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(AZCentral) Asinine Speed camera catches Arizona Republican Party's executive director driving 109. County Attorney's Office: we're not sure we're going to charge him   (azcentral.com) divider line 95
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Crosshair [TotalFark] 2009-05-08 01:07:37 PM  
Depends on the stretch of road, that might not be an unreasonable speed. I've done 115 on some deserted stretches of Highway 2 no problem. Highway 2 going into Minnesota has a 35 limit, but everyone does 45-60.

 
ZAZ [TotalFark] 2009-05-08 01:12:28 PM  
But Rep. Eric Meyer, D-Scottsdale, who opposes the legislation, said no one should drive faster than 100 mph, even in emergencies.

The system in his area even tickets police, who have to show that they were following department policy at the time. Phoenix police policy prohibits speeds more than 15 over the limit.

 
Occam's Chainsaw [TotalFark] 2009-05-08 01:16:32 PM  
ZAZ: But Rep. Eric Meyer, D-Scottsdale, who opposes the legislation, said no one should drive faster than 100 mph, even in emergencies.

The system in his area even tickets police, who have to show that they were following department policy at the time. Phoenix police policy prohibits speeds more than 15 over the limit.


Seems somewhat fair. Those who enforce the law should be held to a higher standard, no?

 
GAT_00 [TotalFark] 2009-05-08 01:21:37 PM  
Crosshair: Depends on the stretch of road, that might not be an unreasonable speed. I've done 115 on some deserted stretches of Highway 2 no problem. Highway 2 going into Minnesota has a 35 limit, but everyone does 45-60.

Last I checked, people still get tickets for speeding. The issue isn't that his speed was unsafe, but that he was breaking the goddamn law.

 
FlashHarry [TotalFark] 2009-05-08 01:47:25 PM  
laws don't apply to republicans.

 
ZAZ [TotalFark] 2009-05-08 01:54:20 PM  
Occam's Chainsaw: Seems somewhat fair. Those who enforce the law should be held to a higher standard, no?

Definitely. And yet police make a point of telling the press how they are afraid to drive on the highway -- even not on emergency calls -- for fear of getting a speeding ticket. Welcome to our world, Mr. Blue Line.

 
rikdanger [TotalFark] 2009-05-08 01:58:11 PM  
Crosshair: Depends on the stretch of road, that might not be an unreasonable speed. I've done 115 on some deserted stretches of Highway 2 no problem. Highway 2 going into Minnesota has a 35 limit, but everyone does 45-60.

Loop 101 is the freeway loop around the Phoenix metro area (well, most of it, so not deserted by any means. Pay up, Mecum.

 
Weaver95 [TotalFark] 2009-05-08 02:00:46 PM  
The Maricopa County Attorney's Office has not decided whether to pursue prosecution of the Arizona Republican Party's executive director, who drove 109 mph on Loop 101 last month, according to a speed camera.

hmm...Maricopa county. isn't that Sheriff Joe territory?

 
haemaker [TotalFark] 2009-05-08 02:10:43 PM  
It made the news and the not news (Fark). They are going to charge him.

 
Lionel Mandrake [TotalFark] 2009-05-08 02:18:39 PM  
Weaver95: The Maricopa County Attorney's Office has not decided whether to pursue prosecution of the Arizona Republican Party's executive director, who drove 109 mph on Loop 101 last month, according to a speed camera.

hmm...Maricopa county. isn't that Sheriff Joe territory?


Yeah, put the bastard in a pink jumpsuit and put him on a chain gang, Joe!

 
cousin-merle 2009-05-08 02:26:09 PM  
I heard this asshole on the radio this morning. They were talking about how this is a condemnation of the photo radar system because it doesn't take into account why people are speeding. Seriously, his excuse was, and I paraphrase, "Well, you guys don't know if I didn't have a good reason to go 44 mph over the speed limit at 12:30 AM, so it couldn't have been a crime." I'm sure that you being late to meet your wife or something would be a wonderful excuse to the families of the other people on the road you could have killed. This dumpy dude is 30, endangers lives with his 2008 Ford Shelby GT (wonder who bought that car for him) and lives in Anthem (the even whiten part of town they built to the north to get away from all the Mexicans and geriatrics). He definitely deserves a cockpunch.

Crosshair: Depends on the stretch of road, that might not be an unreasonable speed. I've done 115 on some deserted stretches of Highway 2 no problem. Highway 2 going into Minnesota has a 35 limit, but everyone does 45-60.

This was in the city at the 101 & 59th Ave. It has a speed limit of 65. The 101 typically has fast-traveling vehicles (~80 mph), but 109 is was out of line.

Weaver95: hmm...Maricopa county. isn't that Sheriff Joe territory?

Sheriff Joe is a criminal.

 
Snarfangel [TotalFark] 2009-05-08 02:27:40 PM  
They should make an example of him. It's easier to tell other speeders, "I don't care who you are, if you do the crime you pay the fine (or do the time)." Any hint of favoritism will simply make the jobs of police officers more difficult, as well as make others more likely to break the law.

 
Gig103 [TotalFark] 2009-05-08 02:30:44 PM  
If this is what it takes to get 'criminal speeding' off the books, I'll let this one slide. The highways are 6 lanes across, and some (like the 202 loop) are largely empty. What's "criminal" about 85 in a 65 when nobody is around?

Rewrite it so that criminal speeding is based on the speed. "If traveling in excess of 1.5 times the speed limit..."

In a 45mph zone (the majority of surface streets), 67.5 is criminal, pretty much the same as the existing 65mph. But then on the highways it gives you some more leeway.

 
Sybarite [TotalFark] 2009-05-08 02:30:57 PM  
I'm sort of curious what he was driving.

 
Weaver95 [TotalFark] 2009-05-08 02:32:20 PM  
seriously - if this is sheriff joe's backyard, then I expect - no, I *demand* that this lawbreaker be treated no differently than anyone else in that county.

 
cousin-merle 2009-05-08 02:35:45 PM  
Weaver95: seriously - if this is sheriff joe's backyard, then I expect - no, I *demand* that this lawbreaker be treated no differently than anyone else in that county.

It most definitely is. Dude should have to go to the same jail they put all the DUIs in.

Gig103: If this is what it takes to get 'criminal speeding' off the books, I'll let this one slide. The highways are 6 lanes across, and some (like the 202 loop) are largely empty. What's "criminal" about 85 in a 65 when nobody is around?

Rewrite it so that criminal speeding is based on the speed. "If traveling in excess of 1.5 times the speed limit..."

In a 45mph zone (the majority of surface streets), 67.5 is criminal, pretty much the same as the existing 65mph. But then on the highways it gives you some more leeway.


He was going 44 mph over...

 
cousin-merle 2009-05-08 02:43:45 PM  
Honestly, I've gotten a photo radar ticket for going 48 mph in the 35 mph transition from a 55 mph freeway to 45 mph street (it's only 35 mph for like a 1/4 mile). This dude should be penalized. He can't just say, "Oh, now that you've caught ME, let's get rid of the cameras!" Besides, didn't the state Republicans put them in in the first place?

Sybarite: I'm sort of curious what he was driving.

2008 Ford Mustang Shelby GT.

Auction his car off if he doesn't want to go to jail...

 
Crosshair [TotalFark] 2009-05-08 02:55:59 PM  
rikdanger: Loop 101 is the freeway loop around the Phoenix metro area (well, most of it, so not deserted by any means. Pay up, Mecum.

OK then. What was the flow of traffic? I've driven through Miniapolis/St. Paul on the 494 where the flow of traffic was 90-95mph and the posted limit was 55-60 mph. The 4-banger pickup I was driving topped out at 90, making changing lanes a real b*tch at times. 109mph might be just slightly faster than the flow of traffic for all I know. Not ready to call this either way. Hell, for all we know the camera was of by 10 mph and he was only going 99 mph. When was the last time the camera was calibrated?

GAT_00: Last I checked, people still get tickets for speeding. The issue isn't that his speed was unsafe, but that he was breaking the goddamn law.

Blind obedience to the law can and will get you killed. Doing what is legal and doing what is safest are sometimes two completely different things. So I take you're the person doing 60mph while everyone else is doing 90 and thinking you're the one driving safely?

 
Agent Nick Fury [TotalFark] 2009-05-08 03:01:21 PM  
FlashHarry: laws don't apply to republicans.

Come to PA where are governor promised he would tell his driver to keep it under 85

 
cousin-merle 2009-05-08 03:04:56 PM  
Crosshair: OK then. What was the flow of traffic? I've driven through Miniapolis/St. Paul on the 494 where the flow of traffic was 90-95mph and the posted limit was 55-60 mph. The 4-banger pickup I was driving topped out at 90, making changing lanes a real b*tch at times. 109mph might be just slightly faster than the flow of traffic for all I know. Not ready to call this either way. Hell, for all we know the camera was of by 10 mph and he was only going 99 mph. When was the last time the camera was calibrated?

80 mph is the flow on the 101, as I already said.

You don't need to make excuses for the guy, either. I know he's a Republican, but even at 99 mph, he's criminally speeding.

 
Weaver95 [TotalFark] 2009-05-08 03:05:44 PM  
Agent Nick Fury: FlashHarry: laws don't apply to republicans.

Come to PA where are governor promised he would tell his driver to keep it under 85


Indeed. it's one of the reasons why we call him FAST eddie. he breaks the traffic laws of this state all the damn time. oh, and he's a democrat.

 
neglogon [TotalFark] 2009-05-08 03:26:29 PM  
cousin-merle: I heard this asshole on the radio this morning. They were talking about how this is a condemnation of the photo radar system because it doesn't take into account why people are speeding. Seriously, his excuse was, and I paraphrase, "Well, you guys don't know if I didn't have a good reason to go 44 mph over the speed limit at 12:30 AM, so it couldn't have been a crime." He definitely deserves a cockpunch.


So, he was out banging around on the wife and didn't want to be late getting home. Hell, sponsor him for TF... he ain't worth the effort of a cockpunch.

 
Gig103 [TotalFark] 2009-05-08 03:31:19 PM  
cousin-merle: He was going 44 mph over...

Yes I know, and that can be covered as "reckless driving". I don't think "criminal speeding" even needs to exist.

 
GAT_00 [TotalFark] 2009-05-08 03:33:36 PM  
Crosshair: Blind obedience to the law can and will get you killed. Doing what is legal and doing what is safest are sometimes two completely different things. So I take you're the person doing 60mph while everyone else is doing 90 and thinking you're the one driving safely?

You're ignoring the fact that this guy is breaking the law and not getting in trouble, and I wonder why that is, to make your own little strawman that you can then happily burn down.

 
Shaggy_C 2009-05-08 03:41:30 PM  
Repeat, or follow up?

 
cousin-merle 2009-05-08 03:43:33 PM  

 
thenateman 2009-05-08 03:43:51 PM  
cousin-merle: Honestly, I've gotten a photo radar ticket for going 48 mph in the 35 mph transition from a 55 mph freeway to 45 mph street (it's only 35 mph for like a 1/4 mile). This dude should be penalized. He can't just say, "Oh, now that you've caught ME, let's get rid of the cameras!" Besides, didn't the state Republicans put them in in the first place?

We should get rid of the cameras, but this guy got caught and will be treated like everyone else. And BOTH parties are equally culpable in setting up and supporting the cameras.

 
bravian 2009-05-08 03:44:01 PM  
Threads like this aren't fun unless republicans and gay sex are mentioned.

 
HotWingConspiracy [TotalFark] 2009-05-08 03:44:32 PM  
Rep. Sam Crump, R-Anthem, who is sponsoring legislation that would ban photo radar from state highways, said Mecum could have a reasonable excuse for driving so fast.

Were liberals chasing him or something?

 
GanjSmokr 2009-05-08 03:44:49 PM  
FlashHarry: laws don't apply to republicanspoliticians.

FTFY

 
hugram 2009-05-08 03:46:32 PM  
Crosshair:

Blind obedience to the law can and will get you killed. Doing what is legal and doing what is safest are sometimes two completely different things. So I take you're the person doing 60mph while everyone else is doing 90 and thinking you're the one driving safely?

If the speed limit on the road you are referring to is 80-85 mph, then I agree that the guy going 60 is dangerous... .

 
ExperianScaresCthulhu 2009-05-08 03:47:45 PM  
Gig103: If this is what it takes to get 'criminal speeding' off the books, I'll let this one slide. The highways are 6 lanes across, and some (like the 202 loop) are largely empty. What's "criminal" about 85 in a 65 when nobody is around?

it's not safe to assume nobody is around, though. even if 'nobody' means 'no visibile cops'.

people don't pay attention and things happen quickly. no one being around at a 4 way stop or a 2 way stop doesn't mean ignore the sign. no one being around when the left hand light is red doesnt mean make the left hand turn anyway.

that's just me, though.

/have no problem with cams
//as long as they're applied equally
///this dude needs to man up and pay the fine, even if (especially if) they tell him they're gonna let it slide

 
Apik0r0s 2009-05-08 03:47:58 PM  
Politicization of crime.

Nothing to see here.

I'm sure that if it had been a young black man with baggy pants they would have let him off too.

I wonder which has killed more people, marijuana or self important assholes driving over 100mph?

 
jjorsett 2009-05-08 03:48:26 PM  
When did driving Highway 109 become illegal?

 
flyingmonkeysreign 2009-05-08 03:49:34 PM  
Crosshair: rikdanger: Loop 101 is the freeway loop around the Phoenix metro area (well, most of it, so not deserted by any means. Pay up, Mecum.

OK then. What was the flow of traffic? I've driven through Miniapolis/St. Paul on the 494 where the flow of traffic was 90-95mph and the posted limit was 55-60 mph. The 4-banger pickup I was driving topped out at 90, making changing lanes a real b*tch at times. 109mph might be just slightly faster than the flow of traffic for all I know. Not ready to call this either way. Hell, for all we know the camera was of by 10 mph and he was only going 99 mph. When was the last time the camera was calibrated?

GAT_00: Last I checked, people still get tickets for speeding. The issue isn't that his speed was unsafe, but that he was breaking the goddamn law.

Blind obedience to the law can and will get you killed. Doing what is legal and doing what is safest are sometimes two completely different things. So I take you're the person doing 60mph while everyone else is doing 90 and thinking you're the one driving safely?


This is why we can never have an actual conversation about traffic laws and safety. Someone has to come along and say 'I drive five million miles an hour and it makes me safer' and everyone else facepalms.

 
RoyBatty 2009-05-08 03:51:11 PM  
This is Arizona, but I grew up in California where the basic speed law is:

Never drive faster than it is safe.

At one time, under the right conditions, in California, Mecum's driving might have been considered legal, even if it was posted at 65. (Caveat: 110MPH!?)

I loved that law.

 
Headso 2009-05-08 03:51:59 PM  
He's a white republican not a n*gger democrat, this is the appropriate course of action. Suck it libtards!

 
Manfred J. Hattan 2009-05-08 03:53:37 PM  
cousin-merle: Auction his car off if he doesn't want to go to jail...

Funny you should use that word. Between last night's thread and this one, has anybody determined whether he's related to the Mecum auto auction people? (new window) No reason -- just an uncommon name and a muscle-y car.

 
RoyBatty 2009-05-08 03:53:48 PM  
The cameras here have been in place for years. Governor Brewer, Republican, said before her coronation that she was against them. What has she done about them since ascending to office?

 
opiumpoopy 2009-05-08 03:55:25 PM  
Sybarite: I'm sort of curious what he was driving.

I'm thinking... an automobile.

/ You're welcome. Tip the veal.

 
thenateman 2009-05-08 03:59:31 PM  
RoyBatty: The cameras here have been in place for years. Governor Brewer, Republican, said before her coronation that she was against them. What has she done about them since ascending to office?

She relies on them for revenue. Just like everyone else* in power.

* "Everyone else" except that super awesome sheriff in Maricopa, who ran on a platform of deactivating the cameras then, once elected, promptly deactivated the cameras. I wish some single-issue politician would run against Sheriff Joe on the same platform.

 
cousin-merle 2009-05-08 04:01:03 PM  
Manfred J. Hattan: Funny you should use that word. Between last night's thread and this one, has anybody determined whether he's related to the Mecum auto auction people? (new window) No reason -- just an uncommon name and a muscle-y car.

I just realized I clicked www.mecum.com at work. That could have turned out unpleasantly...

/auction place looks like it's in IL

 
baka-san [TotalFark] 2009-05-08 04:02:03 PM  
Speed camera pro or con, speeding evil or OK.

Ya got busted asshole, take it like a man.

 
The_Six_Fingered_Man 2009-05-08 04:02:09 PM  
thenateman: RoyBatty: The cameras here have been in place for years. Governor Brewer, Republican, said before her coronation that she was against them. What has she done about them since ascending to office?

She relies on them for revenue. Just like everyone else* in power.

* "Everyone else" except that super awesome sheriff in Maricopa, who ran on a platform of deactivating the cameras then, once elected, promptly deactivated the cameras. I wish some single-issue politician would run against Sheriff Joe on the same platform.


Someone get a little confused?

Maricopa County Sheriff

 
lajimi [TotalFark] 2009-05-08 04:03:10 PM  
The Maricopa County Attorney's Office has not decided whether to pursue prosecution of the Arizona Republican Party's executive director, who drove 109 mph on Loop 101 last month, according to a speed camera.

Special spanks for special ranks.

/Does set a precedent

 
Crosshair [TotalFark] 2009-05-08 04:09:55 PM  
cousin-merle: 80 mph is the flow on the 101, as I already said.

Yea sorry, I was still writing my post when you posted that.

You don't need to make excuses for the guy, either. I know he's a Republican, but even at 99 mph, he's criminally speeding.

True, but I hate speed cameras more.

GAT_00: You're ignoring the fact that this guy is breaking the law and not getting in trouble, and I wonder why that is, to make your own little strawman that you can then happily burn down.

What I was pointing out is that his speed of 109 mph needed to be put into context. cousin-merle did that. he had not posted his comment when I started writing mine.

As i was trying to get across in my earlier example, If I just told you I was doing 90 mph on the 60mph posted 494 you would say I was reckless. If I told you I was doing 90 mph and the flow of traffic was 90-95, then that puts it into context.

I'm glad he is not getting in trouble because I hope it gets people more angry over the issue of speed cameras and these state cash grabs. This example quite clearly demonstrates that it is about revenue and not safety. I could care less if he is a GOP or a Dem.

 
GoodScout 2009-05-08 04:15:24 PM  
FlashHarry: laws don't apply to republicans.

That's why they can secede if they want to. Because they're the law-and-order, pro-American party.

 
thenateman 2009-05-08 04:16:16 PM  
The_Six_Fingered_Man: Someone get a little confused?

Maricopa County Sheriff


I realize it's confusing, but there's a town of Maricopa just south of Phoenix, which is in Maricopa County. Maricopa is in Penal County, which I think is a hilarious name for a county.

 
skylabdown 2009-05-08 04:17:04 PM  
If you accept being accused by a machine, you are a slave.

 
cousin-merle 2009-05-08 04:17:30 PM  
Crosshair: This example quite clearly demonstrates that it is about revenue and not safety.

Suuuuurrreee it does...

You're being more of a blatant GOP apologist than usual.

 
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