Rotaview - Current  Mar 16, 2010

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     "The role of government is not to perfect us but to protect us." Sarah Palin

     "It's not the position that makes the leader, it's the leader that makes the position." Stanley Huffy

     "There comes a special moment in everyone's life, a moment for which that person was born. That special opportunity, when he seizes it, will fulfill his mission - a mission for which he is uniquely qualified. In that moment, he finds greatness. It is his finest hour." Winston Churchill

     Sunshine was brought by Bill Harrison, who, appropriately, had some Highway Patrol jokes.

     A motorcycle traffic cop clocked a sports car speeding at over 90 mph. He pulled alongside the car and to his amazement he saw an attractive young blonde who was actually knitting while driving.

"Pull over!" he yelled. "No, it's a scarf!" was her reply.

     A blonde and a brunette are speeding down a highway, because they are late for work. The brunette, who is driving, tells the Blonde to look out the back window to see if the police were following.

     "Do you see any police cars?" asked the brunette. "Yes," said the Blonde.

     "Is it close?                                                         "Yes"

     "Are they going to pull us over?"                            "I don't know."

     "Well, are their blue lights on?"                             "Yes." "No." "Yes." "No." "Yes....."

     A trooper stops a lady and asks for her license. he says "Lady, it says here that you should be wearing glasses." She answered "Well, I have contacts." He replied, "I don't care who you know! You're getting a ticket!"

     Two rednecks, Bubba and Earl, were driving down the road drinking a couple of brews. Bubba said "Lookey thar up ahead, Earl, it's a police roadblock! We're gonna get busted fer drinkin' these here beers!" "Don't worry, Bubba," Earl responded, "We'll just pull over and finish drinkin' these beers then peel off the label and stick it on our foreheads, and throw the bottles under the seat." "What fer?" asked Bubba. "Just let me do the talkin', OK?" said Earl. So, they finished the beers, threw the empties out of sight, and put a label on each of their foreheads. When they reached the roadblock, the sheriff said, "You boys been drinkin'?" "Nossir," said Earl, pointing at the labels, "We're on the patch." (I guess that's the birth control patch-Ed.)

     Pete Dillard introduced our speaker, Trooper Earl Prince. He was a medic in the US Navy, a sheriff, now GSP officer.

     Earl began by admitting he has been in law enforcement for 18 years, 5 as sheriff, and 13 in the State Patrol.

     He began on the new law for cell phones. The law only covers cell phones carried by a school bus driver. There are 4 additional bills in the legislature. One is Senate Bill 360, which says no texting while driving if 18 years or younger (he believes it should apply to any age). Tennessee is the only bordering state with such a law.

     Superspeeder law. In 2008, there were over 300,000 accidents, over 100,000 injuries, and speeding was a major factor, leading to 309 fatalities. The law states that if anyone is going over 75 mph on any 2-lane road, $200 is added to the regular previous fine, plus a $50 administrative fee. That $250 is sent directly to the state to help fund trauma centers.

     Regarding seat belts. Any child under 6 y/o must be seated in an approved safety seat, and if below 12 months and 20# must be facing the rear. But it doesn't matter which passenger seat he is seated in, although the rear is recommended. In Georgia, if you are over 18 and driving a pick-up truck, you are officially a "bubba" and don't have to wear a seat belt, unless you cross state lines or run into a Mack truck.

     He talked about Class C license. One need not apply if not 12 months point-free, and it takes 24 months to drop any points. Parent or legal guardian must sign application, and parent can revoke permit. Teenager must not drive 12 - 6 AM. If under 18 and you earn 12 pts in 12 months, you will have license suspended.

     You must move over one lane if there is an emergency vehicle with flashing lights (yes-no-yes-no). A violation is a "moving violation" and costs 3 pts plus up to $500 fine. Speeding tickets cost 6 pts if failing to yield, going over 34 mph above posted speed limit, or exhibiting "aggressive driving."

If driving 19-23 mph over limit, it can cost 3 pts, as can disobedience. Having an open container can cost 2 pts. If your child is not restrained, first offense costs one point, thereafter 2 pts per offense.

     One clever Rotarian asked how much leeway does he give over the speed limit. He says it depends on the officer, traffic conditions, and other variables. Another Rotarian admitted that he might drive 6 mpe over the limit on the open highway, and Earl admitted that wouldn't worry him.

     Motorcycle units were re-instated in Atlanta, as they had faster response time to accident scenes. See link below:

  http://dps.georgia.gov/02/dps/home/0,2228,5635600,00.html;jsessionid=B8B406E01DAFD7B91B8C0D93A39F47DE