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Motorcycle cops: efficient or lazy?

Posted by Matthew on June 6, 2008 at 8:42 am

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So I’m driving into work this morning on I-65 south, entering Indianapolis, and there’s a spot where I-465 joins I-65 that is perfect for cops to hide. You know the situation…there’s a low cement divider wall off on the shoulder, and it’s positioned just after a slight crest in the road so you couldn’t possibly see the cops camped out in their favorite hiding until you’re practically on top of them.

This morning, there were three motorcycle cops positioned behind this wall, with their handheld radar units perched atop it. My speed-trap Spidey-sense was tingling, so fortunately I wasn’t speeding when I came over the rise, but several people in the other lane were. As I passed, I watched in my rearview mirror as a cop simply pointed at a driver, and then jerked his thumb over to the side of the road. Obediently, the vehicle pulled over, about 50 yards past the cops’ little bunker area. Between the three cops, they had five vehicles pulled over at once!

Is this laziness or efficiency? My first thought was to wonder that so many pulled over because of a hand signal. I have to believe that at 65 or 70 miles an hour, a number of people this morning “didn’t see” the hand signal…or perhaps really didn’t see it. Considering that none of the cops looked inclined to get on his bike anytime soon, I imagine any such drivers just got away scott-free. Is this a situation where you get punished for doing the right thing? What would you do?

Tags: Automotive
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2 comments

1
Posted by Chris, June 6, 2008 at 8:57 am

If I don’t see lights, I’m not pulling over. Seeing as how you’re guaranteed a ticket, might as well make them work for it.

2
Posted by nick, June 9, 2008 at 10:15 pm

Ditto. If i’m paying the state money for something as arbitrary as a speed limit infraction, the bastard is goign to give me chase. Plus in rush hour traffic like it usually is right there jamming your brakes and pulling off to the LEFT could quite possibly be the last thing you do. I’ve never seen motorcycle cops there, but i have seen cruisers sit there.

My favorite is when they sit on the left shoulder just before the 38th street exit. I just keep waiting to hear about some goofy ass trooper getting creamed by some bastard who would shaving or chick doing her makeup and drifted too far left on the shoulder _where_nobody_should_be_parked_unless_its_an_emergency_. I was following some trooper and another car the week before last, we were humming along at about 70ish, (in a 55 zone, so nice that THEY obey the laws) when he slows way down and pulls over right there. no lights, no signal, just brake lights and slides off the side.



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