Morrison Police Generate Revenue at a Record Pace

FredHayek wrote: KOA has been running stories about the Morrison speed traps. Do you think you would be less likely to visit Morrison to protest speed traps?
Personally I would still visit, especially Cafe Prague. I have been pulled over for speeding numerous times on 285 in my 30 year driving history, but never by the Morrison police.

I avoid Morrison because of the speed traps. I haven't spent a dime there for years.

Compaining about the police enforcing the law makes no sense what so ever. Speeders cause more damage than pot smokers, welfare takers, etc. We don't expect people to pass up deductions, we should not expect cops to pass over obvious criminals. If the police know that people tend to gather on one stretch of road and commit life threatening crimes, why would we complain about police stepping up enforcement? I know....it's because you are the one doing the crime....isn't there a rhyme for what you should do next?

If you don't like the speed limit, push to have it changed.

This issue is way bigger than it may seem, as in coming years, MANY things like speeding on the roadways will approach 100% enforcement using technology (more sensors on the road, the GPS you ask your insurance company for to lower your rates).

Now is the critical time, if you don't agree with a law, work to have it fixed, the days of "getting away" with things are numbered. Speeding is just the tip of the iceburg, as we have a society that is almost entirely based on getting away with things and then condemning our neighbor for doing the same thing the next day. In the future we will simply all be condemned and punished if we don't write more reasonable regs that consider that all activities will be known, speed most certainly included.

We all speed, all of us. If everyone does something, making it illegal only works when most people can get away with it most of the time. These are critical times.

I know people who got all excited when that Cop broke his neck going after that speeder near Turkey Creek a few weeks ago ...I said "oh thats terrible" when I heard about it but I meant it in a half joking way..One thing though..People who live here know about the 24/7 trap so they probably get mostly Aurora type "people"....

Call it what you like, at the end the day it IS a cash cow for Morrison. If that little section of 285 didn't run through Morrison I'm not sure they would be able to run that town. I have no evidence to prove this other than watching the Morrison Police continuously nail drivers over the past few decades. They generally park in the exact same spot over and over. The local ridge runners know where to look for them but out of towners are toast as they round that corner in the canyon.

My only wonder is why Morrison hasn't installed a traffic light there on 285 so they can get one of those red light cameras going too. There is lost revenue in my humble opinion. Perhaps someone should mention it to the town council. Too funny.

Nobody that matters wrote: How many residents of the town of Morrison live off Hwy 285?

None. That's how many. Their annexation and enforcement activities on 285 are just a huge money grab. They can dress it up all they want, they can put on lipstick and a wig, but they're still dancin with a pig.

First of all- I don't believe the Morrison Cops statistics- I see them pulling people over and the ones I see don't appear to be going that fast- maybe 10 over. And 10 over is pretty easy to do, most people do not expect a major state highway to have a 40 MPH speed limit.

Second- I agree with the quotes above- Morrison PD has no legitimate safety concern with that stretch of 285- because none of it's residents use that part of the highway and the town does not spend any of it's tax money to improve or maintain the highway.

The town itself is miles away. It has been allowed to flagpole and confiscate through eminent domain laws. a section of state highway in order to collect revenue for their little fiefdom.

Who does use that part of the highway?
We do.

The residents of Jefferson County and Park County and those travelling through the area. The land is actually within what should be unincorporated Jeffco.

By all reasonable rights- the money that "Barney" collects with their speed trap should belong to Jefferson County- not the town of Morrison.

The issue is not whether tickets should be given to speeders but what is the real reason that Morrison has been allowed to steal a part of a state highway in an unincorporated area? The answer is that it's for the sole purpose of revenue collection.

Don't confuse this issue with safety- this has nothing to do with safety at all. The Morrison PD has been able to expand it's police and fund other City interests because of the money they steal away from Jeffco.

For years- Morrison PD refused even to respond to accidents in that area, deferring to Jeffco and the State Patrol. They probably still do not respond to accidents in the area where they write the tickets. I have never seen them do anything but write tickets there. The town of Morrison does not plow the highway when it snows- The Morrison Fire department does not respond to accidents- that area is covered by Indian Hills Fire district and Intercanyon fire department. The State patrol responds and has jurisdiction for all traffic accidents.

I'd like to see the law changed- like in Texas where local Barney can write a ticket on a state highway- but the money from that ticket goes to the state- because it's a state highway.

Lets see how many tickets the Morrison Barney wants to write for safety after that!

Safety my ass- they are stealing our money because they don't make enough taxes selling margarita's.

That's a fact.

And P.S. by the way- Morrison has been notorious for writing traffic tickets for as little as 2 mph over the speed limite in town (25 mph limit) ever since I can remember.

We used to avoid Morrison way back when I was in high school for that very reason. I still avoid the town every chance I get because of this- and the fact that the Morrison court is also known for being a "hanging court".

And just so all you "safety nazi's" know- 3 mph over the limit is not - and should not ever be construed as a threat to public safety. It's a BS excuse!

And I have never been issued a ticket in Morrison - I travel 285 everyday- but everyone else I know has been nailed for quite a large chunk in their wallet- and higher insurance rates.

Nobody that matters wrote:

FredHayek wrote: KOA has been running stories about the Morrison speed traps. Do you think you would be less likely to visit Morrison to protest speed traps?
Personally I would still visit, especially Cafe Prague. I have been pulled over for speeding numerous times on 285 in my 30 year driving history, but never by the Morrison police.

I avoid Morrison because of the speed traps. I haven't spent a dime there for years.

That goes for me as well. 20 years or so ago I got a speeding ticket because the 35 mph zone leaving Morrison to head up 74 to Evergreen didn't actually start until I reached the sign that said 35 mph. I was clocked doing 36 in sight of the sign and ticketed for doing 11 over the speed limit. I told the Morrison judge that if I had points levied against my license and had to pay a fine it would be the last dollar I would ever spend in Morrison - and I haven't spent a single penny there since. I drive through, watching my speed, but I never stop to patronize any of the businesses as I did before, nor will I ever patronize any business in Morrison ever again. I haven't gone back to Bandimere, haven't eaten in any of the restaurants, haven't purchased fuel, haven't bought any antiques from the stores there - not a single penny have I or will I spend supporting that town since that time.

Fool me once, shame on you. I won't be Morrison's fool ever again.

Me too PS- I don't buy anything there any more- not for years.

Too many of my friends were nailed for 3mph over the limit- and the judge who does not give a fair hearing and never cuts anyone any slack.

They can go to hell.

P.S. If I ever get a ticket in Morrison- first thing I'll do is kick it up to the county court.

Thats a good point, there is another speed trap leaving town heading up Bear canyon 74, where the two lanes go into one. I think it is 25mph I was trying to pass a car there one time on the motorcycle so I wouldn't have to follow the slow poke uphill, and yep, ol Barney was right there on the right shoulder. Good thing I saw him and slowed down. We always go to Evergreen and stop there anyway, screw Morrison.

The policy pursued by their police department is one which discourages rather than encourages people to visit and patronize the town. That being the policy they wish to pursue, I see no reason why I should not assist them in making it a successful policy and be discouraged from visiting the town and patronizing its businesses.

PrintSmith wrote:

Nobody that matters wrote:

FredHayek wrote: KOA has been running stories about the Morrison speed traps. Do you think you would be less likely to visit Morrison to protest speed traps?
Personally I would still visit, especially Cafe Prague. I have been pulled over for speeding numerous times on 285 in my 30 year driving history, but never by the Morrison police.

I avoid Morrison because of the speed traps. I haven't spent a dime there for years.

That goes for me as well. 20 years or so ago I got a speeding ticket because the 35 mph zone leaving Morrison to head up 74 to Evergreen didn't actually start until I reached the sign that said 35 mph. I was clocked doing 36 in sight of the sign and ticketed for doing 11 over the speed limit. I told the Morrison judge that if I had points levied against my license and had to pay a fine it would be the last dollar I would ever spend in Morrison - and I haven't spent a single penny there since. I drive through, watching my speed, but I never stop to patronize any of the businesses as I did before, nor will I ever patronize any business in Morrison ever again. I haven't gone back to Bandimere, haven't eaten in any of the restaurants, haven't purchased fuel, haven't bought any antiques from the stores there - not a single penny have I or will I spend supporting that town since that time.

Fool me once, shame on you. I won't be Morrison's fool ever again.

Print Smith, I am amazed that you followed through with that. I understand the gut reaction to hold the local businesses accountable, but once someone takes a deep breath, they should not do such things. I cannot think of a town where the local businesses run the cops, I can't even think of a town where the local voters even run the cops. I have called cops with my business concerns over and over and seen nothing done. It is really odd to hold businesses as opposed to people accountable. I am curious if you stopped socializing with friends from Morrison as that would have been a little more logical. This is the same kind of talk we use when we talk about other companies in other countries like they are the country itself. From prev. comments, I expected a deeper perspective from you.

Would you put your business name up here with the town and let us hold the actions of your town, county, state or country against your business?

I am surprised so many people justify this dangerous crime and get down on the cops for doing exactly what we ask of them. Playing your life by getting away with everything does not seem consistent with the rightousness often spewed on this board.

Surely speeders do more damage to society than OWS as a group and OWS wall street may be gone in a year. Speeders have been killing our kids for 100 years and will for many years to come. Justifying speeding and complaining about being caught is BS. Likely the day before you were busted, you did nothing to change the system.