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askibum02

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
A Howard County Police Officer was killed on Saturday doing "Speed Enforcement" on RT. 32 in Howard County on Saturday. He had apparently walked out in traffic to stop a speeder and she didn't see him. I've been saying that this would happen since I first saw this phenomenon 5 years ago when I moved here. I feel horrible for the Officer and his family, but come on, what kind of idiot walk out in front of someone speeding, in this case likely over 70mph, to stop them. Better yet what kind of Police Department. Here's a hearty http://****************.com/smile/emthdown.gif http://****************.com/smile/emthdown.gif to the Howard County PD and the Maryland State Troopers for continuing to use this practice.
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#2 ·
Re: Another tragedy... (askibum02)

He must have been some kinda hard head to remain in the middle of the lane when he should have realised she wasnt slowing.
but that sounds harsh. I feel for the family and friends who knew this guy.
 
#3 ·
Re: Another tragedy... (ssmithMD)

They do it every summer on 50, we would go through there on our bikes at over 100mph and they would step out in the road. One trooper actually tryed to grab my friend?!?!? Either way Its a stupid practice considering when they pull car over its manditory to go up to the vehicles on the passenger side so they DONT get hit.
 
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#4 ·
Re: Another tragedy... (askibum02)

I work in Howard County so I see this a lot, the Officers walking out into traffic to stop speeders. An Officer walked with in a yard of my car trying stop someone behind me only a few weeks ago. I even pulled closer to the next lane but he still felt too close as I passed him. This is still a very tragic event I just hope everyone learns from this both police and drivers.
 
#5 ·
Re: Another tragedy... (Das_Jetta_Good!)

Quote, originally posted by Das_Jetta_Good! »
Either way Its a stupid practice considering when they pull car over its manditory to go up to the vehicles on the passenger side so they DONT get hit.

I dont know if they do it in MD but in VA they park their cruiser diagonaly so the front end of their cruiser protect them from being hit by passing traffic. Its also usefull to protect the officer incase of gunfire since doors dont offer any protection.
Back to topic, I almost hit a officer once like that. I was talking to my dad who was talking on the phone getting directions to the towing company. I look forward and there is a officer right in my lane, hard braking and sliding around I missed her by inches. I stoped some 50 feet down wondering WTF was that? She stood in middle of road stoping all traffic and waving at me to back up. Who in the right mind would do that? And for what, stupid ticket?
 
#6 ·
Re: Another tragedy... (BiH)

Why don't they have a partner spot by the police vehicle while the actual driver wait in his vehicle and chase down who ever is speeding. Seems logical to me, and they practice this in Montgomery County.
I was driving with a buddy in Laurel and he mentioned the cops practiced this on 32. Unbelievable. http://****************.com/smile/emthdown.gif
 
#7 ·
Re: Another tragedy... (06gtiTom)

they do that down in FL I think, there was a small clip on TV about it few years back. Officer would be posing as a worker or someone that blends in so you dont even think hes getting you with radar, he radios to few bikes down the road what car is it and BAM!
I liked the one where he posed as a homeless guy with big cardboard sign that read something like "I"M NOT HOMELESS, IM A POLICE OFFICER CATCHING SPEEDERS!"
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#9 ·
It is always sad when someone dies, but over a dumb practice such as this come on his life and skills can be applied far better. A few weeks ago on I95 a cop did this same thing, but he lived of course he came so close to getting hit it was crazy he was not crushed
 
#10 ·
Re: Another tragedy... (Das_Jetta_Good!)

Quote, originally posted by Das_Jetta_Good! »
we would go through there on our bikes at over 100mph and they would step out in the road. One trooper actually tryed to grab my friend?!?!? Either way Its a stupid practice

Let's see... driving over 100mph on a public road or trying to catch those that do... hmmm. Yeah, I'm gonna need some help on this one. Can't seem to figure out which practice you are talking about. I do sometimes wonder how much those speed traps are revenue driven but on the other hand, it's not difficult to see why they exist. Don't mean to flame but just recognize that while we can all agree that the method the officers use seems ridiculous and in and of itself unsafe, they are trying to make the highway safe for everyone becasue they realize, contrary to popular belief, that actual speed doesn't cause accidents but the variable of speed between two objects does. The irony I see, is that when they stop traffic like this, there are often cars further back that don't see what's going on and then are standing on their brakes so as not to hit the cars in front of them that are braking heavy for no apparant reason. Seems like a good way to cause an accident.
We live in the capital area, and all of us have seen stupid accidents and meaningless loss of life many times over around here. Now, nobody on here wants to be told that they are bad drivers, I get it, and I know it's cliche that often goes in one ear and out the other but slow down folks, and drive with some care and caution. Whether you've ever thought about it or not, peoples lives (not necessarily talking about the officer here but other motorists as well) really do depend on how we drive.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the officer and family.




Modified by dublifer at 12:23 AM 6-20-2007
 
#12 ·
Re: Another tragedy... (askibum02)

that officer was a friend of a friend. very sad & a hard time for my friend. i understand he was a very nice guy.
i do agree though that the "suicide walk" is a bad practice though.
 
#14 ·
Were a driver to be charged with some sort of manslaughter charge, a defense attorney would have a field day with this.
On a sadder note, it is sad to see more loss of life due to asinine practices such as this. Maybe it was applicable for the horse and buggy days, but in the era when a $10000 car can do triple digit speeds with 8" brakes ... come on.
 
#16 ·
Re: (tngdesi)

The only ticket I've gotten was from a FFX county trooper on the Toll Road, when he jumped out from behind a barrier into my lane to pull me over in my Honda. First thing that went through my head was "WTF?!?" Second thing was "Oh s***, I need to slow down!" Third thing, as I'm 50 yards beyond where the officer jumped out was "Oh great, now I need to go the wrong direction, against traffic, in reverse."
It seemed pretty ridiculous to me, especially as I was backing up and another person goes sailing by me hard on the breaks and squeeling tires. I don't know, but there has to be a better way of pulling over speeding vehicles than stepping out in the middle of traffic that is moving at 75 mph (and stepping out way too late, by the way), and then forcing vehicles to go back up in reverse while other vehicles are flying by and trying stop them too.
If it hadn't been my first ticket, I probably would have asked the officer, "WTF are you doing? Are you trying to get yourself or someone else killed out here?"
It's tragic that an officer was killed however. Maybe, just maybe, a lightbulb will got off in someone's head and they will stop this "suicide walk" as someone as so appropriately dubbed it.
 
#17 ·
Re: (tngdesi)

i nearly ran one over 2 yrs ago on 95n headed to nyc. i was going 75mph in the left lane and some lady cop walks out onto the goddamn road. i would have saw her clearly but they were staked out by an overpass and she was almost completely shadowed making it pretty hard to see her
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va may have strict laws but at least our cops aren't stupid
 
#19 ·
Re: Another tragedy... (06gtiTom)

Quote, originally posted by 06gtiTom »
Why don't they have a partner spot by the police vehicle while the actual driver wait in his vehicle and chase down who ever is speeding. Seems logical to me, and they practice this in Montgomery County.
I was driving with a buddy in Laurel and he mentioned the cops practiced this on 32. Unbelievable. http://****************.com/smile/emthdown.gif

They do the "walk out into the lane" thing in Moco all the time....they sit on 270 south just north of Father Hurley and have 3 or 4 cars pulled over at a time....
And they also do it on 270 North at the median turnaround at 370/Rio. Ive always thought it was pretty dangerous...especially because Ive seen them waving people over from the 2nd lane over, and cars have come to complete stops because of it.
 
#20 ·
Im sorry but it took someone getting effing killed for them to think this was a bad idea....you have to be joking. Ever since I saw this crap going down to Ocean City I couldnt believe that an organization would even remotely think this practice was acceptable.
Not to sound like an ass, but honestly it was jsut a matter of time.
Edit: unless the woman was doing 90+ I dont feel she should be held responsible. No one regardless of what "big brake kit" you have installed can stop in time to avoid these guys most of the time, usually a swirve and miss deal. http://****************.com/smile/emthdown.gif http://****************.com/smile/emthdown.gif


Modified by mrbikle at 8:49 AM 6-21-2007
 
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