" Is it really a sting if they tell us they're doing it? "

" SAD SAD....did I say SAD. The violent crime in Waterloo is out of control this summer and we are going to focus our efforts and numerous police officers giving speeding tickets. I am absolutely disgusted. "

" You are right, likestodebate, keeping impaired drivers off the road and making sure children are secured in a safety belt is no concern at all.

It gets so tiring listening to people complain just to complain. There are just some people that you know you will never please. Each law has a purpose and the lack of enforcing some of these laws does have an impact. To think law enforcement can only focus on a single issue at a time is clearly misguided. "

" Here's a thought....why not do this everyday of the yeat? I bet if I had a ticket book, I could help the state get back in the black. I swear, I see all the idiots on the road every single day. And before anyone says anything.....I have never gotten a ticket in my life. Not even a warning and I have been driving since 1980. I do follow the law, each and everyday, not just when they choose to enforce them. "

" People can drive 50 in a 25 zone all day in City limits and they worry about a highway. One of these days someone driving 50 down Parker is going to kill some kid. There is no reason the City can’t put some speed bumps in. Instead of the Council addressing this they lay it on the residents to get a petition and submit it. Ah Council members you are the City. Take reasonability for the job you asked for. If you’re going after speeders clean up the front lawn. Dead is dead by a gun or some fools driving at 50 in the middle of the City. "

" Steady
wrote on Jul 16, 2008 11:22 AM:

" You are right, likestodebate, keeping impaired drivers off the road and making sure children are secured in a safety belt is no concern at all.

It gets so tiring listening to people complain just to complain. There are just some people that you know you will never please. Each law has a purpose and the lack of enforcing some of these laws does have an impact. To think law enforcement can only focus on a single issue at a time is clearly misguided. "

Nowhere in my comment did it say anything that I dont believe keeping impaired drivers off the street isnt important or for that matter keeping children in car seats, but thanks for implying I said that. But what I was implying was that the crime rate in Waterloo is growing daily, and by crime I dont mean speeding, seat belt violations, I mean burglaries, robberies, murder, etc... crimes that have a much bigger impact in my opinion. I agree that cops should enforce the traffic laws, I wasnt making that my point. I am just frustrated that it seems there isnt anywhere safe in this town anymore.

"I have my opinion and you have yours, you don't have to like mine, cause I don't like yours" To The Pain - Nonpoint "

" Being a cop is a thankless job! Officers everywhere work the streets everyday in this country in an attempt to make life better for everyone. Yes, obviously some crimes are more "important" than others (i.e rape,murder,robberies etc..) but all laws need enforced. This happens to be the time they've set to focus on this sting (that they're required to tell you about). Also, its paid for by the state (Governor's Traffic Safety Bureau) for those concerned about city tax dollars. There will still be officers working the city streets during this time attempting to fight the "important" crimes too. It seems everyone has the answers for the police on how they should be doing their jobs. They don't come to your place of employment and tell you how to do your job. Most cops I know are not looking for a pat on the back with every arrest they make. However, being a cop is a thankless job and a non-criticizing thanks once in a great while would be nice. Remember 9-11? "

" My comment-Law Enforcement is a very difficult job to say the least!I hope these officers are signing up for this on regular pay NOT over time pay! I hope the state is not paying over time pay for these extra officers. I know a Police officer and she said officers can sign up in the patrol room for these (extra) enforcement things that come up. "

" myk, no, cops should not tell anyone how to do their job; but we should have some say in how they do their's. We as taxpayers are the cops employers, and they work for us. Too many cops have a holier-than-thou attitude that results in their lack of respect oftentimes. Cops might not always get the credit they deserve, but a lot of times they don't earn the credit they seek. "

" Hey MYK5873-
You make some good points about the police and a thankless job... But just because it is not city tax dollars, it is "paid" by the state, how do you think Chet gets this money to do this???
That's correct from you and I!!!! "

" Wardski, why exactly should these officers do this project for "regular pay"? They work a regular 40 hour work-week and should be paid overtime for this project. I will never understand you people who think you know so much about how law enforcement officers should do thier job. "

" Maybe the DOT needs to get out on 389 and 80, OPEN the weigh stations, at least now and then, and then go for the truckers who run up your rear at 80 mph, run side by side, talking on their cell phones and being a general menace as they go through our states. Truckers LOVE Iowa because of the lax enforcement for them as they speed through our midst. I realize that they need to make time to make money but to whine and moan about their high fuel costs and then drive their rigs as fast as they do it's no wonder they have such high fuel costs. Anyone who travels around our state sees this everyday. How many ever see a trucker actually stopped? I'm not worried about getting caught speeding or not wearing a seatbelt or driving impaired but it may be a problem when I have to be somewhere and don't know how much time to plan for because of a "sting" that may or may not mean pulling an entire line of vehicles to a stop and doing car to car checks. "

" You're right a6g! They do work for us. So maybe since you don't seem happy with the way they're currently doing the job you should fire them. Don't like cops? Try living without them! To Wardski: God forbid a cop get a little overtime pay. They're so overpaid as it is ya know. To reader54: You're right it is our tax dollars ultimately footing the bill. Thats the cost of doing business. I say the same to you. Don't like cops? Try living without them!! "

" Typical attitudes and beliefs here.

I'm in agreement with MYK5873 but very few others here.

Too many people want to complain about the job that our law enforcement officers do except when they need them. How about we show them the appreciation they deserve at all times? They are not superheroes; they can't be everywhere at once. They can't leap buildings in a single bound; they can't go faster than a speeding locamotive. But they do a job that neither you nor I choose to do and they go to work every day to serve and protect.
A wise man once said, " a cop can work his entire life and never earn the money he makes or he can work for five minutes and earn every penny."
I know that when I need one, they come. So, thanks for doing a thankless job. There are some that truly appreciate your daily efforts.
So, to everyone else, 'click it or ticket', 'don't drive drunk', 'just say no' and all that jazz and maybe you too, will be around long enough to disparage these men and women in blue for some time to come. "

" myk, nowhere did I say that I didn't "like cops". I was simply stating that not ALL cops are the great pillars of society that you made them out to be. There are good cops and bad, just like their are good and bad employees in every field. I understand the sometimes tough job that cops have; but to those that say that the job doesn't pay enough, check out the education (or lackthereof) and limited amount of training and certification it takes to carry a gun and "enforce" the law. It's actually scary, IMHO. Not many will get rich as a policeofficer, but it is far from the poor-house. "

" Let me add, as a nurse I make less in Iowa than all the other states plus the Virgin Islands. That being said, nursing is the profession I chose. Law enforcement is the job they chose. You take what you get with it. Low pay? No thanks? Get a different job. "

" it seems the original comments to this article were complaints about administrative decisions and had nothing to do with the many great police officers who patrol our streets (or the few bad ones).
but people with axes to grind jumped on their soapboxes and hi-jacked the issue to make their irrelevant points.
the greater debate is the constitutionality of such "safety checks" which reek of fascism to me. Setting up roadblocks to randomly insure our citizens are in compliance with the laws is not something our founding fathers had in mind. but it's a quick and easy way to collect revenue so instead of letting our excellent, underpaid police officers do actual police work, our government has made them mere revenue collectors at the expense of our personal liberties. "

" 50674, I wonder why your theory doesn't work for teachers - are they any different? "

" The article is about police. The responses were about them doing a low-pay thankless job. I merely pointed out the obvious ...they CHOSE their profession. Incidentally, the Iowa ranking for teachers is 40th (nursing is 52nd) and the average teacher makes over $38,000 a year but then their year is 9 months. And you, Steady, took the topic away from the original not me, so don't attack me for this response. "

" I drive 42 miles to work one way, then back, all on Highway 20. Dang...now I have to leave 15 minutes earlier for work or they'll get me. "

" I agree with 50674, Cops are not drafted, they chose this line of work as did teachers. It's not some big secret they hold back from you till after you get out of college that teachers make what they do. They do have 3 months off and both profession have better retirements and benefits than the majority of us. Teachers and Officers also have opportunities to make extra money easier than the average person. Almost every cop I know picks up good money doing security and even construction. Same can be said for teachers who look for the extra ways to earn more at the schools. "

" Lighten up Francis (50674). I was not attacking you, but must of hit a cord. You made the point that people choose their profession and gave an example of nursing - I gave an example of teaching. The point you made about pay ranking gives merit to my question. There appears to be alot of support when we all speak about teachers pay, but not many others.

Stana, do they teach officers the construction trade while at the academy or would those particular officers do that in any job they held? "

" Obviously they are ambitious men and woman and learned a way to make extra income other than working security at weddings and events. "

" Watch out Webster City! They were doing a HUGE sting lastnight at the top of Highway 20 exit! They pulled over each and every car and I have heard they are doing it all weekend. "

" Steady
And who is Francis? I don't know why or even if my "theory" does or doesn't work for teachers. And what was that merit to your qustion? An "average" teacher IF one worked a 12 month year would make close to $52,000. Relatively speaking that's not too bad. But, back to the traffic sting. Does announcing it make any bettter? To tell drivers (of private passenger cars, I'm fairly sure) somehow make checkpoint stops alright? Are over the road truckers somehow immune to this because well because why? If it gets too expensive to drive a truck going the legal posted speed limit (isn't that 55 in Iowa?) perhaps more of our goods will return to rail for shipping. "

" 50674, "Lighten Francis" is a line from a movie. The merit to my question is when the topic of police and pay come up the typical response is - "They chose that job." When the topic of pay and teachers come up the typical response is - "They should be paid more because of what they do." The governor has pushed for this.

The question was put out there to see where people stand. If you don't believe officers should be paid more and teachers should; it would be interesting to know why.

The lighten up part was because you took a simple question and got offended. If you believe police, teachers, nursing and so on all chose their profession and should not complain about their pay - I have no problem with that. "