Sting wrote on Oct 19, 2008 9:44 PM:How about catching people when they break the law, not setting up traps within the community. Another example of RivCo sheriff with too much time and money on their hands.

WTF wrote on Oct 20, 2008 12:34 AM:Are you kidding me? Get a real job.

Yikes wrote on Oct 20, 2008 12:38 AM:Uhhh,,,,, They got citations for not yielding to pedestrians..... Last time I checked, that is breaking the law.

Stupid wrote on Oct 20, 2008 7:28 AM:I agree with WTF, we should let cars run people over; it's not important to the general public.

Murrieta Mom wrote on Oct 20, 2008 7:57 AM:A page right out of the "Pol Pot Book Of Order" Great job TPD/RCSD and good luck with your re-education program.

Kinda Cool wrote on Oct 20, 2008 8:23 AM:I think that's kinda cool.

I hate when the red hand comes up when I'm walking...it makes me think I should stop in my tracks in the middle of the street.

If I'm correct, traffic is not to cross the crosswalk if there is a person inside the path, at any part of the crosswalk. Correct?

It's been 26 years since I've had to take a drivers test. Is the rule still the same?

Mark wrote on Oct 20, 2008 8:23 AM:I'm so glad they finally cracked down on this nusance. Things were really getting out of hand there for a while. I'm sure we'll all sleep much better now knowing that our fine officers have once again saved Temecula from chaos and anarchy.

It would be nice... wrote on Oct 20, 2008 8:33 AM:if the city crosswalks had those bell noices, to remind crosswalkers to hurry up?

And maybe the citizens should arm themselves with their cammera phones to take pictures of these violators...and a web page to send them too.

Oh and while they were at it, they could go to Old Town and give tickets to jay-walkers.

Sting wrote on Oct 20, 2008 8:42 AM:How many people intentionally fail to stop for a pedestrian? For the 13 citations issued, I bet the cops heard, "I didn't see your planted decoy" 13 times. I think it's time the community question these traps set up around town and go after real law breakers, bank robbers, reckless speeders, taggers, vandalism, etc. etc. instead of wasting our money, sitting under a tree and dressing up for a sting operation.
Get a real job, is right.

Plymouth Rock wrote on Oct 20, 2008 8:43 AM:Revenue based law enforcement. Sound familiar? Pay your debt or go to "Debters jail"My how things come full circle,and by the choice and support of the people.

Temecula Resident wrote on Oct 20, 2008 8:47 AM:I find it interesting police would cite "public education for the upcoming holiday season" by setting up a crosswalk gotchya when there is more chaos, accidents and danger lurking around that giant loop that circles the Promenade. Has anyone driven that nightmare and not been honked at or forced to slam on their brakes? It truly is dangerous.

Last time I looked wrote on Oct 20, 2008 8:49 AM:Didn't they build a pedestrian bridge near Overland and Ynez for employees of Abbott to use to cross the street? Since a giant corporation sits on that street as well as a multitude of car delaerships (I remember one fatality occurring on Ynez because of it), perhaps the pedestrians should be limited to using the crosswalk bridge rather than darting into the street in front of unsuspecting CostCo shoppers.

The Easy Way wrote on Oct 20, 2008 9:00 AM:Typical TPD. Won't do anything to prevent bank robberies, burglaries or other crime. If this ended at 7 pm, then they should have set up a sting at the theater to catch the underage kids breaking curfew! I would sleep better at night knowing they're doing the community a favor!

I dont know lately TR... wrote on Oct 20, 2008 9:02 AM:there hasn't been much traffic on the road at all...let alone around the shopping centers. I can finally find a parking spot in front of Kinkos at lunch time.

Less traffic, less violations...less money in the coffer.

Temec Resident wrote on Oct 20, 2008 9:20 AM:I am all about public safety and I believe most citizens of Temec are decent law abiding people. That's why I don't appreciate this rash of citations being issued for seat belts, cell phones and crosswalks. There is real crime here - luckily not too much of it - but it seems RivCo Sheriff priorities are in revenue-producing exercises rather than sincere law enforcement. I think the visibility of patrol cars in neighborhoods does more to discourage law breakers than sitting on their motorcycles under a tree for six hours. I think the community needs to speak up and put a stop to this wasteful spending and GOTCHYA tickets.

Its October wrote on Oct 20, 2008 9:59 AM:That means it's both the end and the begining of the fiscal year for governmental agencies such as RCSD...

Money is given based on need...sometimes an "agency" has to prove a need, to get funded.

...that's what's up T resident...it will be back to business as usual soon...

To Temecula wrote on Oct 20, 2008 10:01 AM:Did it ever occur to you that some funds are given to the department for specific reasons, such as cross-walk stings, DUI check points, etc? The department has to do certain thing to maintain grants. There are a lot of other officers that are looking to prevent bankrobberies, burglaries, vandalism, and other crimes. The traffic officer specifically handle traffic complaints (Someone indeed complained about pedestrian problems at Ynez and Overland, that's why they went out there.) Patrol handles all your whiny problems like; the neigbors dog is barking, my neighbors sprinkler is watering my roses, and I can't handle my 15 year old kid. If you truly want police to prevent crime, quit calling and wasting their time with your insignifcant problems.

Michael B wrote on Oct 20, 2008 10:27 AM:So, the law abiding ones are driving with cell phones, without a seat belt, and not stopping for people in crosswalks? Seems like a public safety issue to me. I'd love to see them out in force for those issues. Funny, if you aren't breaking the law, you won't get caught!

Temec Resident wrote on Oct 20, 2008 1:00 PM:I knew I'd hear from you self entitled cops out there. What's more insignificant to you, sitting under a tree for six hours or responding to a citizen's "whiny" problem? Guess you have to interact with the public on a more investigative basis rather than just whipping out your ticket book. And you wonder why more and more of us are disliking our community police and questioning your methods?

to Michael B. wrote on Oct 20, 2008 1:03 PM:Get those dangerous cell phone talkers and non seat belt wearers. They are more of a danger to society than murders, burglars and thugs. Watch out cane-wielding Grannies, you're next. Off to jail!

To Temec wrote on Oct 20, 2008 1:55 PM:I love sitting under a tree for 6 hours. It's so fullfilling. It's exactly what I signed up for when I applied for this job. You have no idea what you are talking about, nor that the city requires motor cops to do that. Step outside of your little bubble and take a look at the bigger picture. Oh, and the RSO fiscal year is in July.

Fine them all wrote on Oct 20, 2008 2:23 PM:I don't jaywalk, and I stop for people; so I say TICKET THEM ALL! It will raise some money, penalize bone-heads; I think it's a great plan! There should be a fine for idiotic bloggers too..

guess Im a bubblehead wrote on Oct 20, 2008 2:37 PM:Apparently, the city does require a motocop to watch a decoy work a crosswalk for 6 hrs, that is what the article said. I'm entitled to my opinion, which is the city should stop issuing GOTCHYA tickets, focus on crime prevention and have POSITIVE visibility in the community. We want our community to be safe but don't like being set up and monitored as we go about our daily business. Cut us some slack because your actions are being perceived as revenue-inducing exercises. Argue all you want but that is the truth with most non-public sector citizens of this fine town.

To Michael B wrote on Oct 20, 2008 3:02 PM:It is nice to see that someone else here is seeing this the same as I. Last I checked not wearing your seat belt, talking on your cell phone, & not stopping at crosswalks are all against the law. Did anyone here ever take into cosideration that these violations are the MOST COMMON violations and happen all day long. Stop crying about cops giving tickets to people who break the law. It's simple, don't break the law and you won't be ticketed. Sad, nobody wants to be held accountable anymore for there own actions.

Too Many Laws wrote on Oct 20, 2008 3:57 PM:Maybe
you've addressed the root cause of this dispute. Too many laws that are punishing minor offenders when a warning citation educating people on public safety would do the trick. Three warnings, get a ticket. Do you know what's more dangerous than talking on your cell phone while driving? Eating a gordito crunch with extra sour cream. Put that one on the books.

Are you serious wrote on Oct 20, 2008 5:21 PM:You cry babies complaining about them giving tickets, shut up! Exactly how do you prevent bank robberies? Other than posting an officer outside of every bank I really can't think of one. How do you prevent cars running people over in crosswalks? By issueing tickets to those that break the law. Just because you don't hear about every thing Temecula Police do doesn't mean all they do is issue tickets.

Jim wrote on Oct 20, 2008 5:34 PM:Guess it's time for Temecula to close it's Southwest Station for good. Just imagine how much money Temecula could save. Back when the area was patrolled by county deputies stationed out of the Lake Elsinore Station, there didn't seem to be so many unhappy Temecula citizens. Or better yet, lets just have our police park their black and whites directly outside of each bank and large strip mall to help prevent both bank and store robberies. We can trust the public not to speed, kill innocent people on the roads, or victimze their neighbors or their loved ones. Riverside County Sheriff's Deputies can't imagine what the citizens of this great city go through in life.

Makes Sense wrote on Oct 20, 2008 6:23 PM:Those who are screaming and yelling about this must have been part of the 13 who received citations.
If you abide by traffic laws, you have nothing to worry about. Do you know how many deaths occur due to people who ignore people in crosswalks?
Like someone said earlier-the police depts are given grants to conduct specific ops, and this would be one of them.
Abiding by traffic laws = no citations

Grants are tax dollars wrote on Oct 21, 2008 12:56 AM:Grants for these traps are tax dollars, so yes it's a waste to us. No matter how much cops deny it, tickets are an important revenue source to their political bosses. Traffic Control officers give cops a bad name and for a good reason. They are one of the lowest forms of life on the road. Who gets satisfaction from sitting on the side of the road waiting to give a ticket? A true traffic patrol would be driving around looking for drunk drivers and erratic street racers cutting people off. Hiding in bushes is weak, lazy, and pathetic. Get a real job.

Pedestrian wrote on Oct 21, 2008 2:05 AM:More of us would help the environment by walking if we didn't feel our lives were threatened on a regular basis. Our culture has no respect for pedestrians. I wish that Escondido would consider something like this. A stranger in a wheelchair recently thanked me for crossing the street with him. You can't encourage people to walk if you won't enforce the laws to protect pedestrians.

I do wrote on Oct 21, 2008 9:45 AM:I get huge satisfaction for waiting on the side of the road to issue a ticket. I hope I find you one day to issue a ticket. It's odd how many little violations I've pulled people over for and found a DUI driver. I guess I'm doing something wrong because I'm not making YOU happy.

JD wrote on Oct 21, 2008 9:26 PM:I like the idea of increasing awareness and promoting safety. I don't like using plants, or citing people during a "public education operation".

And I believe the law is that you can't cross in front of a pedestrian, but if you go behind them, it's ok. But I don't know for sure, so you're probably better off waiting for them to cross completely.

driver wrote on Oct 22, 2008 11:42 AM:people here dont know how to drive. too lazy for a blinker drive like a bunch of ians..

Temecula Resident wrote on Oct 22, 2008 4:58 PM:The other day, a "pedestrian" ON a cell phone had the RIGHT OF WAY and DID NOT walk when the sign turned GREEN for him. As he was "talking away", everyone in vehicles who had the "green light" to turn began "honking" AND he STILL did not begin "walking". IF my husband did not roll down the window and yelled, "HEY IDIOT, GET OFF THE PHONE!" He would not have started walking. Goes both ways.

taxpayer wrote on Nov 3, 2008 8:22 PM:Are you kidding me, my tax dollars are paying the police department to a sting with decoys. It’s one thing to get caught and ticketed, but to set something like this up is outrageous. Then to bill it as educating the public, wow you cops are out of control. What’s the matter not making enough money on loud exhaust tickets? And to the self righteous cops trying to justify your actions, shut up, you’re speaking to your employers.

decoy wrote on Nov 3, 2008 8:41 PM:Are you kidding me, my tax dollars are paying the police department to a sting with decoys. It’s one thing to get caught and ticketed, but to set something like this up is outrageous. Then to bill it as educating the public, wow you cops are out of control. What’s the matter not making enough money on loud exhaust tickets? And to the self righteous cops trying to justify your actions, shut up, you’re speaking to your employers.

taxpayer wrote on Nov 3, 2008 8:53 PM:Are you kidding me, my tax dollars are paying the police department to a sting with decoys. It’s one thing to get caught and ticketed, but to set something like this up is outrageous. Then to bill it as educating the public, wow you cops are out of control. What’s the matter not making enough money on loud exhaust tickets? And to the self righteous officers trying to justify your actions, watch your mouth. You’re speaking to tax payers, your employers.