It’s fun being right.
It’s even more fun proving an adversary is wrong.
A rift between fellow Philly Democrats Congressman Kevin Boyle and city Councilman Isaiah Thomas presents an opportunity to confound my enemies.
Well, at least the jackasses who claim I am racist (cough, cough, Helen Gym and others) primarily because I oppose illegal imigration.
I oppose illegal immigration because, duh, it is illegal, and I am rightfully known as a law and order guy.
In this particular rift, it “seems” like Boyle is defending the cops and Thomas is opposed.
And — surprise, surprise — I side with the Black guy because the facts are on his side.
In a tweet that was later pulled down, or not, Boyle said of Thomas’ plan, “In a city with a murder rate so out of control, he’s literally championing efforts to further restrict policing.”
Well, it’s not what it seems.
What Thomas wants to do, and I know this because I wrote about his plan in November, is allow officers to stop pulling drivers over for minor Motor Vehicle Code violations. Instead, a warning or ticket would be mailed to the motorist.
This would have the same law-enforcement effect, but would produce fewer police/civilian contacts that could result in friction.
Police would continue to stop motorists for serious offenses and also for suspicion.
According to stats offered by Thomas, 97% of all vehicle stops between October 2018 and September 2019 in Philadelphia were for Motor Code Violations, not for criminal investigations. More than 70% of motorists stopped for MCVs were Black, while only 43% of Philadelphians are Black. You can draw your own conclusions, but unequal enforcement would have to be one of them.
Rightly or wrongly, Black people are often traumatized during stops, some fearing for their lives, says Thomas.
Why Thomas’ mild proposal would put such a bug up Boyle’s ass is a mystery, other than a lot of police officers live in his district.
But a few cops I spoke to said they’d be perfectly happy to just mail in this part of their job.
This, too, probably would confound the race merchants.
Stu, in theory Thomas’ idea sounds good but I see a number of issues with it.
Police should stop vehicles with expired inspection stickers. Having worked the accident unit years ago, I have seen 1st hand the injuries and fatal accidents caused by un-inspected vehicles. Somewhere in the PD’s mission statement refers to prevention of crime. By identifying and enforcing the vehicle code concerning un-inspected vehicles the PD can prevent future tragic accidents and fatalities. Additionally those vehicles should be lived stopped (confiscated) to protect law abiding motorists in the City of Philadelphia
HAPPY SATURDAY !!!
Pallie,
I’m surprised that you appear to be fence riding on this topic. I know you to be a “law & order” guy. That means that we should support all laws. The famous ‘broken window theory’ comes to mind. One broken window, no big deal. Two windows, watch out. Three broken windows, we are looking at a growing problem. Solution. Stop the broken windows ASAP.
I have nothing for Thomas. I don’t care for the political dynasty, AKA Boyles.
I’m with Al on this. I think H is missing the boat. And you’re still riding the fence.
Tony
How am I riding the fence? The people breaking the law still get ticketed. Only difference is they get it in the mail.
HAPPY SUNDAY !!!
Stu. pallie,
c’mom. Send me a ticket in the mail. I promise to pay it ! Honest injun ! Right after I pay the red light tickets and the speeding tickets all courtesy of “camera cop ” !
When someone gets pulled over for an infraction. The police on the seen have the ability to:
1) observe the driver and passengers
2) do a computer search on the car and the driver
Do you have any idea how many people are evading the law just for the above mentioned ? If you can not afford to register and operate your vehicle in a safe and legal manner, then that vehicle should not be on the road.
If you ignore the law and have warrants on you, then you should not be walking around free as a ( jail ) bird.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m no saint. New Jersey, many years ago, instituted an awareness campaign. The price of breaking the motor vehicle law was greatly increased. The slogan, “if you’re gonna play, be ready to pay”. was born. Impound yards were created.
Should I go on ?
Tony
Why are you more likely to pay a ticket you are handed than mailed? It is the same ticket and I thought you were a law abiding citizen?
And the bill does NOT prohibit car stops.
Tony, since I did not say what issues I have with it why would you say I am missing the boat?
pallie,
Don’t go getting your skivvies all tied up in a knot .
This is what you in the ivory towers don’t understand.
Law abiding citizens do not want more trouble than what just happened. The scoundrels don’t care. They can be driving a ‘GHETTO CRUISER’ ( junk ) with stolen or expired tags. Insurance. HA ! HA ! If they get impounded or booted, they leave it and get another one for a couple of bucks.
Thomas is soft selling. Same as every dimocrat politician.
Let the cops do the job that they were hired to do. That would be, keep all citizens safe.
Tony
I’m in an Ivory Tower? That puts you in mud moat?
Your ticket position is illogical.
still HAPPY SUNDAY !!!
although some of us are more thin skinned than others.
Stu,
For all of the driving that you do and the miles that your trips take you, you are on the outside looking in. “you” instead of the Philly ‘youse’ meaning people similar to you ( center city dwellers ) are again protected from the other real world.
Since you were out here in the country one whole time, you must be 100 % sarcastically correct in calling my house a mud moat. Hmmm. wonder if the house is worth more. Isolated. Acreage. Recently renovated. Out buildings. CHING CHING !👌😊
Of course, it’s not worth half as much as your ‘Ivory Tower” ! 😢
Tony
I did no call your home a mud moat. Go back and read what I wrote. It was a question, using a metaphor as you did.
stop sulking !
didn’t you see the emojis?
Besides, the Pueblo built mud houses. Other peoples took mud and baked it. Still do. They’re called bricks.
😊😍
I said Mud moats, not pueblo. Very specific.
this is what happens when the police are defunded or people like Thomas try to sugar coat the message:
Officer Down Memorial Page. odmp.org.
NEWS
Chicago cop killed on duty identified as 29-year-old Ella French
By David Meyer August 8, 2021 | 3:55pm | Updated
“Officer Ella French was murdered while conducting a traffic stop with her partners,” according to the post on the page of Chicago FOP Lodge No. 7, the city’s largest police union.
Thirty-eight officers have been shot or shot at so far 2021, according to CPD stats.
Nationwide, Officer Ella French is number 194, killed in the line of duty.
visit odmp.org.
Officer Down Memorial Page
May the Lord share his love with Officer Ell French.
I wonder if the city and PD considered the Preemptive status of these new enforcement laws. Are these laws legal. Secondly, are they a violation of Respondeat Superior in that the employer known or should have known by not enforcing the MVC it will result in injury or death. I am sure some accident lawyers are waiting to test the waters in the future.