I have little respect for the Calgary Police Service.
And I'm sure it's only temporary, but nevertheless.
So what is that has caused this sudden reduction in the CPS fan club?
I got caught speeding by a multi-nova camera in a playground zone.
What?? A playground zone? Speeding?? Heavens to Betsy, Mr. Lorne, I can't support your rant on this! What were you thinking? Is this (hopefully) temporary insanity?? You screwed up! Admit it! After all, who will look after the children?!?
And this is exactly what I'd say if it were someone else. So what's my problem?
I got caught 2/3 the way through the zone while approaching a turning lane. It has a natural downward trajectory and I let my car gradually speed up. So I did 42 km/h instead of 30 for less than 100 m. It was a slip that is now going to cost me $111.00.
Yes, I'm guilty.
It was a lonely Sunday evening at 7:20 p.m. in a junior high school playground zone where no one was out because of the cold weather. Kids most inevitably were getting ready for school the next day and I was literally one of perhaps three cars on that stretch of road at the time. And I went 12 km/h or 7 MPH over the limit by mistake. I should have put on my brake entering the turning lane.
Oops.
I am all for traffic enforcement, but it has to make sense. Up the hill from me is John Laurie Blvd where many a lunatic drivers can be found. And they seem to have free reign up there; I can't tell you how many times I've been tailgated, sworn at (finger wise), and gestured at just for keeping within the limit. That is one area that could use serious law enforcement.
Yet, instead, the CPS was found at a lonely stretch of road on a cold Sunday night with nary a soul in sight save a few diehards who have to get home from their daily travels.
I find this approach by the CPS to be mean-spirited. I find it a cash grab. Worse, it can cause poor feelings between the public and law enforcement, and that's not good. The CPS needs to build community support and not antagonize the nominally law-abiding.
I reviewed my dash cam footage and by the letter of the law, I'm guilty, so I will pay. But the ill will created by the CPS toward me will linger for some time.
That's too bad.
