The speed limit on Stewart Street is 25 mph and you have just gotten pulled over as another driver, doing 10 over, passes you ' while it may seem unfair, police officers in Athens and on Ohio University's campus have specific reasons that dictate who gets busted and who doesn't.
Usually, officers will not pull people over if they are exceeding the speed limit by a small margin, said Sgt. John Stabler of the Ohio University Police Department.
But, if someone is going only a few miles over the speed limit and is not paying attention or is riding too close to the curb in an area with pedestrians, an officer will react, he added.
Many of the roads are 25 mph and have high pedestrian traffic areas because Athens is a college town, Stabler said, adding that exceeding the speed limit by more than 20 mph is considered reckless driving.
We've pulled people over who were exceeding 40 where it's 25.
Speeding violations are not the only subjective decisions officers must make on a regular basis. -
but we have bigger fish to fry Pyle said.
If an officer stops someone on the sidewalk, it is because he or she is provoking others, being argumentative, or having a difficult time walking, Stabler said. When you draw attention to yourself, the police will probably stop you, he added.
It's our job to make sure everyone is safe Stabler said. Folks that aren't being loud and vulgar are less likely to draw attention to themselves and are less likely to encounter us.
Get-out-of ticket myths explained
MYTH 1.
If you cry, you won't get a ticket
Officers will usually listen to people when they pull someone over, said Sgt. Jeff Skinner from the Ohio State Highway Patrol.-
he said.-
he said. By the time the driver's detector responds
we already have the speed.
17
Archives
Laura Service
