Description

The city police dept that has the rights to ticket on that 1.x mile stretch of I480 is at it again. They are putting on that big flashing "arrow" on their light bar and backing up on the interstate. THIS IS GROSSLY UNSAFE and should NOT be allowed. A police vehicle with it's emergency lights on conducting a legal stop is an emergency vehicle, and traffic must yield to it. That makes sense. However, once they are done obtaining their revenue generator (odds are they do speed enforcement more on the small stretch of I480 than anywhere else in their city), when they shut their lights down, they are no longer and emergency vehicle conducting their duties, but are now like any other vehicle, and have to obey the laws. Turning on some yellow flashing arrow does not give them the safety, or legal right (in my opinion), to unsafely back up (even slowly) along a shoulder on the left side of the road! Oncoming traffic is always slamming on the brakes when they see these cops doing radar, hoping to avoid a ticket. Then it is a volley for everyone to move over to meet that safety law, so it does cause a risk of an accident occurring as they merge over (plus onramp cars coming onto 480 also). I'm no lawyer, and do not know all the laws, but backing up to save a few minutes to dive back into revenue generating is absurd for the public's safety. I know when this was an issue last year in the paper some (I believe it was a Lt) said they had the right as emergency vehicles - I take a strong stand against that - they are as they chase down the speeder, but they are no longer when they disengage. I feel they should have to continue to provide safety and protect the public by driving around and back to their property line start point. Notice no other cities or township police sit out there doing speed enforcement, just this little part of this city. Everyone's safety is at risk due to the high speeds and traffic interaction involved of cars hitting the brakes or diving over as they suddenly realize the police are backing up. I hope some politicians stop this unsafe act by the ones we expect to enforce our safety, the police, who are NOT above the law!