The Gods of the Copybook Headings

Policing for Profit

An open secret:

But my favourite NMA cause is its campaign against photo-radar and red-light cameras. The organization’s principal concern is not that the cameras are inaccurate — which many are — it’s that they encourage cities and other jurisdictions to keep speed limits artificially low. There is little if any correlation between with use of speed and red-light cameras and a reduction in accidents and injuries, but there is plenty of correlation between the number of tickets issued and municipalities’ dependence on fines as part of their annual revenues.

Now there's a platform plank for a gutsy politician. Any takers?

To Serve and Protect...Ourselves

Tell me if you're sensing a pattern:

The man reported that he noticed a patrol car parked on the side of the highway, but couldn't see anyone inside. Concerned there might be something amiss, the radio station reported that Max pulled over and walked up to the vehicle. When he saw the officers lying down inside, he quickly grabbed a camera.

The video shows one of the officers noticing he's being filmed. He quickly exits the patrol car.

The driver says he was asked for his licence and was given a ticket for having parked his vehicle illegally.

I walk past a police station almost everyday. Almost everyday I see police officers drive out of this station while using their cell phones. In the summer there is often an officer standing behind a bush, about twenty feet from the station, waiting for drivers who do rolling stops at a nearby intersection. This isn't a "libertarian" complaint. It's just being outraged at the lazy arrogance of power, however petty.