At 2:39 am January 2nd, on my way home I caught a glimpse of a state trooper approaching in the rear view mirror with his lights on. Of course I pull over and let him pass by. The wind coming off the squad car shook my van and before I knew it, he was out of sight. I continued on my way only to be approached by another car, approaching fast. It seemed to whip around me like a bat out of hell.. Only after it had passed did I realize it was another Maryland State Trooper. At that point, and seeing the risk and danger he had put me in, I started flashing high beams and honking my horn. About a 1000 feet from the golf course, he pulled over and exited his car. I asked for his badge number, I told him be was speeding without his lights, and that he could have killed me. To which I got the response "I'm responding to a call". I was sure to write down the only distinguishing marking on the Troopers car, his license plate. "E-11". It seems with just a few short words, his actions were justified beyond question.
This is not the first time I have seen this behavior and lack of safety. On this same road, these Troopers turn their lights on, get past anyone in their way, then quickly turn them off. A fast way home, a convenience of the job not to follow the law, or just a shear disregard for safety for the enjoyment of a fast joy ride.
If it was a response to a call like the officer describes, than he should turn on his flashing lights. There is no reason to keep from warning other cars of an approaching emergency vehicle.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
39 comments:
If it was an emergency call that necessitated his high speed pass, why was he so quick to pull over?
So what. Let them do their job.
No lights on i Aint moving, also call the barracks and talk with the commander.
Meh
Having run a daily route on Rout 50, I can say it's the same there. Several citizens have lost their lives because of speeding troopers (i.e., Vienna bridge) but I guess it's an attitude where speed cameras are not accepted. Don't pull to the right, pull completely on the right shoulder to protect yourself.
They ( The State Police) do that until they kill somebody. Then they slow down.
Watch Wicomico sheriffs do the same while rolling thru red lights as they talk in the phone. Relax. They're trained to talk drive and flip switches on and off at the same time. All while paying close attention to the safety of the public! My arse!
Let's not forget Berlin on 113, 2 young men one dead. Or Berlin at the barracks, 2 older ladies dead. How about St Michaels flying thru town fast enough to kill an elderly couple. How much more?
I will say I rarely see Wicomico driving like idiots.
Let's be reasonable. Speed Cameras DO catch speeders as well as create a lot of revenue. Pass one and you're either speeding or you are not. Citizens do not really need BUBBA to pull them over and issue a citation. There are only a FEW routes to get to the beach. Put some potable speed cameras out there and you accomplish the same as any Trooper driving at 90MPH (at fewer loss of lives).
MD has one of the highest density of cops per area as any nearby State.
State troopers are glorified traffic cops
Cop haters are gonna hate. But when you need one, you sure as hell going to want him there fast to save you ass.
No, we are not cop haters. However, their speeding and using the cell phone while driving is observed daily. Their willful speeding and preoccupation when on the phone is becoming extremely dangerous to the driving public. We recognize their duty to respond but they must do so safely. Lead by deed!!
Lead by example.
Not cop haters here, just fairness lovers.
Eat that, troopers.
Sometimes while going to domestics they purposely keep the lights off so not to set crazies over the edge as they're pulling up....
What job? He obviously was not responding to a call. THINK
Trooper should have arrested this liar.
Sometimes lights are left off for the purpose of surprise.
Go home and fix dinner for your husband.
I want them to speed everywhere , your just jealous . The faster they go , the more calls they respond to. Anyway , 65% of all drivers speed , get a life.
many years ago very late at night while coming back from OC. I watched two state boys line their cars up on 50 and have a drag race. they were outta sight in less then a minute. boys will be boys, but don't let em catch you doing it!
12:27-Affirmative
Troopers think they are tough guys speeding up and down on rt 50 if i am in the fast lane amd they dont have there lights pn i Dont Move let em go around they are spoiled brats.
I regularly drive past 2 barracks and I can't tell you how many times I have been passed (usually at about 65 -70mph) only to later see the same car turning into the barracks.
Don't worry - call the barracks - talk to the commander - they will review dash cam and if your lying then I feel really sorry for you!
sorry camera footage was garbled and unrecognizable. I called IA once and thats what they came back with from the local baricks commander.
funny how that works.
Really trooper? Your not abive the law and trust me you also are on video fool.
Call the Md state police comm.
I see this all the time also. Speeding, talking on their cell phones. I had a State Trooper come up one me on Rt. 50 toward O.C one day and he got right on my bumper and stayed there until I moved and let his sorry azz go. He just stared at me as he went by looking at me like, "Did you not see me?" No lights and no siren. He was just going to work at the Berlin barracks. They think because they wear a uniform it gives them the right to do as they please. They think they are above the law. A fellow worker was telling us one day of an encounter he had with a State Trooper. He said the trooper passed him and he thought he could go as fast as the trooper was since the trooper has no right to drive as fast as they want, and the trooper pulled him over and gave him a ticket for speeding. He told the trooper, " I was driving as fast as you ere, so how could I have been speeding?" His response was," We are allowed to do what we do." Which is a lie. Plus they will always cover each others azz. l
Like they are some special kind of group or something. And those of you making comments like this one, "Cop haters are gonna hate. But when you need one, you sure as hell going to want him there fast to save you ass. ", we are not cop haters. We just want them to obey the law like we are expected to do. They have no right to circumvent the law at all, and you know it. You must be one of those that drive like idiots and see nothing wrong with it. "I am a cop and I can do whatever I want, duh." I see you doing it and I will complain. And so should everyone. That would put a stop to you.
They are only allowed to go over 10 mph over the speed limit that includes ALL emergency vehicles in Md if they are speeding and tailgating you get there plate # and report it to the MD state police in annapolis.
MSP Commander Capt Kitzinger, I.A.D Internal affairs div.
410 653 4350.
3:56 thanks for that bit of info. will make sure to use it. also they have gps units in their cars which can and do monitor how fast they got from point a to point b. so their speed can be checked. I'm installing video and cameras with audio so the next time on of these fools stops me for following them I'll have all the evidence I need! I'll get the ticket but they'll get suspended! and no promotion! love it! worth every penny to get that psycho off the road for a couple of days!
The police officers, like every other citizen, are supposed to obey the posted speed limit unless they are responding to a call, where they are supposed to at least use their flashers. This is the official protocol. If you feel this is not being done, then call their commanding officer - or any commanding officer at a MSP barracks with a plate number. They are not allowed to endanger other drivers. It is their job to protect them as well as respond to emergencies.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
Troopers think they are tough guys speeding up and down on rt 50 if i am in the fast lane amd they dont have there lights pn i Dont Move let em go around they are spoiled brats.
January 5, 2016 at 9:17 AM
I hope they give you a ticket for being in the 'fast lane' impeding traffic. It's not a fast lane, it's a passing lane. The speed limit is the same for both lanes. If you're not passing you are required to be in the right travel lane.
K trooper ,i dont see you guys driving in the slow lane after you pass others? So maybe you ticket writers should paractice what you PREACH.
5:53 PM
Im not a trooper and I usually always stay to the right
I've been in many states that have signs posted saying "slower moving vehicles keep right". Therefore, the left lanes are the " fast lanes" even though you're supposed to still follow the posted speed limits.
They are only allowed to go over 10 mph over the speed limit that includes ALL emergency vehicles in Md if they are speeding and tailgating you get there plate # and report it to the MD state police in annapolis.
January 5, 2016 at 3:50 PM
Who told you that crap...
Their are so many reasons why not to have your lights on and why not to leave them on when at the call. Too may variables to define every situation. Instead of complaining, how about saying a prayer for safety and hoping they do a good job.
Troopers should be kicked off the shore, they write too many speeding tickets to raise money for the state and not where the accidents happen or complaints come in. It's all about the benjamins. If troopers wanted to catch the real bad drivers they wouldn't sit on the side of the road pointing their revenue tax collector.
Look at SPD bringing in over 800,000 a year in speed camera fines, so have accidents been reduced, complaints reduced????? Oh, wait they wasn't any t begin with.
Stop the revenue collecting and be a real cop.
Post a Comment