GixxerPete said:
I do vote. I don't have a problem with growing local police/sheriff departments that do REAL police work, like busting robbers, theives, drug dealers etc. I have a problem with more state patrol that all they do (for the most part) is traffic enforcement.
What happened to the good old days when state patrol used to actually PATROL the roads, looking not only for speeders, but helping stranded motorists, clearing dangerous debris from the roads, etc? When I see half a dozen WASPs at one off ramp on I-90 busting those "dangerous" speeders like crazy for 5-10 mph over the limit, I don't see my tax dollars and police resources being put to good use. I see blatant speed traps for more revenue... which like I said before, just seems to fund even more speed traps.
You read in the paper all the time how the meth problem is epidemic, and meth labs run amok, and the police say they just don't have the manpower to track down and bust them. Why the hell not??? Seems like state patrol has an unlimited budget to go after speeders? Why does state patrol get half a mill for more unmarked cars, instead of sheriff depts getting that money to go after REAL criminals that really hurt our society???
Traffic enforcement should NOT be a huge priority in policing, and it often seems like it is. Why? Cuz it's visible? Makes it look like they're doing something? Cuz it's easier than go after real criminals? Cuz it makes money, as opposed to busting real criminals, which doesn't? :confused :confused