Joel Hendon

Traffic Law Enforcement And Freedom: A Weird Dilemma

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Posted: Thursday, February 11, 2010

by Joel Hendon
http://hebronics.org/index.html

I read an interesting article this morning. Virginia, the only state who has retained the ban on radar detection devices in your car, has finally voted to allow them. The only police jurisdiction left which bans the use is the District of Columbia. I really don't know why my stance is so different to others on this, but I honestly think they should be banned all over. I can remember when things were different.

In the forties and fifties it was not unusual at all for a motorcycle policeman to park behind a low billboard, or behind clump of bushes, waiting for a speeder to pass. And, of course there were no radar devices at that time, it was simply his word but it still weighed heavily before a magistrate. I remember one instance of the radio announcer of our little 1000 watt local station who had been stopped by a hidden officer on his way to work that morning. He was furious, with harsh outcries, calling such Gestapo tactics, etc. Then later came the radar apparatus which brought on much of the same type outrage.

Most of us have driven over the posted speed limit at some time or another, and some people leave their driveway at speeds over the limit. I've been stopped at least four times that I remember for breaking the speed limit, once by 17 miles per hour over the limit. But on neither occasion did the officers give me a ticket, but rather a stern promise that he would next time. It may have been the flood of tears and groveling that I was doing but it worked. No, seriously, each time I simply admitted that I was speeding and apologized for it. But that is the way I feel about it. I don't have the right to break a law, and I don't have the right to be angry at a police officer for doing the job he was hired to do.

As far as the hidden officer and or radar is concerned, some say that is a "speed trap" others just yell because they had no warning. Bull. Everyone who drives a car should know what the laws are where he is driving. That is a warning...don't exceed the limit. What you are meaning is that you should be allowed to break the limit anytime you wish until you approach a policeman, and then you should have to slow down to the limit until you are out of range. Is that what the law was set to accomplish?

When I am on a freeway, I set my cruise control on the speed limit and most of the other cars pass me by. Many probably call me undesirable names. Rarely do I have to pass one. Speed is known to be the major cause of fatalities in auto accidents. But that always happens to the other guy, doesn't it? At least it always has up to now.

We have a lot of freedoms in America, and we cherish them. But we do not have, nor should we desire to have, freedom to break any laws of our choosing. The next time you are stopped by a policeman, appreciate him for doing his job and be angry at yourself for breaking the law.

Author Biography: Joel Hendon was born near Gadsden Alabama. He attended public schools in Cherokee County, Alabama and after serving a tour of duty in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, attended Jacksonville State University, majoring in Business Administration. He became a Christian in 1948, and although he followed secular work as a career and retired from Allied Signal Aerospace, he is an avid student of the Holy Bible and related works as well as biblical history. He has an extensive website of conservative religious and political articles plus much more. Check it out. http://hebronics.org/index.html

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Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)
» left by Jack H. Schick
 3 years 97 days ago.
116 fans.
I guess I'm a criminal. I set my cruise control at 9 mph above the speed limit (I drive coast to coast). I've driven through radar enforcement areas (speed traps), at that speed dozens of times and never been stopped.
» left by Joel Hendon 3 years 97 days ago.
127 fans.
I believe it is pretty well acknowledged that most lawmen will not stop you if your less then 10 miles over the limit, especially on the freeways. Thanks for the comment.
» left by Tim Bennett
 3 years 93 days ago.
11 fans. Follow Tim Bennett on twitter!
Without law and order the world soon turns into nightmare. Laws are put in place to keep order and protect us as much as we dislike them. We all know the rules and those who choose to break them have a price to pay. It's the same in every corner of our lives from family, schools, organizations, institutions and even our cars. Can you imagine a world without laws? I do think sometimes though that too many laws are passed making things illegal simply because no one knows how to solve the problem. So just make it illegal!
» left by Joel Hendon 3 years 93 days ago.
Thanks for your comment, Tim. You may be right. I just feel like, if a law is in effect, no provisions should be made to allow people to break them so long as they can keep from getting caught. That makes no sense to me.
» left by Marijo Phelps
 3 years 92 days ago.
146 fans.
SO, we shouldn't be speeding - one trip to the ER will show you why. They have the limits for our health and safety (except on one straight paved road near our house where it is country driving and only 40mph!)
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