St. Paul pulls Moto Cops off the road

[RightCoastBias]

Distracted drivers are so prevelant and dangerous, that St. Paul, MN pulls Moto and horse cops off the street.

Shit. Is. Real.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/mot...s-police-motorcycle-unit-disbanded/ar-BBTTX3x

 

[Johndicezx9]

If only there was some sort of way to crack down on these distracted drivers with like maybe a group of people that could work for the city and they could maybe have uniforms and possibly issue something that could penalize the offending parties... :dunno

 

[/dev/null]

The decision comes after an increase in service calls that requires a higher number of officers in cars, but also because of increasing safety concerns due to distracted drivers.

Article didn't have many facts.

Looked it up from other sources and this wasn't included in the MSNBCrap article.

Last year, the police department spent about $62,000 for expenses in the mounted patrol unit and $7,000 for the motorcycle unit.

 

[nebulous]

Monday this week I was sitting at a light next to a Berkeley Parking Enforcement Officer who was, that's right, TEXTING on her phone. I grabbed my phone, what can you do??....., to take the picture including the Berkeley Shield on the door even, but alas, the light turned and I did not get the picture.

 

[originalsturge]

Monday this week I was sitting at a light next to a Berkeley Parking Enforcement Officer who was, that's right, TEXTING on her phone. I grabbed my phone, what can you do??....., to take the picture including the Berkeley Shield on the door even, but alas, the light turned and I did not get the picture.

You forget they are exempt from that law and you could have been cited for holding your phone in your hand. Remember citizen it's not for you to police the police.

 

[moto-rama]

I was thinking about this yesterday and today. I have a friend who lives across town (SF) who needs her mailbox checked regularly, so I volunteered to collect the mail.

Her mail is delivered right around 4:00 PM, so I planned to leave the Parkside (Vicente at 27th Ave) around 4:00.

The road manners of car and truck drivers seem to be deteriorating at a rapid clip. At nearly every 4 way stop, drivers will "jump" the right of way of others, barely making an effort to even slow down; as if "Oh, you showed how weak you are, so I am going to run the stop across your rightofway."

That and a long list of other inconsiderate, and some dangerous stuff, as if there is an opportunity to be an asshole or dick driver, they take it.

This applies to old bats, young brats, middle-aged snooty chicks, and the usual self-entitled bro motherfckers alike.
It is no longer "Driving to my destination", it's "Fucking Combat, you bitches" out there.

I saw a few noobish riders pooching along with scooters, and various BroeBikes , looking stylish and scared as hell, gripping the bars like they were hangin' on for dear life, and some of those bold ones, squeezing through the tightest of lanesplits, tempting fate just to grab another 20 feet of real estate.

What am I grateful for? That I don't have to be out there at commute times, which seems to begin at 430 AM , ease up at 930, then the Lunch Rush precedes the evening duel to the death.

Good grief, it's a mess. No wonder those Minneapolis Motors are skeered.

 

[DataDan]

The road manners of car and truck drivers seem to be deteriorating at a rapid clip. At nearly every 4 way stop, drivers will "jump" the right of way of others, barely making an effort to even slow down; as if "Oh, you showed how weak you are, so I am going to run the stop across your rightofway."

I don't doubt your assessment, but ya think maybe Sam Framcisco is a little different than the rest of the world? I certainly haven't seen that kind of deterioration in SLO, Santa Barbara, or Monterey.

Overall, annual Bay Area traffic crashes (all vehicle types, all severities) are down 22% from the early 2000s, though San Francisco is down less than the rest at 8%.

 

[RVFRick]

At least some consolation for officers who lost their ride:
"three of the officers pulled from the straddling units will join a new special unit that will specifically target and crack down on distracted drivers."

 

[JHicks]

Monday this week I was sitting at a light next to a Berkeley Parking Enforcement Officer who was, that's right, TEXTING on her phone. I grabbed my phone, what can you do??....., to take the picture including the Berkeley Shield on the door even, but alas, the light turned and I did not get the picture.

How dare you point out corrupt police laws in CA

CADOJ will be flash banging you any minute now.

 

[Joseppi]

If only there was some sort of way to crack down on these distracted drivers with like maybe a group of people that could work for the city and they could maybe have uniforms and possibly issue something that could penalize the offending parties... :dunno

exactly,far too much I see distracted drivers not even being pulled over,

 

[budman]

"Following this decision, three of the officers pulled from the straddling units will join a new special unit that will specifically target and crack down on distracted drivers."

Funny... I think motor LEO's are the best at doing this safely by splitting through traffic.

 

[gixxerjeff]

"Following this decision, three of the officers pulled from the straddling units will join a new special unit that will specifically target and crack down on distracted drivers."

Funny... I think motor LEO's are the best at doing this safely by splitting through traffic.

Seriously!

 

[RVFRick]

I initially thought the same but moved on to officers on foot at intersections issuing tickets to those folks that make us miss a green light. You know the routine: left turn signal turns green, distracted driver just sits there unaware, light turns yellow, they punch it thru the intersection (hopefully still yellow) leaving everyone else in line stranded.

My thinking is a migrating LEO presence to key intersections in a city would advertise to surrounding rubber neckers to consider their own phone habits.

 

[moto-rama]

exactly,far too much I see distracted drivers not even being pulled over,

Like the SFPD patrol officer (on a cell phone) that nearly took my heels off on Pine Street when I was crossing on a Green, in a Crosswalk. (About 5 years ago) When I hollered out "Hey, what the hell?" I heard his exhaust scouring the pavement and the clear response as he thrust the OneHanded BARF Salute out his window, "Fuck you, asshole."

Considering I was having a bad MS day, and was using a cane to walk that day, you wouldn't expect that to happen.

Needless to say, I was somewhat stunned, and failed to register his car # or plate. I mean it was clearly was a WTF moment. It did leave a lasting impression on me, though.

I doubt that any CHP or OPD would pull a dick move like that, or any of the LEOs in my family. (3) But if that is who I am paying to keep dick drivers in line in SF, I don't have much confidence in that agency.

 

[tuxumino]

if only there was a law against using your cell phone while driving in this state

 

[redtail]

Although, this quote in the article made me think this could be a cost issue under the guise of officer safety:
"On the bright side, reassigning the officers will represent important savings for the department and allow them to answer a wider variety of calls."

Funny... I think motor LEO's are the best at doing this safely by splitting through traffic.

Agreed! :thumbup

 

[Johndicezx9]

Of course, maybe it being winter may have played a part in the decision.

 

[Abacinator]

"Following this decision, three of the officers pulled from the straddling units will join a new special unit that will specifically target and crack down on distracted drivers."

Funny... I think motor LEO's are the best at doing this safely by splitting through traffic.

They need to be out there on supermotos to get in those tight splits and nab distracted drivers!

 

[Blankpage]

A fat fine is what would keep me off the phone but I was never a serious offender. Not so sure a fat fine would be a deterrent for the serial texting driver.

 

[Killroy1999]

Did they try Hi-Vis????

I noticed that commuting was a lot easier when I started wearing hi-vis. I may not look as cool on the ride, but I make it to the end of the ride.

Look, these cops are actually wearing proper motorcycling gear that will prevent them from getting in a crash and if they do, they will be protected better than horse riding gear.