Re: DOT at Lawernceburg?
 

I disagree with what happened at Lawrenceburg recently CDL issues, but what I'm hearing is that taxpayers are unhappy if police officers DON'T do their jobs AND they are unhappy if they DO their jobs! Where would our country be without POLICE OFFICERS?

Re: DOT at Lawernceburg?
 

Originally Posted by SPD 37:
I disagree with what happened at Lawrenceburg recently CDL issues, but what I'm hearing is that taxpayers are unhappy if police officers DON'T do their jobs AND they are unhappy if they DO their jobs! Where would our country be without POLICE OFFICERS?

We only get unhappy when we get caught. Other than that they do a good job. And Ty is right about Hamilton cty. and the concerts. It does not matter who you are. If you get caught your going to jail. Hey Ty didn't Kokomo use to do some of those checkpoints when the Verizon had concerts. I thought I read in the paper a couple of years or so ago when they arrested people on 31 on those nights. Or was it just a coincident.

Re: DOT at Lawernceburg?
 

I believe it was labled heavy drug interdiction, but there was no checkpoints. THey did the sign game for a bit, long story. Dont think it flys anymore, not sure though.

Re: DOT at Lawernceburg?
 

I will probably regret posting this but here goes. My nephew is a state trooper in Illinois. I doubt very much that there were troopers stationed every ten miles last weekend on major highways in Illinois. I was in Illinois for 3 days as I went to DuQuoin for the fair races and I also talked to my nephew. I personally saw 5 motorcycle troopers on Interstate 57 in a two mile stretch near Salem on Monday working hard. Other than that I didn't seen any. Not one patroling.

There were less than half the normal troopers assigned to the state fairs this year due to budgetary issues. The State of Illinois is hurting as the economy is much tighter there than in Indiana right now. Tax revenue is way down.

Ty is right on when you realize that federal money flows to the state, county and local level for certain types of enforcement. I also agree that you need to look at which legislators vote for some of these questionable laws in the first place. Don't blame the officiers who have to enforce them. They are just doing their job.

In my opinion Ohio is the worst as far as pulling people over needlessly. The last three times I have been pulled over, two of them have been in Ohio. One was for doing 66 in a 65 at 1:00 AM coming home from the races at Toledo. The other one was for a license plate light being out on my truck. It also was late night/early morning. The third one was in good old Hamilton County Indiana when I was pulled over on Interstate 69 for driving too close to the center line. Not over, just too close. That one was at 3:30 AM when I was returning home from taking my son to Bloomington, IN. You think that maybe the time of night had anything to do with it? No tickets written, not even a warning. They just stopped me to mention it.:O:

Sometimes you can just be in the wrong place at the wrong time. I go to a lot of races and drive home late many nights. I see police out working the major highways late at night and can only imagine that they are looking for drunk and or drugged up drivers. I would just mention to be smart and don't drink and drive. Be safe and don't put yourself in that regrettable situation.

Re: DOT at Lawernceburg?
 

A little off topic here but kind of a DOT question. We have a pop up camper and here in Wisconsin it is not required to have plates on it. Hard sided travel trailers need plates but why doesn't my pop up? Not complaining cause it saves me money but it is a pull behind camper. How is the law on pop up campers in the surrounding states of me?

Re: DOT at Lawernceburg?
 

a couple of years ago I was at the Iron Skillet(sp?) truck stop restaurant in New Point, Indiana having a bite to eat. There were a group of truckers sitting there talking about how terrible it is to drive through Ohio because of the "chicken sh!d" law enforcement (as they put it). Everyone of them, to a T, agreed that they hate it when their route takes them through Ohio and that they avoid going into Ohio whenever possible. I know there is an enormous amount of "revenue generation" going on in the greater Cincinnati area (especially on I-71). Radio station WLW700 even encourages people to call in when they go through, or see, "revenue generation traps", they'll then inform the drivers where this activity is going on.

Re: DOT at Lawernceburg?
 

Never been to the burg yet, but went to DuQuoin for the race and my son started keeping track of the troopers when we turned off I-57 onto the state road that leads to the fair. He counted 14 Illinois State Troopers in that 16 mile stretch. So on the way home Labor Day, he joked about breaking the "record" number on the the trip out to I-57. You guessed it, 16 troopers in 16 miles. We didn't count the cars on I-57 but I did see 6 motorcyles working out of a rest area with a speed trap. I guess they were earing that holiday pay.

Re: DOT at Lawernceburg?
 

Originally Posted by wbr:
Never been to the burg yet, but went to DuQuoin for the race and my son started keeping track of the troopers when we turned off I-57 onto the state road that leads to the fair. He counted 14 Illinois State Troopers in that 16 mile stretch. So on the way home Labor Day, he joked about breaking the "record" number on the the trip out to I-57. You guessed it, 16 troopers in 16 miles. We didn't count the cars on I-57 but I did see 6 motorcyles working out of a rest area with a speed trap. I guess they were earing that holiday pay.

Mark,

You were probably traveling either before or after a shift change at the fair. It is quite common to see numerous state troopers either coming to the fair or going back either to the hotel or home. There were far less troopers on duty at the fair this year compared to years past. A sign of the times I guess.

Re: DOT at Lawernceburg?
 

Mike,

You are right about your stops, it only takes reasonable suspicion to make a stop, not probable cause. So you getting close to the center line and then back away from it can designate a stop. Your time frame is also a big indicator, those stops are what I call fishing stops, mostly nothing but sometimes you catch the big one. A traffic stop is like throwing in a line, you never know what you'll snag. Active cops get complained on way more than the lazy ones remember that.

Keep them comming guys, I dont mind shedding light from my side for uncomfortable situations.

Re: DOT at Lawernceburg?
 

Originally Posted by cecil98:
a couple of years ago I was at the Iron Skillet(sp?) truck stop restaurant in New Point, Indiana having a bite to eat. There were a group of truckers sitting there talking about how terrible it is to drive through Ohio because of the "chicken sh!d" law enforcement (as they put it). Everyone of them, to a T, agreed that they hate it when their route takes them through Ohio and that they avoid going into Ohio whenever possible. I know there is an enormous amount of "revenue generation" going on in the greater Cincinnati area (especially on I-71). Radio station WLW700 even encourages people to call in when they go through, or see, "revenue generation traps", they'll then inform the drivers where this activity is going on.

It doesn't matter Cecil, they screw the trucks whether they are speeding or not. It isn't uncommon to get a ticket in Ohio for going 57mph in a truck. I never went to Ohio with my truck and frankly don't care about anybody east of the Indiana line. I don't go to any races there either.

Re: DOT at Lawernceburg?
 

Originally Posted by Motormasher:
It doesn't matter Cecil, they screw the trucks whether they are speeding or not. It isn't uncommon to get a ticket in Ohio for going 57mph in a truck. I never went to Ohio with my truck and frankly don't care about anybody east of the Indiana line. I don't go to any races there either.

Should we jsut line our cannons up on the state line? :)

No, Your right, You could be going 80 and pass a truck and that state boy is going for the truck in ohio. UNLESS as explained earlyer it's a holiday Federally subsidized Seatbelt/DUI enforcement time.

Why? The truck fines are about 5-10 times those of a four wheeler.

Chuck, who's last two tickets were in Indiana :)

Re: DOT at Lawernceburg?
 

If seatbelt laws are for the public's safety, then why do we send hundreds of thousands of kids to school everyday on schoolbuses without seatbelts?

Here's to the police, and our legislators who make the term "democracy" more and more of a joke everyday.

Re: DOT at Lawernceburg?
 

Originally Posted by chrismattlin:
If seatbelt laws are for the public's safety, then why do we send hundreds of thousands of kids to school everyday on schoolbuses without seatbelts?

Here's to the police, and our legislators who make the term "democracy" more and more of a joke everyday.

I've never, yet, gotten any politician to give me a rational explanation of why you have to wear a seatbelt in your car but, it's perfectly ok to go home, park the car and jump on your motorcycle. Oh, and throw your 10 year old kid on the back of it while your at it. UNBELIEVABLE!! Tell me it isn't about money. Plain and simple another tax on the working stiffs.

Re: DOT at Lawernceburg?
 

Originally Posted by cecil98:
I've never, yet, gotten any politician to give me a rational explanation of why you have to wear a seatbelt in your car but, it's perfectly ok to go home, park the car and jump on your motorcycle. Oh, and throw your 10 year old kid on the back of it while your at it. UNBELIEVABLE!! Tell me it isn't about money. Plain and simple another tax on the working stiffs.

It is called "Big Insurance Companies" has their hands in the policticians pockets. Using seat belts means less injuries which means less medical expenses that the insurance companies has to pay out, so get the politicians to pass a law making the use of them mandatory.

Not only is there no mandatory law for buses there also isn't any law for mandatory compliance for passengers in RV's to use seat belts.

REH

Re: DOT at Lawernceburg?
 

Originally Posted by cecil98:
I've never, yet, gotten any politician to give me a rational explanation of why you have to wear a seatbelt in your car but, it's perfectly ok to go home, park the car and jump on your motorcycle. Oh, and throw your 10 year old kid on the back of it while your at it. UNBELIEVABLE!! Tell me it isn't about money. Plain and simple another tax on the working stiffs.

SOOOO!!!! this is really about you wanting a ban on motorcycles.:O: Whats next? A ban on owning a gun? And since the topic is about the government and Lawrenceburg, it was pointed out to me Saturday that one of the 50/50 girls looks like Sarah Palin. Anyone here think that Cheri can field dress a moose?

Re: DOT at Lawernceburg?
 

Originally Posted by REH24:
It is called "Big Insurance Companies" has their hands in the policticians pockets. Using seat belts means less injuries which means less medical expenses that the insurance companies has to pay out, so get the politicians to pass a law making the use of them mandatory.
REH

but, allowing people to go out on a bike and get their @ss busted by a deer, drunk or simply, someone who didn't see them, doesn't cost "big insurance" anything? Seems to me "big insurance" could get motorcycles banned, as well. Why not helmets required in an automobile? That would save a bunch more lives and injuries. However, rather than making all of these stupid, irrational laws, I would just prefer to get government out of my life and let me make the decision on seat belts, motorcycles, helmets, tobacco, etc. They need to build roads, armies, police departments and fire departments.

Re: DOT at Lawernceburg?
 

Originally Posted by cecil98:
a couple of years ago I was at the Iron Skillet(sp?) truck stop restaurant in New Point, Indiana having a bite to eat. There were a group of truckers sitting there talking about how terrible it is to drive through Ohio because of the "chicken sh!d" law enforcement (as they put it). Everyone of them, to a T, agreed that they hate it when their route takes them through Ohio and that they avoid going into Ohio whenever possible. I know there is an enormous amount of "revenue generation" going on in the greater Cincinnati area (especially on I-71). Radio station WLW700 even encourages people to call in when they go through, or see, "revenue generation traps", they'll then inform the drivers where this activity is going on.

Cecil,

Could that Iron Skillet possibly be at New Paris instead of New Point, IN? There is one located at the Indiana/Ohio border on US40 near Richmond, IN.
I have heard that Ohio is one of the worst states to drive through because of the potential for receiving a ticket. I watch my P's and Q's very carefully when driving in the Buckeye state. So far it has worked.

Re: DOT at Lawernceburg?
 

Originally Posted by Z-man:
SOOOO!!!! this is really about you wanting a ban on motorcycles.:O: Whats next? A ban on owning a gun? And since the topic is about the government and Lawrenceburg, it was pointed out to me Saturday that one of the 50/50 girls looks like Sarah Palin. Anyone here think that Cheri can field dress a moose?

Section A will pay to watch.

Re: DOT at Lawernceburg?
 

I worked for 4 years as a Jail Officer. I can tell you it's about money and power, always has been. I could tell you stories for days as to what I witnessed in a small town.

I got my CDL in April and have driven very little as a truck driver yet I have been pulled over 4 times. I was told by a former DOT officer who trains companies to comply with DOT laws that Indiana is a testing ground and that Mitch Daniels (who worked for Bush during his first term) hired a former Fed Dept of Trans. guy to bring all of this in. It's going to get much worse my friends. They want everything transported by corporate owned trucks, no more owner operators. If you exceed 10,000 lbs they own you. In the future they plan to make everyone attend 120 hours of classroom training just to get your CDL and of course you will have to have a physical and be drug tested.

We have become a nation of lawsuits, lawyers and legislators. There is no such thing really as a Democrat or Republican. They take sides on a few issues to keep everyone divided. They brainwash many people with that TV. I can show you proof that they are destroying the economy so they can introduce a new currency. Not sure what's going to happen in the coming months but hang on.

Re: DOT at Lawernceburg?
 

Originally Posted by cecil98:
but, allowing people to go out on a bike and get their @ss busted by a deer, drunk or simply, someone who didn't see them, doesn't cost "big insurance" anything? Seems to me "big insurance" could get motorcycles banned, as well. Why not helmets required in an automobile? That would save a bunch more lives and injuries. However, rather than making all of these stupid, irrational laws, I would just prefer to get government out of my life and let me make the decision on seat belts, motorcycles, helmets, tobacco, etc. They need to build roads, armies, police departments and fire departments.

That is exactly why when people go to the voting polls they should do some research on the candidates instead of voting by name recognizition, party affiliation, or he is a friend of friend etc. I agreed "Big Government" is in to much of our lives and the only way to change that is to get new people into government office and if they screw up then vote them out.

REH

Re: DOT at Lawernceburg?
 

Originally Posted by ronmil:
Cecil,

Could that Iron Skillet possibly be at New Paris instead of New Point, IN? There is one located at the Indiana/Ohio border on US40 near Richmond, IN.
I have heard that Ohio is one of the worst states to drive through because of the potential for receiving a ticket. I watch my P's and Q's very carefully when driving in the Buckeye state. So far it has worked.

Ron, Cecil is correct. there is one at the New Point exit on I-74.

I've only been pulled over once this year. Keith Wendel has witnessed at least one of my pullovers, it being here in Columbus. It's an annoyance. But I survived it.

Chuck, a huge 10-4 on that. :thumb

Re: DOT at Lawernceburg?
 

Originally Posted by Danny Burton:
Ron, Cecil is correct. there is one at the New Point exit on I-74.

I've only been pulled over once this year. Keith Wendel has witnessed at least one of my pullovers, it being here in Columbus. It's an annoyance. But I survived it.

Chuck, a huge 10-4 on that. :thumb

Cecil. THe reason Bikers can ride without helmets is because about 6 million bikers lobbied to keep their freedom to kill themselves. The insurance companies getting involved are a good and bad thing. Their behind the whole no Deadly Weapons on these premisis decales on every buisness ect. But you see what happens when nobody has a gun. The whacko comes in and has free reign. IMHO they have as much blood on their hands as they try to avoid.

Chuck

Re: DOT at Lawernceburg?
 

Originally Posted by Z-man:
And since the topic is about the government and Lawrenceburg, it was pointed out to me Saturday that one of the 50/50 girls looks like Sarah Palin. Anyone here think that Cheri can field dress a moose?

Dunno what she can do with a "moose", but Cherie can do anything she wants with this "fish", in a field or most anywhere else. :wink:D:wink

Re: DOT at Lawernceburg?
 

Told ya they were Incouragable up there under the A :)

Re: DOT at Lawernceburg?
 

This has all been very interesting.

One point that's not been mentioned is that maybe, just maybe, some of these police officers have not only worked check points, traffic stops, race tracks and county fairs, but also the traffic accidents with serious injury or death where if someone had used a seatbelt it could have made a dramatic difference. As a newspaper reporter and photographer for 22 years, I have. It's nothing pretty.

For the most part, police officers do their job, follow their orders from their superiors on enforcement and do their best to protect and serve. On rare occasions, individual police officers abuse their power. There's an occasional bad egg in every profession.

On the targeted enforcement, complaining about the police officers carrying out their instructions will not change anything. Lobbying your elected officials -- like the mayor, county council, state legislators and state senators -- just could make a difference. After all, it was people complaining to them about druggies, drunk drivers and people without seatbelts that prompted them to enact the legislation authorizing the actions.

Few elected officials have the balls to tell the federal government to keep their federal grant money for fear of appearing soft on crime and costing themselves votes in November. One who did was Sheriff George Ballard in Gibson County, Indiana. The good sheriff conducted one of those traffic stops and heard so many complaints from the people who put him in office that he announced in the Princeton paper that he would not do it again, and would notify the appropriate state and federal officials to keep their money. For those unfamiliar, Princeton is just up the road from Haubstadt.

Finally, I am certain Dave Rudisell appreciates all of this pubicity about nazi cops searching cars at the races. I hope it does not discourage people from attending his big race this weekend.


One final thing, to the person who tried to pay a fine in pennies, your elected officials in Washington passed a law four or five years ago that allows someone to refuse payment of a debt with a large quantity of coins. Personally, I think that's wrong, but no one asked me. Maybe you should have tried dollar coins. That's still a lot of weight to deal with.
So, what did you do with all of your pennies? Donate them to the Ronald McDonald House.

Jim Morrison, who is smart enough to buckle up after stopping at the ATM a quarter mile from my destination.