In order for them to be able to legally stop someone, don’t they need to be sworn in officers of the law? The idea that someone who was a street sweeper the day before is going to pull over cars the next, is silly.
So it’s only cause for concern if it occurs in the counties you outlined? Two of the three counties PDX falls in, will not answer calls there. It’s been this way for several years.
No…it just is not a surprise that Berkeley (or Seattle) would be calling for part time Mall Cops to do traffic stops.
It is “government of the People” at it’s best (or worse?).
Correct me if i am wrong, but i believe the Berkeley “traffic agents?” would not pursue vehicles, nor would have the power to detain or arrest folks. I believe that the thinking here is they would not be any threat, so a suspect wouldnt feel the need to act violently to “get away”. I believe the “traffic agents?” would essentially just be hand delivering traffic tickets to motorists, instead of the motorist receiving them in the mail (which is what would happen should they flee).
Certainly won’t protect them from sociopaths out to just kill and maim, but they would be at no more risk from those folks than a clerk at a 7-11.
I think some european countries have moved away from traffic cops and just rely on speed cameras, and traffic cameras to enforce traffic violations. Not sure how enforcement of DUI would work without cops though.
If a government agent doesn’t have the authority to detain someone then he doesn’t have the authority to make a traffic stop on a motorist since that is, by legal definition, detainment.
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Right, so i think it would essentially just be a hand delivering of your traffic ticket as opposed to receiving it in the mail. Maybe the ticket amount is slightly less because of no processeing fees?
I think they would have to call in reckless speeding/driving and DUI to actual cops though as those are situations in which the public is in danger and the driver needs to be stopped ASAP. But someone going 7mph over, manning a speed trap, or someone who ran a yellow/red light, rolled through a stop sign, etc wouldnt require an actual cop… and (correct me if i am wrong) but most cops hate that duty anyways.
It’s essentially increasing the number of public employees by creating another department.
That’s a good one … it’d be the first time in history gov’t didn’t make something more expensive when they changed it … you have a good sense of humor
ticket amount slightly less … oh boy, that’s a hoot.
Not necessarily. Lots of ways to structure the reorganization without increasing budget or bodies. Per usual there is a lot of harsh judgment based on worst case scenarios before details of the policies are known.
…i chuckled, but also felt very sad … that grammar is atrocious
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“Now the city will work towards forming a separate traffic department that will use unarmed city workers to conduct traffic stops, according to the Associated Press. Nothing will change immediately, but the vote calls on the city manager to order a “community engagement process” that will pursue the creation of the new department.”
Not reduce the number of police. The money that’s saved by reducing police duties will go to pay the new employees. And we all know that whatever budget cuts are made now, the budget will end up increasing eventually.
You understand that duties (like payroll, admin, supply, etc ) can be shared between departments, right? Again, there are lots of ways to structure the reorganization without increasing budget or bodies. But why wait for ANY details before assuming the worst and being loud about it?
Are you talking to me? If so, I don’t get your point. Using unarmed traffic enforcement is just plain stupid. Cops get killed every year on traffic stops. That’s fact. That is what the stupid thread is all about, calling out stupid decisions. I am not being “loud” about it, I just called it out. If you don’t think it is stupid, fine, that is your opinion. Mine is it is stupid and dangerous.
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No, talking to Zecarlo. I may disagree with a lot of policy items with you, buy you are rarely “loud” about it… or at least until you have all the facts haha.
And, shocker, i do disagree with you about traffic stops for the reasons i posted above in a response- Correct me if i am wrong, but i believe the Berkeley “traffic agents?” would not pursue vehicles, nor would have the power to detain or arrest folks. I believe that the thinking here is they would not be any threat, so a suspect wouldnt feel the need to act violently to “get away”. I believe the “traffic agents?” would essentially just be hand delivering traffic tickets to motorists, instead of the motorist receiving them in the mail (which is what would happen should they flee).
Certainly won’t protect them from sociopaths out to just kill and maim, but they would be at no more risk from those folks than a clerk at a 7-11.
I see what you did there :7)
Austin (Berkeley wannabe)and Houson/Dallas(city) to a lesser degree, are already way left of center. Their suburbs not.
Influx from West and East Coasts are financing the message for changing demographics also
Why do we only hear about liberals invading red areas with their progressive ideals, but we don’t hear about republicans invading blue areas with their conservative ideals? Or am i missing those storiylines?
Is it because conservatives arent moving to liberal areas, or conservatives are shrinking in numbers, or because liberals are quiet about conservatives are moving into their area?
It is still creating another department which will most likely have its own budget. Are they going to just have city workers with existing jobs also have the power to enforce traffic laws?
Because the past informs the present.
What? Does a clerk at 7/11 try and stop anyone from going about their day?
A 7-11 clerk tries to stop shoplifters with more force and passion than how i think these traffic agents would try and stop traffic violators haha. So, probably.
I believe the traffic agents are just there to observe violators and write tickets. If they can hand deliver the tickets to the motorist, great. If the motorist dips out, the ticket gets mailed to the license plate address.