I visited a site and commented on someones whine about receiving 16 speeding fines and was accused of being negative, damned right I am negative about breaking the law. If you want to be a criminal, take the punishment. In that case it would seem that the individual is a serial criminal. He should not be paying fines, they should be taking his license away. In 20 years of driving including powerful motorcycles, I have received a maximum of three speeding tickets. 16 in one month seems excessive and foolish.
There are no degrees of crime. If the law says its a crime, its a crime, There are only degrees of punishment to suit the specific crime. I have been listening to people whining about having to pay speeding fines and for jumping lights etc. In my opinion, there is not enough of a crackdown on these crimes. If you are willing to play the game, take your punishment without whining. You deserve it.
The prevailing attitude that speeding is not serious, that overtaking on barrier lines is a misdemeanour, not stopping at robots and stop streets is not serious, leads to the lawless attitude. You got a fine for breaking the law? You want my sympathy? Forget it. Pay and stop whining.
In order to stop this lawlessness we need to start with ourselves. Don’t break the law, no matter how piffling you think it is. Set an example for others. Clean up crime starting with yourself. If you behave like you are above the law, you set a negative example for others. Rather be Positive and solve the problem. Be part of the cure not part of the problem. If it is to be. it will be because of me. THERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION FOR BREAKING ANY LAW.
Tags: criminal behaviour, speed traps, Speeding
October 16th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Another thing people don’t really feel is a crime is defrauding their insurance company. A very good friend of mine asked me once if I wanted to BUY his old Playstation because he’d CLAIMED one from his insurance after his break-in.
The shocked and disappointed look on my face came as a real surprise to him.
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October 16th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
That is a thing that really gets my goat, People trying to sell me stolen stuff and face facts that playstation was stolen from the insurance company.
Why is it that people don’t see that as crime?
October 16th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
I can’t say how, but I have some experience with criminals, and it comes down to justification.
If you can say, “I make copies of school projects and steal paper clips because I am paid way too little”, or “She was begging to get raped with that tiny skirt and flirty looks she was giving me” you don’t actually feel like such a criminal.
“I pay thousands a year in insurance and I hardly ever claim” is usually the justification for stealing from your insurance company. That was the easiest way of getting a confession, make his excuse for him.
October 17th, 2008 at 7:42 am
I believe you do have a point. Yet generally law abiding citizens don’t have a problem with the smaller crimes unless they are on the receiving end, do they?
You buy a stolen cell phone, or car radio, and really squeal when your TV gets stolen. It boggles the mind that they cannot see the tie up. If no one bought stolen property, would it be worth stealing.
October 17th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Exactly, I don’t know why they don’t see the connection, I just know they don’t.
I’ve heard people complain about corruption and use how easily they bribed a traffic cop as an example. WTF!? How do you not see the connection?
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October 18th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
I actually had someone tell me that offering the bribe is not the crime, it’s accepting it that is? Huh?
November 24th, 2008 at 2:38 am
To suggest that speeders are criminals is absurd and condemns the vast majority of Americans, like yourself, to this undeserved label. What is criminal is this whole “PC” movement guilting everyone into believing they’re a criminal for one reason or another. Snap out of it, man. Stop sniveling. Get a backbone.
Technically speaking, speeding isn’t comparable to robbery or murder, being that speeding doesn’t harm anyone (bad driving does). For example, Europeans drive the Autobahn routinely at 110 MPH yet maintain safety statistics above our own. Are they “criminals?” By contrast, theft is theft. Murder is murder. In any timezone. There is no gray area. Think about it: Who establishes speed limits, God? No, WE DO. And, being human WE make mistakes. WE either correct our mistakes by posting updated speed limits or abuse our privilege and establish speed traps for the sole purpose of generating revenue from otherwise courteous and safe drivers. Arguably, this is THEFT. So, I guess there IS some gray area afterall….
November 24th, 2008 at 7:18 am
@Dave Two things
1. I am not an American thus have an IQ above 32
2. Most people including Americans are incapable of controlling a car at speed.
3. Speed limits are there to protect the population against themselves
4. The Autobahn is populated by a very regimented people. Europeans are known for following rules not breaking them.
5. Crime is the act of breaking the law. If you want to drive at 110 mph go and live in a country where this is legally allowed. If it is against the law where you live, breaking the law makes you a criminal.
December 24th, 2009 at 6:00 pm
If you want to maintain the moral ground then please help me – I am a photographer too and I come from England.
I was caught speeding whilst on business visiting the Nelspruit soccer stadium
I now have to pay a fine.
BUT… There is simply no logistical way that the police will let me pay the fine unless I personally return to South Africa and go to Nelspruit Police Station.
The situation is crazy and makes South Africa look like a 4th world country.
This means I now have a criminal record in South Africa and the next time I arrive at JNB the police will be on to me like I am a mass murderer.
You can pay fines via internet in Joburg and Cape Town but NOT Nelspruit. I totally refuse to send money in an envelope to a police station.
I call the police and when they decide to answer they have no idea on how to help. They refuse to look at the ticket number and just say go to court. No one listens to the fact I live in the UK and do not want a record as I need to return to SA for the world cup in 2010
There is no way to prove that I have I sent money and I will not get a receipt.
The criminals are the South African Police in making crazy, stupid rules and stopping people from being free.