Originally Posted by Tachyon
I absolutely disagree with Mr. LEO on all except four items. The four I agree with:
1. LEO are people too.
2. Some LEO drive the same cars we do.
3. Some LEO like to have fun.
4. Be professional to LEO.
The remainder are an appeal to authority fallacy. Just because an LEO says something does not make it true.
Countermeasures, when used correctly and with appropriate situation awareness, are extremely effective. You don't have to believe me, but my experience differs greatly from Mr. LEO. Nor do you have to believe Mr. LEO that they are ineffective, as that's what he wants to believe because in his experience he catches drivers all day long who are running countermeasures.
Problem with this logic is that Mr. LEO does not, and cannot know, how many fish swam away from the revenue generation stream because they were using countermeasures in an effective fashion, while diligently maintaining situation awareness. Any claims that this is an incorrect assessment should be met with appropriate incredulity.
Mr. LEO has succumbed to what is known as the Texas Sharp Shooter fallacy. Counting the hits and ignoring the misses is disingenuous.
With respect to "you're already caught". Statistically, even the most prudent and safe drivers will have an encounter with an LEO during their driving lifetime. I doubt even Mr. LEO knows how many laws he fractured on the way into the office this morning. I have no doubt that even if I attempted to follow every law, rule, and regulation of which I am aware the next time I got into my vehicle I would still fracture some law, rule, or regulation of which I am not aware. The law is a complex series of patches that try to make messy social interactions a bit better. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Invariably, those with the monopoly on force can determine an infraction to some law, rule, or regulation because the law is such a mess.
Which leads to my conclusion. When, not if (again, statistics is a cold-hard biatch), you have a roadside visit with LEO it is imperative that you treat him or her with the professionalism due their position in our society. Note that I did not say faux respect. Note that I did not say cower in fear. She or he is human and doing their job in a professional manner. We should be professional as well, and understand how this interaction should proceed. We do not admit guilt, we do not offer anything that may be used against us, we provide them with the requested and required information and nothing more. If in doubt about an answer, silence is golden. Accept your performance award in a professional and cordial manner. Sign the award and thank the LEO for his or her professionalism and proceed on your way. Near traffic is not the place where we admit our guilt, nor is it the place where we attempt to defend ourselves against those that allege we have broken a law, rule, or regulation. The appropriate place is in the court of law which we use as a crucible to determine the validity of the devices, processes, and observations used to allege our infraction. If those devices, processes, or observations are found fallible, incorrect, or outright invalid accept your innocence with grace. If they are found effective and reliable, accept your guilt with aplomb and pay your debt to our society.
In the final estimation, don't simply take Authority's word at face value (or mine for that matter). Work the system as much as it is works you.
A postscript: I am not a lawyer. I am not an LEO. I am a productive member of society that has routine professional and personal contact with the former that believes both serve our society to the best of their knowledge, skills, and abilities.
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