Comments on: Coppers Oppose Tickets As Fund Raiser

By: Serendipity

Serendipity — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 02:15:15 +0000

I saw two coppers on motos this evening pulling over scofflaw drivers. Rayyyyy.
Way t’ go. One stopped a guy after he dived in front of someone close enough to get hit by the other car and cause an accident. I also noticed this evening around 4pm that traffic was moving– shall we say–decorously.

By: Tom Anderson

Tom Anderson — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 02:05:31 +0000

Studies have shown that new, inexperienced riders are more likely to:
-have a higher number of accidents
-not use helmets
-not have insurance

As a police officer, you learn that the bikes dropped in accidents are mostly modified race bikes or LOUD MOTORCYCLE cruisers. The people who are into the ‘excitement’ factor of motorcycles are just dead meat looking for a place to go splat.

By: bikeboy

bikeboy — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 21:50:48 +0000

Amen, Tom! (Regarding the LOUD PIPES SAVE LIVES old wives’ tale.)

If such were the truth, wouldn’t BMW and Gold Wing riders be dying in a much larger proportion than the bikes ridden by the “One Percenters,” and the posers who pretend to be “One Percenters”? I’m guessing just the opposite is true, per mile driven.

By: Tom Anderson

Tom Anderson — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 21:23:34 +0000

Devil’s advocate / Murphy: There are many myths propagated by folks who want to do something that might be anti-social, unsafe, illegal, or just plain stupid. A careful look at both sides of any issue will reveal these myths for what they are.

As a 35 year motorcycle rider/commuter, I can assure you that there are many ways to be safe on two wheels, but putting illegal offstreet only pipes on a motorcycle is a pretty far reach. By this fouled logic, we should equip every pedestrian and bicyclist with a 110 decible noisemaker that is on all the time.

I’d think these obnoxious LOUD MOTORCYCLE riders would face a greater threat of getting pulled off their weekend toy by an outraged upstanding citizen and being beaten to death, than being saved from an accident.

By: Patman

Patman — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 06:39:10 +0000

Cathy,
Those are two different issues. Yes – traffic infractions are used to make stops which ultimately culminate in a DUI. However, the ultimate purpose is to get a drunk off the road.

The purpose of routine traffic enforcement is to reduce injuries and property damage by modifying behavior. This is done by 1. Education 2. Enforcement. Nowhere in their training is a police officer taught to generate revenue. The meaning of the Union’s memo was/is to assure the public that the police will do the right thing for the right reason. I.e. they will not increase the number of citations written just to fill the city’s coffers.

By: Mike Murphy

Mike Murphy — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 03:24:06 +0000

Devil’s Advocate is right on the money.

Pull your clutch, twist the throttle, and Vance & Hines will deliver a spatial orientation to even the most oblivious motorist – toute suite!

By: cathy

cathy — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 03:09:40 +0000

From the article: “The Boise Police Union adamantly opposes the use of traffic enforcement as a strategy for creating revenue.” My question is: Isn’t that the “probable cause” for pulling a DUI driver over, that they violated a traffic law?
Or, are they just pulling people over randomly?

By: devil's advocate

devil's advocate — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 01:50:21 +0000

off-topic, and I’m not a motorcycle rider, but i have been told that LOUD pipes save lives, in that louder pipes alert other drivers of their presence, as motorcycles have a smaller visual profile and often are sidewiped by vehicles changing lanes without noticing a smaller two-wheel vehicle.

By: Mike Murphy

Mike Murphy — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 00:42:14 +0000

Chief Masterson is stuck between a rock-and-a-hard-place. And he was placed there by a City Council apparently unwilling to fund our police properly.

I do not envy the Chief his job.

And kudos to the union!

By: Shane

Shane — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 22:01:13 +0000

Rod, traffic enforcement is fine. But as the Union stated, it should never be about generating revenue.