Not sure if this is a uniquely American problem or if it's similar in Canada/Australia...

The past 20 or so years have not been great PR for the popo. Much like the Karen Phenomenon what has been revealed is nothing new, it's merely being documented on social media thanks to how readily available camera phones are. Am I crazy or are cops actually fucking horrifying? Now I'm not gonna sit here and act like we're in some sort of police state or anything, but over the years I've started to understand why black and brown communities distrust police and don't even rely on them in actual emergency situations. It's really frustrating seeing testimony around mass shooting to learn that protecting and serving the public isn't actually their mission statement...

It has 19 million views so I'm sure most of us have seen that lecture about not talking to the cops. The whole court system just seems so corrupt, but this could just be Ness being a paranoid fuck which is why I'm putting this thread out there. Has your opinion changed or been moved by all the questionable bodycam footage and recent public outcry when it comes to the police? Again this is all coming from a US perspective so it very well may not be a situation with the Mounties...

Like what is the purpose of law enforcement? Are they just HR for the state, i.e. they protect the corporate/govt interests and they are anything but our friends? Do you feel comfortable calling them in an emergency? There's a real element of danger in any interaction because your life is very much on the line in a routine traffic stop. Been watching a lot of videos lately (I know it's just the alogrithim tickling my negativity) and like what do you do when they're at your door and you're fearful? You can't call the cops on the cops. Suing them? They're on the same team...

I've always dismissed concerns around brutality and the justice system in the boomer way of if you got nothing to hide, but clearly we've giving up considerable amount of our rights by doing it that way. I gotta lay off the rage bait of these audit videos obviously, but is there any truth there? And should we have the same level of distrust or other randos that try and pester us in our everyday lives like CPS and social workers?

I do acknowledge they serve a purpose in theory, but the bad apples really test that belief. Anyways what have you?

I have the opposite belief. I have respect for The Police here due to ( outside of putting their lives on the line everyday, but ) their ability to keep their composure in the face of some absolute dickheads.

The Police here are for the most good people. Of course, and I've dealt first hand with Police Officers who just don't care. They could give two shits about whatever reason you've called them. Others, act like they've just spent a life time in the army and everything is miliatant and robotic. Of course I've seen some great work out there as well, case in point was the Police Officer who took put the guy in Sydney a few weeks ago single handedly.

I have lost ALL respect for the police where I live.
During Covid lockdowns they became a tool of the government and were clubbing and pepper spraying old ladies who dare march for their freedoms.
Fining people for taking their children to a park to play on the swings.
For that I despise them.

I realise that police are necessary to a functional society, but they receive no honour or respect from me.
I value the function, but anyone who would desire to be in the police should probably be excluded from joining.

Where I would in the past donate to police charities, they will get nothing from me again as long as I live.

I'm definitely more on the iNCY side of things, and certainly nowhere near the NATH45 side of things.

Like any profession, there are good ones, and certainly a fair share of awful ones. But generally the type of uneducated people that become cops are the exact ones you never want to have that kind of power.

Funding for police here is so skewed. The money would be much better spent in a diversified way. Police are absolutely needed in certain situations. But most are untrained when it comes to de-escalating those in crisis. Mental health issues, suicide ideation, drug abusers, domestic violence incidents - so many of these crises get exponentially worse when police show up. Having mental health workers, nurses, social workers, etc respond to specific types of calls would free up the police to do actual police work. Of course, if there's personal safety at stake then you'd have to reevaluate.

The only police I really see anymore are pulling people over for minor traffic concerns. Really? That's the best use of your "overworked" time? Get out of here with that garbage and go do something that's actually beneficial instead of hiding behind public safety concerns so you can add more money to your coffers.

I do agree with the second half of what you've said Foos. Sitting on a speed trap and pulling over people doing 4km above the limit is bullshit.

Similarly I was pulled over years ago for having my fog lights on. It's against the law - they're only permitted to be in use in foggy and low visibility conditions, but I had them on on a clear night, which equalled a fine. 12:30am in the morning, and that's what we're doing, pulling me over on my way home from work. Now every car has day time running lights.... I didn't understand it then, and don't understand it now.

I'm more NATH45 side of things, but I fully acknowledge my experience with cops is not other people's. It is the kind of job that can attract those who like to abuse power, and on that front yes I am absolutely glad average citizen can film them on their phones to keep everyone honest, but on other fronts it is an absolutely shitty job and they do see the worst of humanity and someone has to do it and some of the cell phone videos are simply us regular folk seeing how the sausage gets made. Arrests being made doesn't always go smoothly.

@ness the cops don't have to save you, but in the same way firefighters don't have to rush into a burning building to save someone. In many circumstances they will, but they aren't mandated to put their own lives over yours if the risk:reward formula doesn't work out. And for what it's worth, some Uvalde police did want to go in but weren't allowed to

Apr 29, 2024 5:07:38 GMT NATH45 said:

I do agree with the second half of what you've said Foos . Sitting on a speed trap and pulling over people doing 4km above the limit is bullshit.

Similarly I was pulled over years ago for having my fog lights on. It's against the law - they're only permitted to be in use in foggy and low visibility conditions, but I had them on on a clear night, which equalled a fine. 12:30am in the morning, and that's what we're doing, pulling me over on my way home from work. Now every car has day time running lights.... I didn't understand it then, and don't understand it now.

At that hour, they're likely pulling over everyone even slightly out of spec to (quietly) smell your breath and see if you're driving drunk. Whether that's ethical or not I'll leave up to you, but that's generally the point of stopping anyone with their lights turned off / didn't use a turn signal / rear license plate bulb out (this one happened to me).

Apr 30, 2024 0:43:11 GMT Michinokudriver said:

I'm more NATH45 side of things, but I fully acknowledge my experience with cops is not other people's. It is the kind of job that can attract those who like to abuse power, and on that front yes I am absolutely glad average citizen can film them on their phones to keep everyone honest, but on other fronts it is an absolutely shitty job and they do see the worst of humanity and someone has to do it and some of the cell phone videos are simply us regular folk seeing how the sausage gets made. Arrests being made doesn't always go smoothly.

@ness the cops don't have to save you, but in the same way firefighters don't have to rush into a burning building to save someone. In many circumstances they will, but they aren't mandated to put their own lives over yours if the risk:reward formula doesn't work out. And for what it's worth, some Uvalde police did want to go in but weren't allowed to

Apr 29, 2024 5:07:38 GMT NATH45 said:

I do agree with the second half of what you've said Foos . Sitting on a speed trap and pulling over people doing 4km above the limit is bullshit.

Similarly I was pulled over years ago for having my fog lights on. It's against the law - they're only permitted to be in use in foggy and low visibility conditions, but I had them on on a clear night, which equalled a fine. 12:30am in the morning, and that's what we're doing, pulling me over on my way home from work. Now every car has day time running lights.... I didn't understand it then, and don't understand it now.

At that hour, they're likely pulling over everyone even slightly out of spec to (quietly) smell your breath and see if you're driving drunk. Whether that's ethical or not I'll leave up to you, but that's generally the point of stopping anyone with their lights turned off / didn't use a turn signal / rear license plate bulb out (this one happened to me).

When they released the GST in Australia they passed a law that the states could not create any new taxes.
As a result we have a scenario where fines and fees have become one of the state governments main sources of revenue:




They talk about road safety but it is all 100% about revenue.

iNCY, this is so similar to my Province. Photo radar in parked cars ding so many people. Including Mrs. Foos. Numerous times. sigh.

Apr 30, 2024 1:40:11 GMT Foos said:

iNCY , this is so similar to my Province. Photo radar in parked cars ding so many people. Including Mrs. Foos. Numerous times. sigh.

It ticks me off because they put them at places like the bottom of a hill, or where the speed limit goes from 80 to 60.
I lost my license one time because I ran out of demerit points and I an not someone who speeds, but manage to lose all my points through absentmindedness, but not through any dangerous speeding.


People in Canada and Australia need to say enough is enough.
I know you are more left leaning than I, but it drives me crazy that people want all these social programs but aren't willing to pay for them.
I don't know how it is not greed when you are demanding someone else foots the bill for services you are not willing to pay for.

Social safety nets I will fight tooth and nail for, but not pinging the hard working people to sustain those who aren't willing to help themselves.
That is the story with all of these fines and inflation.

I've was caught when I was 20, an area of the local highway used to drop from 100 to 80, then 60 about 30m later for about 200m as there was a petrol station nearby, keyword : was, as it had closed, then up to 80 again. 100% of locals did a clean 70 through it. Absolute joke of a section as there was nothing but farmland on either side of the road.

You know what's insane? When a cop pulls you over, their word is considered evidence. Literal he said she said. All in the name for money for the state. Whole thing is a big ass scam because nobody is gonna pay some lawyer to fight the case versus the standard fee. And that's assuming the courts aren't backed up for years. LIFE is rigged.

Apr 30, 2024 3:13:53 GMT NATH45 said:

I've was caught when I was 20, an area of the local highway used to drop from 100 to 80, then 60 about 30m later for about 200m as there was a petrol station nearby, keyword : was, as it had closed, then up to 80 again. 100% of locals did a clean 70 through it. Absolute joke of a section as there was nothing but farmland on either side of the road.

I'm sure they have a quota.

I wish they'd be honest that it's about making money, not safety.

Apr 30, 2024 21:37:54 GMT iNCY said:

Apr 30, 2024 3:13:53 GMT NATH45 said:

I've was caught when I was 20, an area of the local highway used to drop from 100 to 80, then 60 about 30m later for about 200m as there was a petrol station nearby, keyword : was, as it had closed, then up to 80 again. 100% of locals did a clean 70 through it. Absolute joke of a section as there was nothing but farmland on either side of the road.

I'm sure they have a quota.

I wish they'd be honest that it's about making money, not safety.

They do. When I was involved in the car scene, a Mate's Dad who was a cop used to pull me over regularly and spend 10 minutes talking about the car, and then " letting me off " it was all for the quota.