There were no officers directing SB traffic on Rt5 into the "back" entrance to Sheetz so they could either turn onto GMR or go around Sheetz to continue south on Rt5.
ACCIDENTS KEEP PILING UP
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OccamsRazor
Well-Known Member
Regardless, these are the same people who insist that they are "underpaid" compared to other departments.
And, when challenged, you typically get one of 2 answers:
1) I'm TOO BUSY to do all of my job! (They are too busy chasing murderers and drug lords)
2) Why don't YOU sign up to do my job!
glhs837
Power with Control
Well. If the enforcement is sitting in parking lots and driveway on 235 with laser/radar, I will. What's causing crashes is distraction and failure to yield. Start hunting distracted cell phone drivers and citing them. Spend enforcement time looking for people making unsafe roadway entries and cite them. Look for those making unsafe lane changes and exceeding the flow by a good number.
When people just go off the road or cross the centerline it could be medical, but it's far more likely to be a fricken phone. When there is a t-bone, there's a chance that some cop was out driving his light ls and siren like Calvert a few years back. But far more common is idiots pulling out in front of traffic.
If enforcement isn't focused on the things causing crashes, it cannot affect them.
glhs837
Power with Control
I've yet to see either MSP or SMCSO actually direct traffic around a crash scene. They block things then stand around. Very frustrating.
OccamsRazor
Well-Known Member
To add.... sitting with the radar/laser is SPEED LIMIT ENFORCEMENT. Different animal than TRAFFIC enforcement.
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NorthBeachPerso
Honorary SMIB
It is, but the latter is going to be way more random. Someone unsafely pulling out in front of you has to have the officer right there to see it. Same with someone using their phone. Or playing the Southern Maryland Bob and Weave. And I've seen people pulled over for all of those.
To add.... sitting with the radar/laser is SPEED LIMIT ENFORCEMENT. Different animal than TRAFFIC enforcement.
OccamsRazor
Well-Known Member
My point is that if they did "serious" enforcement of this... there wouldn't be a day that went by where multiple people would be lined up on the side of 235 in the AM and PM rush. Hell... ANY time of the day.
NorthBeachPerso
Honorary SMIB
I don't drive 235 often but they do it on 4, as well as other Calvert roads.
What you also have are the people who raise Hell whenever police do their jobs. Watch some First Amendment auditors sometime who go out of their way to provoke confrontations, including while driving.
Do you really think that the Commissioners are going to allow the Sheriff's Department, or the MSP for that matter, to **** with people working at the County's largest employer?
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Calvert does cellphone enforcement. They have a utility type work truck they sit on the side of the road and watch. The other day they were working around Dares Beach and Armory Roads. One of them was leaning against the light pole calling out cars. "Cellphone in left hand, Cellphone in right hand to ear, etc. There were about 7 SO vehicles sitting and waiting.
glhs837
Power with Control
To add.... sitting with the radar/laser is SPEED LIMIT ENFORCEMENT. Different animal than TRAFFIC enforcement.
But it counts the same for grants, and has two other benefits.
1. The officers get to pull over far more people per hour. This looks great on overtime grant applications. Which is used to pay the overtime for enforcement. Self licking ice cream cone. We do the citations to justify the spend, which we spend on the overtime to justify the spend. County and State get metrics to show they are "Doing Something!!!"
2. And this is the reason that the officers themselves go along with the charade. It get officers "heads in cars". Which is what the rank and file care about. They do want to catch dirtbags. And speed enforcement enhances that as it lets them "randomly" look over 10-15 cars per hour.
So in the end, using enforcement as a tool to increase traffic safety gets lip service at best.
glhs837
Power with Control
Do they publish such an effort? Do they do it out on Route 4? Did they issue citations or warnings? This works best as a deterrent when the word goes out. Its just like DUI, although more of an issue now that DUI, I think.
People should know that you are out there citing people for this.
frequentflier
happy to be living
The State Police and CCSO have people pulled over all the time when I travel on 4. I may be unpopular but I usually drive the speed limit or maybe 5 over. Of course, in the slow lane
I was in the slow lane doing about 60.The State Police and CCSO have people pulled over all the time when I travel on 4. I may be unpopular but I usually drive the speed limit or maybe 5 over. Of course, in the slow lane
Speeding isn't the whole problem. Although, with less experienced drivers, it can be a very bad mix.
Cell phones, IMHO, cause more traffic infractions than anything else. I'm addicted to my phone, but my main focus is always on the road. I watch my lane so intently, that I've passed my fiancé' head on without seeing her, in a damned Jeep that I paid for. I always watch straight ahead and off the the right for an escape route, only glancing into on coming traffic from time to time.
The younger generation just have priorities mixed up. Take your eyes off the phone until you're stopped.
Cell phones, IMHO, cause more traffic infractions than anything else. I'm addicted to my phone, but my main focus is always on the road. I watch my lane so intently, that I've passed my fiancé' head on without seeing her, in a damned Jeep that I paid for. I always watch straight ahead and off the the right for an escape route, only glancing into on coming traffic from time to time.
The younger generation just have priorities mixed up. Take your eyes off the phone until you're stopped.
I only look at my phone at red lights. Never when I'm driving.
