Does the Big Island Police Department do anything besides give speeding tickets? (2014, home)

[walkabout2014]

I rarely see the police doing anything but give speeding tickets. The other day I saw a pickup with bogus "sovergn nation" plates, no safety sticker, driving in town and on the highway. I see all sorts of vehicle violations, suspicious activity, etc. What is the deal?

[Due]

They do much more.
Including DUI roadblocks and patrols: DUI stats 11-10-14

[OpenD]

Originally Posted by walkabout2014

I rarely see the police doing anything but give speeding tickets. The other day I saw a pickup with bogus "sovergn nation" plates, no safety sticker, driving in town and on the highway. I see all sorts of vehicle violations, suspicious activity, etc. What is the deal?

There has to be a balance struck between public safety costs that taxpayers are willing to pay for and what it would cost to achieve 100% compliance with traffic rules.

And need I say it? Lots of people already complain that traffic enforcement is too harsh now, especially if they've just gotten dinged with a ticket themselves. People complain now about roadblocks and patrols being too intrusive, even though they clearly produce results.

Traffic enforcement has always operated on a "percentage" basis... the idea that if 100 cars are speeding and you write a ticket for one of them, it has a deterrent effect on the other 99. Roadblock DUI checks operate on the idea that if they catch a few drunks, in addition to getting them off the road, it will be a deterrent to a lot of others.

Police can't be everywhere, and can't see everything, and nobody would actually like it if they could. But as a concerned citizen, if you see something that the police should know about, pick up the phone and report it.

[hotzcatz]

Oh, I dunno, we get our officers out walking among the folks keeping track of things. If we have an issue, we can find Officer Jody and he'll look into it for us or tell us how we can get it resolved. They do a lot more than merely write out traffic tickets. I think it's good that the community has it's police officers out and about so when you need them you already know who they are and they know you, too.

[Galactastica]

Perhaps you see people getting speeding tickets, but you may not be seeing them getting other types of tickets? I mean, speeding tickets are the most visual for others to see happening...not much else is detectable or really look like anything but someone getting a speeding ticket. I mean, how do you know.

[KaraBenNemsi]

Household abuse is the most common 911 call in HAwaii (Drug or alcohol related, child abuse, sexual abuse, or violence).

[JoDan]

Originally Posted by walkabout2014

I rarely see the police doing anything but give speeding tickets. The other day I saw a pickup with bogus "sovergn nation" plates, no safety sticker, driving in town and on the highway. I see all sorts of vehicle violations, suspicious activity, etc. What is the deal?

I would think if a person is not breaking a law they wouldn't have to be concerned about law enforcement. I'm actually thankful they give tickets for speeding violations. As to the other violations you observe it's possible you're not around law enforcement addresses the issue.

I've driven to Alaska and back home six times. On the drive through Canada I'll see only 1-3 police cars!

[Buckeye77]

Originally Posted by walkabout2014

I rarely see the police doing anything but give speeding tickets. The other day I saw a pickup with bogus "sovergn nation" plates, no safety sticker, driving in town and on the highway. I see all sorts of vehicle violations, suspicious activity, etc. What is the deal?

Just count your blessings that you aren't in Ferguson MO

[walkabout2014]

Yep, saw another truck today without plates or safety sticker. On each side of the back window were "Defend Hawaii" stickers. Where the plate should be was a written statement that was too small for me to read at a safe distance. Seems like they don't like the U.S. Remember; "One nation, under God, indivisible...". Like it or not, the U.S. is here to stay.

[hothulamaui]

your rant about cars without safety stickers seems more about your opposition to people showing support of hawaiian sovereignty. you too should remember in america we have the right to free speech even if you don't like what is said.