And now, another edition of...At Least They're Not Your Legislators.
According to 9News.com, Pinellas County (Florida) Sheriff's deputies will soon begin pulling over teen drivers who haven't broken any traffic laws. The deputies will follow teen drivers in unmarked cars, and if they don't break any traffic laws for a few blocks, they will pull them over and award them with gift certificates for free movies or movie rentals.
WHAT?!?!?
From 9News.com: "Deputies will follow them for a short distance, down a thoroughfare and we will watch their driving," said Sgt. Glenn Luben, Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. "Once we identify a good safe driver, we attempt to follow them to their house or open shopping area."
Sure. That won't scare the absolute crap out of anybody. It should only be a matter of time before some poor kid panics and drives into a tree because of the flashing lights behind him. And at the risk of sounding too politically correct, isn't this profiling? Should we really be approving police to start pulling people over for no reason? As one parent pointed out, "It's scary for parents too. There's so many kidnappings and other things going on; I'd be concerned for my child."
We're concerned for the citizens of Pinellas County who have to deal with those public officials. What was that meeting like? Can you imagine everyone sitting around and saying, "You know, that's a really good idea. We should absolutely start pulling people over for not breaking laws."
Um...probable cause? Sounds like one more excuse to be able to take a look at people, and letting them know you are watching.
Posted by: Stygius | June 10, 2005 at 09:20 AM
par for the course in Florida
Posted by: learnedhand | June 10, 2005 at 09:28 AM
So many disturbing things about this story. Don't the police have anything better to do? I feel real bad for the first kid to get pulled over for being a "good driver" who gets busted for the roach in his ashtray.
Posted by: floridasucks | June 10, 2005 at 09:42 AM
Prediciton: Next high-speed chase footage you see on the evening news coming out of Pinellas County, FL.
I can hear it over the load speaker now...
Officer Backwoods: Pull over son! Pull over NOW! We only want to give you movie tickets.
Frightened Teen: Yeah right Pig, I'm not falling for that one (as he hits the accelerator)...
Posted by: BackwoodsPD | June 10, 2005 at 12:41 PM