Officers at Hwy 98 intersections

[wintersbk]

Why do the police officers park at the intersections of 395 & 98?

[RiverOtter]

Why do the police officers park at the intersections of 395 & 98?

Yes, and they leave their radar guns on too. :idontno:

[wintersbk]

:lolabove:

Before I get anymore of those kinds of comments, it seemed unusual for them to park there, run there lights, & most looked like they were reading a paper the entire week we visited.

They were also sitting at other intersections connecting 98. I thought maybe they were looking for a particular car or person, almost like road blocks.

Texas Patrol Officers like to hide and bust you, maybe Florida Patrol Officers like to announce there where-abouts so that they do have to get out of there Air Conditioned Cars and write tickets.

Just curious.

[lollygal]

I read awhile back in the Walton Sun they were posted there because of the number of fatalities at that intersection - ? Don't know, but when I see them I sure slam on my brakes!!

[RiverOtter]

:lolabove:

Before I get anymore of those kinds of comments, it seemed unusual for them to park there, run there lights, & most looked like they were reading a paper the entire week we visited.



Seriously, They sit there with their radar guns on. I have a Valentine1 and that thing picks them up well before the bridge. They are always there but don't seem to have anybody pulled over :idontno:

[Camp Creek Kid]

The officers are there to slow traffic down at the intersections. When 98 was 4-Laned FDOT was so short-sighted that they didn't think we needed traffic lights. It has taken several fatalities (particularly at 395) and the community's insistance for FDOT to "allow" traffic lights. Now we have to wait for the lights to be custom-made for the odd angles of the intersections :bang: .

As for the officers, you've figured out the big secret--they don't do much because they are actually off-duty. I have seen maybe 3 pull-overs in 2 months and I drive 98 almost daily. I think they are effective at slowing people down until everyone figures out that they probably won't get a ticket for speeding. However, speeding is only part of the problem. There are a lot of drivers making left turns onto and off of 98 who just don't pay attention. I've found myself being extra careful when turning because the officers are there. So I think they are effective in making people pay extra attention.

[Bob]

I believe they are off-duty officers augmenting their salaries at about $20/hr. The locals have asked for help with the intersections and Walton County is waiting on lights/equipment because of the extreme width of the intersection there.

[RiverOtter]

I think they are effective at slowing people down until everyone figures out that they probably won't get a ticket for speeding.

They sure slowed me down :cool:

[Smiling JOe]

Supposedly, it takes over a year to engineer and manufactor one of these traffic light arms.

[FoX]

I think it takes a year to get around to it then about 2 weeks to make it and install it. :roll:

[Smiling JOe]

I think it takes a year to get around to it then about 2 weeks to make it and install it. :roll:
That is my thoughts exactly. I think I could take some engineering classes, design and build these things in the amount of time these "professionals" are allowed. "It ain't rocket science," as one friend of mine always says.

[hutch]

We could use recycled goal post from FSU, UF or Auburn and weld them together to make the pole. Would that work? At UGA we can not afford new posts, we are using our money to bond out our players so they can play this fall.

As for the officers, why not just put dummies in the cars. They work cheaper than off duty officers.

[Miss Kitty]

Y'all are ready to take the stage at the Fourth of July comedy event at Seaside. Thanks for the laughs after the stress of the news of the day.

[Smiling JOe]

We could use recycled goal post from FSU, UF or Auburn and weld them together to make the pole. Would that work? At UGA we can not afford new posts, we are using our money to bond out our players so they can play this fall.

As for the officers, why not just put dummies in the cars. They work cheaper than off duty officers.
Hutch, I think the goal posts idea would work. My friend says that the Sheriff's Office should park empty cars at the intersections, but if they did that, the off duty officers would not be able to get great pay for surfing the internet all day, or whatever it is they are looking at on their computers -- maybe they are watching DVDs. I have never seen one look up yet. Recently, I thought about pulling up behind one of their cars, and scaring the bageezers out of them, but then my motivation for not going to the hospital kicked in so I refrained.

[Camp Creek Kid]

I thought about pulling up behind one of their cars, and scaring the bageezers out of them, but then my motivation for not going to the hospital kicked in so I refrained.

I have never seen cops more in the mood to give tickets than when they are mad and/or embarassed. Go ahead . . . :floor:

[beachmouse]

Hutch, I think the goal posts idea would work. My friend says that the Sheriff's Office should park empty cars at the intersections, but if they did that, the off duty officers would not be able to get great pay for surfing the internet all day, or whatever it is they are looking at on their computers -- maybe they are watching DVDs.

Considering how little those guys make in ordinary salary, (last I heard, somewhere in the low to mid 20s) and how expensive it can be to live here, if the cops can get some extra overtime money, good for them!

[lollygal]

Considering how little those guys make in ordinary salary, (last I heard, somewhere in the low to mid 20s) and how expensive it can be to live here, if the cops can get some extra overtime money, good for them!

I agree, as long as it's not coming out of my pocket --

[Smiling JOe]

Considering how little those guys make in ordinary salary, (last I heard, somewhere in the low to mid 20s) and how expensive it can be to live here, if the cops can get some extra overtime money, good for them!
I hear ya. I don't know how the Police Officers and Firefighters survive around here, nurses too. I guess the list could grow out of control, but I will stop there. I appreciate having all those folks around. That said, it would be much cheaper to erect a traffic light. I have not added the math, but a traffic light will cost only around $100K each (and one thoughtful developer has agreed to pay for one signal a long time ago)
Please correct me if I error.
4 officers (2 at Hwy 283 and 2 at Hwy 395) around the clock at :idontno: can we say $20 per hour? for one year. We won't calculate in FICA for these purposes.
4 ppl x $20/hr x 24 hrs/day x 7 days/wk x 52.14 wks/yr

... and, we have the DOT(Dept of Transportation) to thank for dragging their feet on this one. I am glad the Sheriff had the guts to step up and take action. At the rate we were going, the number of crashes at those two intersections over a year in time would probably add up to be well over $1Million of banged up sheet metal alone. Add to that medical bills, investigator's time, and human lives. Thank goodness for the Sheriff's Office. I just wish they would write some tickets for these guys going 60mph through that 45mph speed limit zone. Someone in Grayton use to put out a sign, "Slow down, you're here." Take note.

= $700,761 per year :shock: :shock: :shock: :blink: I told you. :wink:

[Bob]

I hear ya. I don't know how the Police Officers and Firefighters survive around here, nurses too. I guess the list could grow out of control, but I will stop there. I appreciate having all those folks around. That said, it would be much cheaper to erect a traffic light. I have not added the math, but a traffic light will cost only around $100K each (and one thoughtful developer has agreed to pay for one signal a long time ago)
Please correct me if I error.
4 officers (2 at Hwy 283 and 2 at Hwy 395) around the clock at :idontno: can we say $20 per hour? for one year. We won't calculate in FICA for these purposes.
4 ppl x $20/hr x 24 hrs/day x 7 days/wk x 52.14 wks/yr

= $700,761 per year :shock: :shock: :shock: :blink: I told you. :wink: That's one lot in Watercolor....Maybe

[hutch]

I hear you. The officers should be able to make extra money. But at least one should be giving tickets to some of these people driving 95 miles a hour. Yesterday coming back from PC some idiot pass me doing at least 95 weaving from one lane to another.

[Landlocked]

They can pay me and I'll sit in my truck and point a hairdryer at passing cars.

[Smiling JOe]

They can pay me and I'll sit in my truck and point a hairdryer at passing cars.
You are too much :floor: . Today, when I passed one of the four patrol units on two occasions separated by 5 hours, I observed the officer with his head kicked back, and mouth open, taking a nap. I pulled out my camera for the second pass, but traffic was too heavy and I didn't want to make the headlines of the Walton Sun, "Local Killed in Traffic Accident While Attempting to Catch the Police Asleep Behind the Wheel."