Orange County, FL Sheriff Deputies Disguised as Costumed Characters Giving Tickets

[redyaris]

http://www.wesh.com/news/11261515/detail.html

'ORLANDO, Fla. -- There was no luck of the Irish for some drivers who were caught speeding in Orange County on Thursday.

Officials with the Sheriff's Office said to look out for the leprechaun, WESH 2 News reported.

Deputies unleashed the power of the leprechaun to help nab aggressive drivers. The unlucky leprechaun had his sights set on University Boulevard near the Central Florida Greeneway.


Deputies said they hope it will slow down drivers and save lives.

"More people die from crashes than homicides or drug overdoses," Deputy Richard Lockman Jr. said.

Officials said some drivers feel it's deceptive to have a deputy dressed as a leprechaun, but authorities said the laser gun nabs the speeders long before they see the disguise.

So far, deputies said they've averaged nearly one ticket per minute. The speed-control effort is continuing.'


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I've been reading about this ongoing Orange County Sheriff enforcement program. Is it really neccessary to put a Deputy in a costume to nail people with radar and running red lights? Pretty lame if you ask me.

I mean would you stop for a dude dressed up like a leprechaun? I would think hes advertising for a business or homeless or something.

I think Police work should be conducted in clearly marked Police uniforms. What say you?

Edited: Seems the Orange County Deputies are feeling a little patriotic this 4th of July...dressing up like Uncle Sam!

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_local_orlandocrime/

Uncle Sam stops red light runners
posted by Walter Pacheco on Jul 3, 2007 7:01:07 AM

'Uncle Sam wants you to slow down today or face hefty fines or even a day in jail.

An Orange County Sheriff's Office deputy dressed as Uncle Sam will be on the look out for red light runners and speeding drivers this morning at the intersection of Alafaya Trail and East Colonial Drive and later in the afternoon as part of a holiday traffic enforcement operation. (Redyaris:This is close to where I will be living)

The red light running operation is part of the sheriff's office innovative program in which a deputy disguises himself as a popular holiday character and stands on the side of a major road while clocking drivers on a radar gun. In the past, deputies have dressed themselves as Santa, an elf and other popular characters.

Deputies conducted a similar operation last week on Oak Ridge Road and stopped 451 vehicles, issued 241 traffic citations and arrested 26 drivers, according to sheriff's office records. Deputies added that one traffic stop on Oak Ridge Road could help detectives with an ongoing homicide investigation.

A ticket for speeding nine miles per hour over the posted limit may cost a driver at least $80.50, deputies said. The fine for speeding 10 miles over the posted limit increases to $155.50.'

http://www.wesh.com/news/13607903/detail.html

Check out the video from this site. The Deputies have their little handy 'Tintmeters' to measure window tint when they pull you over too. Quite ready arent they!

[brickhardmeat]

I'd rather see a photo of one of them getting plowed over.:laugh:

[staticorex]

Wow. That's bullshit. I wonder if the distraction they cause is less of a risk than the speeders??

[sherryberry]

I find it kind of funny haha. Drivers always slow down if they see a cop and there are times when I really wanted the person passing me and doing 80 to be stopped by the police. But I never get to see it

[redyaris]

I find it kind of funny haha. Drivers always slow down if they see a cop and there are times when I really wanted the person passing me and doing 80 to be stopped by the police. But I never get to see it

Sherry it wouldnt be funny if the fat leprechaun is targeting you for 50 in a 45 like they do here. They wont chase the 80mphers! Too much work.

[sherryberry]

They don't?? Darn it. It's fine.. I'm learning to actually drive speed limit now. Cops always seem to catch me (but i usually just get a warning.. maybe cuz i'm a girl??) but never someone who is going slightly faster than me.

[redyaris]

They don't?? Darn it. It's fine.. I'm learning to actually drive speed limit now. Cops always seem to catch me (but i usually just get a warning.. maybe cuz i'm a girl??) but never someone who is going slightly faster than me.

Yes i am a firm believer that chicks get out of tickets at an alarmingly high rate as opposed to us mere men.

But you have two important assets which immediately put you up for 'warning consideration' :thumbup:

[sherryberry]

Haha the funniest time I got pulled over, the cop was really nice and then his cop friend came and I think they were discussing where to go for donuts afterwards. The few times I got a ticket was because the cop was a girl and then I had a guy who seemed like he never got laid and was on a rampage.

Oh yeah, redyaris, have you yourself seen this leperchaun?

[redyaris]

Anyone on yarisworld think what Orange County is up to is legal?????

I remember a classic Cobb County, Georgia (metro Atlanta) speed trap that was ruled unconstitutional here in GA.

The Cobb County Police would place an officer on an overpass with a radar gun. He would target an oncoming vehicle from the overpass and radio the description to one of about 15 ground units awaiting on the next on ramp to give chase (they didnt radio license plates as there was no time for the overpass officer to run to the other side of the bridge across traffic to radio it).

Seems the GA Supreme Court found this practice illegal on three counts. First that an innocent motorist with the same color and make car got cited and the 'guilty' party continued on his/her way (on busy traffic choked Atlanta freeways this is obvious). Secondly they ruled that the radar shooting officer has to be the one to write the ticket and pull the driver over (kinda hard to do ON FOOT!). Finally, the court also said that a man standing on an overpass pointing something at motorists was a hazard to traffic (he could be a jumper or throwing bricks at windshields LOLOLOL).

This people, is why they have courts (to keep the Police honest).

Haven't seen that trap in years now. They never got me but happy to say it is a distant memory!

[redyaris]

Oh yeah, redyaris, have you yourself seen this leperchaun?

Only on the video. I dont wanna see his fat ass! Im not living in Orlando yet.

Im trying to read up and familiarize myself on underhanded, sly, and legally questionable police practices before I hit the roads there.

[redyaris]

'In the past, deputies have dressed themselves as Santa, an elf and other popular characters.'

Yes I would really love to explain to my 5 year old daughter why Santa Claus is giving Daddy a ticket.

[sherryberry]

'In the past, deputies have dressed themselves as Santa, an elf and other popular characters.'

Yes I would really love to explain to my 5 year old daughter why Santa Claus is giving Daddy a ticket.

What a horrible way to ruin Santa Claus for kids.

[blacksan]

I guess I am out of the loop on this as I feel the only person to blame is yourself when you get nailed. There is not one time that I have been nailed that I wasn't at fault by my own efforts. There is a limit and I have broken it on occasion, but tend to keep in check most of the time. So, the morel of the story is if you make an adult decision to do something wrong take the punishment when you get nailed you sniveling twit, that's all.

[brickhardmeat]

what a turd of a comment. cop lover^

:laughabove: :barf:

[blacksan]

what a turd of a comment. cop lover^

:laughabove: :barf:

Nah, old enough to take responsibility for my actions.

[brickhardmeat]

I think the pigs should dress like pigs- big fat hypertension motherfuckers. I happen to live within the law most of the time and I take true responsability for my actions as those do who cross me. I don't need some pig trying to look cute like a fuckin' leprachaun or a santa claus.

Now let's post up some pictures of dead cops.

[Shroomster]

they're a bunch of idiots....type Kevin Beary into google and you'll see where all the food from sheriff fundraisers go.....

this country and city waste more money on crap then I've ever seen in my life, they paide for 15 deputies from the department to go to a roundup or whatever where different counties sheriff depts meet and have skill trials....they ended up spending 10k in alcohol and expenses on the trip....

[redyaris]

I guess I am out of the loop on this as I feel the only person to blame is yourself when you get nailed. There is not one time that I have been nailed that I wasn't at fault by my own efforts. There is a limit and I have broken it on occasion, but tend to keep in check most of the time. So, the morel of the story is if you make an adult decision to do something wrong take the punishment when you get nailed you sniveling twit, that's all.

So you would support law enforcement personnel standing on the side of the road not identified as such wearing a distracting costume? Ok...Thats the attitude around much of the US currently....

'Its ok if the NSA wants to listen to my phone conversation...ive got nothing to hide'

'Its ok if we lock suspected terrorists up for decades, they're probably guilty anyway'

[RodimusPrime]

Now now... There's a line with this. It's fine if a cop stands on the side of the road as a speed trap in any costume. It's a public domain that needs to be restricted. I'm all for much harsher laws and much more intelligent drivers. Comparing that to wire tapping private phones is so far from the original content it's ridiculous. There's public and private domains. Government can step into public arenas to promote a much safer, more intelligent, responsible public. Wiring tapping private uses is illegal. This is certainly not.

Hell, I wish the U.S. held standards that a lot of Europe and Asia do. We were once ahead of the curve and now trail so many people. To call ourselves a world power is pathetic. We're far from a leader, In any aspect.

[brickhardmeat]

Now now... There's a line with this. It's fine if a cop stands on the side of the road as a speed trap in any costume. It's a public domain that needs to be restricted. I'm all for much harsher laws and much more intelligent drivers. Comparing that to wire tapping private phones is so far from the original content it's ridiculous. There's public and private domains. Government can step into public arenas to promote a much safer, more intelligent, responsible public. Wiring tapping private uses is illegal. This is certainly not.

Hell, I wish the U.S. held standards that a lot of Europe and Asia do. We were once ahead of the curve and now trail so many people. To call ourselves a world power is pathetic. We're far from a leader, In any aspect.

Hi Nazi!

I am not a fan of big government or depending on the government or police to "take care" of me and you my friend should subscribe to some new thinking because you are fooling youself to think that big government with lots of laws and protection and welfare is going to make things better. Wake up and look around you. You are talking out your ass.

[brickhardmeat]

I thought I might do a little double post here and add some links to schools of thought that I attend since we are laying it on the table. This may be of interest to some of you.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarchism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satanism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libertarianism

:thumbsup:

[sherryberry]

The police would do us all better by tryin' to catch a murderer or a rapist instead of havin' the whole force tryin' to catch ppl for speeding.

[redyaris]

Im all for Police being out there but for the right reasons, as I see it.

It takes real Police detective work to catch burglary, rape, and other types of crimes. (Child abuse/sexual abuse is a big issue for me...let them catch everyone and castrate the hell out of them for that one!)

Street cops tend to focus on one single issue: speeding. It been proven time and again that speed doesnt neccessarily cause accidents and that drivers going fast are pretty attentive.

To dress someone who has Police powers in a costume that doesn't clearly identify them as an officer of the law simply doesnt work for me. Its rubbing their authority in the face of the public (speeders and non-speeders alike). In essence its saying 'we can do whatever we like and you have no power to oppose us'. In fact, I foresee this whole program going to court soon and being dissolved.

Heres what gets me: pulling the simpleton over for going 6-10 miles over the limit when everyone else is going 20-30 over. Why do they do it? Because its easy.

NEVER in my life have I ever witnessed any Police or Sheriff ticketing anyone for what I consider more serious offenses: reckless driving (weaving in and out of traffic), failure to yield, improperly or failure to secure a load, maintaining a minumum speed, and the king of all offenses in my opinion TAILGATING.

When the Police start getting serious about what REALLY contributes to traffic problems and road rage will I give them the respect that they so often drone on about.

As for the NSA comparison it is relevant. Its all about Government intrusion into your daily life. I just love how Republicans (the party of small government and conservatism) have spent the last 7 years sending this country into a downward spiral or spending deficits and endless war to finance. At the same time they've expanded Government (Homeland Security bureaucracy) and Executive Branch powers (Patriot Act/Illegal wiretapping)...and now the latest hit from the Bush Administration...pardoning Libby, a convicted criminal who lied and commited treason.

All of this has taken place while the sheepish American population has alllowed it. It's really sad to observe that the majority of the American population is more concerned about the whereabouts of Lindsay Lohan than our role in the world and their own personal liberties.

[sherryberry]

You should move to IL, redyaris.. I've seen people pulled over a lot for tailgating and more.

[eTiMaGo]

'In the past, deputies have dressed themselves as Santa, an elf and other popular characters.'

Yes I would really love to explain to my 5 year old daughter why Santa Claus is giving Daddy a ticket.

Daddy's been naughty and Santa ran out of coal...

[kurokoma-kun]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarchism

The red and the black baby, hardcore!