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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / Driving / June 2006Where's the cop when you need one?
It finally happened. A cop was 2nd in line at a red light (I was 3rd). The bozo who was 1st in line decided that it was time to go, red light or not. The cop was surprised, but quickly recognized his duty. He blasted ahead and caught up with the bozo within a block. I didn't stick around to watch the rest of the story but it's hard to imagine a story that could have allowed him to escape a ticket. > It finally happened. A cop was 2nd in line at a red light (I was 3rd). > The bozo who was 1st in line decided that it was time to go, red light > or not. The cop was surprised, but quickly recognized his duty. He > blasted ahead and caught up with the bozo within a block. I didn't > stick around to watch the rest of the story but it's hard to imagine a > story that could have allowed him to escape a ticket. I imagine the driver was probably wanted for more than just running a red light. Possible stolen car, etc. > > It finally happened. A cop was 2nd in line at a red light (I was 3rd). > > The bozo who was 1st in line decided that it was time to go, red light [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > I imagine the driver was probably wanted for more than just running a > red light. Possible stolen car, etc. Probably the surprise of the bozo's action caused the cop to drop his donut and give the bozo a nastygram. >It finally happened. A cop was 2nd in line at a red light (I was 3rd). >The bozo who was 1st in line decided that it was time to go, red light >or not. The cop was surprised, but quickly recognized his duty. He >blasted ahead and caught up with the bozo within a block. I didn't >stick around to watch the rest of the story but it's hard to imagine a >story that could have allowed him to escape a ticket. Around here it is more like "where are the cops with brains". In Chicago at 8:35 today, June 26, anybody with even a pittance of a brain has their lights on. Not Tinley Park idiot cops. They drive black, or very dark blue, cars. You can't see them at all at night unless they have some light on. Of course, more qualified drivers like I am are able to see them based on what they can't see. IE they block the light of the car behind them. a.shole moron is annoying me just by being stupid, so I slow down and force him to pass. I make a number of motions at him, shaking my head, holding up my hands in a "can you get a clue" kind of way, yet he just continues to drink his coffee and, yes you guessed it, eat a f.cking powedered donut. He eventually changed lanes with no signal, made a turn without a signal, and at least 3 other violations, all within a couple miles. > He eventually changed lanes with no signal, made a turn without a > signal, and at least 3 other violations, all within a couple miles. Meanwhile they will ticket you for the most ticky tacky of things if you're driving the wrong sort of car at the wrong time in the wrong place. I'll be fighting a ticket next month for not stopping for a right on red when A) the light was green when I crossed the stop line. B) the light was no worse than yellow when I broke the plane of the intersection. C) There are traffic signal faces of multiple directions visible on my approach (violates MUTCD) And few other more minor design defects of the intersection including a substandard yellow signal time. Of course had I not looked for traffic and slowed down to a crawl I wouldn't have got a ticket, but because I slowed, I was still in the intersection when the signal went red. I saw the cop there and was affraid he might run the light as cops are apt to do. > Meanwhile they will ticket you for the most ticky tacky of things if > you're driving the wrong sort of car at the wrong time in the wrong [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > visible on my approach (violates MUTCD) And few other more minor design > defects of the intersection including a substandard yellow signal time. Make sure you get a copy of the police dash cam video if possible. >> Meanwhile they will ticket you for the most ticky tacky of things if >> you're driving the wrong sort of car at the wrong time in the wrong [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Make sure you get a copy of the police dash cam video if possible. I don't think they have them, wouldn't help my case anyway because of how the intersection is constructed (badly). The plane of the intersection is not visible from where the cop was because of an island. In fact it makes the plane of the intersection look further out from his POV. >>>Meanwhile they will ticket you for the most ticky tacky of things if >>>you're driving the wrong sort of car at the wrong time in the wrong [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >>>visible on my approach (violates MUTCD) And few other more minor design >>>defects of the intersection including a substandard yellow signal time. >>Make sure you get a copy of the police dash cam video if possible. > I don't think they have them, That's what I first thought, but I managed to view the complete video of the last traffic stop I was the subject of (for speeding). It included video of my vehicle approaching the officer, the officer's pursuit (losing sight of my vehicle), and the entire stop itself (with audio). Unfortunately, that amongst other things that I tried for my case, wasn't enough for the kangaroo court experience ... :-/ > wouldn't help my case anyway because of how the intersection is > constructed (badly). The plane of the intersection is not visible > from where the cop was because of an island. Assuming I understand you correctly, that alone would help your case. You could argue that the cop wasn't able to see the color of the traffic signal that actually applied to you. If he had, then it would clearly be visible on the dash cam video. >> Make sure you get a copy of the police dash cam video if possible. > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >In fact it makes the plane of the intersection look further out from his >POV. Which intersection was it?  SignatureWhat the heck, I'll play too. - Dave > Which intersection was it? It's out in burbs, I cannot accurately tell you where it is in a way that you would understand it. Near woodfield mall. >> Which intersection was it? > >It's out in burbs, I cannot accurately tell you where it is in a way that >you would understand it. Near woodfield mall. How about drawing an ASCII map? Just Kidding. :) I was hoping you could post a placemark, such as this one: http://local.live.com/?v=2&sp=aN.r070s77nx797_Woodfield%2520Mall___ Then we can look at aerial photos of the intersection and see exactly what you're talking about. SignatureWhat the heck, I'll play too. - Dave > http://local.live.com/?v=2&sp=aN.r070s77nx797_Woodfield%2520Mall___ > > Then we can look at aerial photos of the intersection and see exactly > what you're talking about. I don't have an exact address so it makes a good URL difficult. Try this: http://www.geocities.com/tetraethyllead/crop.JPG I was turning right from the right turn only at the bottom of the image. See how far set back the stop line is from the road? Notice how the curb line of the road is inset from the island. >> http://local.live.com/?v=2&sp=aN.r070s77nx797_Woodfield%2520Mall___ >> >> Then we can look at aerial photos of the intersection and see exactly >> what you're talking about. > >I don't have an exact address so it makes a good URL difficult. Not at all. You can create a pushpin on that web site simply by clicking. >Try this: http://www.geocities.com/tetraethyllead/crop.JPG > >I was turning right from the right turn only at the bottom of the image. >See how far set back the stop line is from the road? Notice how the curb >line of the road is inset from the island. Indeed - that is a funky intersection. Around here, those kinds of right turn lanes would not require a stop. SignatureWhat the heck, I'll play too. - Dave >Meanwhile they will ticket you for the most ticky tacky of things if >you're driving the wrong sort of car at the wrong time in the wrong >place. Were you driving up on the North Side again? :) >I'll be fighting a ticket next month for not stopping for a right >on red when A) the light was green when I crossed the stop line. B) the >light was no worse than yellow when I broke the plane of the >intersection. C) There are traffic signal faces of multiple directions >visible on my approach (violates MUTCD) And few other more minor design >defects of the intersection including a substandard yellow signal time. How did you determine the yellow time was substandard? SignatureWhat the heck, I'll play too. - Dave > How did you determine the yellow time was substandard? The next time I was in the area I timed 10 cycles with a stop watch. 2.8 seconds consistantly. If I recall correctly the MUTCD specifies a minimum of 3 seconds regardless of approach speed. In any case it takes 3.8 seconds at 15mph to get from the stop line to straight through lane on the cross street. 1.8 seconds to break the plane of the intersection. (there is a right turn lane on the receiving road) >> How did you determine the yellow time was substandard? > >The next time I was in the area I timed 10 cycles with a stop watch. 2.8 >seconds consistantly. If I recall correctly the MUTCD specifies a minimum >of 3 seconds regardless of approach speed. Do you have a camcorder? If so, you can videotape the light and count the frames to determine the exact timing to within 1/30th (OK, 1/29.97th) of a second. That gives you something visual to show the court, as well. SignatureWhat the heck, I'll play too. - Dave >>> How did you determine the yellow time was substandard? >> [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > 1/29.97th) of a second. That gives you something visual to show the > court, as well. Dont have a camcorder. I don't have to be that exact to make my point. |
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