Is this profiling?

"505Turbeaux" (505turbeaux) 05/21/2014 at 10:00 • Filed to: None

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So theoretical question here. In my state cops love to park their cruisers out of sight and stand behind the toll booth, looking and listening for the slightest hint of something illegal to nab you for. The only problem is, they only stand in the cash only line. the EZ pass lanes have a 15 MPH limit, so it would be just as easy to stand there and do the same thing. Does this sound above board? Or are they figuring people without an EZ pass are either lower on the social rung or out of staters? Are they figuring that less money or the lack of a bank account means you drive a crappier whip or are more likely to bend the law?

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > 505Turbeaux 05/21/2014 at 10:05

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Hmm, that is a good question.

The cop that sits on my route to work, though, is profiling people with jobs. Because there is little other reason to be on the road I am on during the hours I am on it.

But, I agree, always picking a certain lane does become a bit more questionable. But on the other hand you are always profiling, in one way or another.

McMike > 505Turbeaux 05/21/2014 at 10:06

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Nah, just going for low-hanging fruit.

offroadkarter > 505Turbeaux 05/21/2014 at 10:06

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You have to physically stop to put money in, it makes their jobs way easier. Meanwhile I blow thru the EZpass doing like 25-30.

EL_ULY > 505Turbeaux 05/21/2014 at 10:10

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.....maybe but to a very small extent UNLESS it was a direct order from the police department to target non EZ motorist specifically. To that then I say, no mames guey pinche chota!

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > 505Turbeaux 05/21/2014 at 10:12

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I wouldn't put this any worse than parking behind a bush/any kind of barrier so you don't know they're there.

Man the State Police out here are getting crazy though! They have motorcycle cops on the highway all of a sudden, and I saw someone get pulled over by a last gen Malibu yesterday! WTF A MALIBU!? It was completely stock on the outside, but there were a shitload of LEDS in it.

Lekker > 505Turbeaux 05/21/2014 at 10:14

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I bet it has to do something with it. Maybe directly correlated while not necessarily profiling. Perhaps historically speaking people who are willing to pay for the EZ pass will have less of a tendency to speed. Just a thought, I wouldn't jump to conclusions. The way I see it is, if I am doing something wrong then I deserve to be pulled over (erm.. no not really, but you get my point). I would be more annoyed if the cop sat on the other lane, and only pulled over people in the cash lane.

Imirrelephant > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 05/21/2014 at 10:20

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I've seen a State Police Malibu in IL, too. The first time I saw it I had to do a double take! They used to have a 4th Gen Camaro.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Imirrelephant 05/21/2014 at 10:21

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man it's crazy.

Oh and apparently that motorcycle aint afraid of no rain! He was out in pouring rain the other day

ttyymmnn > 505Turbeaux 05/21/2014 at 10:25

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They can't stand in the EZ pass lane because the cars don't stop. The cops can't see anything illegal like expired registration, etc. When the local deputies patrol our school zone, they spend most of their time looking for expired state inspections rather than stopping speeders. If they stand in the toll lane, they simply have to step out and make the person pull over. They don't have to chase them.

We've got EZ pass lanes entering the toll roads near my house. I usually hit them about 60-65. There's no posted limit.

Malforus > 505Turbeaux 05/21/2014 at 10:28

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I can see their logic:

"If someone is doing something illegal they probably don't want to use a device that tracks their movements along the highway."

MA is going to "Open Tolling" which basically translates to "Get an EZ-pass or we invoice you via the mail and charge you a convenience fee."

Which also means that the cash lane is going away in my neck of the woods. It will be interesting how that affects people who don't want their travels tracked.

505Turbeaux > Malforus 05/21/2014 at 10:29

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very interesting. I dont have anything to hide, but I dont like my movements tracked on principle. If course that is moot because they record your plate at ANY toll booth anyhow in my state

Imirrelephant > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 05/21/2014 at 10:33

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It's about time for the motorcycles to come back out around here. I occasionally catch one on an overpass running radar for a line of Impalas/Vics/Tahoes on the on ramp.

About two years ago, a motorcycle trooper got killed at a traffic stop on the side of I-55. He was hit by a semi. Not sure if the tractor hit him or if he got pulled under the trailer. Scary stuff.

As much shit as we like to give cops around here, they are people too. Some better than others, admittedly. Out there doing their job that happens to involve putting their life on the line sometimes. I hate getting caught, but I'm glad they are there.

Malforus > 505Turbeaux 05/21/2014 at 10:33

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I didn't say all the logic was sound, just that I can assume the narrative. As for not liking movements tracked I totally agree, the EZ-Pass transaction database should require a warrant to access (not sure on the current state of that). I am mixed on the concept, I hate mass tracking of individual info, but I love aggregation of non-specific data to fuel better public works.

I also like not waiting in a god damn 1/4 mile line because Jane didn't have cash in her wallet.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Imirrelephant 05/21/2014 at 10:42

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I'm with you

Especially because my sister is a sheriff's deputy. I'm always cool with cops, I've only been pulled over once or twice when it wasn't necessary (as in I was blatantly wrong).

Man those two were idiots. But I suppose 2 out of about 6 is pretty good.

505Turbeaux > Malforus 05/21/2014 at 10:46

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well said

jaguarenvy > Malforus 05/21/2014 at 17:18

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I don't know about other states, but Illinois' tolls are half the cost when using IPASS vs. paying cash. Also, all they tolls still have the option to veer off and pay cash or just keep going through the Open Tolling w/ an IPASS.

I don't drive down there much any more, but I loved when they switched over the Open Tolling; it took about an hour off my travel time down to Chicago.

Malforus > jaguarenvy 05/22/2014 at 09:10

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MA will most likely do a similar change-over. I know Pennsylvania has started separating the cost of EZ-Pass and manual toll collection, they did this by raising the manual toll collection by round numbers ($.25 to $1.00) and the EZ-Pass by smaller amounts ($.12 - $.64) which of course results in a "discount" for the people with the transponder.