User Panel
Posted: 7/20/2017 6:04:13 PM EDT
Curbing Traffic Stops Would Save Lives
So why do cops rely so much on the practice? Enforcing traffic laws is a large share of what they do. http://reason.com/archives/2017/07/20/curbing-traffic-stops-would-save-lives Traffic stops are often an excuse for cops to search a car for drugs and guns. Curtailing police reliance on this pretext would free motorists from being dragooned to "consent" to searches for which the cops lack probable cause. True, the change would let criminals operate at less risk. But hassling the innocent to catch the guilty is an abuse of our constitutional principles. In Illinois last year, police conducted 2.17 million traffic stops. Just 8,938 yielded contraband—one bust for every 242 stops. The rare instances when police find evidence of a crime, Kutz told me, "don't justify the enormous social costs of widespread police interventions." This is an extremely inefficient way of detecting drug and gun crimes. It's also often discriminatory. "Minorities are more likely to be asked for consent to search, and less likely to have contraband," notes Karen Sheley, police practices director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois. The best option is not to abolish police traffic stops entirely, but to use them only when absolutely necessary. Accidents and impaired driving would require cops to deal face-to-face with motorists. But police could address missing license plates and broken taillights by taking photos and issuing tickets electronically. One of the chief purposes of law enforcement is enhancing public safety. Curtailing traffic stops wouldn't make the roads more dangerous. But it would save the lives of motorists and police who are now put in peril for no good reason. |
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[#1]
In the US the traffic stop is a source of revenue... it'll never be reduced.
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[#4]
They are breaking the law and must be punished for doing so. It doesn't matter how many "lives" it would "save".
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[#5]
"Hassling the innocent?"
I've never been pulled over when I was innocent. I've been pulled over and not been punished, gotten a few warnings, but I was always guilty. |
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[#6]
Ol_Slabside thread!
More copy pasta. ETA... Shall we go into how many traffic stops have solved serious crimes/cases? The arrest of Timothy McVeigh comes to mind. |
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[#8]
I keep reading the title as "Curb Stomping Would Save Lives"...
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[#11]
It's true, automobile incidents are the leading cause of LEO deaths. Get cops off the side of the road if you really believe Blue Lives Matter.
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[#20]
I want to operate my vehicle at 87 mph without the police abusing my constitutional principles!
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[#23]
California is decriminalizing driving in a suspended and as I understand they aren't going to stop for it.
I can see a future where things are handled less in the field and more with garnishments and judgements. |
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[#29]
When they stopped doing traffic stops a thread would be started titled "why won't cops enforce traffic laws"?
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[#30]
Cops don't set policy. You'd think OP Knew that much.
Cops are directed by higher ups, incl. elected politicians. |
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[#37]
I look at the source, "Minorities are more likely to be asked for consent to search, and less likely to have contraband," notes Karen Sheley, police practices director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois.Bull shit.
ACLU will say any thing that agrees with their stance, even if they have to make up facts to support it. |
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[#38]
Quoted:
I look at the source, "Minorities are more likely to be asked for consent to search, and less likely to have contraband," notes Karen Sheley, police practices director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois.Bull shit. ACLU will say any thing that agrees with their stance, even if they have to make up facts to support it. View Quote |
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[#39]
Ahhh. The good old days of chasing stats...one week the Watch Commander would say..."we need more traffic enforcement. Tickets are down and citizens are complaining of speeders"....
Next week..."complaints are through the roof!! WTF are you guys doing out there?".... But aggressive enforcement is the best and probably the only way to suppress street level crimes. If you may be pulled over at any time for a tag light or improper lane change, you will less likely be riding dirty, in a stolen car, loaded down with guns about to do drive by's.... |
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[#40]
Let's tell them to stop doing work and then criminally prosecute them for not working. Someone around here recommended that.
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[#41]
Lots of criminals are caught during routine traffic stops.
Some people just can't follow even simple rules. Wasn't Tim McVey caught driving without license plates after the OKC bombing? Soon, every traffic stop will involve biometric analysis of the driver, maybe the passengers too. |
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