Are there patterns as far as the way cops operate?

[guapo337]

I live in a fairly small town (6.5k people). What I'm wondering is if there is a pattern as to how cops operate and cover the area... I'm thinking of making a "cop log", simply an Excel spreadsheet with where I see cops monitoring traffic.. Maybe I'll notice some patterns, maybe I'll save myself some ticket money? Thoughts?

 

[CrazyPerson]

m-f 5-9.. coffee shop
9-5... pizza shop
5-10.. parking lot.. nap..

sat and sun... what? i have to work?

 

[guapo337]

Originally posted by: CrazyPerson
m-f 5-9.. coffee shop
9-5... pizza shop
5-10.. parking lot.. nap..

sat and sun... what? i have to work?

Haha no. But seriously, will making a log be at all helpful?

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: guapo337

Originally posted by: CrazyPerson
m-f 5-9.. coffee shop
9-5... pizza shop
5-10.. parking lot.. nap..

sat and sun... what? i have to work?

Haha no. But seriously, will making a log be at all helpful?

Absolutely pointless.

 

When I did my ride-along during my senior year of high school, I asked the cop if there was a pattern to the places he visited and the areas he chose for traffic enforcement. He said no; he'll usually drive around a general area at a general time of night based on the crime patterns in the city, but he said that it gets too boring and too predictable for criminals and speeders if he were to develop a pattern.

 

[guapo337]

Originally posted by: jumpr
When I did my ride-along during my senior year of high school, I asked the cop if there was a pattern to the places he visited and the areas he chose for traffic enforcement. He said no; he'll usually drive around a general area at a general time of night based on the crime patterns in the city, but he said that it gets too boring and too predictable for criminals and speeders if he were to develop a pattern.

Yeah but that's a big city. I'm talking small town with probably about 8 cops total. Differences?

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: guapo337

Originally posted by: jumpr
When I did my ride-along during my senior year of high school, I asked the cop if there was a pattern to the places he visited and the areas he chose for traffic enforcement. He said no; he'll usually drive around a general area at a general time of night based on the crime patterns in the city, but he said that it gets too boring and too predictable for criminals and speeders if he were to develop a pattern.

Yeah but that's a big city. I'm talking small town with probably about 8 cops total. Differences?

I don't really think so. Most cops even in small towns are in the habit of NOT getting into a habit. Even if they did have a pattern it wouldn't be down to the minute and it would vary based on calls and volume.

 

Originally posted by: guapo337

Originally posted by: jumpr
When I did my ride-along during my senior year of high school, I asked the cop if there was a pattern to the places he visited and the areas he chose for traffic enforcement. He said no; he'll usually drive around a general area at a general time of night based on the crime patterns in the city, but he said that it gets too boring and too predictable for criminals and speeders if he were to develop a pattern.

Yeah but that's a big city. I'm talking small town with probably about 8 cops total. Differences?

Probably not many. Ann Arbor has MAYBE 15 cops in the city at any given time, except for Michigan football games, when there are about 300 cops.

 

[guapo337]

Originally posted by: Millennium

Originally posted by: guapo337

Originally posted by: jumpr
When I did my ride-along during my senior year of high school, I asked the cop if there was a pattern to the places he visited and the areas he chose for traffic enforcement. He said no; he'll usually drive around a general area at a general time of night based on the crime patterns in the city, but he said that it gets too boring and too predictable for criminals and speeders if he were to develop a pattern.

Yeah but that's a big city. I'm talking small town with probably about 8 cops total. Differences?

I don't really think so. Most cops even in small towns are in the habit of NOT getting into a habit. Even if they did have a pattern it wouldn't be down to the minute and it would vary based on calls and volume.

Yeah, I see what you're saying. Im gonna try the log, and see if I cant find any patterns... Hey, it could be helpful?

 

[guapo337]

Originally posted by: jumpr

Originally posted by: guapo337

Originally posted by: jumpr
When I did my ride-along during my senior year of high school, I asked the cop if there was a pattern to the places he visited and the areas he chose for traffic enforcement. He said no; he'll usually drive around a general area at a general time of night based on the crime patterns in the city, but he said that it gets too boring and too predictable for criminals and speeders if he were to develop a pattern.

Yeah but that's a big city. I'm talking small town with probably about 8 cops total. Differences?

Probably not many. Ann Arbor has MAYBE 15 cops in the city at any given time, except for Michigan football games, when there are about 300 cops.

Alright. When I say 8 I mean 8 are hired. 8 arent on duty all the time.. Probably like 3 or 4.

 

The only pattern I see in Ann Arbor is that cops often sit in various parking lots near busy roads during the late-night weekend shifts (0000-0400 Saturday and Sunday mornings) to catch speeders/drunks. But I've never noticed a pattern.

 

[guapo337]

Originally posted by: jumpr
The only pattern I see in Ann Arbor is that cops often sit in various parking lots near busy roads during the late-night weekend shifts (0000-0400 Saturday and Sunday mornings) to catch speeders/drunks. But I've never noticed a pattern.

Alright.. See that's a start. And I figure, if I have some of my friends let me know where they see speed traps and cops sitting around waiting for speeders, I can figure out a pattern.

 

[RU482]

You've got -->#4<--

 

[guapo337]

Originally posted by: redly1
You've got -->#4<--

Too much time on YOUR hands?

what?

 

[Ornery]

"...maybe I'll save myself some ticket money?"

Stop at the stop signs, and drive the speed limit. How GD hard is that? :frown:

 

[guapo337]

Originally posted by: Ornery
"...maybe I'll save myself some ticket money?"

Stop at the stop signs, and drive the speed limit. How GD hard is that? :frown:

Yeah, I do that.

Maybe I'm an arrogant and ignorant piece of sh!t, but it would be cool to beat the system.

 

I'm gonna flat out say it. you are going to be wasting your time.

 

[Chaotic42]

Wait, you're going to spend that much time on that, but you don't want to spend the extra 5 minutes on the road by driving the speed limit?

As for patterns, yes they do have a pattern.

0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13...

 

[oniq]

Yeah, you go do that. Use a pad of paper and pen. And never come back here again.

 

[EMPshockwave82]

live in a town of 8k.... cops are trickily stupid... i mean crafty...


nope... wont help at all... better off to just drive the speed limit or about 5 over

 

[Blueopticalmouse]

Get a radar detector. Works great!!! Saved me quite a few times

 

[AlienCraft]

Originally posted by: guapo337

Originally posted by: Ornery
"...maybe I'll save myself some ticket money?"

Stop at the stop signs, and drive the speed limit. How GD hard is that? :frown:

Yeah, I do that.

Maybe I'm an arrogant and ignorant piece of sh!t, but it would be cool to beat the system.

SAY WHAT?? Are you Cool Hand Luke or something?? wTF are you talking about "Beat The system?' If you drive like an a$$hat, you're not putting just yourself at risk, but everyone else around you on the road as well. If you wanna "Beat The System" develop an occupation that can't be moved offshore to save "costs". </rant>