I know it's silly to ask something as vague as: "how did that improve traffic safety EXACTLY?" Other than the dui enforcement, I mean.

A more precise answer could be yielded by asking: How much money did the village get from IDOT to ticket people for seatbelts on the SLOWEST STREET IN THE VILLAGE? That's to say, Lockport Street.

Sad.

I know this is hard to believe but I agree with Hugo,,,

I would also like to know what made the difference for the people who got warnings and who got tickets for the same violation? Was it Family and Friend day? Were they having a 25% off sale? I don't get it...

C'mon, BP, I know you can make your point without resorting to name-calling.

I love that the Plainfield Police Department is working hard for our village on VERY LITTLE TAX DOLLARS. I for one appreciate all of their efforts.

Just because they have very little tax dollars doesn't mean the have to harass the few people we get to our Downtown Area just to get income. Do they realize that people will shop in another area so they don't have to worry about the PPD? What kind of Sales Tax Base are they running away from Plainfield by doing these checks? Standing at a Stop Sign, RR Crossing, or in front of a Bar waiting for someone to leave is not Policing it is Cherry Picking! I will stay North, South or go around Downtown just for this reason!

The downtown is definately a joke. No parking and police sniping seat-belts. Heck, I don't even see a concerted effort to keep semis off Lockport Street.

Is there an upside I'm unaware of??

People respond to the carrot and stick. The downtown is just STICK STICK STICK. The whole thing is a pain in the ass under the best of circumstances.

I with Hugo. I was on Lockport st. leaving one parking spot for another further up downtown and was stuck in traffic and got a saeatbelt ticket. I had a clean record and got no warning just a ticket. I was very polite to the officer. I for one will now avoid downtown, and I live in Plainfield. I guess they dont want to frequent businesses on Lockport street so I wont.

Cici's and AT&T should relocate adjacent to the RR tracks.

What's downtown???crappy bars and crappy stores.

Waaaaaa I have to wear a seatbelt to protect me from going through my windshield....

Laws are in place to protect those who wont protect themselfs...you may not drink and drive but what about the person who dose and t-bones you moving your car?

...worse, you may hit one of the too many unhelmeted, drunkin motorcyclists downtown while unseatbelted. Make sure your car has the yellow bumper sticker that says "Start Seeing Motorcycles" on it.

of course I would not like it but I still don't believe in random road blocks. There are risks when you live in a free society or what once was.

>>Turns out, when they notice they are being recorded, they tend to back off the threats and nonsense.

Wow, Tim. You explained the funcion of the digital display, and you got a warning? Oh gosh, what tyrants! Nazis even. I'm sure he freaked out when he saw you were recording him...errr...wait, every cruiser I've seen has their own camera. That makes no sense.

The point here is the concerted effort to camp-out for seat-belt tickets, not criticize every traffic stop they make, even if it happens to occur in the downtown area.

Frankly, it is a good place certain things, like hoodrats blasting unwanted music, for drunks who think they're entitled to drive 1/4 mile home, or for semis sneaking through. But seatbelts on a 20 mph street? C'mon...that's shameless.

And you know the village board is just lapping it all up.

And I know they're reading this.

Wear your seatbelt. Don't stop on railroads tracks and don't get hammered and think you can drive home, PROBLEMS SOLVED and. Come on, this goes on in every city in the country.

Actually, HUGO, if you look at past police blotter or articles on patch and herald, there has been numerous serious crashes in the downtown lockport street area. Since when does the speed limit have anything to do with crashes??? You obviously know nothing about traffic safety when it comes to speed and crashes. Bad crash in front of Moejoe's involving duo driver and bad multi vehicle crash in front of bin 48

I'd rather pay for a seat belt ticket than an increase in taxes. I'd hate to be a police officer, damned if you do, damned if you don't.

Good point billy, ill pay $50 and move on, plus I would not cry about it on the patch

>>Since when does the speed limit have anything to do with crashes???

With crashes in general? Maybe nothing. In terms of severity and priority...gee, I don't know. Almost everything? Kinetic energy, acceleration, momentum, intertia...etc. The things which create forces on the human body inside.

Exceptions don't make a rule, and ain't nobody getting ejected from crashes on the downtown Lockport Street. LOL.

Good point Billy. I'm glad you acknowledge the default-tax that it really is. A little sad that you're fine with it, though.

I'm fine with it because it's a tax we can all prevent paying by wearing our seat belts. Seat belts help prevent injury or death. Traffic fatalities cost tax payers more money than if the accident did not result in death.

If everyone started wearing their seatbelt they would find something else to hit the people with! This is just PPD trying to get another award for Traffic Safety but what it doesn't say on the award is they were on a street with Speed bumps, Stop signs, and they Stand on the corner to Cherry Pick.

It kills two birds with one stone, They get the tickets and do not have to waste gas, I get it. But I bet they wouldn't stand in front of Menards or Meijers and get away with the businesses not saying leave, so why run the people off from Downtown?!

I'm telling you, they are here to Serve and Protect, Not Intimidate and Pound their Chest!!

the plainfield pd in downtown is driving people away...plain and simple. small town police department overkill syndrome. glad i don't own a business down there. it's hard enough getting in and out of there. and then they add the Gestapo style pd...people will easily go elsewhere. downtown and plainfield is rightfully gaining the reputation of happy ticket writing cops. lesson 101: how to ruin the economy in a small downtown? just hang out for a day or two on lockport, you'll see.

A police officer standing on a street corner should not intimidate anyone. Especially when you know you've done nothing wrong. The enforcement that this article refers to didn't even take place on Lockport street west of 59 (downtown businesses). They have in the past, but not this one.

Exactly Dude! The Normal Person gets intimidated by the Police because it is a position of authority. It's natural...they Know it, Love it and most people don't want to deal with it.

<Illinois judge: law barring recording police is unconstitutional>

<Judge Sacks seemed to declare Illinois' law unconstitutional not because it's a citizen's right to record interactions between the police and the public, but because the law was too far-reaching.>

Well the PPD sould be happy they will have to worry about 1 less Bar in Plainfield after tonight. Limestone just announced they are closing at the close of business tonight. Plainfield just keeps getting better!

Well Limestone said it was the Landlord getting foreclosed on so I am sure there are a few more to come out of that center...

I highly doubt businesses are closing or people are not visiting downtown plainfield because of the police presence, have u ever been to downtown Naperville, Downers Grove or Elmhurst??? They have specific units designated for downtown patrol. Just wear ur damn belt and stop crying about the police doing their jobs.

Tim, sounds like you and your friends have either been stopped for drinking and driving or been issued a seat belt violation, because what else would deter you from visiting downtown???

Eyes on plfd, I believe some of the PPD cars are equipped with in car video, so there would be no reason to video tape for yourself.

Tim,
I read your first post to this article. Upon reading it, I gave you the benefit of the doubt. Of course there are always 3 sides to every story. But your side is the only side I know. I didn't comment on it then, because of that. Your recent post, calling the police "nothing more than overpaid hall monitors", has takin some of your credibility away, in my opinion. Because you had one bad experience ( in your opinion) with ONE police officer out of the entire department, does not justify your statement.

You said you were pulled over for "no obvious reason". Okay, well maybe it wasn't "obvious" to you but according to you, the officer did exactly what he was supposed to do. He told you exactly why he stopped you. Then based on your account, he allowed you to talk yourself out of a ticket. I also viewed the link you provided of your video system. If yours is installed like the one on the picture that you provided, you could have received a citation for obstructed view as it is illegal to have anything suspended from the windshield.
It sounds like you met an officer who

.... Continuing (pc froze)
Thought he saw something, allowed you to explain what he saw, and apparently thought you didn't need a ticket. Even for the obstructed view. That sounds like a very positive police contact to me.

Also, why haven't you responded to my consciences allegations?

It has nothing to do with safety and everything about raising money. That is why the give you a P ticket. They try to say they are doing you a favor because it is cheaper than the other one. The reason it is cheaper is because the village gets to keep 100% of it. The more expensive one gets split with the state.

Come on people, if you think law enforcement is not a money maker for these villages. Your crazy. Accepts it, no matter where you liven drive through or visit, law enforcement uses citations, arrests, tows and other ways for making money. Now that we all know it, move on. They are doing their jobs, just because it hits your pocket book, everyone whines about it. follow your state and local ordinances and you won't have an issue.

OK I agree that the seatbelt tickets are borderline. This recent crackdown is targeted at habitual bad drivers. The blatant speeders that must travel at least 15-20 over the limit. School zone or not. The red light runners, tailgaters, stop sign rollers, cell phoners, uninsured, unlicensed etc...I am all for issuing tickets to these rude, ill mannered drivers particularly in our downtown area. Again the somewhat petty seatbelt tickets are borderline but these other violations are out of control.

That's just it Baba, The tickets you are ok with...none were given for those offenses.

Yeah, I still can't get over how much Tim is complaining about getting a warning??

TV monitors are illegal. Cop thought he saw one. Learned it wasn't. No enforcement action taken.

Tim...why don't you "rage against the machine" later when you have a slightly more interesting reason?

>>...encounter was being recorded... then no enforcement action taken.

He was already recording the encounter himself, most likely.

Give it up. The NATO summit is soon. Go rage against...whatever...over there. Get your skull cracked and then come b1tch.

Dear “Tim”: By the grace of God, you have been granted this second reprieve. Please conduct yourself in a manner worthy of The Village of Plainfield citizens, and treat all people with the respect that you seek yourself.

You know the potential consequences if you or your agent provocateurs screen clones start any nefarious activities again – including attacks on Karen. So my friend, good luck to you as you begin your new journey. Use this gift wisely.

Don't break the law. Done and done. And FYI, I have lived in Plainfield 15 years and going downtown has NOTHING to do with the police and EVERYTHING to do with parking, shops not being open late, etc. I am SO HAPPY the PPD are around.

Thank God My conscience is gone, coincidence that Tim is gone as well