Watch out for new Police trap
 

The Police are out in force on the Florida Turnpike sitting on the shoulder with their lights flashing. They don't have anyone pulled over. There is no emergency. They are just waiting for some idiot like me to come along and NOT move over to the left lane. Then they get you. $160 fine and points on your record. Drivers beware.

Great!!..:censored:

Move to the other lane when you see flashing lights and you shouldn't have a problem.

It's an expensive lesson, one you won't forget.

I certainly could be wrong, but are you sure that is what they were doing? I've never heard of police or troopers doing that. It seems very dangerous. Sitting on the side of the road with lights flashing can cause an accident. I think there may have been another reason for them being there. Are you saying you were stopped and received $160 ticket? What does the ticket say?

Maybe someone had been pulled over earlier and he was finishing paper work. The law is clear when lights are flashing and what to do. Not a trap

It's pretty simple. Whether it's a single police vehicle, tow truck, mowers, or what ever on the shoulder, move over. It's the law. If you can't move over, slow down. What really surprises me are the useless that refuse or make no attempt to get out of the way for emergency vehicles

Beware! If you don't obey the law you may get a ticket. Move over or slow down...its the law!

Isn't that the law? Move to the left lane when approaching emergency vehicles? Doesn't sound like a trap to me. Of course, you've never had the opportunity to be standing next to a car on a car stop and traffic pass so close to you, one misstep and you become a statistic. The law was written to protect Police Officers, Fire Dept. personnel, EMT's, tow truck personnel, FL. Dept. of Transportation, etc., etc., etc. - starting to get the idea?

Actually, it has been done before. When the law first passed a few years ago the Ft. Lauderdale police set up the same situation as described. Because the law was new, and nobody had ever heard of it, they got over a hundred cars within a short period of time. They "explained" that the only reason they did it was to educate the citizens about the new law. Why they didn't just give out warnings instead of a ticket they didn't explain.
No, I didn't get one of those tickets.

I am very pro police, but that's one of the stupidest and dangerous traps I've ever heard of.

I find it difficult sometimes to pull over on fl. Turnpike or the freeway (I like the sound of that FREEway) with bumper to bumper traffic in all lanes. When there no traffic you have to watch for the cars coming 90 MPH in the left lanes.

Warning tickets don't pay court system. The system made up to collect money, what to collect more money enact new law.

Ever notice when out driving they never catch the AH that flys by, cutting you off, weaving from the left to right back to left speeding and passing cars like he's in NASCAR race, on top of that not using his blinker light.

It's not like it's a new law. I've know about it since 2002.

I had always ass-u-me-d that it was illegal for police to use their lights unless it was a true emergency.

What if someone saw the lights and while slowing down lost control and died?

You are right. It's to protect the very people you mentioned above. Florida's law is real simple. Either move over or slow down 20 mph while passing. To the few entitled ones it's too much to ask till they kill someone.

It doesn't sound like a trap to me. My husband was a firefighter for 32 years. This law was written to save lives of emergency personnel.

I doubt it. After he was through with me, he took off quickly only to set up again up ahead.

Scold if it makes you feel righteous. I admitted I was an idiot. I only post this as a heads-up to fellow idiots.

I encountered the same situation about 6:30 yesterday morning on I-75. It wasn't daylight yet and traffic was light so I had no problem moving over 1 lane. My problem was that the lights from the 2 patrol cars were so blinding, it took a minute for me to get my vision back after passing them.

I read your post and thought you were very humble about it. It was a good reminder for people that you need to move over. So many of the posters on this forum are judgmental and self righteous always looking for opportunities to "scold".

Wmjbrown, thank you for having the humility to get beaten up for warning us.
That said, I take very seriously moving over and slowing down. Saw too many videos of officers hurt by impact from oncoming cars...and personally saw several out of control vehicles on interstate. It is a good law.

Sounds like all drivers in TV that you're talking about.

[quote=Allegiance;1033089]I had always ass-u-me-d that it was illegal for police to use their lights unless it was a true emergency.

What if someone saw the lights and while slowing down lost control and died?[/QUOTE]

Died while slowing down? That's a good one.

[QUOTE=shcisamax;1033175]I read your post and thought you were very humble about it. It was a good reminder for people that you need to move over. So many of the posters on this forum are judgmental and self righteous always looking for opportunities to "scold".[/QUOTE]

The OP opened himself up for scolding and being beaten up by referring to his not knowing the law and getting caught as a "trap". Minor infraction stops can turn into major felony stops. I can't begin to tell you how many felony stops I had that resulted from minor infractions like expired tags, head light/tail light infractions, cross over the center line, failure to yield to an emergency vehicle, etc., etc. Traffic laws are written to protect everyone; know and obey the laws and you won't get caught.

And if you can't tell, I'm very pro police.

The word "trap" brought on the scolding!

I am Pro Police too - but c'mon you responders that take delight in (so-called) scolding. I have been on ToTV for 2 years prior to moving here, and now past year being a TVr myself. Seems as if there is a % of folks here that LOVE to debate or be holier-than-tho. It's very easy to sit behind that/this keyboard and slam. Of course this is the USA and we all have those rights, but let's be civil. I'm quite certain that behavior as that inhibits some folks from opening themselves with posts that may result in 'scolding'. IMO the OP provided a service, highlighted an event, and opened discussion - only to get scolded by some. OK - now it's your turn to slam me...

This is why Law Enforcement wants you to move over.. http://www.the-chesapeake.com/wp-con...d-cruisers.jpg

:agree: :clap2:

Many police cars are hit while issuing citation on side of road. If they continue these traps lives will be lost. It's the law of large numbers combined with bad drivers.

Thanks for letting us know.

Wow, looks like I missed out on a good thread.

When you are unable to move over then supposed to slow to 20 mph.

Call it what ever some would like. If you obey the laws, there is no problem.

I am all for adding more police to do nothing but enforce moving violation laws.
Their salaries will be easily covered by the additional revenues.

Plus I would advocate an escalating fine that doubles for each infraction.

Proof enforcement works? Just watch how everyone slows to 20 in TV school zones.....as it should be!!

The individual officers should be able to earn merit points for numbers of and types of violations sited.

Book 'em Danno!!

Some of us holier-than-thou (mis-guided to call us that, as you may be) have lived the life as a LEO or a emergency vehicle driver and what we are trying to do provide information so as to try and keep personnel that drive emergency vehicles from getting run over. Learn the laws and then seeing a LEO on the side of the road won't be considered a trap.

They also get away with breaking the rules of the forum quite frequently by addressing other posters with rude, uninformed comments.

No you didn't. Just a guy explaining he was an idiot for not moving into the left lane so he got a ticket from a police trap...AND IT WAS A TRAP since there was no emergency going on...and a lot of puffed up, supercilious jack in the boxes making him feel even more like an idiot. Such a nice group.

:agree: And....chest up against the car, extend your arms out, turn your palms to the back and spread your legs. Do you have any weapon in your pockets or anything that will stick me?

Must be from "up north", Connecticut sounds like. And for those of us that speak plain English and don't find words to use thru wikipedia - supercilious means "behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others".

So, informing someone on a Florida traffic law and questioning his meaning of a "police trap" is being superior? Hmm, again, must be from "up north".

:wave: Bye, bye.

No argument here that he broke a law and was due a ticket. But if it is true that it was only a police car with it's lights on, it was a contrived scenario intended to catch or "trap" motorists.
By the way, I'm from "up north". Just wondering what states "plain English" is taught and spoken it now that we know it's not in Connecticut?