I don't know about your location, but here 'round northern Illinois, "Police" business has become a big time revenue generator for cash strapped villages.
More and more, police are resorting to "gotcha'" tactics with speed traps, silly ticketing, and lack of tact, or common sense.
No longer is it "To serve and Protect", but rather "To generate money for our city coffers". Mayors and City Financial folks place pressure on the police departments to "get out there and ticket folks for cash".
Agreed, cops have it hard enough as it is. Agreed, we unfortunately need a zillion laws to maintain those who would otherwise go wild. Disagree though, with these new Speed camera's all over the place, Police cars hiding behind every curve, and drivers (and riders) getting ticketed for every concievable infraction, common sense and good jusdgement being tossed to the wind. Squad cars are now wholey devoted to Traffic Citation cash, leaving home protection and neighborhood patrols lacking.
It would be interesting to see a graph of the number of tickets issued over say the past ten years, and compare it to the last 6 months.
To answer what you may be thinking... no, I haven't been ticketed, but I see a huge increase in stopped cars and bikes altely, and the press is all over the local police forces as well.
Fact is,. accidents and injuries have strangely INCREASED with the installation of camera's etc., and the amount of psychotic high speed tail-gaters and otherwise dangerous drivers is rampart. Cops go for the Radar proven speeders, for instant, "you can't fight it" cash.
Bottom line is: Watch out in Illinois anyway, these towms need money more than safety.
Ride Safe (and slow!)
Bob
