Saturday, May 25, 2019

Think Cops Don't Have Quotas? Read What Officer Frank Has to Say

Article thanks to the National Motorists Association. You can help support at the links provided:

May 5, 2019  Editor’s Note: Over the years, the NMA has received occasional contact from law enforcement officers who have complained about department policies, sometimes crafted to avoid direct violation of state anti-ticket-quota laws, which force officers to write a predetermined number of citations during each work shift. The following commentary recently submitted to us by “Officer Frank” is perhaps the most heartfelt and eloquent that we have seen on the topic. These are his words, altered only to protect his identity and location.  

My city has a small police department consisting of less than 50 commissioned officers. The population is under 50,000 surrounded by several hundred thousand more within commuting distance. A large portion of low-income minorities lives within the land-locked city limits.

As you read further, you'll begin to understand why this is important information. Over the past several years, the police administration (due to pressure from the courts and mayor) has placed unwritten rules and conditions on our employment. That is a direct violation of our FOP (Fraternal Order of Police) contract and an officer's sworn oath to serve and protect. One of those unwritten rules is what they refer to as "required contacts" objectives for all patrol officers. 

Contacts are, simply put, traffic stops. Officers are required to perform traffic stops─yes I understand this is part of our job─or face discipline up to termination if goals are not met. Since the quota has been in effect, I have personally resisted by performing traffic stops but only issuing written or verbal warnings. 

You see, the quota removes the individual officer's discretion and forces him into an unethical position of simply generating revenue for the city under threat of losing his job, his livelihood. I worked very hard for many years to become a police officer. I earned an education and strived to meet the standards required for the occupation. During my time in law enforcement, I've earned my basic, intermediate, and advanced police certification as well. Yet all the administration cares about is how much money other officers and I make for the city. Many of us feel that the public good that we do is being ripped from us, and our lives are being placed in additional danger over the pursuit of revenue. It's all about the money; even the mayor has indicated that fact in open city council meetings. 

When I started my career years ago, I was one of those kids who was under the illusion I could serve and protect citizens. I thought law enforcement was about helping people. Unfortunately, I've been forced to admit to myself that it is simply not the case most of the time. There is a massive problem when a city's police department spends more time issuing traffic citations (and locking people up for “failure to appear” bench warrants over twenty dollar seat belt violations) than proactively patrolling the neighborhoods. 

At my department, issuing traffic tickets is counted as the only meaningful activity during an officer’s yearly performance evaluation. This is insanity as if patrol officers have nothing else to do such as responding to larceny, burglary, sexual assaults, vehicle theft, child abuse, suicides, armed robberies, dismembered bodies, and all sorts of other calls for service.

Officers are routinely subjected to psychological abuse when the prescribed ticketing numbers aren’t met. As you might imagine, morale could not be any lower. Officers young and old want out; the turnover rate is through the roof. The president of our FOP lodge hasn’t taken up this issue on our behalf. In a nutshell, WE HAVE NO ADVOCATE! We have no one to we can turn to other than the media, and that carries risks for one’s career. 

I've attempted to warn the public when the opportunity presents itself. I don't know what else to do at this point other than to speak out. I will not engage in the wrongful taxation of the public for revenue. That creates a propensity for corruption, which only a fool would not realize, and yet our administration encourages it. Eventually, it will come down to me retiring or being fired for insubordination. Either way, it’s a shame this goes on in America. This job has caused me to have a genuine distrust for government, in its smallest and largest forms.

For the people's benefit and the protection of their constitutional freedoms, I wish to God there was more I could do to fight this. Truthfully, it inspires me just knowing I'm sharing this story with someone, anyone who will listen. I want to personally thank the NMA for its efforts in exposing one of the negative uses of law enforcement. Also, so that you know, I'm not the only police officer with this viewpoint. There are thousands and thousands of "Officer Franks" all over this great nation.
https://www.motorists.org/join/

Saturday, May 11, 2019

The latest aftermarket safety, tech and comfort accessories for your ride!

Guest post thanks to Richard Reina and TRUCKiD.com. Links provided:



Over the past few decades, many new technologies, devices and products have been
introduced to make truckers’ lives on the road safer and more comfortable. Some of these
upgrades have been made to the vehicle systems themselves after the introduction of new
laws or due to demand from drivers seeking the most modern technologies available in
their vehicle. However, there are also countless new products and accessories available on
the aftermarket allowing truckers customize their ride and improve their daily lives on the
road. Some are simple and relatively inexpensive, and others are more of a significant
investment. I’ve highlighted a few of our recent favorites below.

Interior Upgrades
The cab of your truck is where you spend the majority of your time on the road, so why not
make it as much like home as possible? You want a space that’s both comfortable and free
of dirt and clutter. You’ve likely heard about all-weather floor mats for passenger cars and
light trucks. These can also be a great addition to your big rig. They are easy to remove and
clean after a cross-country trip where you’ve encountered all sorts of weather. Spills and
debris remain in the mat until you remove it for cleaning, rather than getting ground in, like
they would with traditional mats made of textiles and cloth. Look for mats that are
specifically designed for big rigs, as universal mats might not offer adequate protection.
All truckers know the importance of comfortable seats. If your gig has you on repeated
cross-country treks, you’re likely in need of maximum comfort and support. Suspension
seats are a wise investment that you won’t regret. Yes, the price point is high compared to
purchasing a simple cushion, but you and your back will find it worthwhile in the long-run.

Entertainment and connectivity
With the prevalence of mobile devices, it’s more crucial than ever that truckers have a way
to stay connected while on the move. If you’re known to use your phone as a one-stop-shop
for navigation, music streaming and hands-free calls, consider accessories that will help
keep you connected and free of distraction. Of course, using a phone behind the wheel is
unsafe and even illegal in some states. Consider a phone mount, which will make hands-
free navigation and calling easier and safer than ever. Mounts are available in a variety of
sizes and price points, compatible with all devices. They are easy to install and move
around the dash depending on your needs and preference.
Coming back to music, nowadays many drivers prefer to stream music from their phone via
an online service such as Spotify or Apple Music. If your truck is a few years old and doesn’t
support Bluetooth integration in its sound system, consider investing in a Bluetooth kit.
These are easy to install and will give you access to hands-free/wireless connections for
streaming music and phone calls. There’s no need to travel with a large CD case or even an
auxiliary cable anymore!

Safety and security
Last but certainly not least, safety is incredibly important when on the road. This extends
beyond safe driving practices. Truckers who need to make stopovers all over the country
during a long trip don’t want to be worrying about the loss of anything valuable. Many
drivers treasure their tools and supplies, which can sometimes be a target for thieves
looking to turn them over for a quick buck. Lockable chest toolboxes are a great, secure
solution, coming in a variety of sizes and mounting locations to fit whatever volume of tools
you bring on the road.
For added safety while on the road, you might want to look into aftermarket backup and
blind spot cameras. These can be installed easily and provide you with added peace of mind
on long drives.
As trucking technology evolves, so does the aftermarket. We can continue to expect to see
new parts and accessories enter the scene to make truckers feel safe and comfortable, no
matter how far the job takes them.
Richard Reina is the product training director at TRUCKiD.com, a one-stop-shop for
aftermarket semi-truck parts and accessories.

Monday, May 6, 2019

Pleasant Car Buying Experience? What a Surprise!

Back in April of 2017 I ranted and raved over the poor treatment I received from a Nissan dealer in Taylorsville, Utah during the process of buying a 2016 Nissan Altima. 
See the link: https://dbridgerhot.blogspot.com/2017/04/why-i-absolutely-hate-buying-cars-my.html

I thought it only fair to acknowledge an extremely pleasant experience in the purchase of a new Ford Escape last week.

LuAnn's 2009 Escape, purchased new, had over 210,000 miles on it and she decided it was time for a new vehicle. It had been a great car with 4WD that never gave her any trouble so we started researching the 2019 models. Because there is a new redesign coming in the 2020 Escape going on sale this fall, Ford has some large cash incentives probably, I was thinking, to reduce the 2019 inventory.

We stopped over to Witt Ford in Crivitz on Sunday to look over the lot, went back on Tuesday to test drive one and really liked it. It was well equipped and not loaded up with all the extra features and cost she didn’t need or want. Based on previous experience, going in to talk price, I was not looking forward to doing battle with a sales team again.

The same salesman, Robin, was there from whom LuAnn bought her last car and we went in his office. There basically was nothing to haggle over as his first offer had a substantial discount from the MSRP from the dealer and all the available incentives from Ford included. That reduced the sticker price by about 22 percent. LuAnn agreed to the figures and we made an appointment to pick up the car the next day.

Next afternoon, we came back, and it was time to meet Dan, the “finance guy”, to sign the paperwork. That was my “here we go to battle” time that I dreaded, remembering my last experience in Salt Lake City. We went in, sat down, looked over the contract. All the numbers were what was agreed to with no “extras” snuck in. He showed us a sheet describing various extras like extended warranty, finish protection, etc that we could add but there was no hard sell and no objection over declining!

This is one of only a few car buying experiences in my life that were actually pleasant and I have bought quite a few cars over the last 50 years! And, amazingly, the other great one was also here in Crivitz way back in 1993 at Banaszak Chevrolet. 
See the link: https://dbridgerhot.blogspot.com/2012/03/classic-car-stories-my-1993-camaro.html

That dealership changed hands many years ago and is now owned by someone else that I have not had any experience with. For a great many years I was always under the impression I could get a better deal from the “big city” dealers but my opinion has certainly changed!