Some NJ state troopers, feeling they have been publicly ridiculed for the accident that almost killed Gov. Corzine, appear to be plotting a ticket blitz against the public this month, followed by a slowdown in June, according to a chilling series of anonymous online postings. And the state’s top trooper says he won’t tolerate it.
“Great idea,” wrote a person posting under the name “soundsgood.” “Absolutely hammer everyone (obviously except cops and family) who does 1 mph over the limit. . . . Let’s really give them something to complain about.”
“I am all for the May 1st blitz . . . Better start pre-signing my summonses,” wrote another poster going by the handle of “reckrids.”
“Everyone has to take part in this,” wrote “20alphabravo.” “We are taking an absolute beating from the public and media, and the so-called “officers’ are doing nothing about it to protect or support us in any way. . . . Spread the word. It’s go time.”
The comments appeared on a password-protected section of the Web site for the state troopers’ union, the State Troopers’ Fraternal Association. Union President David Jones issued a lengthy statement, saying it was irresponsible for the media to traffic in the postings.
“Nothing written on that bulletin board, which is anonymous, can be taken as fact or as the opinion of the STFA as a result of the postings of authorized and unauthorized individuals,” Jones said.
He wrote that the idea that troopers would “engage in a ticket-writing assault and or slowdown on the public is false and without merit.”
But State Police Superintendent Col. Joseph “Rick” Fuentes took the postings seriously enough to order commanders to try to make sure troopers don’t launch the ticket storm. “He made it clear to the command staff, what is posted there he won’t tolerate,” said Capt. Al Della Fave, spokesman for the State Police.
“We must all do this together. Don’t let the brass tell us any different,” wrote “soundsgood.” “When they were on the road, they could deal with people the way they needed to be treated, but unfortunately it is a different time.”
“Soundsgood” continued: “No matter how junior you are, you must stick it out regardless of threats to be “sent to the pike.’ We can’t all be sent to the pike and it’s not that bad a gig out there anyway. Crush ’em in May.”
While Corzine has said State Police helped save his life, the crash has focused attention on the patrol’s executive-protection detail. An independent panel is reviewing its procedures. Gannett New Jersey has learned that not all members of the unit have received the prescribed enhanced Secret Service training for high-speed driving.
The Web postings suggest the authors want to punish the public in May and then deprive the state in June of revenue from traffic summonses.
“There are many more of “us’ than there are of “them,’ ” wrote “letsroll,” adding, “The tickets generate a large revenue for the state, and if the slowdown is done properly, we can make a change!”
“Crush the whole month of May and slow down for the next 5-7 weeks,” urged “letsdoit.”
“It’s a union Web site,” said Della Fave, noting it is a place where troopers vent frustrations. He said the remarks “in no way reflect on this organization.”
A writer claiming the monicker “UncommonSense,” advised, “Just hang out in the right lane doing 70 and pick off the first (expletive) that goes by, shouldn’t take long considering our plummeting respect.”
“UncommonSense” proceeded to say, “Maybe then our Puppet leaders will address some of the real issues and support us for once, instead of selling us down the river . . . again.”
David Wald, a spokesman for Attorney General Stuart Rabner, who oversees the State Police, said the department views the writings as “chat among anonymous troopers.”
(Reprinted from the Asbury Park Press Website.)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
14 Responses
this news is 4 days old..
just slow down a bit for the next month or so theres no way we can beat the troopers its sick but they have the power..
Traffic cops are the lowest slime that this country has. Drop out of high school, but get a bogus 9 “college credits” and we’ll strap a gun at your side and let you enfore the laws that you yourself don’t keep.
So what else is new? Did you ever drive the Garden State Parkway and the New Jersey Turnpike? They are literally are like vultures, out to make a buck so Governer Corzine can have his SUV at taxpayer expense.
To say that traffic cops “are the lowest slime that this country has” seems a bit of an over-exaggeration and quite a sweeping generalization. I can easily think of slimier public officials in this country. I’ve gotten speeding tickets on the GSP, but I was speeding so I deserved it!
What is so terrible about police officers going about enforceing the law?
eliezer Says:
May 3rd, 2007 at 12:00 pm
“What is so terrible about police officers going about enforceing the law?”
Change to “selectively” enforcing the law, and maybe you will agree with my point. It is called corruption. Of course they are not the “lowest slime” as in the worst of corrupt officials but rather the “lowest” of the corrupt officials (slime usually refers to corruption). As I said, these are largely uneducated people who couldn’t understand the law if it was read to them so instead they do what they want – break all kinds of traffic laws themselves and give tickets to regular people while looking the other way when it comes to their friends, relatives, anyone with a PBA card, or anyone who they want to flatter.
This is not going to be a popular comment-so what!!
I b”h have many teenage and young adult drivers in my household. The rule is, “you get a ticket, you pay for it (not the parents) & if there is an insurance increase because of points, the responsibility of payment is yours.”
Makes no difference if there is a ticket blitz or anything else, SPEED KILLS!! Go for it, cops, stop the speeding on the roads. Read in archives of http://www.aaadriversafety, the dangers of SPEEDING, No Seat Belts, Cell phones, etc. If your new driver gets a cell phone ticket, take the cellphone away for a week. Figure out as parents how to enforce proper driving habits and safety, instead of bashing the enforcers…
I was on the GSP a few months ago driving 60 mph. A car starts tailgaiting me. I try to move to the next lane but couldn’t. I finally sped up a little to change lanes and his lights go on.
EMAN-THX FOR THAT LOVELY STORY OF YOURS
I’m not sure how a cop who sitting on the side of the GSP, aiming a radar gun at a car at random, can possible “selectively” pick a target. I’m sorry, bupkiss, but “Oif da Ganef Brent der Hittel.” Only the guilty will be upset by more cops out looking for speeders. Don’t speed and you won’t be selected! I have been cut off so many times by speeders that have absolutely no regard for the safety of others and the law.
eman, if you were going 60 mph in a 55 mph zone he had every right to pull you over. (I admit it’s a bit of Midas Hadin, but he did have the right). If you were in a 65 mph zone going 60, and you sped up to get away from the tailgaiter and then he stopped you, that does seem unfair.
Either way, if you stay within the speed limit, why should any of this bother you?
eliezer,
i’ll never get over how the most vocal posters of this site can barely ever get the point of other posters, as evidenced by their out of context replies. on most sites, people have the respect to keep quiet unless they can say something to the issue.
the speed limits are low. almost noone considers the speed limit to be the “fastest speed they would ever allow themselves to travel” but rather the highest they can go without risking a ticket. as such the only time people drive below the limit is if stuck in traffic. no one thinks that going over the limit (as they are now, here) is dangerous. a decent driver can stay in control of a modern car and stop in a short amount of time at speeds close to 75. if the limit were 75 (as it is in some parts of the country) people would drive below the limit most of the time and use their judgement when to go faster up to 75. Of course there are many variables (age of driver, reflexes, quality of car, other cars on the road). The point is that 55 is not a reasonable “top speed” for everyone.
i will not deny going over the limit.
this business is known as a “job action”. technically, the problem here is that the cops are interested in making the regular person’s life miserable so that they will get noticed. however, as every 2 year old must be taught, negative behaviors attract negative attention. it is only some foolish posters here who take this opportunity to commend the cops on a “good policy” to “save lives” etc.
I have only had misery from cops, they go after the small defenseless guy who cant afford an attorny. The police say, “everyone hates cops untill you need them”.. my answer is.. then show up when I need you!
i saw the cops standing on central ave. in lakewood pointing fingers at cars and pulling every in site over i mean i myself got pulled over for 2 mph over the limit i mean common give us a break gov.cor-resign was going 91 in a 75 and he says ill voulenterely pay the 36$ ticket for not wearing a seatbelt!!!! speeding?? forget about that ticket the trooper should pay that ticket just bec hes driving the gov. doesnt mean he can speed and get away with it
Bupkiss,
“Foolish posters,” “Vocal posters,” my goodness – take a chill pill buddy!!! No one’s out to get you here, yet you are getting so very emotional. You may want to seek some anger therapy or something.
yes maybe you could help me.