A new law you might not have known about - Page 3 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

01-07-2006, 02:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flaming Homer

nope, the court for all of that is done. And it wasn't corruption on a major extent just your run of the mill cop abusing the law and then getting away with it in court.

And it was you who said that you full heartedly believed that a cop had NEVER abused their priveleges in Calgary, yet you fully endorse the use of a taser on somebody who said he'd give the cop a piece of his mind (I interpreted it non-violently)

ahhh.... well i guess i interpreted it differently since i believe he sed he would of ended up in jail leading me to believe that he would commit some sort of criminal offence... since it would have been a confrontation between him and the cop over the ticket i guess i assumed he would of become assaultive = taser.

Gimme the details on your case, I am quite interested.... 'run of the mill cop abusing the law and getting away with it in court'... oh man... will you ever get ahead homer.

Resolute 14 · 01-07-2006, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flaming Homer

Remember this is assuming that the average person actually knows how to drive, which normally isn't the case. They had out lisences like candy these days.

This is assuming the average person is of normal intelligence.

It does not take much skill to notice flashing lights and slow down.

If they dont, they deserve their $600 fines.

Antithesis · 01-07-2006, 02:57 PM

Question for all the "Cash Cow Catcallers" ... if the law is designed to help save police officers' lives, which it is, shouldn't the fine be high?

By the way, if you ever take the opportunity to read the newspaper, watch the news, you'd have known about this ages ago.

As for this woman, ignorance is simply no excuse to disobey law.

metallicat · 01-07-2006, 04:15 PM

All of you that are saying the fine is too high, and that it is a cash-cow, have just solidified yourself in my eyes as being anti-police. I would think that after a nice 600 some dollar fine gets handed to you by the police, you will think twice about what you did. It doesn't take much effort to slow down until you pass the police car. It's about safety, and in my mind, respect. They're out there doing a dangerous job, and they deserve a little room on the roads.

This law doesn't just stop at police officers either. You must slow down to 60 if the limit is above 60 when you pass tow truck drivers, and construction zones as well.

the_only_turek_fan · 01-07-2006, 04:46 PM

I had no idea such a law existed. I think most people know about it now. At least the ones that read the Herald.

I was really shocked to see the price of the ticket so high. I hope she fights it. I know I would.

I like the idea of the rule though. Its good they are putting in efforts to save the lives of police officers.

Resolute 14 · 01-07-2006, 05:29 PM

The size of the fine makes sense. 46kph over the limit is something around $300, doubled for speeding past an emergency vehicle. Though knowing our court system, if she fights the ticket it will undoubtably be slashed considerably.

Phanuthier · 01-07-2006, 06:39 PM

Maybe I'm interpretting this law wrong, but dropping 110 to 60 in what, 3 seconds? 5? I would have been more ok with a 80 or so, I can see people just hitting the breaks on the highway and people getting rearended.

I don't like the new law, but I don't like the idea of cop cars just sitting on the side of the road, doesn't seem like a good idea to me.

4X4 · 01-07-2006, 07:13 PM

I don't know about you, but in my world, 3-5 seconds is plenty of time to slow down considerably. Most of the time you've got more like 6-8 seconds if you're watching the road instead of the car in front of you. Sure, you've got hills and curves, but if you can't drop your speed 40k in 5 seconds, might be time to take 'er off cruise and operate the ride with your hands and feet.

As for the licenses jab a few posts back... Yeah, not so much candy boxes as it is paying people of your community to just pass you.

Cash cows. IMHO, the only legit "cash cows" are those ****ing red light cameras. My buddy got smoked (rear ender) a few weeks back because he stopped for a red light. He told me that he would have gone, but he knew that there was a camera there (elbow and southland).

I dunno. On the other hand, the T-bones hurt just as much... But really. Who is profiting from this? You've basically spread teh accidents around the intersection, not solved the problem of red light runners.
Oh, and made a few bucks for Calgary's finest.

Phanuthier · 01-07-2006, 07:25 PM

Ok, maybe 1-2 seconds. Keep in mind that we arn't talking about the most reasonable person that is behind every wheel. You have idiots who hit the breaks when they see the red and blue, who don't give a passing thought about getting rear-ended and more about the $600 ticket. THAT is what scares me about this new rule.

I can understand the reasoning behind this rule, but I think there are smarter alternatives then this.

metallicat · 01-07-2006, 08:37 PM

Down in Calgary, do they not have the intersections with the advanced warning of a light about to change to red? Isn't that the same with seeing a police car, only you don't have to come to a complete stop. Furthermore, I am just taking a wild stab in the dark, but if a police officer is going to make a traffic stop, he is probably going to wait until he's in an area where traffic behind him can see him well. I can't see them trying to stop a car on a curve where traffic can't see him until they are right on top of him.

Mightyfire89 · 01-08-2006, 05:07 AM

nm

edited because I never should've posted it in the first place.

ken0042 · 01-08-2006, 10:21 AM

I'm curious; with respect to this new law- what is the fine for going past the pulled over car doing 70? The reason I ask; slowing down when passing a police car is what many have said is a "no brainer."

I'm just wondering what would happen to somebody who wasn't aware of the law and it's specific speed; and slowed down anyways, but didn't slow down quite enough.

Neeper · 01-08-2006, 11:28 PM

I never heard of this law, and would have been caught for sure. Even with all this talk about the law, does anyone know the specifics??

If I am heading to Edmonton on the 2, and there's a cop on the southbound side, do I have to slow down?? It would seem strange. On the same side I would understand. Or does it only pertain to non-divided highways?

metallicat · 01-09-2006, 08:58 AM

I work in an industry that is SOMEWHAT involved in this, so they gave us a detailed explanation. If you are passing a police car, a tow truck, or a construction zone, you must slow down to 60 if the limit is above 60, and 50 if it's below 60, in the lane immediately next to where the action is. So if a police car has someone pulled over going south, and you are going north, you can still do 110. This applies to ALL roads, not just highways.

Bobblehead · 01-09-2006, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neeper

I never heard of this law, and would have been caught for sure. Even with all this talk about the law, does anyone know the specifics??

If I am heading to Edmonton on the 2, and there's a cop on the southbound side, do I have to slow down?? It would seem strange. On the same side I would understand. Or does it only pertain to non-divided highways?

You can see the description of it here.

As to what you are asking:

If there are two or more traffic lanes in the same direction as the emergency vehicle or tow truck, passing vehicles need only slow down in the lane immediately beside the stopped emergency vehicle. Vehicles traveling in other lanes, including oncoming lanes, may maintain their speed but should proceed with caution.

mykalberta · 01-09-2006, 11:56 AM

All laws are cash cows - the higher the cash cow the more severe the law - thats the reasoning because unfortunatly in our society the buck has a louder voice than that of reason.

I dont mind this law when you are at an accident or something but when all the cities and counties are whining for more money in terms of revenue from the police from tickets, then when they pull someone over you have to slow down to a erroneous speed and if you dont you will get a ticket your self - like everything in politics - something smells like bs in here.

MYK

Cube Inmate · 01-09-2006, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neeper

I never heard of this law, and would have been caught for sure. Even with all this talk about the law, does anyone know the specifics??

I posted the actual text of the law in the first page of this thread.

metallicat · 01-09-2006, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

You can see the description of it here.

As to what you are asking:

If there are two or more traffic lanes in the same direction as the emergency vehicle or tow truck, passing vehicles need only slow down in the lane immediately beside the stopped emergency vehicle. Vehicles traveling in other lanes, including oncoming lanes, may maintain their speed but should proceed with caution.

Slowing down to 60 is such a hassle.

BlackArcher101 · 01-09-2006, 05:43 PM

I knew about this law the day it started. I'm actually amazed the majority haven't heard of it. I was actually getting sick of hearing about it. The sources I saw it on were (TV, Radio, Newspaper). Tv Commercials, Radio Spots, and Newspaper ad's all made it clear that it was new and the consequences you would have to pay. What do you want them to do? Mail something to every household or person with a drivers license? It's your responsibity to follow change, not someone elses to notify you and follow up to make sure you know.

I haven't heard anything about it for over a month now. It was around 2 months ago were they had a HUGE campagin. Hard to miss.

I commend the Alberta gov for making this a law. Having worked highway construction, I know how bad it really is standing next to cars about 1m away travelling at 120km/h.

Resolute 14 · 01-09-2006, 07:27 PM

Obviously many people either still dont know, or more likely don't care. I passed three tow trucks on the way home from Olds today, and saw idiots flying right past them in the right lane. One bonehead was pulled over just past one by a cop. Probably for speeding past one of these trucks, but I can't be sure.

Also, in a great case of irony, I recently saw a tow truck being towed.