March 14, 2009 Crystal Mountain

Like I said, ensuring safety is fine by me.

What's not fine is predatory enforcement, an example being issuing me a $200 speeding ticked for an under-10 mph overage on a completely empty, dry, fully visible road. Not to mention his bedside manner is not all it should be. He was unnecessarily quite rude, patronizing and condescending to me and my children which I didn't appreciate. We were nothing but polite to him. That's what happened to me, and I've talked to many who've had similar experiences.

People endangering others absolutely should be nailed, but officers should be applying the intent and spirit of the law as well as the letter. They should also remember they are public servants and not storm troopers, and if they can't be nice doing their jobs (as long as they're being treated respectfully) they should be doing something else.

Absolutely no argument that rudeness should not be tolerated. (Not by employees of the forest service employees or Crystal). The State highway Patrol are masters at being polite (generally) while giving tickets.

It looks like we are in agreement that the crazy and dangerous driving I witness nearly everyday warrants a deterrent penalty.

I'm sorry that you got a ticket.

But, like I said, I choose to drive the speed limit so that I can avoid any confrontation with the police (in my professional experience I have often found them to be "unnecessarily quite rude, patronizing and condescending") and because the financial consequences are so high (the ticket + the insurance hit).

Well I believe I am the one you are all referring to. I don't expect that everyone will agree with being stopped or getting tickets, and I agree with you all that I owe you an decent respectful contact. With that said, I don't believe "oftpiste" is giving you all of the facts. I have never issued a ticket in that area for anything less than 10 over the limit, and generally 15 or 20 over. I start stopping cars at 15 over. It it possible that I reduced a ticket from a higher speed to a 10 over for the benefit of the violator. I don't issue any $200 tickets, thats just not one of the penalties for speeding. These are not personal visits from a police officer, they business transactions. I give everyone the same information and I move on. If "oftpiste" was rude or argumentative, then he may likely have received some of that same behavior in return. For anyone who has questions or comments about traffic enforcement at Crystal, feel free to call me any time, 206-510-6496. I am there for the safety of the motoring public. On Saturday of this past weekend I wrote a number of tickets on Crystal Mtn. blvd. The average speed was 20 over the limit. I arrested 2 drivers for DUI on Crystal Mtn. Blvd, both of whom were stopped for speeding. I arrested 2 people driving that same stretch of road passing their marijuana pipe back and forth, as they had been doing from the time they left Enumclaw. I arrested one driver for 67 in the 35 and passing other traffic. I, nor the Forest Service, receive one dime from any of my enforcement action. I am there or the safety of the motoring public. The standard response is "I drive up here every weekend," "I've been driving this road for 30 years," and "I was just passing him because he was going to slow." Please remember that getting stopped or getting a ticket doesn't equate to being treated unfairly. If "oftpiste" has a copy of a citation that I gave him for less than 10 over, I'd like to see it. I don't believe such a citation exists, and if it does, there are other factors out there.. Again, feel free to call any time you have a question or concern. Ian Canaan

A week ago I left Crystal's lot, put it in intermediate gear, set the cruise to 35 and started down behind some other cars

It looks like we are in agreement that the crazy and dangerous driving I witness nearly everyday

Cruise control on a busy, snowy, wet, slippery or icy road

:

I hope the ahole in the silver a8 sedan passing people down the blvd got a ticket yesterday afternoon and the clown in the black tahoe who followed me up 410 in the morning close enough to see my gas gauge just needed a good nightsticking.

Cruise control on a busy, snowy, wet, slippery or icy road

While not wishing to sound defensive, I don't wish be be regarded as a gapper... It was a bluebird day with bare and dry road. In such conditions, the car goes all the way to the bottom maintaining the correct speed and I don't have to apply the brakes.

I direct any further incriminations about my driving to my wife who has been compiling an enormous list for many years. (If I believed in emoticons, there would be a smiley one here.)

Crap. Now I'm in deep.....

Just for the record, I wasn't rude, argumentative, drunk or smoking dope with my kids, at least not that day.