Teens to be pulled over for good driving

[DS1]

Yes, I made the LBN 24 hr rule by 30 minutes...

Beginning this fall Pinellas County Sheriff's Deputies will be pulling over teen drivers who haven't broken any traffic laws.

As part of a new program, deputies will be pulling over teens for safe driving and rewarding them with free movie theater and movie rental certificates.

Uniformed deputies driving unmarked cars will follow the drivers and give out the certificates.

"Deputies will follow them for a short distance, down a thoroughfare and we will watch their driving," said Sgt. Glenn Luben, Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. "Once we identify a good safe driver, we attempt to follow them to their house or open shopping area."

more -> http://www.9news.com/acm_news.aspx?OSGNAME=KUSA&IKOBJECTID=61ef8ca4-0abe-421a-0077-b2e41167b823&TEMPLATEID=0c76dce6-ac1f-02d8-0047-c589c01ca7bf

Now, I don't know about you, but I think this idea sucks. Once pulled over, what's to stop the cop from pulling a 'probable cause' out of his ass and searching the car?

[aden_nak]

1. 'Cause what a teenager wants is a cop following them around town.

[babylonsister]

2. Not to mention giving the poor kids a heart attack

because a cop is pulling them over! I agree; bad idea. Mail the tickets because they, the cops, surely have access to any info they want.

[tnlefty]

10. Or panicking and having an accident, or running, or any number

of reasons that this is a bad idea.

[RaleighNCDUer]

21. Like watching the cop in the mirror, instead of the road in front of

them. For relatively inexperienced drivers, that could be a serious hazard.

[trogdor]

26. Excellent idea.

Do up a pretty certificate, all nice and official, with a written citation - something the kid can show the folks. Definitely worth more than a free pass to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

[LeighAnn]

85. Better yet, just drop it all together eom

[AX10]

115. Your reward for save/responsible driving is you....

KEEP YOUR LICENSE!!!

[wolvesslasher]

53. the cops won't pull them over!!

The article says that they will follow them until the teen stops on his/her own. (Shopping center,home,etc.)

[dissent1977]

66. I don't want a cop following me until I stop

This is another example of the excesses of big brother. You see an innocent person, well lets follow them around and make sure they are really innocent and if they are well we'll give them a prize.

Well I don't like being followed and I don't think too many other people do either. They can keep their movie tickets, I value my right to privacy more than I value an opportunity to see a free movie. If they have no probable cause to follow me, then they should keep away.

[rexcat]

89. Sure sounds like stalking to me.

n/t

[orleans]

95. especially if this is an unmarked car

the teens could be nervous or scared, thinking that someone is following them. even if they follow them home.

[orleans]

96. especially if this is an unmarked car

and someone is following them. that could scare a lot of kids (and adults too)--even if they were being followed home

[htuttle]

3. "You're driving very cautiously. You must be stoned."

Don't they have anything else to do? How about spending some time looking for all those children they lost at DCF? Wonder how many are still missing?

[underpants]

4. So you can be pulled for weaving around OR for NOT weaving around?

Of course I don't mean to support drunk driving but come on they are teenagers. Damn wouldn't that suck- you've had a few (you know to be social) and you are doing your best (really focusing) and a cop pulls you over for doing a good job. Damn that would suck.

[MessiahRp]

5. Really bad idea...

And yeah seems like yet another reason to do a search...especially in Jeb's Florida where they pass anti-library browsing laws and self defense laws that allow you to shoot first, rationalize later...

Rp

[Ilsa]

6. If they are anything like me, they'll get nervous

and run over a little old lady in a crosswalk or something.

I guess this is one way to keep teens off the road.

[SheepyMcSheepster]

7. lol, what a horrible idea

if they want to reward them, why not just mail the stuff to their address. why take the chance scaring the bejesus out of someone in order to waste their time and the cops time. i think the best reward would be just to leave them the hell alone.

and yes, this seems like a way to search someone when the only reason to pull them is they are driving well.

[DavidFL]

8. Oh, this is going to go over real well is south St. Pete. n/t

[Mizmoon]

9. Is it an excuse to pull teens over or a well meaning idea?

I'm not sure ...

[rocktivity]

11. I appreciate the sentiment, but

if the teens AREN'T driving safely, I doubt that means that they WON'T be pulled over. And it strikes me as a big distraction from their "real" duties. Why not have a safe teen driving "challenge" as a community event and give out the prizes that way?

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

[acmejack]

12. They will be able to search any time.

and anybody! Under the relaxed search laws (courtesy of our "liberal" SCOTUS) they will be getting those drug apprehensions way up.

Pinellas County has been following non law violating people for ages anyways. I once had a cop follow me very closely for five or six miles on my Harley (this was in 75). I finally pulled over on my own and asked him what he wanted, caught him at a loss. He finally checked my license and reg and left me alone.

[struggle4progress]

78. "He was so polite, I had no choice but to taser him." eom

[Conservativesux]

99. Why did you do that? He had no PC to check your "papers".

This is how the police have gotten the idea that they can do anything they please, including Tasering people to death.

No way am I pulling over for any cop.

No cherries, no search, no nothing without PC.

Make it hard on em'!

[AX10]

117. If he didn't check your license, it would look very bad for him.

Why was he following you? No reason!?! Welcome to "Franco's Florida"!

[Enraged_Ape]

13. I'm sure one in ten of these will result in a pot or alcohol bust...

which is the sole reason they're doing it. It's a clever way to stop a vehicle without probable cause.

[KansDem]

14. What if the teens don't want the certificates? Will they get Tasered?

Officer: Hi, just want to give you these movie certificates as a reward for good driving...

Teen: Uh, that's OK, I don't want them...

Officer: No, they're free. Because you're a good driver...

Teen: That's nice, Officer, but no thanks...

Officer: Look, kid, I'm giving these to you!

Teen: Really, thanks, but no thanks!

Officer: Well, it's either showtime or Taser time! Out of the car...NOW...!!!

[iwillalwayswonderwhy]

130. Here's my scenario

Young teenaged girl, stopped at mall.

Hi, because I have been following you and have watched, I am issuing you a safe driving citation and have some free movie tickets for you.

Oh, goody, thank you officer.

Can you step over to my car so I can fill out the paperwork?

Sure.

Then the imposter cop pushes her into his car, and we read how her body has been found a week later.

[myrna minx]

15. So teens will be menaced my the police for

obeying the law? What if a kid is on their way to work? What if this little "reward" causes them to be late? Gad, this is so intrusive. You know that it is just a reason to find pot...

[Endangered Specie]

16. What if they are on a busy schedule,

or in an emergency and get pulled over :shrug:.... just mail em.

[sweetheart]

17. Obviously, there are too many cops

The cop/civilian ratio has peaked and its gone too far, so its time
to give some "movie certificates" back to the taxpayer and to cut
the numbers so we can have some peace from the black and white gang.

[FormerOstrich]

18. Yeah, right.....

reward them my ass.....this is such a bad idea.....I can't even believe they could come up with something like this....

A person's driving skills can't be assessed by such casual observation. What is the criteria of a good driver. "Did not exceed the speed limit in 5 blocks" "Used turn signals in 3 out of 3 lane changes for the 5 minutes we followed them". How, by the power of observation, will they know it is a teen and not a youthful appearing adult. "Sorry, I pulled you over, but you were driving well and looked young....no tickets for you though you are 21".

They could at least come up with some plausable sounding program instead of some bs like this.

I won't get into the entire story but when I was 16 one of the local small town cops where I lived kept hitting on me. He finally told me I'd sleep with him or he would make my life hell. I didn't and he did.

[LeighAnn]

86. In some states you can sue that cop until age 27

for things that happened to you before the age of 18. I think all young people should know this.

[AX10]

116. Did you report him? and what happened after that?

[MountainLaurel]

19. Will they get to search for contraband?

What if that excellent driver has a baggie of pot in his backpack? Would SCOTUS consider this a lawful search?

[Conservativesux]

50. No. This isnt probable cause as long as the teen says "no" to the search

If he/she says "yes" or OK to a search, they are busted.

[dissent1977]

67. They say no and the cop says "I smell marijuana"

All of a sudden the cops can trample their rights, because there is no way to prove the cop does not smell marijuana. They will call it "probable cause" when it is really a violation of the fourth ammendment.

[Conservativesux]

88. And if marijuana isn't found? Then what?

Also, they could also say they smell alcohol which is legal, in the car, and you still have to say "No" if you want to protect your rights.

I had a cop try this one on me, after he got me for a seat belt violation and he asked to search the car.

I said "No", and the cop says "what do you have to hide, if you are legal"?

I just told the officer, "If you want to look, get a warrant", and he finally backed down when he saw that he wasn't going to goad me into giving up my rights, no matter what he said.

Typical Nazi behavior, to be sure.

And not enough people willing to go to the mat with a man carrying a badge and a gun these days.

[AX10]

123. If we had the courts on our side,

they could give a real hard "smack down" to those cops who abuse their powers.

[AX10]

122. Florida cops get aroused when they rape the constitution.

[pie]

20. Teens do not want neighbors seeing cops at their house

Terrible idea

[Neshanic]

22. "You drive so well, what is in that bag by the way?"

[AlienGirl]

23. OMG, did they get this idea from thevoicestellyoutovote.com?

"Good For You!" Tickets

In an interesting coincidence, Rob Hall, Psychotic for President, is originally from Pinellas County. Kinda makes you wonder, huh?

Tucker

[Lilith Velkor]

64. Yes, but the bad guys twisted it.

It doesn't change anything really, teens get hassled and pulled over for no reason all the damn time in some areas.

Naturally, the psychotic has the right idea: send the citations in the mail.

[Sgt. Baker]

24. Pretty cool

I think that's pretty cool. There is room for abuse by the police but if they are genuine in their intentions to reward good teen drivers I see nothing wrong with it. It could encourage teens to drive responsibly if they know they could get something for it. It also could just be a ploy for the police to try and earn the trust of some teenagers.

[silvermachine]

29. Yeah, real cool.

A real cool excuse for pulling over teens for no reason without that pesky "probable cause" thing....:eyes:

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

69. Sorry, this is like getting a "sweet dreams" award from Freddy Kruger...

Tey're just trying to think of a reason to have a peek in the car and check the kid's eyes.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

75. riiiiiight

that's the role of law enforcement, isn't it? handing out fucking movie tickets?

[MaineDem]

83. Not "pretty cool" in my mind

Not even close.

Take down the license number and give the "rewards" out in school or something but don't follow and stop cars.

Way back when I was a new driver this would have really freaked me out! In fact, it still does.

[LisaL]

25. What a stupid idea. People in un-marked cars

stopping teens, following them home? What exactly is going to stop some pervert from doing this to some teenage girl?

[dave29]

27. Can we pull over cops for sucky driving?

Nearly had one merge into me yesterday while minding my own bidness - he was clearly distracted by some shrubbery. He then proceeded to get out of the awkward situation when we pulled up to a stop light by turning on his lights and breezing on through.

Ah to be the law

[Champ]

68. OMG - I got a story to tell you - The article is BS btw

(CBS 5 NEWS) - At about 7:30 Tuesday night a Tempe police officer was on his way home in an unmarked car when he reportedly blacked out behind the wheel.

Twenty-seven year veteran Commander Mike Ringo was traveling northbound on Kyrene when he suffered a medical emergency. His vehicle collided with a curb, causing a flat tire. The vehicle continued in the northbound intersection, and hit a person and a bench at a bus stop.

The man who was hit, Michael Buehler a transient, suffered two broken legs and a concussion, and is expected to survive.

Commander Ringo was unconscious at the time of the accident. He was also taken to the hospital and is in good condition.
http://www.kpho.com/Global/story.asp?S=3362067&nav=23Kua116

Here is what REALLY happened. I was on the bus riding home from work, out of nowhere this police officer drives right through an intersection and slams into this guy at the bus stop. The officer continues driving and parks on the side of the building where you can't see him. Some of my co-workers attented to the guy on the bus stop trying to keep him conscious, etc. When medical emergency arrived, the cop claimed he must've blacked out and didn't remember anything. Anyways, they took the officer to see if he had a "black-out" to the nearest hospital meanwhile they took the guy with two broken legs to the county hospital about 50 MILES AWAY!!! The article pisses me off because from what I've seen it did not look like a blackout and WHY did he continue to drive even after hitting the guy on the bus stop. :argh:

[AX10]

118. Cops are becoming the new brownshirts.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

112. next time, when you appreciate a cop doing a good job though

tailgate him and flash your lights so that he pulls to the side of the road, then hop out and give him a gift certificate. he will thank you immensely, after you get fuck tazed out of you.

[Conservativesux]

128. Night beat police out here run stop signs and red lights all the time.

They have to put up appearances during the daylight hours by hitting the siren or the cherries.

Hypocrites!

[0007]

28. 'Ya might wind up with a dead police officer.

This is so fucking dumb I can't believe it! Must be junior's idea of a wonderful country that rewards goodness.

The safest teenage drive on the road has probably just smoked a joint.

[Hamsta1]

31. True dat, 0007

When I read between the lines here, I read "We're going to be pulling over young people and instead of due process we're giving them free movie passes". If they happen to be high on heroin,crack,pcp,marijuana,alcohol,E, etc.. while holding a knife to their hostage that they picked up while robbing that bank back there with a sawed off shotgun while they were a felon in possession of body armor which they stole from a cop.... Do they still get to see Revenge of the Sith?

[soup]

30. Is this even legal?

Seriously.

[zipplewrath]

45. No

Technically, probably not. It's a little vague because their "teenagers" but this is skirting the law real close. A sheriff's department around here got in trouble for something similar. They worked with the State Dept of Transportation and
were pulling cars off an interstate to take some quickie poll on restroom issues. Mind you, they weren't standing around a rest area asking folks questions, they were "forcing" them to leave the highway and line up to be asked a series of questions. When the sheriff found out what was going on he shut it down fast.

We give our police officers EXTREMELY liberal authority to stop people and question them. The courts have been very generous here. But it would be a stretch beyond all imagination that they could justify these stops. And they are dumb. As someone has pointed out, since they are virtually acknowledging that these stops are because there is absolutely NO probable cause what so ever, if something does go down, or get detected or whatever, they may be severely limited in their authority to act. Dumb, dumb and dumber.

[soup]

51. Thanks for your response.

Was the Interstate pullover you're talking about along the I-4 between Orlando and Tampa?

Weren't they funnelling people off of the Interstate a while back to survey if they'd use hi-speed rail if it were made available?

I just really wonder about the legality of it - beyond the complete stupidity.

[zipplewrath]

63. Yup

I thought actually it was between Orlando and Daytona, in
Orange County. Maybe they were dumb enough to do it twice. thought it was about rest areas though.

[Conservativesux]

46. Cops can stop you for having a dim license plate light in some states

but I agree it isnt legal or even a good idea to pull drivers over unless its for a good reason.

[Sgt. Baker]

48. dirty

I got pulled over for having a bit of dirt on the corner of my license plate. Va motorcycle cops are relentless.

[Conservativesux]

90. Doesnt sound legal. In most states, as long as the cop can see the numbers

and the current tags on the plate, with nothing covering the plate like a plastic cover, I dont think it would be PC, unless the dirt made it impossible to read a number.

Still, I would always refuse a search, no matter what the situtation was.

And I'd take photos of this to court had it happened to me.

Sometimes the cops make, ugh, "mistakes" in thier rendering of the law :eyes:

[shanti]

32. so, they will be stopping teens ANYTIME now

in florida?? this is bullshit and i'm glad i live in california!!

[mccoyn]

65. No, you are safe if you drive poorly, but still follow all the laws -NT

[nonconformist]

33. This is an incredibly stupid idea.

The sentiment may be sincere, but sheesh. There are so many problems with this I don't even know where to begin.

[goodboy]

34. Dumbest.Idea.Ever. Following them home? If I think someone's

following me I never ever go home.

[lumpy]

35. There is something really

queer about Florida.

[WeRQ4U]

36. This is not a good idea, at all.

If I had a teenager in this city, I would not be happy.

[genieroze]

37. They come bearing gifts, Big Bro that is.

http://www.infowars.com/articles/bb/facebook_bb_with_a_smile.htm

[fooj]

38. Easy way to round up kids, isn't it?

These people give me the creeps! :scared:

[pop goes the weasel]

39. They already do this in my town

but don't focus on teens. Anyone can be pulled over, and they don't use unmarked cars. There have been no problems. But then, I'm in a small town.

Part of the rational is that there should be opportunities for the police to interact with citizens in positive ways on a daily basis, and that citizens and police who have positive happy experiences with each other are less likely to get embroiled in ugly fear-based situations.

Whether this particular strategy will work in a town with more than one horse, though, is something I don't know.

[not systems]

40. There is no time "police to interact with citizens in positive ways" ...

can occur if they intrude on my freedom to get my days work done
unmolested by armed individuals with a license to kill.

What bizarre thinking it takes to come up with this program.

[AX10]

119. at least they use marked cars.

In florida they don't too many times.

[BiggJawn]

41. I see a car following me. I turn, it turns...

This goes on for a few minutes, while I go left-left-right-left, and it's STILL on my ass. Can't tell if it's a cop, it's a Plain Wrapper...

What do I do next?

FLOOR IT, EDNA!!!! We go into Maximum Escape Mode.

Stupid. Fucking. Idea.

Sorry, SouthernDem, but some of your Bros in Blue got shit for brains, knowhuttamean?

[SlavesandBulldozers]

74. some?

oh, you were being nice;)

[BiggJawn]

77. Yeah, I was....

"Hey, Boys! I gotta GREAT idea! Let's drive around and scare the living FUCK out our kids to reward them for being good drivers...Of course, if they get scared and try to run...Well, $290 a pop for a Speeding/Fleeing ticket won't look so bad on your monthly report, Knowhuttamean?"

[SlavesandBulldozers]

80. uh the police are there to help

every teenager knows that. they get helped all the time by the police. this is just one more way for cops to help teens, ya know, by passing out movie tickets. ;)

[SlavesandBulldozers]

113. yep it'll help the W.O.D as well

they're always on the lookout for new and exciting ways to beat the 4th amendment to a pulp

[krkaufman]

42. What's to stop...?

Exactly what I was thinking. Sounds like a new technique for initiating illegal searches.

[Algorem]

43. they're going to praise the neatness of the passenger compartment and

trunk too?

[RunningFromCongress]

44. Worst. Idea. Ever.

[Systematic Chaos]

47. Here's what they COULD do....

If they happen to follow a teen who drives well for a few blocks, and want to reward them, all they have to do is use the license plate number to have a gift sent to the home address.

That's still kinda invasive but it won't be as utterly brain-dead as the current method.

[LisaM]

49. I predict this will last about one day

this is really a stupid idea.

[brentspeak]

52. If they can send toll violation tickets in the mail

then they can send movie tickets in the mail, too.

[wolvesslasher]

56. Uniformed officer

The officer will have his/her uniform on. I don't know about the rest of you, but I sure can notice an officer in a vehicle when I see one.
If the teens are aware of this new idea then why would they be afraid of an officer following them. They would know why and therefore not be afraid when the officer approaches them when they stop.
THE OFFICER WILL NOT PULL THEM OVER!! for good driving.

[Tommymac]

76. Bad F'ing idea

In the 90's, there was a fake cop on I-68 east of Richmond who was pulling over people and killing or raping them or something. Did it several times.

Bad Idea.

You wanna give them tickets? Hire a pr firm - throw a party - a concert - or something. Police Officers are trained law enforcement types, not pr types.

I'd tell my kid to lock the doors, stay in the car, and get on the cell phone pronto.

[AX10]

124. Also, I don't believe that civilians should be allowed....

to buy police uniforms. There have been cases in which people do buy these uniforms to pose as cops and harm society.

[formercia]

54. And the first thing that comes out of the officer's mouth:

Made you eat it, didn't I?

[Conservativesux]

98. Second reply: "License, registration and proof of insurance please !"

"What, you thought I was stopping you for good driving or something? Grow up, kid !"

[underthedome]

55. Do you want your teenage daughter to be pulledover by an unmarked car?

I wouldn't pull overover for an unmark car.

And what happens if a teen doesn't pull over, does that violate the law? Sounds almost like entrapment.

[wolvesslasher]

57. She won't be pulled over!!!

Nowhere in the article does it say that they will pull them over.

[underthedome]

58. Uhhh, yes it does, first line.

"Beginning this fall Pinellas County Sheriff's Deputies will be pulling over teen drivers who haven't broken any traffic laws"

[wolvesslasher]

61. Sheriff says

"Once we identify a good safe driver, we attempt to FOLLOW them to their house or open shopping area."

[dissent1977]

70. When you have an unmarked car follow you...

and when you pull over they pull over as well aren't you going to be a little freaked?

[SlavesandBulldozers]

73. oh, whew - they're just FOLLOWING THEM TO THEIR HOUSE

that's comforting.

[soup]

105. Yeah, I can just imagine

how comforted I'd feel seeing my teenage son coming home after school with a tinted-windowed unmarked car pulling in and stopping right behind him. Can only imagine the sense of calm and relief that would wash over me when a cop gets out and approaches my son. No cause for alarm, no reason to worry. The clouds would part, the sun break through. We'd all be smiling warm fuzzy smiles. I'd casually stroll out the front door and offer cookies and milk. Oh, what a 'happy feel good' moment that'd be.

-- snort --

Reality would probably be me flying out the front door in a 'what the hell?!?' protective mommabear panic, phone in hand, pointing at my son and saying, "Not one word. I'm getting the attorney on the phone and whatever this is, you don't say one word, hear me?"

If whatever is happening is big enough that it takes an unmarked car coming to the house, it's gotta be pretty damned big. I hope they're prepared for the responses they're gonna get not only from the teenage drivers, but the parents they're going to have to confront as well.

--

Did you watch the video that accompanies the article? Even the newspeople were questioning this.

I'm so sorry that the man who started this program lost his son in an accident, but truly don't think this is a good idea.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

111. milk and cookies, bahahah

and yeah i just watched the video now that you mentioned it. one thing i found disturbing was the fact that the anchors were troubled by the issue not because it was an increase in police powers but because the person doing the pulling over could be an abductor. to me, the increase in police powers is the most disturbing aspect of this.

they are not law encouragement officers for chrissake.

[enigmatic]

59. Boy, is this unbelieveably stupid..

If this isn't another way to induce probable cause via a back-door methed, it's a complete waste of time for all. And if they think the teens will have a more favorable impression of police by following around and pulling them over to tell them what great drivers are, they are batshit crazy.

[pfitz59]

60. Stupid Stupid Stupid

Too many cops with too much time on their hands? Go arrest some corrupt CEO's or something.... Leave the kids alone!

[MADem]

62. How the hell will they know they are TEENS????

My neice is 26, looks 12. She gets carded everywhere she goes. She doesn't want movie tickets, she wants a job with medical benefits.

This is another one of those feel-good ideas that is just STUPID. Put those cops in the high crime areas, not following kids (or young looking teachers) from their high schools!

[shanti]

72. yes!

:mad: i was just about to post this too. so this gives them carte blanche to tail ANYONE, not just teens.

[geniph]

71. OK, maybe I'm just hopelessly paranoid

but a couple things came to my mind immediately on reading this. This is supposed to be unmarked cars, right? So you have an unmarked car following you for blocks, turning where you turn, stopping when you stop. You pull into a parking lot and some big thug in what looks to you like a fake uniform gets out of the car and comes and taps on your window. Now, the $64 question. Do you open the window? I sure as hell wouldn't. You can rent a blue monkeysuit at any fucking costume store, and I can't tell a real police badge from a fake one. I'd be out of there in two seconds flat, scared out of my wits!

Now, I'm 45 years old, and this would scare the shit out of me. What do you think it's going to do to a teenager, who already isn't that confident a driver, and is always a target of weird adult harassment anyway? It's going to petrify them. Do teenagers drive well when they're frightened? Do YOU?

Ugh. This was clearly thought up by committee, an organism with 100 mouths and no brain.

[libnnc]

79. or could be titled: How to Scare the Shit Out of A Teenager.

Bad, horrible idea. I don't like this. Unless Freddy Kruger is chasing me, I wouldn't want an officer following me home.

[Desertrose]

81. Bad bad bad bad bad idea....

did I mention this is a really bad idea?

Pulling them over for not breaking the law?? what next...Sounds like they are getting us used to being pulled over on any officers whim...makes ya wonder why, huh...

(can you say harrassment?)

[Book Lover]

82. Don't cops have better things to do?

You all know me; I'm hardly any cop's best friend, but this seems like a real waste of a cop's time to me.

[Initech]

84. Worst. Idea. Ever

I'm not a teenager, but even I think the idea of a cop following me and watching my every move scares the living shit out of me!

[Dee625]

87. Will their employer be required to exuse them for tardiness? n/t

[DisgustedTX]

91. Mostly narrow-minded replies - it's a good idea

I think it's a good idea - if any age group needs a good bridge between civilians & police - it's teens.

I wish more moronic ADULT drivers would be pulled over & searched for dangerous driving and other displays of rage.

[Conservativesux]

92. How about driving while being an idiot? I drive a lot and see this alot.

Lets put up roadblocks a "check" everyone, eh?

It'll be just like in the old days back in Germany. :)

[DavidFL]

97. Some parts of Pinellas County may not find a problem with this...

but in south St. Pete there's been a long running tension between the Black community and law enforcement that's broken out into riots a couple times. In fact, last month, a young Black man was shot to death by police during a routine traffic stop, so things are already extremely tense as it is. Add county sheriffs in unmarked cars following teens and pulling them over to that and it's like asking for trouble.

[LuPeRcALiO]

93. finally, a penalty for DWW

driving while white. Only in frickin' Floriday

[seabeyond]

94. pulling a 'probable cause' out of his ass and searching the car?

i was trusting or liking this one all the way thru reading the article. i wouldnt be thrilled with this law at all. unmarked car. bullshit. following watching. like anyone trusts these dudes. wow. hm. lets see how many start getting in trouble here.

[MadisonProgressive]

100. Don't reward people for driving good - that's supposed to be the norm

Ticket them for driving bad! If someone is not breaking the law, leave them the fuck alone!! DAMN NAZI'S everywhere you look!!

[Robeson]

101. I am so goddamn sick of living in a country that is nothing but a....

...police state, that I could puke. What is there left to say.

[siliconefreak]

102. Florida culture

The culture in Florida is just bizarre to me. I grew up there, but thank goodness I left.

No offense to DU'ers in Florida - I just have trouble liking the state.

[deadparrot]

103. As a teen driver,

and a generally neurotic person, a cop tailing me would creep me out. Usually when I see one behind me, I turn ASAP.

[truthisfreedom]

104. dear police, find something more constructive to do with our tax dollars

than stalking teenagers.

[atomicdawg38]

106. An excuse

I think its just an excuse to do a search.

[rodeodance]

107. police cars following me make me nervous!! what will it do to beginners!!

what a supid idea!!!!!!!

......Now, I don't know about you, but I think this idea sucks. Once pulled over, what's to stop the cop from pulling a 'probable cause' out of his ass and searching the car?

[Conservativesux]

127. Same here. They are running your plates through NICS and looking to give

you a ticket for something, to make the quota for that day.

This is a really bad idea.

[0007]

108. How does one determine who's a teenager and who isn't?

[soup]

109. Far as I can figure, they follow them leaving high school

parking lots.

Of course, we should trust that only suspected good drivers are being singled out to be followed. Probably know just by looking at them and/or the vehicle they get into that they're going to be safe drivers and should be followed. There is no hidden agenda, absolutely no other reason.

Can you tell I really, really don't think this is a good idea?

[CabalPowered]

110. I was pulled over by a State Trooper w/ my driving instructor

That was years ago.. I hadn't done anything wrong, he just asked if I had any questions about driving on the freeway... :shrug:

[AX10]

114. Besides finding probable cause.....

I usually would pull over is a cop car has been following me for an extended amount of time. I become leary.

Maybe Florida is trying to make up for their taser abuse problems?!?

[dogmastomper]

120. This is called

Conditioning.

[LuPeRcALiO]

121. beats paying for hookers

I mean, protecting the community from prostitution

[bushcrab]

125. Let me guess...the kids get to meet the drug-sniffing dog too

Tell you what, you got my license plate #, so please spare me my time and MAIL me the movie voucher, and get your ass back to protecting the public. Idiots.

[Groggy]

126. agree

just mail the tickets...they have no right to pull over somebody who hasn't broken any law...very stupid idea. And really don't they have more important things to do????:shrug:

[Dangerously Amused]

129. Bad bad very bad idea.

"So sorry we couldn't save you from getting the crap beaten out of you while you were being mugged earlier this evening. However, you'll be happy to know the reason is because our officers were busy handing out movie passes to good teenage drivers."

[henslee]

131. The war is over. They have won. Who knew a book I was forced

to read in high school would end up being the book that just fucking called it as it would be.

[despairing optimist]

132. Must be something in the water down there

Katherine Harris running for senator, the endless Terri Schiavo tragi-circus, and now state troopers with a whole lot of time on their hands to hunt down and track not weavers, speeders, tailgaters, and road ragers but good teen drivers.

I guess the good news is that at least they won't be profiling Middle
Eastern-looking drivers unless they drive too safely for their own good. They'd better disassemble.