, 2006 12:59 PM | Link to this

Da kimmer and Lee and probably the kind of aggressive drivers that feel entitled to maim, kill, and destroy property. People like them are the exact reason that there should be a police presence. It would be absolutely wonderful if people like those 2 became big revenue generators for local jurisdictions.

By Amelia

November 17, 2006 01:03 PM | Link to this

So I guess the people obeying the laws of this state are the problem, huh, da kimmer? Arrogant people that you with your me first attitude and entitlement mentality are absolutely disgusting.

By Richard

November 17, 2006 01:20 PM | Link to this

About a month ago I was driving on 75 at night and my car broke down - I didn’t have my cell phone with me. It was about 11:00 pm. While I was still trying to figure out what to do, a cop pulled over - not State Patrol - a regular cop that Lee doesn’t want on the highway. He let me use his personal cell phone and drove me to the next exit and a service station that was open. He also said he would drive by my car periodically to keep tabs on it.

Lee would have been happier if I was hit by another car or picked up by thugs and robbed, or possibly killed.

By Lee

November 17, 2006 01:23 PM | Link to this

Actually, following too closely is probably the biggest cause of accidents. However, you never hear of anyone getting a ticket for that until after an accident. Why? Probably because that is harder to prove in court unless someone actually rear ends another car. The officer would have to prove speed and distance. Much easier and more profitable to sit on the side of the road and run a radar gun.

Ranger: “It would be absolutely wonderful if people like those 2 became big revenue generators for local jurisdictions.” So you are admitting that is is all about the revenue. Thanks for proving my point.

By Jane Doe

November 17, 2006 02:39 PM | Link to this

Lee: The chief knows if he writes tickets to city residents, he will catch hell from the residents.

How about catching hell from the residents because the police aren’t patrolling their neighborhoods and businesses?

I think you’re assuming a lot.

The fact is, if it’s in the city’s jurisdiction, they get the primary duty of enforcing the laws.

And an easy way to avoid tickets is to not be the fastest person on the road and not trigger crashes, your own or anyone else’s.

Just a side note: BMWs are very forgiving cars, that’s why any novice can get behind the wheel of one and act the fool and not hurt himself. Know what I mean?

By Joe

November 17, 2006 02:47 PM | Link to this

The speed limits on the interstates in metro Atlanta are obscenely low! Safety experts say the speed limit should be at the prevailing speed of traffic, which is about 75 on our interstates. DORAVILLE which has the highest ticket income per capita of any government in GA gets a lot of its income from I-285. With its loss of the GM cash cow it is now trying to lower the speed limit on Buford Highway to 35! All interstate and state highway speeding fines should go into the State treasury to stop these revenue speed traps like Doraville, Sandy Springs, DeKalb County and Union City.

By Tax Payer

November 17, 2006 03:19 PM | Link to this

Got a speeding ticket from Union City police on I-85 south bound at mile marker 64, this is written on the ticket by the officer. Mile marker 64 is south of the Union City exit. They are obviously targeting people who live in Fayette and Coweta county. That should be illegal!

By BMW driver

November 17, 2006 03:21 PM | Link to this

I am inclined to believe that ticket writing is primarily for revenue generating. I drive a BMW (which has been noted as a very safe car) and I have been pulled over many times when I am not the fastest person on the highway. Not even the second or third fastest. I never drive in the left most lane because I am constantly being passed. I do not drive aggressively. I have been pulled over while being passed by a Honda Insight do 90 mph while I was doing 70 mph. So, I was indeed speeding but you cannot tell me that the primary reason for pulling me over was to make the highway safer! Which is the safer car? A Honda Insight doing 90 mph or a BMW M3 doing 70 mph? It was a case of who looks like they can afford to pay this ticket.

By edge770

November 17, 2006 03:42 PM | Link to this

Last time I looked, I am not an idiot. I do believe GSP and county agencies should be on the interstate as to enhance safety, that’s where their training and resources should lie. I know a county that built a brand new GSP post so instead of having local cops that they need, GSP performs “personal” law enforcement, saving and creating the county\city money. Local agencies that go and get motorcycles, night vision goggles and yes helicopters, are creating an issue so to receive funds. Most grants awarded by state and feds don’t award on lowering statistics, but how many tickets and traffic stops an agency makes, so they “make” a problem so they get the big bucks. Is there a speeding issue on interstates? Sure, but local agencies that need to be more local presence, take on the easy bucks and avoid the real problems. If GSP was strictly road duty and implemented air enforcement, agencies like Cobb, Marietta, Woodstock and Sandy Springs could work street crime and crimes against persons. I also boycott cities like Holly Springs and Sandy Springs that have overt traffic enforcement programs and use my economic power as appropiate.

By edge770

November 17, 2006 03:52 PM | Link to this

I am not against law enforcement. What I am against is agencies that have no business being on a controlled access highway, do so to increase testerone and enforcement revenue. If a GSP unit stops me fine, a local city officer with leather boots, who hides in the bushes and pulls out 2 grand radar, that’s T R O U B L E. A single police car driving along patrolling will go a long way as a deterrent than having five guys with their Dodge Chargers looking hot for the ladies or men. IF GSP stop guarding college football coaches and personal servants to small counties, there might be enough officers to make a difference. I am not against law enforcement, but who is out there and this ticket til it hurts nonsense. I know a cop that did 6 traffic stops in an hour, and he wasn’t handing out warnings. and about half of those were negated due to his tactics and “showmanship” as the judge called it.

By Lee

November 17, 2006 04:39 PM | Link to this

Let’s see. I can go 50 in a 35 on a residential street or I can go 70 in a 55 on 285. Which one is the greatest safety hazard?

I would say blowing down a residential street at 15mph over is a greater threat to safety. However, the cops know that they cant sit on my street and write 10-30 tickets a night. Therefore, they are out on the interstate.

I want the police patroling the neighborhoods looking for bad guys. Most cops want to be patroling the neighborhoods. The mayor and city manager want them on the side of the interstate generating revenue.

And here’s the greatest irony, while the cops are out on the interstate, Jose the illegal alien (whom the cops ignore, by the way), is walking around your street looking for a way to break into your house.

Of course. It takes money to arrest, process, arraign, lock up, and deport Jose. In the 3-4 hours worth of paperwork to do that, that same cop could probably generate $1000 revenue from writing tickets.

Like I said, it’s all about the money.

By Patrick

November 17, 2006 05:32 PM | Link to this

I think the interstates should be the responsibility of the State Patrol. The Atlanta Police Dept is short staffed as-is and every time it rains most of downtown and midtown’s officers end up working wrecks on the connector. Meanwhile the the residents and visitors to the city are left without adequate police coverage in the city.

By Amelia

November 17, 2006 05:40 PM | Link to this

So Lee is not only an arrogant me first scofflaw, but a bigot too. I guess somethings just go hand in hand. The Joses of the world are definately preferable to the Lees of the world.

By jafo

November 17, 2006 05:50 PM | Link to this

Good question. The answer depends on what agency has to work the wrecks that occur on the controlled highway. GSP does not work accidents in the metro area, then it is the responsibilty of the agency working the accidents to do enforcement to prevent the accidents. Just common sense.

By ganavyvet

November 17, 2006 06:04 PM | Link to this

Cities/Municipalities(such as Alpharetta) hire local Police to protect their cities. While Officer Jones is sitting or cruising 400 looking for speeders, etc. he is not cruising neighborhoods or shopping centers looking for and detering crimes within the city boundaries by his mere presence. We hear everyday about home invasions, rapes and assaults in shopping center parking lots. When officers are on the highways the city taxpayer is getting ripped off for the bill they pay for local protection. We have County Police and GSP and possibly others to patrol the highways. I have lived in neighborhoods where I have never seen a patrol car cruise through the neighborhood. How long will it take officer Jones to answer a distress call in this neighborhood if he is 5-10 miles away on a highway?

By da kimmer is a bozo

November 17, 2006 06:48 PM | Link to this

Amelia-A wonderful example of a bleeding heart liberal. “Me first” is what makes America great. If you feel you need to nursemaid the world do so on your time!

Rod and Ranger- The interstates were built for high speed. If you feel inadequate then stay on the side streets. You are the reason there are so many wrecks. Those of us with better driving skills and bigger cajones have to weave in and out to avoid hitting you doing 45 in the “fast lane”. You guys are the real problem

Lastly tickets are simply revenue generators. Lee and Edge are right on the money. We have real crime in our cities. Speeding is not a real crime. Officer’s need to be looking for the rogues and robbers.

By APD is the pits

November 17, 2006 07:36 PM | Link to this

The Atlanta Police Department also runs radar on 75-S just inside the river. Totally burns me up, too. Someone please explain to me what business the Atlanta Police Department has out on 75-S, probably 1/2 mile from Cobb County at the Chattahoochee. I didn’t know the city limits extend that far, but I guess it does if they are out there writing tickets, GENERATING REVENUE. Atlanta’s finest, indeed.

By mm505

November 17, 2006 08:23 PM | Link to this

I spent 9 years working EMS in the Atlanta area. Probably 90% of all accidents I worked on the highways were caused by speeders. But, I speed, too, on the highways, but not 30 MPH over the limit and not weaving in and out of traffic. I always give myself plenty of time to get to my destination.

There are a couple states that the State Police/Highway Patrol only works the interstates and they are extremely aggressive is stopping speeders. And in those states, traffic fatalities/accidents are way down.

Want something scary? Ask to ride with EMS for an evening and get to work a serious car wreck on the weekend. When you see everyone zooming by you at 80-90 MPH, you will understand why we need all the LE (Law Enforcement) we can get on the highways!

By DeWayne Ross

November 17, 2006 09:27 PM | Link to this

I do not think that federally funded road systems ought to be traffic patroled by anyone but The State Patrol.

That is their job! The University Police, County Police, City police departments all have enough to do without having to worry with who is going too fast! Many more accidents happen on Municipal streets than Interstates anyway.

I think That they are just using the Interstates as a “BIG “OLE CASH COW”!

By Safety First

November 17, 2006 09:36 PM | Link to this

For those of you who think the interstates were built for “high speed”, why don’t you move to Germany and drive their deathroad called the Autoban. I don’t care if revenue is generated or not, it’s about Safety first. If you want to put yourself in harm’s way, there’s nothing anyone can do about that; just don’t subject me and my family to your aggressively dangerous lane-weaving.

And by the way, the reverse is also true in that the aggressives drive 85 in the slow lanes, just as often as people drive “45” in the fast lane.

Nothing is so important that 70 to 75mph isn’t fast enough. “Better late than NEVER” actually has merit!

By E. T.

November 17, 2006 10:06 PM | Link to this

GSP would investigate crashes and do more enforcement patrols in the metro area if they had enough personnel to answer all the calls. They don’t, because the governor and the legislature won’t appropriate enough money to attract and hire good candidates. Besides, if there were more troopers patrolling the highways, more legislators would probably get caught. We can’t have that now, can we.

By Safety First

November 17, 2006 10:38 PM | Link to this

Well, the Govenor and the legislature had better begin to take this situation seriously. Atlanta’s highways have become some of the most dangerous highways to drive in this nation. At whatever cost, this simply must be addressed. It is a serious detraction to our state. If you’ve ever lived in a state that had more highway patrol presence, it becomes glaringly obviously after only a short while driving here in our state that we have nearly no patrol presence.

That fact only reinforces and encourages the wreckless, inconsiderate, aggressively awful drivers to think they rule the road. God forbid anyone driving 65 to 70mph (with children in the car) be in THEIR way!

By William

November 17, 2006 10:44 PM | Link to this

Da Kimmer is a bozo

If a member of your family got hurt or killed by a speeding motorist I think that you would change your tune.

I think about it every time that I have to notify someone’s next of kin.

It’s never your problem until your affected by it. Then it’s too late.

By zekemire

November 18, 2006 12:04 AM | Link to this

Only state troopers should patrol interstates and limited access roads like 400! No city, county police or county sherrifs deputies who only use that as an income producer! The state should spend whatever it takes to put sufficient numbers of troopers on the roads to insure drivers observe speed limits up to no more than 5 mph over and to enforce safe driving! The biggest problems in the metro area are speed, failure to yield to faster traffic, failure to observe all traffic laws and posted rules, aggressive driving and just general unsafe stupidity! If it takes a trooper every mile each way on the freeways and holds up traffic for long periods, they must start pulling, severly fineing and suspending driver’s licenses for any/all violations , the traffic problems will continue to increase! The number of troopers must be increaded drastically! I drive to SC, FLA, ALA often and rarely see as many as one trooper, most times no trooper, for the 150 to 250 miles I drive each way in Georgia! That is not acceptable!

By Brooke

November 18, 2006 02:15 AM | Link to this

The police have the jurisdiction to enforce all laws within their city/county lines. This includes all freeways. Taxpayers pay the police to uphold the law including traffic laws. Did you know that all Georgia police departments are limited to the percentage of revenue collected from traffic violations? It is less than 40%. The police have better things to do that pull people over for speeding etc. Let them do their jobs, follow the traffic laws, and you will probably notice them a whole lot less.

By topcop

November 18, 2006 06:37 AM | Link to this

Some municipalities (such as Doraville) focus on traps to feed the pockets of their overpaid City Attorney and judges. They don’t give a rat’s * about about the welfare of anyone but themselves. Watch for this to happen in Sandy Springs.

By Michael

November 18, 2006 07:42 AM | Link to this

More Tickets = More Clients. Bring it on, Christmas is coming.

By Lee

November 18, 2006 08:18 AM | Link to this

Think it’s not about revenue? Here’s a simple test: Ask a cop what would happen if he did not run a speed trap for a month but rather patroled the neighborhoods, back alleys, and parking lots looking for the bad guys.

If the cop is honest, he will tell you that the police sgt/capt/chief would be raising cain with him in about a week for not writing enough tickets.

The great irony is that most cops (except for the occasional egotistical jerk off) would prefer to be patroling the neighborhoods in the manner I described above. That is why most joined the police department - to help the people. It’s the politicians and bureaucrats of the world that have turned them into a cash cow.

I had a good buddy on the local PD who would occasionally tell me “Better watch yourself. We’re running out of money again.” Basically, the patrolmen were told they needed to write more tickets.

By leodis youngblood

November 18, 2006 08:22 AM | Link to this

+By Leo Yes, I agree that inorder to reduce many of the crazy ways that all of us see drivers operating their vehicles should not hesitate one from voting to have more law enforcement present in the time of need.I am not sure why there ins’t enough State Police ,however help is needed on our main highways.

By Brian

November 18, 2006 10:04 AM | Link to this

topcop is right………..Doraville guards their 200 yard stretch of I-285 like it was a football endzone. I guess thats easier (and more profitable) than actually cleaning up the city’s crime ridden areas. Has anyone told these guys that they have a gang problem in their city?

By Cops Need Money Too

November 18, 2006 11:36 AM | Link to this

Contrary to what the police tell you they do not have your best interests at heart. If they were REALLY concerned about stopping speeding they would patrol more and employ preventative measures. They wouldn’t sit on the side of the road with a doughnut in their left hand and a laser in their right hand waiting for people to speed past them. That is LAZY police work. They need to get off their lazy butts and patrol the roads to stop the people with the radar detectors who slow down when it beeps. People routinely go 90+ on the interstates. You won’t catch them sitting behind a bridge you lazy officers. PATROL AND PREVENT. Don’t Sit and Cost people money for going 66 in a 55. But then again, it is all about that grant money you get for writing as many tickets as you can.

By R U Crazy

November 18, 2006 11:57 AM | Link to this

All the State Patrol officers are tied up responding to the serious injury and fatal accidents caused by the reckless, speeding and careless drivers in Georgia. They not only have to be at the accident site but at the hospital and then have to write very detailed reports on all of this. So the next time Joe Driver careens into the back of your car doing 90 mph, not noticing the brake lights ahead. Just know the trooper responding will be working on that particular case for the rest of his shift. Not only do local law enforcement ticket drivers for speeding on the highways, they also catch a lot of DUI’s and people transporting drugs. You know those people are exiting somewhere. Would you rather they make it to your exit?

By SD

November 18, 2006 12:54 PM | Link to this

The far left lane on the highway is called the fast lane. If you are in the fast lane move over to the right if someone is behind you.

It works great in Europe (esp. Germany) and they have a much higher rate of speed and less crashes per thousand people than we do in the US.

By Drew

November 18, 2006 01:14 PM | Link to this

Nobody really goes 45 or 50 in the fast lane in Atlanta. What is really happening is someone’s going 70 or 75 in the left lane (in a 55 zone), and then some high-strung egomaniac in his BMW or her Mercedes comes along doing 90 and gets p.o.’d because someone is in his/her way. Waah waah, cry me a river. More patrols, please.

By zero99

November 18, 2006 01:40 PM | Link to this

If you were a criminal you WOULD NOT want them there. If you are a law abiding citizen you WOULD want them there. You go figure it out. By the way, traffic violators are the number one killers on people from the age of 3-21.

By Safety First

November 18, 2006 02:42 PM | Link to this

Thank you Drew! You’re exactly right. The patroless highways/interstates in and around Atlanta are a serious problem that needs a serious resolution. What will it take to make that happen? In the last six to seven years the interstates here have become increasingly dreadful to drive.

I also concur with “Cops need money too”. It is LAZY police work to sit on the side of the road waiting for someone to speed by. PATROL the roads and help keep the flow of traffic moving at a respectable and more safe speed. It would be a welcome deterrent!

By Lee

November 18, 2006 02:43 PM | Link to this

Zero, If I were a criminal, I would want the police on the side of the interstate. More cops on speed trap duty = less cops patroling the neighborhoods where I’m burglarizing.

I remember Cobb County used to run a speed trap on I-75 south around Wade Green road where the speed limit dropped to 55mph. One cop on the overpass with a radar and about 8-10 chase cars lined up. Public safety my big ‘ol white hairy a$$.

Always remember, never get between a cop and a $100 bill.

By david

November 18, 2006 05:29 PM | Link to this

Try to get through Pendergrass without getting a ticket,

By Gun Toter

November 18, 2006 05:51 PM | Link to this

I have mixed feelings about city police being on the interstate highway. We need city and county police out there to try to slow people down.I think that the aggressive drivers, the ones who cut in and out of traffic, use the HOV lanes to pass, and cut accross the GORE lines to pass are the people that should be tageted. The Ga. State Patrol has to have a bigger presence on the interstates. You rarely see one. I travel a lot of country roads in meddle Georgia and I see more state troopers on 2 lane back country roads than I do the interstates. I know to that the GSP has to patrol rual areas because there is no police in some of those area. GSP has to hire a bunch more troopers and make their presence seen and felt on the local interstates. This will free up the local police to better patrol their cities and protect the citizens of those cities. Ga. DOT can also assign more of their officers to work on slowing down truckers too.

By Gun Toter

November 18, 2006 05:53 PM | Link to this

Speaking of Pendergrass…… I went through there today and right in front of the Flea Market, there were several police cars and a motorcycle with people pulled over. Don’t go through there at night if your tag lite is out……you will get a ticket

By Billy

November 18, 2006 06:42 PM | Link to this

NO

By Chris

November 18, 2006 06:50 PM | Link to this

I don’t think any reasonable person has any problem with Police on the interstates. However, I do have a problem with tickets for revenue, idiot drivers who have no concept of laws or courtesy, people who drive in the rain with their lights off, drivers who feel that driving in the far left lane is their God given right because they are going over 55 MPH, etc, etc, etc. If public safety was truly what law enforcement want to accomplish, then just the sight of a cruiser slows traffic.

Some other things I want to point out.

It is not only courteous but also safer to move out of the far left lane if a faster car comes up behind you. Regardless of the speed you may be traveling.

Please turn on your headlights in the rain. Regardless of how well you think you can see, other people can’t see you. Not only is this pretty much common sense, it is the law.

I am fairly certain that all cars have blinkers standard. Please familiarize yourself with not only the location of them, but also how to operate them.

Finally, ignorance of how to properly operate a vehicle is the number one cause of accidents, not speeding.

By Cathy

November 18, 2006 08:00 PM | Link to this

Maybe it is just me, but being raised with a lots of police in my family and having given birth to one, I am strangely comforted by the sight of any type of police car, makes me feel safe. Those that use the excuse of revenues generated, give it a rest they are not on commission.You really think they like putting their lives on the line every time they get out of the car? Dummy

By Snouter

November 18, 2006 10:46 PM | Link to this

If people knew how to drive, we could safely cruise at 90mph on these freeways. Modern cars all handle fairly well and have great brakes.

Knowing how to drive is faster traffic on the left, using your signals, and getting over in time to make your exit. If you’ve ever been to Europe, you know that these three simple rules make more more difference to safety than catching people going 82mph. Passing on the right is a distinctly American thing, and it’s retarded.

We’d rather camp in the left lane doing 50mph so we can work the phone, or exit perpendicular from the far left lane or just change lanes in front of faster traffic without using a signal.

I’m not weaving in and out of traffic, I’m passing on the right, since I have no choice. If you want to go 60mph. Fine. Just do it in one of the two right lanes.

I’m not speeding, I’m trying to get as far away from you as possible.

And no, it’s not about public safety, it’s about cash. If they really cared about public safety, you’d see PSAs telling people how to drive and pointers of things to be mindful of.

Frankly, I’m more scared of the typical Yukon Denali or Minivan driver than I am of some punk in an M3.

By Joe

November 18, 2006 10:58 PM | Link to this

For Georgia specific traffic tickets, go here. This website explains it ALL!!!

www dot ticketkiller dot net

By rarerufus

November 18, 2006 11:26 PM | Link to this

Well the way i look at it ,If the city and the county police want’s to write tickets on any interstate,I think when it comes time for that part of the interstate that they patrol and write tickets on,Has to be resurfaced or new signs or whatever done. Then that city or county needs to pay for the work to be done not the state.

By Carl

November 18, 2006 11:51 PM | Link to this

I feel that if the interstate was built through a municipality (for example, the City of Atlanta), then the municipality should be able to patrol and write citations. When a city expands it’s city limits to include an interstate (like Braselton, Sandy Springs, and Commerce) then they should NOT be able to write tickets on those roadways. It is obvious to me that those towns are only expanding their corporate limits in order to generate revenue from traffic citations.

By Ernie Logman

November 19, 2006 12:52 AM | Link to this

sure the local police should patrol and write tickets on interstates that go thru their municipality, but the revenues from those tickets should go 100% to the state.

I bet that the local yokels wouldn’t be so keen to enforce the traffic laws on the interstates if their municipality didnt get the revenue.

NJ changed it’s traffic laws so that all fines went to the states and tickets written by Boro and Township police departments declined 95% - surprise surprise

It’s all about the revenue

By Kyle

November 19, 2006 05:08 AM | Link to this

I think I’ve seen Hapeville police patrolling the little stretch of I-85 that is in their city limits, and with the Ford Plant gone, maybe they need a little extra revenue, but I agree with the comment about expanding city limits to include interstates. I think I see more of that in middle Georgia than metro Atlanta, but I could be wrong.

By LJ

November 19, 2006 07:30 AM | Link to this

Yes,There is no inforcement at all on the interstates. There are to many Cowboys and Mental Midgets racing around out there. Jerks without a clue.

By Cops Need Money Too

November 19, 2006 09:55 AM | Link to this

Cathy,

I must disagree. If someone is speeding, by the time they see a police car it is too late because the policeman has already put his doughnut down and flipped the blue lights switch. If they really cared about protecting the interstates and school zones for that matter, they could cruise through them doing the speed limit instead of waiting on the side with their coffee and laser gun catching someone in the act. NOBODY speeds when a police car is riding along them and if they do they deserve a ticket.

It is lazy police work setting up speed traps.

By Cops Need Money Too

November 19, 2006 09:57 AM | Link to this

Alright Law Enforcement. PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS! If it is really not about the revenue but protecting people, then donate all revenue in excess of a resonable budgeted amount to charity and get rid of the grant money received for writing tickets. YEAH!! I THOUGHT SO!!

By Baw Baw

November 19, 2006 11:34 AM | Link to this

I have always been bothered by the sight of City and/or county police patrolling Interstates. As a taxpayer, I feel that City police departments should patrol and protect the citizens and their property within the city limits,patrolling city streets and neighborhoods. Likewise, county police should patrol and protect those citizens and property within the county, patrolling county roads and neighborhoods, and leave the interstates and state highways for the State Patrol. I understand there would be exceptions to this coverage when local/county governments are consolidated.

By Show me the Money!

November 19, 2006 11:42 AM | Link to this

It’s all about the revenue! Interstates or city streets, never mind the location, the Po-Po have bogeys to reach and $$$ to be made for their respective governing agencies.”Probable Cause” is a HUGE doorway to revenue, be it impounding property(cars,cash,etc), it leads to $$$ for them. We all know police are underpaid and overused, if we(the people) allocated enough salary for them and budget for crime prevention with restrictions on how it was spent(major crimes,new equip,task forces)then well paid policemen, with plenty of budget wouldn’t “harvest” speeding fines, they would prevent crimes. Just for grins…..I wonder what the death rate is on the Autobahn directly related to speeding? Can’t be that bad or they would slow people down.

By Ervin D Engram

November 19, 2006 12:11 PM | Link to this

City Cops should not patrol I-285or any other Interstate highway.

Why is this state so cheap on enforcement. Is it that you have let so many get by, until you are afraid to develop special forces control by the state to do there job. This is a major traffic State, it is responsible for enforcing Home Security. How can you have a plan to assist people in the State of Georgia, With no enforcement developed to direct people in an approved plan. I have lived in this state from 1938 to present. Why dose it take fifty years to make a change to benefit, the welfare of this state in terms of progress for its population as a whole.

We can build units of houses and new hotels, and have no means of directing people with enforceable control, with advance and proper knowledgeable procedure in a simple Crisis/

When will this State stop being the pervasive State and take some planned and resonable required development its citizens.

Let us put the people of Georgia on our Mind.

By Shannon, M.Div.

November 19, 2006 02:09 PM | Link to this

You know, it wasn’t that long ago that the students made the video of I-285. Remember that? They went parallel to each other, all at 55 miles per hour. They were obeying the law and it completely stopped traffic that day. The point? All of you who are moralizing about following the strict letter of the law (dear heavens), if you got what you claim to want, you’d have each of the interstates a parking lot.

What I don’t understand is why this doesn’t result in a speed limit change. I hate to be cynical and think that it’s just about the money, but when it’s clear that if everyone obeyed the law, it would have a negative impact… well, I don’t know what else to think.

By Whatrutalkingabout

November 19, 2006 02:37 PM | Link to this

Shannon, what in the world are you talking about? If you read the posts, there is clearly no consensus on keeping/enforcing the 55mph speed limit. Actually, it is the reverse. We understand that raising the speed limit makes more sense. What is not understood or appreciated by many is the fact that so many people are bad/rude/inconsiderate/aggressively awful drivers that put others in danger. This problem truly infringes on one’s quality of life in this state.

And on another note. We are not Europe (thank GOD!) Just because cars are better made and capable of speeds upwards of 85 -90mph, does not make it reasonable to barrel down the highways at that rate of speed.

It is NOT a lack of driving skill that causes accidents (many fatal). Where does the poster who made that statement get their facts? It is SPEED! If you want to couple that with poor driving skill, fine. But Speed is always the common denominator

Everyone who is a proponent of being able to drive 80 and over, you are definitely part of the pervasive problem here.

We can disagree all weekend long. What we need are reasonable real solutions, and I only wish the cities/counties/state could work together to at least take some positive steps in that direction.

Actually, it’s not a bad idea to create some public service announcements.

By Snouter

November 19, 2006 03:41 PM | Link to this

Inconsiderate is going 55mph in the left lane so you can work your cell phone.

Dangerous is when you think that since you drive 60mph, everyone should drive 60mph. So, you take on the role of lane ranger and screw up traffic for 8 miles behind you.

Bad is when you just change lanes into faster traffic with no signal and then flick me off after I honk at you.

Reading this thread just reminds of how bad you people drive. I live intown and ride my bike almost everywhere, but when I do drive, it’s a retard festival out there and most of you pious speed limit freaks are the problem.

We drive in packs in this town. I’ll be surrounded by 100 cars blocked by a checkerboard pattern of lane blocking SUVs while if you look up ahead, the freeway is empty for the next mile. That’s POOR lane discipline and nothing else.

By E. T.

November 19, 2006 05:12 PM | Link to this

A state trooper told me that enough money was appropriated in their budget last year to have a 100-man school. They could only get 35 candidates, and 9 of them dropped out of school before they completed the course. No one wants to take a job with the working conditions like they are for troopers right now…at least not for what they get paid. If people want more troopers on the road then the job is going to have to be made more attractive in order to get more qualified candidates.

By Greg

November 19, 2006 08:52 PM | Link to this

If you’re paying attention you’ll see the signs all over the interstates to remind you that slower drivers should move right. If you are in the left lane and someone is “close enough to you to see your nasal hairs” - YOU ARE SLOWER TRAFFIC! Your lazy, selfish, ILLEGAL driving habits are the source of the problems on the interstates - the rest of us are “weaving in and out of traffic” and “driving 70 in the right lanes” to get around you - so PLEASE - just move to the right. IT’S THE LAW! YOU need to focus on obeying the law you are breaking, not what the rest of us are doing.

By Greg

November 19, 2006 08:59 PM | Link to this

And regarding the Sandy Springs Police Chief who is sick and tired of people speeding through his city -

How long did it take you to get sick of tired of the people speeding through Sandy Springs? You’ve been a city for what, like a year?

You need to keep your small town cops in your small town.

We all know its about nothing but the money…

By Pious Freak

November 20, 2006 01:31 AM | Link to this

Pious speed limit freaks? What’s that about? I think you misread the thread as being about speed LIMITS when that greatly misses the point of those referring to the problems of overly-agressive speeding.

Conversely, the point is made that driving too slowly is also a major problem. Agreed. No one should play the role of lane ranger. Slower drivers absolutely should move right. Faster drivers stay left.

It is just as pious to believe that whatever speed YOU choose is okay too. Regardless of whether or not you’re a “good” driver (highly subjective), speeds of over 80mph (even in the fast lane) are simply wreckless.

Contrary to what you see as the groups of SUVs holding up miles of traffic, What about all of the land-barge drivers with their high-profile roll-over rigs whizzing by at 95mph? What happens when they take out an innocent family driving at a moderate 72-75mph in the middle or slow lanes because super-speed freak loses control and flips?

This thread seems to have become less about who should patrol what and where and more about those who want lawless freedom of speed and those who want all around safer highways.

By Daniel

November 20, 2006 07:59 AM | Link to this

If you people did not speed on the roads, none of this would be an issue for you. Even if local municipalities are using highways as a cash generator, even if that is true which I’m not saying it is, you are making that an enticing option when you speed. Drivers in Atlanta, especially on highways, are among the most dangerous and accident prone in the country. Slow down, get better fuel mileage, save some money, reduce our reliance on foreign oil, and put less exhaust emissions into the atmosphere. It’s that simple. What if everyone in Atlanta drove 55 when the speed limit called for it? It would save millions of gallons of fuel, to say nothing of the lives saved and uninjured.

By Capt

November 20, 2006 08:01 AM | Link to this

There is no doubt that they should. I am a Fire Rescue Officer and we are called to the Interstates daily. We send, at a minimum, an Engine and a Rescue, to handle any motor vehicle collision on the Interstate. The Rescue handles the patients and the Engine is there to block traffice and provide a safe working scene. We have had Paramedics and Firefighters hit by cars in the past. The local PD can arrive much quicker that the State Patrol and in much greater numbers. This aids the scene in traffic movement and safety of the rescuers. I know that it appears that we are just stopping traffic flow in lanes not affected by the incident but all the flow that is impeded by Emergency Personnel is for the safety of the Firefighters and Medics as well as for the patients and people involved in the accident. Please just slow down while we work as quickly as possible to clear the roadway.

By mrnumbersman

November 20, 2006 08:05 AM | Link to this

I live outside the Atlanta metroplex, but I have driven through there hundreds of times. I hate it. Why? Because what reasonable and prudent in places outside Atlanta is not the same inside Atlanta. Has anyone ever thought of just slowing down? I know it is a novel idea but then again people are going to do whatever they can get away with.

Yes, I am the one doing 60-65 in the RIGHT lane, still getting passed, and people getting upset because I am doing 65.

I think those folks from GA State should do their experiment every single day. I’ve never laughed so hard at drivers who were upset about doing 55.

By N. J. Minor

November 20, 2006 08:36 AM | Link to this

Local city, county should definitely not patrol the interstates. This job should be left up to the Ga. State Patrol.

By Lamar Wadsworth

November 20, 2006 08:39 AM | Link to this

I think legislation is needed to strip local police departments of jurisdiction on interstate highways. Having a stretch of interstate inside the city limits is just too great a temptation for small-town police and courts to turn their stretch of interstate into a cash cow instead of patrolling their own streets. This happens even with US highways. Running speed traps is a cheap and easy way to generate revenue. A good case in point is Benton TN, where all the police do is watch for cars with out of state tags on US 411. Go through Benton with a tag from a distant state, and you will get a speeding ticket regardless of your actual speed. Ask me how I know that.

By AlBundy

November 20, 2006 09:50 AM | Link to this

Tallifaro County I20 mile marker 144 to 156. Biggest speed trap in GA. They stop cars miles down the road, from where the speeding was supposedly recorded. Different cop gives you the ticket. They have only their word against yours, and they want you to call to get your fine amount. It’s too far way from anyplace to go to court to fight the ticket. They only pull over expensive cars and/or black people.

By Lane tucker

November 23, 2006 11:28 AM | Link to this

on wed 11-22-2006 at 9:25pm on GA 400 just south of the river there we two Sandy Springs police cars parked diagonally n the side of the rode running radar. 500 yards further on the side of the road there were 4 additional Sandy Springs police cars with motorists stopped for tickets. This was between the River and Northridge Road.

I am assuming that there were no violent crimes, property crimes or vehicle traffic violations that occuring at that time in the city of Sandy Springs. It must be great that Sandy Springs is so peaceful and safe that it’s cops need to running speed traps on 400 instead of protecting the city. I never realized that Roswell Road was so safe and orderly.

Northbound at 12:25am I witnesses 2 Sandy Springs Police Cars running Radar right before the transit station, 2 just beyond and 2 with cars pulled over at Northridge road.

Is it the Sandy Springs Police Department or the Sandy Springs Revenue Generating Department.

By --ATL--

November 25, 2006 02:43 PM | Link to this

oh no way. they should not be able to patrol the stupid interstates or GA highways either like GA400. The Sandy Springs Police are abusing their power for their own good and its ridiculous. Now when I am on the highway i am more afraid of getting pulled over than driving well. It makes for even more of a gap in speed and even more dangerous on the road. I liked it before when i could get up to 80mph and not be worried about the speed, but now im afraid at 65 because Sandy Springs police are such pricks. They need to be worrying about REAL crimes rather than wasting their time on the highway. Leave that to the real police department like the GSP which should only be there if there is an accident or looking for drunk drivers because that is the real problem.