New York State Police out in full force for Motorcycles

[J.R.]

I would have no problem arresting you.

For what?

[spd2918]

A) You don't know that.
B) Over time grants...from who would this money come from that it doesn't come from tax payer money in one form or another?  Please tell me?
C) State Troopers here respond to and investigate ALMOST ALL crimes and generally respond to all 911 calls, even if local police respond, many towns have little or no local police pressence.

Great to see you support this.

A)  You don't know that I don't know that.
B)  It ends up paying for itself with the money it generates.
C)  You may be right one this one point.  Congrats.

I never wrote I supported this.  Learn to fucking read.

[marc11]

 Learn to fucking read.

Nice language, clearly warranted.

If you do not know the answer to A then you cannot say B pays for itself, the onset, the original intent and the original funding comes from tax payer money.  So boom, you are wrong for A, and as such, wrong on B and as you admit, WRONG on C.  Fools always make themselves known when they open their mouths.

[Ken]

A)  You don't know that I don't know that.
B)  It ends up paying for itself with the money it generates.
C)  You may be right one this one point.  Congrats.

I never wrote I supported this.  Learn to fucking read.

Good grief. Are you sure you're old enough to have a motorcycle endorsement on your license? Got issues? Sure looks that way!  

[TuffguyF4i]

One of the biggest problems i have with this stuff, is that people actually look at this as revenue generation.  It is not more rev. generation than taxes, which take money out of the free market.

[spd2918]

Nice language, clearly warranted.

If you do not know the answer to A then you cannot say B pays for itself, the onset, the original intent and the original funding comes from tax payer money.  So boom, you are wrong for A, and as such, wrong on B and as you admit, WRONG on C.  Fools always make themselves known when they open their mouths.

"Learn to fucking read" was too harsh and I apologize for it.  It was the end of a long day at the police department.  I do very good work for my community and I was not prepared for your assumption that I supported what I believe to be unconstitutional (and had posted as such).

Many on this forum hate the police with all their hearts.  They force hundreds of thousands of good men and women into one narrow mold to satisfy their ignorance.  No, you didn't do this, and you didn't deserve my comment.  Your profession isn't attacked on a daily basis here.  Did you check out the "How to talk to the police" thread?  This is the type of attitude that leads many police officers to grow cynical and hate the general public over time.  Because of how they are treated many become the assholes others assume them to be.  I try to remember that most people support the police and want us to succeed in our mission.  I try not to develop the "us vs everyone" attitude that would make me no better than the haters.

[mygala]

This is the type of attitude that leads many police officers to grow cynical and hate the general public over time.  Because of how they are treated many become the assholes others assume them to be.  I try to remember that most people support the police and want us to succeed in our mission.  I try not to develop the "us vs everyone" attitude that would make me no better than the haters.

Well said.

[desert_rider]

Many on this forum hate the police with all their hearts.  They force hundreds of thousands of good men and women into one narrow mold to satisfy their ignorance.  No, you didn't do this, and you didn't deserve my comment.  Your profession isn't attacked on a daily basis here.  Did you check out the "How to talk to the police" thread?  This is the type of attitude that leads many police officers to grow cynical and hate the general public over time.  Because of how they are treated many become the assholes others assume them to be.  

Then it's time to change professions.

[spd2918]

Then it's time to change professions.

I have struggled with that, believe me.  Ask about anyone in this profession and they will tell you the same.  A lot of people are not thrilled with their jobs for different reasons.  If I could do something else and make the kind of money I currently make I would consider it.  I am now at a point in my career that I have a lot of time off to teach MSF and do big rides.

I have only 10 years until retirement.  I try to focus on that.  I will be 50 years old and free to pursue other paths then.

[desert_rider]

 I am now at a point in my career that I have a lot of time off to teach MSF and do big rides.

Now yer talkin'!  

I see people get burnt out and turning into assholes in my profession, too.  If you can't self-monitor/correct you gotta move on or do some sort of lateral transfer.

[nycbr]

I was in my car last week entering the cross island parkway when a higway patrol officer blocked the ramp.  The road was being closed off for a motorcyle run.  Most of the riders wore Blue Knights vests and most of the bikes were far too loud to have passed an exhaust inspection.  
And while we we waiting, the cop wrote some tickets for expired inspection/registration stickers.  

[BigBen]

Wow.  Did you get a sticker or something?  That is a serious inconvenience if you have to pull over every time.  

They did not give any stickers, I took back roads on the returning trip hoping not to run into another checkpoint.

[BigBen]

As a LEO, I agree completely.  I would have ridden right by that exit.  Motorcycles are not under the same laws as commercial vehicles, which are required to stop for inspections.

You could not just ride past the exit. The had other patrol cars posted down the road and they would come after you. There were at least 15 or so officers conducting the operation.

[zer0netgain]

As a LEO too... I can't believe your comment.  Yes... it might be targeted, but the officers were just following their orders.  If I was ordered to do the inspections, I would and if I caught you doing what you stated you would have done... I would have no problem arresting you.

While laws vary from state to state....

1.  Just following orders is BS.  You should know what currently constitutes a valid checkpoint operation and what does not.  If  you don't, your superiors have failed in their job to keep you abreast of relevant law and case decisions.  Neither you nor your department wants the hassle of a lawsuit over something that should not happen in the first place.

2.  Checkpoints for "inspections" are just about BS, especially when they single out a group of motorists.  Truck drivers accept inspection stops as part of the deal when having a CDL.  I've seen BS checkpoints done for motorcycles at some places because it's really just a crackdown on hooliganism, but to be fair, I recall the cops stopping EVERYONE but bikers had to pull over because they couldn't just whip out their papers from the glovebox.

As you know, probable cause is the benchmark for stopping anyone, anywhere.  A checkpoint gets around probable cause by mandating that EVERYONE is stopped or that every X motorist is stopped.  To single out a class of motorists clearly crosses the line.  If you can check papers and safety equipment on a motorcycle, you could do it on a car just as easily, and I seriously doubt that EVERY car was being stopped at the checkpoint further down the road.

[me109g4]

My sentiments exactly, as a police officer if you know you are doing things that are wrong, and the people you stop know  you  are doing wrong why do you  as a police officer expect a free pass on the situation??? Sorry, it doesnt happen that way,, u wanna yank my chain expect to have it yanked back!

[spd2918]

While laws vary from state to state....

1.  Just following orders is BS.  You should know what currently constitutes a valid checkpoint operation and what does not.  If  you don't, your superiors have failed in their job to keep you abreast of relevant law and case decisions.  Neither you nor your department wants the hassle of a lawsuit over something that should not happen in the first place.

2.  Checkpoints for "inspections" are just about BS, especially when they single out a group of motorists.  Truck drivers accept inspection stops as part of the deal when having a CDL.  I've seen BS checkpoints done for motorcycles at some places because it's really just a crackdown on hooliganism, but to be fair, I recall the cops stopping EVERYONE but bikers had to pull over because they couldn't just whip out their papers from the glovebox.

As you know, probable cause is the benchmark for stopping anyone, anywhere.  A checkpoint gets around probable cause by mandating that EVERYONE is stopped or that every X motorist is stopped.  To single out a class of motorists clearly crosses the line.  If you can check papers and safety equipment on a motorcycle, you could do it on a car just as easily, and I seriously doubt that EVERY car was being stopped at the checkpoint further down the road.

It would be nice if I tell my boss to go screw himself, but that's not an option.  Since it has been pointed out that most states allow checkpoints, it seems a little silly for a lowly police officer to tell his supervisor, the chief, the district attorney, and the state attorney that his own interpretation of the law is is superior to theirs.  Good luck.

[zer0netgain]

It would be nice if I tell my boss to go screw himself, but that's not an option.  Since it has been pointed out that most states allow checkpoints, it seems a little silly for a lowly police officer to tell his supervisor, the chief, the district attorney, and the state attorney that his own interpretation of the law is is superior to theirs.  Good luck.

While I don't dismiss the issue of not crucifying one's livelihood just to be "right"....

....Supervisors, Chiefs of Police, District Attorneys, and State Attorneys are frequently wrong...they just enjoy a position where very few can challenge them.

....Supervisors, Chiefs of Police, District Attorneys, and State Attorneys frequently act out of political motivation (gun control laws being a good example) and not out of what is Constitutional or morally right.

....If men of good conscience won't take a stand against such men, then we are doomed.

[J.R.]

It would be nice if I tell my boss to go screw himself, but that's not an option.  Since it has been pointed out that most states allow checkpoints, it seems a little silly for a lowly police officer to tell his supervisor, the chief, the district attorney, and the state attorney that his own interpretation of the law is is superior to theirs.  Good luck.

In order to do a check point you need to be able to articulate there is a danger to the public.  What danger to the public am I posing by riding a motorcycle?  If your dept told you go out and identify every black male standing on a street corner, for no other reason than they are standing there, and if they walked off without talking to you, detain them, would you do it?  I don't know about you, but I took an oath to uphold the constitution, and if you see something that is blatantly ignoring it, you have a duty to speak up.

[desert_rider]

It would be nice if I tell my boss to go screw himself, but that's not an option.  Since it has been pointed out that most states allow checkpoints, it seems a little silly for a lowly police officer to tell his supervisor, the chief, the district attorney, and the state attorney that his own interpretation of the law is is superior to theirs.  Good luck.

There ARE more tactful ways to tell your boss that you think that something is wrong than telling him to "go screw himself."

[spd2918]

The point is moot because my state doesn't allow them.  Even if it did, these grants are voluntary- so I wouldn't sign up for one.  For the record I have never been told to do something illegal or immoral at my job.