KKTV Online Poll
Do you think America's auto industry should get a bailout?

Yes
No
Don't Know
Don't Care


Station Information
Advertise with Us!
Interested in advertising on the Web? Click here to learn more about our Web Channel Sales Opportunities!
Email KKTV
Contact the KKTV team via Email!
Motorcycle Cops Stopping Drivers Save Email Print
Posted: 9:25 PM Jul 16, 2008
 Last Updated: 11:13 PM Jul 16, 2008
 Reporter: Mindy Stone
Email Address: mstone@kktv.com
35 comments
A | A | A

Colorado Springs police are warning drivers to slow down in construction zones.

Motorcycle officers are out in full force and they're trying to ticket drivers for breaking the law.

Police say the motorcycle officers are just enforcing the speed.

But, at least one driver who drives Woodmen Road everyday questions where the officers are parked.

Danny Perez recently got a ticket for speeding in a construction zone on Woodmen Road near Powers Boulevard.

"Police literally sit right at the end of the construction area getting everyone accelerating out of it," said Perez.

Lt. David Whitlock with Springs police says officers try to park out of the way to ensure safety in the zones.

"Standard procedure is to pull cars over outside the zone because we would only be making the area more dangerous if we pulled them over in the zone," said Lt. Whitlock.
More Stories
I-25 Closed North Bound at MM 132, Near Fort Carson

Crews Busy On Snowy Thursday

Ruling Could Mean End To Pouty-Lipped Bratz Dolls

Shots Fired at Home Invasion

 Crash Kills 3 in Costilla County

Man Arrested for Making Death Threats

Wal-Mart Stores' November Same-Store Sales Rise

Court Asked To Block Drilling On Wildlife Refuge
Post Your Comments
First Name:
Location:
Enter Comments: characters left
Email (optional):
Email will not be displayed on site. For station contact purpose only.
Read Comments
Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.
Posted by: to Location: mr saving lives on Jul 24, 2008 at 08:06 AM
If you can get a new fire truck for two hundred bucks and no points knock yourself out. You and bob sound like you should go hang out or whatever.
Posted by: Troy Location: Loveland, CO on Jul 20, 2008 at 04:47 PM
And by the way, contrary to the belief of many self-important, self-righteous and immature drivers out there: The "keep right except to pass" law was not implemented to give speeders, tailgaters, and outright psychotic drivers a free pass to drive recklessly and dangerously. To clear something up for the relatively few out there... If you're traveling 75mph in a 75mph zone, in the left lane, and you're moving faster than the vehicles in the right lane, you are within your right to be in the left lane UNTIL IT IS SAFE to merge right. This does not mean slowing down and cutting off someone in the right lane to appease an idiot who wants to go 90mph.
Posted by: Troy Location: Loveland, CO on Jul 20, 2008 at 04:41 PM
f: #1 If I'm in the left lane and traveling faster than the traffic in the right lane, I AM passing. #2 I know the traffic laws in this state quite well, thank you. #3 You most definitely must be one of the ignorant, self-important nitwits that I was describing in my earlier post.
Posted by: Stan Location: CS on Jul 20, 2008 at 07:55 AM
I am glad to see law enforcement out even it's just to ticket someone. It's the only time I feel like they are even present here in the springs. The problem isn't there are many fatherless families but men are not what they used to be. People used to make an attempt to teach their children right from wrong now they incorporate the family into committing crime and calling it quality time. More women are on welfare which means more men are on welfare.
Posted by: Bill from Boston (still!) Location: El Paso County on Jul 19, 2008 at 10:33 PM
All in favor of the police and not the whiners, good for you! Non-whining and understanding personal accountability are positive traits shown in comments from Confuscious, WOW, Anonymous, Bob, saving lives, Michael, Frenchy, Junie and Nikki... but not Ken unfortunately. Ken seems to have been distracted from the original issue and needed to get personal with me. It seems my comments gave Ken a tummy ache which unfortunately resulted in his comment to me about where I should go, ha, ha. Nothing at all said about speeding, tickets, naughty police, naughty drivers, cone zones, etc. How sad! Oh, Ken, if you knew my political leanings you'd be quite embarrassed for referring to me as a "radical Northeastern liberal"! Did you arrive at that perception 'cause I believe the police are just enforcing the law and whiners are just whiners...??? Or, geez, do you think my middle name is Kennedy or Kerry..ha, ha. No, I think I'll stay around to bug people like you...it's fun!!
Posted by: Medic Location: Colorado Springs on Jul 19, 2008 at 06:20 PM
I love how everyone is talking about new fire trucks...have you SEEN the obscene amounts of needless equipment CSFD has? What we need is to stop paying fire paramedics obsurd salaries, let the Paramedics with the transporting ambulance do their jobs, and increase the financial support for CSPD so they can patrol more and cut crime. I know how short staffed CSPD is, and in my business, we rely on them tremendously.
Posted by: Confuscious Location: C/S on Jul 19, 2008 at 05:21 PM
If people are stupid enough to speed someone will gladly take their money.
Posted by: Brian Location: Colorado Springs on Jul 19, 2008 at 10:01 AM
For the safety of the construction workers, why not post an officer at the beginning and/or middle of this zone? Safety is NOT the real issue here, generating revenue is.
Posted by: Ken Location: CO on Jul 18, 2008 at 08:16 PM
Bill from Boston - please go back and take another 15 of your radical Northeastern liberals with you.
Posted by: WOW Location: COL SPRGS on Jul 18, 2008 at 12:45 PM
Ok well I think I got the best result for this little problem je je We close the road where ever they are going to do construction or repairs this means (east and west) (north and south) both directions and sit up Detours around the area lets say 1 mile radius; this way you wont have to speed in the construction area and feel like you have been victimized because you got a speeding ticket for (lets all say it together) SPEEDING IN A CONSTRUCTION AREA. . Also this way the police are free to patrol and protect.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 18, 2008 at 12:41 PM
STOP YOUR CRYING!!!!! SLOW DOWN
Posted by: Anon Location: CS on Jul 18, 2008 at 11:36 AM
Sarah, they need a place to eat their donuts!
Posted by: Bill from Boston Location: El Paso County on Jul 18, 2008 at 11:31 AM
Right on "saving lives" and "Bob"! I love the term "cry babies"...it fits so well! Roderick...do you really feel that way?? If you break the law and get busted, why is it then a "police state"?? Is it possible you had problems with the law and are just annoyed that they are doing their job?? Hmmmm. Sarah, respectfully, I would guess that if/when the police do as you suggested (which they do of course), then folks would be whining "how come they're not policing the cone zones more!?" I believe "we have so much crime" due to drugs, alcohol and broken/fatherless families, and of course lack of personal responsibility which seems to be the norm now in our society. Oh, for the whiners, try to watch a couple of episodes of "Speeders" and see if you fit any of the profiles of speeders who WON'T accept responsibilty. Geeez, if the tickets pay toward a new fire truck to save property and lives, do we have another 1/2 dozen cops to patrol and ticket our whiners??
Posted by: f Location: cos on Jul 18, 2008 at 09:49 AM
Troy, #1 get you head out of your arse #2 The law states to move to the right except to pass #3 Road Nazis' like you are part of the problem.
Posted by: Bob Location: COS on Jul 18, 2008 at 09:26 AM
The best way to avoid a shark attack is not to go in the water. The best way to avoid a traffic ticket is to obey the laws. Period!!! If you get a speeding ticket.....too bad. I will be in the blue pickup truck honking my horn and waving at you when you get pulled over. HA! HA! HA! A fool and his/her money will soon part. Saving Lives; When you get your new fire truck, I'd like to stop by and see what all of these cry babies are paying for.
Posted by: Sarah Location: C/S on Jul 18, 2008 at 08:31 AM
Shouldnt they be out patroling the streets instead of sitting in construction zones giving out tickets. Thats why we have so much crime
Posted by: Roderick Location: Colorado Springs on Jul 18, 2008 at 08:13 AM
One more example of the Police State of Colorado Springs.
Posted by: saving lives Location: c/s on Jul 18, 2008 at 07:08 AM
as previously mentioned, at what point do people stop crying, dry their sad little eyes and take some responsibility for their own actions. It's not only the cops job to keep these workers safe and all of us for that matter, but the idiots who can't let off the gas pedal as well. As a firefighter, I've seen my fair share of people that have been injured or killed by some idiot who can't or won't slow down. So plain and simple, GROW UP and take some responsibility for your own actions, quit blaming other people for your decisions. I don't care if the cops were shooting radar from the moon behind a space rock and you got caught....you were still speeding. By the way Mr. Perez, I could use a new Fire Truck, so thanks for the revenue that comes from your speeding ticket!!
Posted by: Bill from Boston Location: El Paso County on Jul 18, 2008 at 04:46 AM
Boy, this is an interesting set of comments! It sounds just like "Speeders" on TV. People have excuse after excuse when they get busted for speeding. Doesn't anyone watch this circus of idiots trying to whine their way out of a ticket?? I consider "they are giving tickets at the last ten yards", "Dan Perez got the shaft here", "why are they sitting at the exit", "hey, the guy may have been late for work", "way to raise revenue",blah, blah, blah, just stupid excuses! I only hear idiotic justification for speeding in a construction zone, no accountability for their actions, and just whine, whine, whine. I fully agree with Nikki and Junie. DON'T SPEED and you WON'T GET PULLED OVER! DUH! Oh, I'll bet this publicity has helped keep the speed down and potential violators corralled, huh?? Hah, hah. OH, if you get pulled over and they check your driving record, what's the big deal? Don't speed in the 1st place...eh!? YAAAAWWWWNNN!
Posted by: Michael Location: COS on Jul 17, 2008 at 08:01 PM
Most drivers around here ignore the posting speed limits, especially in construction zones. Bottom line is that CSPD has the right to pull over people who are exceeding the speed limit. If people slowed down, they wouldn't get speeding tickets and they would save gas money. It truly amazes me that there are alot of drivers in this city that don't mind exceeding the speed limit by 10-15 miles an hour in their gas guzzling vehicles.
Posted by: ANON Location: CS on Jul 17, 2008 at 07:44 PM
Sean I agree!
Posted by: Frenchy Location: C/S on Jul 17, 2008 at 06:40 PM
Here's some cheese to go with your whine!
Posted by: Troy Location: Loveland, CO on Jul 17, 2008 at 05:35 PM
I'd really like to see the police focus more effort on pulling over the overabundant number of self-important, careless and stupid drivers that tailgate, flash their lights, weave in and out of traffic, etc... Those people are the dangerous ones but they never seem to get pulled over. And just as a side note: If I am in the left lane traveling faster than the traffic in the right lane and am going the speed limit, I am under no obligation whatsoever to move over to the right lane to appease a self-important tailgater.
Posted by: Dan Location: COS on Jul 17, 2008 at 03:37 PM
Nikki, if you were paying attention here you would see the whole point of this is that they are giving tickets at the last ten yards of the construction zone which has nothing to do with the construction workers safety, only revenue. That construction zone is over six miles long. They are picking people off at the last ten yards of it. Read the other comments, watch the video and look at the pictures they show.
Posted by: Junie Location: C/S on Jul 17, 2008 at 03:21 PM
You people complaining about where the cops sit are ridiculous. Bottom line, if you're not speeding, you won't get pulled over. Quit your whining and slow down.
Posted by: Nikki Location: Colroado Springs on Jul 17, 2008 at 01:51 PM
I'm okay with the cops writing tickets in this construction zone. In fact, I wish they would do it more often. I am tired of being the only car that slows down and dealing with angry drivers who want to go 50 instead of the posted speed of 40. Does anyone care about the safety of the construction workers???
Posted by: Billy Location: Bob on Jul 17, 2008 at 01:30 PM
Dan Perez got the shaft here. Along with many other drivers. Hey the guy may have been late for work, no biggy we all do it when were pressed for time. CSPD is able to pull up your drving record when they pull you over. If the individual has 1 or 2 tickets or none for that matter, give'em a break I say. CSPD does have the ability to give warnings. What's the deal, drivers in the Springs are not unreasonable. I say fight it big Dan with all the publicity they may let you off the hook here.
Posted by: Sean Location: CO on Jul 17, 2008 at 01:09 PM
Why are we so focused on speeding...we lack police presence in certain areas of the city resulting in increased crime. This seems more of a way to raise revenue at the citizens’ expense and a citizen’s risk or exposure to being a victim of a crime. The citizens’ pay taxes to be protected but you have to raise revenue to get more cops to patrol the streets to protect citizens because the budget from taxes is gone. So, this is equating (at least to me,) that in order to have a decrease in crime you have to speed (which is a crime) to raise revenue for more officers to decrease crime. Wow.
Posted by: John Location: Colorado Springs on Jul 17, 2008 at 11:10 AM
The officers taking radar readings on Woodmen Road are not parking out of the way of traffic for safety reasons (as the video report suggests), they are intentionally hiding in order to surprise drivers who may be speeding. This tactic is deceptive and has heavy overtones of entrapment. If safety was the real concern, the officers would park in plain sight - a tactic which has proven to make drivers slow down without further measure. Writing citations with astronomically inflated fines (another lawmaking travesty) is unnecessary and demoralizing.
Posted by: CJ Location: Colorado Springs on Jul 17, 2008 at 08:33 AM
If they are trying to slow people down going into construction zones, why are they sitting at the exit? On Woodmen they sit at the Wal-Mart entrance which is at the end of the construction zone. The median blocks them from enforcing people going east into the construction zone. Not to mention they hide; a patrolman’s presence will slow traffic but they have to be seen. Platte & Powers is another favorite place for CSPD. If they are enforcing speeds, why does it take 5 or 6 cars/motorcycles? Ironically fines doubled at roughly the same time that the patrols were going to diminish due to budget issues. Patrolmen are now in the business of generating revenue. We all know that is their motivation. Generating revenue by doubling the all ready doubled fines seems like a great way to pay the bills for the city. They’re more interesting in the budget than our safety otherwise they'd enforce the slow drivers in the outside lane on the Interstate. There’s not as much money in fines for that.
Posted by: Paul Merritt Location: Colorado Springs on Jul 17, 2008 at 08:31 AM
No one here is arguing with enforcing speed. It's the manner in which the city enforces it that is becoming an issue. If you look at the pictures from the article, you will notice the motorcycle cop pulling a car over headed west, exiting the zone. If they really want to keep the workers safe, why don't they stop people headed east into the construction zone? My personal belief is that traffic enforcement in Colorado Springs has more to do with revenue generation than it has to do with safety, which they make painfully evident with how they deploy their assets. For example, CSPD loves to concentrate its motorcycles down on south Powers, pulling over car after car as they come under the Platte overpass. Some mornings you can come through there and see 5 or 6 police vehicles, on a mile stretch of Powers between Peterson AFB and Galley road! How is that an effective way to enforce traffic law?
Posted by: Danny Location: Perez on Jul 17, 2008 at 08:18 AM
The El Paso County Sheriff department sets a patrol car IN the construction zone in plain view. That alone keeps drivers at posted speeds. This keeps the construction workers safe and does not take advantage of citizens on their way to work. The speed traps the CSPD set up are purely a revenue generator for the city.
Posted by: Art Location: colorado sptings on Jul 17, 2008 at 07:44 AM
Since the CSPD cried for new bikes and of course had to buy foreign, feel the pressure to help cover their costs. With the county and city hurting financially I find it ridiculous.
Posted by: BJ Location: CS on Jul 16, 2008 at 09:53 PM
Now would those tickets be original or duplicated?
Posted by: Rich Location: C/S on Jul 16, 2008 at 09:42 PM
They need to set between Research and Woodmen. I never see anyone slow down once they enter the cone zone and most never use a turn signal on lane changes.
 
Home - News - Weather - Sports - Community - Digital TV Facts - About KKTV - MyKKTV - TV Schedule -
LIVE Newscasts - Economy - Political News - Contests - 11 For Health - Your Photos & Videos - CarSoup -
Terms of Use - Privacy Policy - EEO Statement - FCC Form 388
Gray Television, Inc. - Copyright © 2002-2008 - Designed and Powered by Clickability