Georgia State Patrol needs to slow down!

I have noticed a trend lately of units of the GSP driving at extremely high speeds. The Corzine incident brings to mind this topic. The driver was a State Trooper, and was far exceeding the speed limit. I understand that he was in a motorcade, and they tend to drive a little faster for protective reasons, but over 90 mph? The GSP has to respond over long distances to cover accidents and other situations. Traffic can be blocked and people can be in jeopardy, but is it really necessary to drive 90-100 mph to write a report? This is coming from a law enforcement officer. I have no intent to disrespect these good people or their mission, but it does no good to the person waiting for help if you never make it there. Firefighters have said this for years. Anyway, if you are responding "emergency", meaning lights&siren, you don't have to go 90-100 mph. Especially if you are not "running code", you certainly do not need to go that fast. I was in Waverly Hall, Ga the other day and two GSP units flew through town going at least 80 mph. What if a little old lady had pulled out of a gas station or a child had strayed on a bicycle? It would be disastrous. I'm sure at least one trooper will read this, so please slow down, GSP!

I think this person who wrote this statement must have recieved a ticket for speeding and posted this statement to easy his feelings of being stopped and written a ticket......
Dont worry, Be Happy...

GSP doesn't drive at excessive speeds other than what is necessary, even that person being a law enforcement officer there are very many distinctive features that separate the Georgia State Patrol from other law enforcement agencies. If you think the GSP drives too fast then let us see how long you're going to wait the next 10-50 you have that you need the GSP to work. Sorry, but if you find any faults with the GSP then you've badly mistaken!

ReligionOfPieces wrote:

I have noticed a trend lately of units of the GSP driving at extremely high speeds. The Corzine incident brings to mind this topic. The driver was a State Trooper, and was far exceeding the speed limit. I understand that he was in a motorcade, and they tend to drive a little faster for protective reasons, but over 90 mph? The GSP has to respond over long distances to cover accidents and other situations. Traffic can be blocked and people can be in jeopardy, but is it really necessary to drive 90-100 mph to write a report? This is coming from a law enforcement officer. I have no intent to disrespect these good people or their mission, but it does no good to the person waiting for help if you never make it there. Firefighters have said this for years. Anyway, if you are responding "emergency", meaning lights&siren, you don't have to go 90-100 mph. Especially if you are not "running code", you certainly do not need to go that fast. I was in Waverly Hall, Ga the other day and two GSP units flew through town going at least 80 mph. What if a little old lady had pulled out of a gas station or a child had strayed on a bicycle? It would be disastrous. I'm sure at least one trooper will read this, so please slow down, GSP!

how much do you actually know about the state patrol to beable to say the things you say, personally i work with the GSP and people out there that believe this along the same line as you do they are badly mistaken about their thoughts on the GSP. I'm not tryingto knock your thoughts on the GSP, but it just so happens that not enough people out there are educated on the use of the GSP.

Look I am a Law Enforcement officer as well, and it doesn't matter what anyone says about speed. I know there are times we have to go over the speed limit to respond to certain calls without lights or siren, such and a BP, or an armed robbery. To whoever wrote the comment especially if your Law Enforcement, you should already know this. Not to mention if your not in that GSP car, you have no idea about the call he or she is on. You know like the rest of us, the rules are different for Gods Special Police!

The GSP is a highly trained professional state law enforcement agency. The law enforcement officer who complains about the two GSP units flying through Waverly Hall, like me probably doesn't know what type of call the troopers were responding to. Having said this, I am very familiar with the town and if he is correct about the speed of the these units then I would agree maybe 80-90 mph is to fast for the conditions of the traffic/terrain there. I wasn't there and I am not going to second guess the TRP'ers. I to worked around the GSP troopers for many years before I retired and I have every confidence in the men and women of the GSP.

I beleive that officers should ALWAYS obey the law that they are sworn to uphold. This means that if you are not responding to an actual emergency you obey the speed limit, period.
This would save fuel as well, as driving the speed limit increases fuel efficiency, thereby saving valuable tax dollars.
The rules are different for law enforcement. Everyone knows that an officer will not give a speeding ticket to another officer which means that on or off duty officers are free to break the law at will.

i have performed CPR on a grandmother that called 911 and fell unconscious before any other emergency personel or i could arrive. i have performed CPR on a 4 yr old girl while her mother lay dead on the ground after being ejected from the car. i have delivered a baby. i have pursued many vehicles over 100 miles per hour and have pitted an armed robbery suspect at 110. over twelve years and too numerous calls to tell and not the first scratch to my patrol car. never been in an accident in my personal vehicle. we drive fast its part of the business. we do a good and safe job. our record speaks for itself. take a look. thank you and i am a tax payer too!!

There are simply too many cars on the road and not enough funding to pay enough police to keep track of all of them. For every ticket written, a police officer must write a paper report and then appear in court and then, perhaps wait for hours for the case to be called for what then amounts to a small fine.

Enforcing traffic laws is just not profitable enough anymore.

My gripe is if it is an emergency fine. So many times I have been on I-16/I-75 and the GSP car will tailgate real close, blink headlights to move over when the other lane is clear. When you do move over he accelerates and moves on. Have followed several times only to see them turn in at the GSP Center in Forsyth. Friday afternoons after they leave the center is another good time to see all officers, city, county and state, speed in the left lane to hurry and get home. I guess there is nothing wrong with the fringe benefit of no having to obey they speed limit law if you've bee or going to school.

Dude,
If your in the left lane and someone comes up behind you going faster than you are, MOVE OVER!! Trooper or not. You already said the lane to the right was clear so why were you not in it.

People that block the fast lane cause more drivers to alter their course than fast drivers do. If slower drivers would keep to the right the highways would be a much nicer place to be.

Case in point, your in the fast lane (of three lanes) going 65mph. I'm approaching from behind going 75mph. you should be aware of this cause you are checking your rear and side mirrors every few seconds right? there is a clear spot in the lane to the right. If you don't move over to the right, I now have to change lanes to the right, watching for people in the right lane trying to get in the middle lane, then change lanes back to the left lane after passing you. If you had moved over we both could have maintained our speed and there would have been one lane change not two.

I watched a trooper today on the way to work on GA 400. He was in the fast lane and it took people an average of two to three minutes to change lanes to the right and let him by. I got out of his way before he ever got close enough to need to touch his brakes cause I check my mirrors every few seconds to see whats going on around me.

I feel sorry for the troopers myself. If I had to deal with the horrible drivers we have in the state of georgia all day long..........

I am also a deputy sheriff and I will not defend the GSP. They serve no purpose in this world other then writing tickets. My sheriff hates them to the point where we don't ask them to work our 10-50's. The post commander has asked several times to work them to build there stats and he has told them no. I have also caught them on LIDAR well above the speed limit and have known for a fact that they were not responding to a call for service. As far a professional curtosy goes, I know plenty of cops who have recevied tickets from troopers and know plenty of troopers who have received tickets in return. They get upset because they think they are supposed to write everyone, well they don't get upset when they are screaming like a bitch on the radio for help. Me personally, I have never written a cop a ticket and I never will. I don't have anything against the troopers themselves, but I hate it when they call themselves Gods Special Police.

deputy474 wrote:

I am also a deputy sheriff and I will not defend the GSP. They serve no purpose in this world other then writing tickets. My sheriff hates them to the point where we don't ask them to work our 10-50's. The post commander has asked several times to work them to build there stats and he has told them no. I have also caught them on LIDAR well above the speed limit and have known for a fact that they were not responding to a call for service. As far a professional curtosy goes, I know plenty of cops who have recevied tickets from troopers and know plenty of troopers who have received tickets in return. They get upset because they think they are supposed to write everyone, well they don't get upset when they are screaming like a bitch on the radio for help. Me personally, I have never written a cop a ticket and I never will. I don't have anything against the troopers themselves, but I hate it when they call themselves Gods Special Police.

Sounds like someone is a little jealous! I’m glad your sheriff doesn’t care for Troopers, but does that mean you have to jump on the band wagon. It is obvious your Sheriff can’t stand the fact that someone (A Trooper) can come into his county and police without being under his direct authority. He really needs to get over himself. I also think you should take a look at yourself. I’m sure you’re a grown man and can make decisions on your own, so how about trying it. I am fully aware that typically there are more things that a Police Officer/Deputy Sheriff may be required to recite on a regular biases, i.e. domestic violence, criminal law, juvenile proceedings, civil matters, responding to calls….ect, but You must realize that there is more to the State of Georgia then just your county. Trust me when I tell you that I’m sure the Troopers in your county could care less if your department works all the 10-50s…I think its great! I work for a large metro Police department that is 100% self sufficient, but I still admire and respect the Georgia State Patrol. They are invited into my county any time. Don’t be so naive to think we don’t all serve a purpose out her brother. A Trooper patrolling in you county could mean one less D.U.I., or fatality 10-50 that you would have to work. I know some Troopers are cocky, but most are just good hearted respectful men and woman picking up where we leave off.

Wow! There sure are alot of sides to take. What I see is that we should all learn something from each person's opinion. All these opinions are based on their own personal observations and concerns. I will do my best in all circumstances I will face. Just for the record, I have recently applied to become a G.S.P. Trooper. May GOD help us- and may GOD help people express themselves with tact.

Listen,
I don't know what the big deals is about the speed, but personally when you work with the Georgia State Patrol and you do have people not getting out of the way when we are on duty then it's very harassing and the issue of speed at hand to begin with! Suck it up because i do not believe you would personally like to walk up and tell one of us that because you do not have any idea how what and how much it takes to keep people like you all happy and humble! Long weekends from our loved ones on holidays just as the one passing we do not get to spend that time with them because unfortunatley for you ungrateful civilians we have to work even harder to protect you all so in due circumstances if you're not in a hurry then get out of the way or since it's THE LAW get a citation for not getting out of the way for emergency vehicles. GSP aka GODS SPECIAL PEOPLE!!!!!!

Law Dog wrote:

<quoted text>
Sounds like someone is a little jealous! I’m glad your sheriff doesn’t care for Troopers, but does that mean you have to jump on the band wagon. It is obvious your Sheriff can’t stand the fact that someone (A Trooper) can come into his county and police without being under his direct authority. He really needs to get over himself. I also think you should take a look at yourself. I’m sure you’re a grown man and can make decisions on your own, so how about trying it. I am fully aware that typically there are more things that a Police Officer/Deputy Sheriff may be required to recite on a regular biases, i.e. domestic violence, criminal law, juvenile proceedings, civil matters, responding to calls….ect, but You must realize that there is more to the State of Georgia then just your county. Trust me when I tell you that I’m sure the Troopers in your county could care less if your department works all the 10-50s…I think its great! I work for a large metro Police department that is 100% self sufficient, but I still admire and respect the Georgia State Patrol. They are invited into my county any time. Don’t be so naive to think we don’t all serve a purpose out her brother. A Trooper patrolling in you county could mean one less D.U.I., or fatality 10-50 that you would have to work. I know some Troopers are cocky, but most are just good hearted respectful men and woman picking up where we leave off.

Its not Gods Special Police, get it right Gods Special People

Let the man cry. Oh yeah meth heads suck. And Mandatory drug test for Welfare. Yeah buddy.

So who gives cops tickets? I am sure all cops follow the law and do nothing wrong. So you may or may not be responding to a call and hauling ass, running lights, not using turn signals.
I have seen many post claiming to be cops saying "I know there are times we have to go over the speed limit to respond to certain calls without lights or siren, such and a BP, or an armed robbery."
So I have a few questions.
Alot of cops drive freaking crazy around here. Run lights, speed, illegal turns. All mind you with no lights and no siren. Have seen many times where there could of been a serous accident. So I asked myself. Who gives cops a ticket when they drive crazy?
So I had the idea of somehow mounting my old sony handycam in my car and and anytime I see a cop car I hit record and try to catch these traffic violations on tape.(I know it is ilgale to follow a EMG vechile. Not talking about that. Just catching what is in plane view.) After a few weeks trust me I should have a descant amount of footage. I see this every other day.(Always like damn!. If I had my cam mounted that be another.)
A few of the things that are holding me back.
Do not know if this is illegal. Can cops drive anyway they want to? Mind you with no lights or siren. Also time stamp the video that way they can check the car number and if they where responding to a call at the time of the violation.
Not sure if I want to do this.
If I turn over the information to the police or if I decided to blog about it. They will find out who I am and I become a target.
Another reason to have a recording device with you. http://video.google.com/videoplay...

I have personally spoken with an official at the GSP in Atlanta concerning speeding troopers. He sent a trooper to my home one weekend about a year ago to discuss the matter. He was very nice, very informative and courteous. He explained that there are very very few instances that warrant a trooper to speed. Burglaries, bank robberies and the like. Like one of the posters above i've been passed by the whistling trooper cars doing twice my speed and witnessed them pulling into restaraunt parking lots to eat. I had quite a list of car numbers with dates and times of troopers speeding excessively through congested areas.(I threw them away when a trooper gave my wife a break for speeding) I got into a confrontation with what appeared to be a detective (county) at a redlight because he was cutting off traffic, flashing his emergency lights in the undercover car he was in and generally being a jerk to get around everyone around him. He wasn't even from our county. Claimed he was "busy and late for a meeting". I wonder if that excuse would fly if I were speeding in his jurisdiction. Truth is, there are very few reasons for cops to speed, and they know it. Everyone knows many, not all break the very laws they cite others for breaking and it's the height of hypocrisy. People lose respect for officers when they flaunt the laws they claim to uphold and resent them. If you're responding to an accident....SPEED! I'd issue you guys Bugattis and Hayabusas if I were in charge but turn your lights on for petes sake!! If you are justified in speeding you can do that right? And lastly, i'm sorry but there just aren't that many bank robberies around here. Oh and I don't think Chik Fil A and Captain D's get robbed that often either. P.S the google video is infuriating