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Texas Man arrested for warning drivers of speed trap

D

dmcowen674

No Lifer
1-16-2014

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/on-trial-over-speed-trap-warnings-161025708.html

Texas Man arrested for warning drivers of speed trap

Police say they spotted Ron Martin standing on the center median of a six-lane roadway, holding a sign that read "Police ahead," according to MyFoxDFW.com.

In the arrest report, police officer Thomas Mrozinski wrote that he became wise to Martin's ruse when he saw drivers "waving at us." This wasn't the first time Martin had held up a sign to warn drivers about the fuzz's presence.


So what exactly was he arrested for? The Dallas Observer reports that police cited him for holding a sign on public property.
 
I am surprised that the police haven't tried to go down the "aiding and abetting a criminal" route or whatever it's equivalent in the US is.

Would be stupid and most likely get thrown out of court but that doesn't usually stop them from trying.
 
Yea, because while they claim "speed traps" are basically just a means to let the public know they are watching and make people aware that they shouldn't be speeding and are being safe....it's really about making money.

This guy was doing their job for free. If there hadn't really been a speed trap people still would have slowed down after seeing him and his sign.
 
I'm more surprised they didn't yank his arms behind his back and scream "stop resisting!" and then arrest him for resisting arrest.
 
That's dumb. The point of writing speeding tickets is to slow people down, that's what this guy was doing. It'll get tossed out of court.
 
Surely this is covered by the right to free speech?

Also, it suggests the police don't need to bother with the fuss of speed traps if they want people to slow down, they should just employ people to stand by the road in plain clothes with one of these signs.
 
It'd be nice to see him get a modest civil rights violation settlement - say, $10k.
 
boomhower said:
That's dumb. The point of writing speeding tickets is to slow people down, that's what this guy was doing. It'll get tossed out of court.
Click to expand...

that's silly, considering the potential of getting a speeding ticket clearly doesn't work; if this guy was slowing people down then maybe he should be rewarded for finding a way to get people to drive the speed limit that actually works
 
Most people don't fight it in court so they pay there fines and court costs and move on. I don't get the feeling this guy will do that so the people of that county are going to fork over for a pointless trial unless the judge tosses it at the first, or more likely, second hearing...


Brian
 
Police say they spotted Ron Martin standing on the center median of a six-lane roadway,
Click to expand...

Wonder if that had anything to do with it. Usually not legal, or smart, to stand in the middle of a highway.
 
I always warn people when I see a cop trying to catch speeders. Simple flashing of high beams usually does the trick for those about to run into it.
 
Bateluer said:
Wonder if that had anything to do with it. Usually not legal, or smart, to stand in the middle of a highway.
Click to expand...

was it a roadway or highway. It would be illegal to be in the middle of a highway but this sounds like a roadway and probably at an intersection.

I understand that the cops can become frustrated by this but opening the department up to lawsuits and the wasted money to bring this guy to trial is wasteful. Hopefully the DA drops the charges.
 
JimKiler said:
was it a roadway or highway. It would be illegal to be in the middle of a highway but this sounds like a roadway and probably at an intersection.

I understand that the cops can become frustrated by this but opening the department up to lawsuits and the wasted money to bring this guy to trial is wasteful. Hopefully the DA drops the charges.
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It could be argued that it's an attractive nuisance. I don't buy it, but that charge should stick if taken to court.

People need to start calling these fuckers on their bullshit, like Boomhower above. We all know tickets have nothing to do with safety, but everyone nods and smiles, and treats it as fact, all the while knowing better. Whenever safety gets brought up, it should be corrected to revenue generation. That applies everywhere. Media reporters need to do their jobs, and educate people. Not act as the propaganda wing for the government.

Edit:
corrected name, and isn't to specifically call out boomhower. He's just used as an example.
 
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pmv said:
Surely this is covered by the right to free speech?

Also, it suggests the police don't need to bother with the fuss of speed traps if they want people to slow down, they should just employ people to stand by the road in plain clothes with one of these signs.
Click to expand...

In the UK all speed traps have to have a warning sign a reasonable distance before the trap.
Trap with no sign just means lots of people get caught speeding, speed trap warning sign means lots of people slow down to about 75.
 
WelshBloke said:
In the UK all speed traps have to have a warning sign a reasonable distance before the trap.
Click to expand...

This has gone to court several times. Although they are told they have to have a warning sign you cannot get away with a speeding offence because one wasn't there.
 
JimKiler said:
was it a roadway or highway. It would be illegal to be in the middle of a highway but this sounds like a roadway and probably at an intersection.

I understand that the cops can become frustrated by this but opening the department up to lawsuits and the wasted money to bring this guy to trial is wasteful. Hopefully the DA drops the charges.
Click to expand...

If it was a "roadway" and it is illegal then the cops should be out arresting the firemen each time they do a "fill the boot" event...
 
dmcowen674 said:
1-16-2014

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/on-trial-over-speed-trap-warnings-161025708.html

Texas Man arrested for warning drivers of speed trap

Police say they spotted Ron Martin standing on the center median of a six-lane roadway, holding a sign that read "Police ahead," according to MyFoxDFW.com.

In the arrest report, police officer Thomas Mrozinski wrote that he became wise to Martin's ruse when he saw drivers "waving at us." This wasn't the first time Martin had held up a sign to warn drivers about the fuzz's presence.


So what exactly was he arrested for? The Dallas Observer reports that police cited him for holding a sign on public property.
Click to expand...

Criminal enterprise of course. Keeping the publics' money in their pockets or as the Cops see it " keeping the Cops' money in the publics' pocket.
 
pmv said:
Surely this is covered by the right to free speech?

Also, it suggests the police don't need to bother with the fuss of speed traps if they want people to slow down, they should just employ people to stand by the road in plain clothes with one of these signs.
Click to expand...

This is Texas, none of them Eastern liberal laws apply there.
 
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