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Sheriff Joe prefers traffic stops over photo radar

by KTAR Newsroom (March 2nd, 2009 @ 5:24am)

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Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio is not a fan of photo radar.

Arpaio weighed in on the issue while appearing on News/Talk 92-3 KTAR's "Jay Lawrence Show" Sunday.

The sheriff said it's up to attorneys to decide the legality of photo radar, but, "I like to stop people. You can't spot a dead body in a truck or marijuana or anything else. I like my deputies to give warnings. I don't like a stupid machine to give you a ticket."

County Attorney Andrew Thomas has said he will not criminally prosecute speeders caught by photo radar, claiming those tickets are civil violations. Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard disagrees with Thomas' stance, claiming that anyone clocked 20 miles per hour over the speed limit is subject to criminal prosecution.

Arpaio said Thomas is "a lawyer. I'm not a lawyer. He's the one who studies the Constitution and the books and, if he came up with some legality or constitutional reason not to do it, hey, that's him."


Last 5 Comments

  • Reply Abuse Vote
    Arpaio understands the difficulty of illegally racially profiling off of photo radar.
    abogada987
    Face to face is the only way to pull over hispanics on minor civil infractions so that you can check their papers. And did you get his comment about Thomas being a "lawyer" who understands the Constitution? That is until suddenly Thomas says something like "there's Constitutional problems with the de facto segregation of hispanic immigrant prisoners." Then suddenly Arpaio goes deaf to Thoma's legal counsel. Too rich!
  • Reply Abuse Vote
    Cameras
    Bob D
    There is a hidden agenda with the cameras which is to have continous filming of our roadways.
  • Reply Abuse Vote
    I had the oppotunity
    yori
    to hear him and I totally support him ( voted for him). I liked his comments and how he does his job. He fights against the humman smuglers.
  • Reply Abuse Vote
    Photo radar catches speeders
    Larry in Glendale
    ... but does nothing about drunk drivers, people driving without a license or insurance, tailgaters, unsafe vehicles etc... we need both photo radar AND officers out on the roads.
  • Reply Abuse Vote
    i agree to some extent
    snakesusa
    however having photo radar gives our deputies the needed time to chase down the illegals.
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