I've already said I don't know if that officer had another perspective that gave him evidence to believe that turn was unsafe. So, I don't know if I would. If I had the evidence and believe it was warranted, I would write that ticket. I write them on half the collisions I attend, because it's a serious safety hazard.Originally posted by Type_S1
So you are saying you would give a ticket for that "unsafe" left turn? How about for not having lights on during day time hours? My problem is police in this city are so focused on ticket revenue they seem to forget the bigger picture. Being a traffic cop has to be one of the most degrading jobs one could have. Detectives, the GU, etc. I have respect for as they are actually trying to make the city a better place. Giving someone a crock of shit ticket because you have a quota to meet is a joke. I don't understand how someone can really feel good about their lives when their sole purpose is handing out traffic tickets.
edit: the negative comments are not directed at you Phil...it's just my opinion that the system has a massive flaw. I feel the same about city construction workers lack of productivity and wasted resources (8 guys on break while 1 works), and even departments at my own company where I could fire half the people and see the same amount of work pumped out.
As far as your problem with us focusing on ticket revenue, there is a wide gap between your perception and reality. We have maybe 30-40 members who do traffic full time, and the rest of the members doing enforcement (800ish) are patrol members. Traffic enforcement constitutes a very small part of our typical work day, as we are dealing with other things that are priorities. Sexual assaults, personal crimes, break and enters, 911 calls, domestics, etc. In between, we see something and we can't just ignore it. That's against the Police Act, and our common law duties.
I know you aren't trying to insult anyone here, but I don't really like the fact that everything I do as a patrol member on a daily basis is diminished by the fact that I may hand out a traffic ticket or two. I solve large frauds, sexual assaults, handle serious domestic calls, and am at the pointy end of the spear when someone is waving a gun around and threatening to shoot people.
Detectives and GIU are important, but they don't answer 911. They come in when everything is all calmed down and over, and further the investigation. Please don't undervalue everything the rest of us do because you don't like the fact that we have to enforce traffic laws, especially when we see one being broken right in front of us.
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I'm so sick and tired of idiots driving around that can't figure out how/when to turn on their lights. Sure it gets dark at 4:45-5:00...but on darker, cloud cover days, at 4:00 it starts to get dim light, and often, when 90% of the cars all have their lights on, someone with NO tail or marker lights on is hard to see. 
Originally Posted by Yolobimmer
