Stevens Pass Emphasis

[JamesW]

Don't know what is happening in Wenatchee or elsewhere on 2, but the downside(East) of Stevens was awash in radar around 1030am ish today. From a mile or so down from the summit where you round the curve into a couple of miles of open four lane it was like open season, counted 6(maybe 7)units, four were Expeditions and the rest were Crown Vic slicks. That stretch has always been a duck pond for moving radar units but this was overkill, although all were making contact, the last unattached flipped on the lights and made a U-turn about a block ahead of me for some poor guy that did not have a detector. You weekenders keep an eye open.

 

[Fontanaman]

It is the last weekend of the month. The cynical side of me thinks WSP is under-running the monthly quota so where better to go than the bottom of a big hill on a two lane road to meet quota?

On Sunday they hang out on the West side of the summit catching the weekenders returning home. There is a pullout where they hang out. One officer out of the vehicle hides behind a large rock aiming a hand held unit. You can't see him or the turn out. After getting a victim, they walk out and motion drivers over who is soon joined by a second officer, while the first goes back and takes more pictures.

Perhaps this is in response to the motorcyclist who died last weekend on the North Crashcades Hwy due to excessive speed. Sad when this happens and beyond the heartbroken family, is the shadow it casts on the motorcycle community as a whole.

I am heading to Artist Point at Mt. Baker on Sunday (tomorrow) and will be doing the 5+ boogie.

 

[HotRodZilla]

Yup...I'm betting nothing to do with revenue, as the OT expenditure to pay for the project is higher than any revenue intake. It's a speed enforcement project aimed at slowing people down; because if there was a speed related fatal in that area, people are obviously driving too fast.

 

[Bugnatr]

Yup...I'm betting nothing to do with revenue, as the OT expenditure to pay for the project is higher than any revenue intake.

Really? Let's do some simple math. I would suspect the tickets will average well over $250 each but let's just say 250 a pop. Each office should be able to write 3 tickets an hour = $750.00 an hour and overtime is more than that?

I suspect not all the money goes into the police budget but at $750 an hour ( most likely much more than that) the state is making some serious bank.

Does this math work?

 

[FJRay]

Yup...I'm betting nothing to do with revenue, as the OT expenditure to pay for the project is higher than any revenue intake.

Really? Let's do some simple math. I would suspect the tickets will average well over $250 each but let's just say 250 a pop. Each office should be able to write 3 tickets an hour = $750.00 an hour and overtime is more than that?

I suspect not all the money goes into the police budget but at $750 an hour ( most likely much more than that) the state is making some serious bank.

Does this math work?

I would think not.There is a butt load of expensive equipment and a few other people involved in each stop. After that you have to factor in the cost of collecting the fine as in court costs and paying the officer while he sits in court waiting.

 

[Auburn]

Actually, it is more likely that WSP got a grant from the traffic safety commission to provide speed patrol emphasis in that area for a specified time period. The grants cover the cost of the WSP tooper. The fines go the the state's general fund, WSP gets a very small administrative fee from each ticket they write. These grants are routinely given for DUI emphasis patrols.

here are the fines set by the legislature: Fines - starting on page 37

But you know it is easier to believe conspiracy theories...

 

[gixxerjasen]

I'm not sure about this location, but the last year here, the city of Mesquite has had officers, sometimes plural, ticketing on the stretch of 635 that runs through town. Every single day. The officer that ticketed me spent all of about five minutes total writing me my $220 ticket before he was on his way. He was already back on the highway with the radar/laser gun going before I could even gear back up. Considering how quickly it all was done and over with, I'm quite certain they are making a profit out there.

 

[HotRodZilla]

Actually, it is more likely that WSP got a grant from the traffic safety commission to provide speed patrol emphasis in that area for a specified time period. The grants cover the cost of the WSP tooper. The fines go the the state's general fund, WSP gets a very small administrative fee from each ticket they write. These grants are routinely given for DUI emphasis patrols.

here are the fines set by the legislature: Fines - starting on page 37

But you know it is easier to believe conspiracy theories...

That's it exactly right there. AND the money the state is dishing out is probably federal grant money. Usually the agencies issuing these cites get about $.15 per ticket...But they get free money to pay their guys and girls. Of course all this is kind of moot since everyone out there should be smart enough to figure out how to not get a citation.

 

[Fontanaman]

Of course all this is kind of moot since everyone out there should be smart enough to figure out how to not get a citation.

or ride to live.....

 

[Ignacio]

here are the fines set by the legislature: Fines - starting on page 37

But you know it is easier to believe conspiracy theories...

Very nice of you to provide ACTUAL data to this thread. :clapping:

It's been a few years, but here's a nice piece on how ticket proceeds are split between funds. Very little goes directly to the actual jurisdiction....this tends to discourage citing for revenue reasons. And talking a fair amount in my position with local, county, and state law enforcement and being a local policy maker.....revenue really isn't the reason they write tickets in this state.

But it makes a good myth!

 

[Fontanaman]

My cynical side suggested quota was down and accounted for the extra troops along the road. Interesting how quota shifted to revenue.

 

[Auburn]

My cynical side suggested quota was down and accounted for the extra troops along the road. Interesting how quota shifted to revenue.

That's because it is the an easiest way to justify a quota system by tieing it to income.

 

[Mount Rainier]

Don't know what is happening in Wenatchee or elsewhere on 2, but the downside(East) of Stevens was awash in radar around 1030am ish today. From a mile or so down from the summit where you round the curve into a couple of miles of open four lane it was like open season, counted 6(maybe 7)units, four were Expeditions and the rest were Crown Vic slicks. That stretch has always been a duck pond for moving radar units but this was overkill, although all were making contact, the last unattached flipped on the lights and made a U-turn about a block ahead of me for some poor guy that did not have a detector. You weekenders keep an eye open.

WSP was still working hard in this area yesterday morning around 10am east bound, just past the summit. One marked SUV tucked in nicely in a pull out area on the right side of the road facing the opposite direction, and at least one, very plain looking unmarked dark gray sedan with tinted windows. Maybe GM or Chrysler with the only lighting visible being two small red/blue lights in the rear door side window, that had someone pulled over. Lots of warnings given by Motos passing by in the opposite direction. Not that I needed it of course..... "5 mph under" is my motto.

Keep Going!

 

[Niehart]

Not that I needed it of course..... "5 mph under" is my motto.

Keep Going!

:rofl:

 

[0Face]

Of course all this is kind of moot since everyone out there should be smart enough to figure out how to not get a citation.

Cut the department budget, don't upgrade equipment, hire incompetent prosecutors, create more restrictive laws making it harder for cops to do their jobs, require high physical fitness standards, get ride of the union, and last but not least, under fund the pensions?

 

[HotRodZilla]

Of course all this is kind of moot since everyone out there should be smart enough to figure out how to not get a citation.

Cut the department budget, don't upgrade equipment, hire incompetent prosecutors, create more restrictive laws making it harder for cops to do their jobs, require high physical fitness standards, get ride of the union, and last but not least, under fund the pensions?

******* Marty, you're like a genius trapped in that body!! How did you know all of that stuff?? Did you cheat?? You cheated right??

 

[0Face]

Of course all this is kind of moot since everyone out there should be smart enough to figure out how to not get a citation.

Cut the department budget, don't upgrade equipment, hire incompetent prosecutors, create more restrictive laws making it harder for cops to do their jobs, require high physical fitness standards, get ride of the union, and last but not least, under fund the pensions?

******* Marty, you're like a genius trapped in that body!! How did you know all of that stuff?? Did you cheat?? You cheated right??

Nope, I just live in Chicago where they keep doing that. Hmmm... I wonder why we're having a record number of murders this year. We're averaging almost 3 a day. We're on a record breaking pace to be the city with the most murders in America. I can't wait to break out my foam number one hand and run the street waving it around. We suck at sports so we might as well be number one at something.

Sorry, didn't mean to off topic the thread.

 

[dsmack]

The other situation almost guaranteed to generate follow-up emphasis patrols is an uptick in fatalities, especially if one or more were running without the required MC endorsement.

Does anyone know if the fatal on N. Cascades Hwy last weekend had no endorsement?

Ride safe, keep your money in your wallet!

Don