On 29 Mar 2021 at 05:04:09 BST, 6+Cola  wrote:
>   As for "banditry" ... are you referring to "speed trap towns"
>   or something ? For the most part, transit in the USA is
>   dead practical - has to be because of the vast distances.
>   I think there are single counties in Texas and Wyoming
>   and certainly Alaska that could swallow up Scotland.

I lived in the US for 12 years, and amassed two speeding tickets in that time.
So I went to traffic school for a Saturday. Towards the end of one of these
days, the person running the course (an off-duty San Francisco cop) asked if
anyone had any questions. A little old lady said, is it true that there are
quotas? The guy was quiet for a moment and then said, yes, but no one would
ever admit it publicly. I didn't understand this, but eventually found out
that what was meant was:

1) Mayor decides the city needs more money
2) He talks to his mate the Chief of Police (elected on the same political
ticket)
3) The Chief tells the traffic cops that for the next shift or two they all
need to book, say, three sitters and three movers (people parking wrong or
committing a 'moving offence' - speeding or being in the wrong lane, etc)

So these would be minor infringements that would normally be overlooked
because the cop would pragmatically decide that there was no danger to life,
limb, property, etc. But now these people get a fine instead.

IOW, legalised banditry.

--
Tim

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