Tacoma Suburb of Fircrest Issues Record Number of Traffic Tickets
As local suburbs become strapped for cash, police are issuing more traffic tickets, especially speeding tickets. Take Fircrest, for example.
Fircrest is a 1.5-square-mile Tacoma suburb of approximately 6,000 people situated between Tacoma and University Place. Unfortunately for drivers, Fircrest's elected officials are supportive of an increase in traffic citations.
According to the Tacoma News Tribune, police issued a record number of traffic citations - upwards of 3,400 - from 2005 to 2006. Criminal citations are up a whopping 90 percent in the same time period!
Officers, such as Police Chief John Cheesman (yes, that's really his name), are supported by $47,000 in overtime pay so that they may continue their extra patrols. Yes, officers are actually paid extra money to issue traffic tickets.
Chief Cheesman recommends that speeders need to "slow down or go around" Fircrest. Apparently he is not very business-friendly and will not be heading Fircrest's Chamber of Commerce any time soon.
Fircrest Mayor David Viafore is also "extremely proud" of the patrol program.
If you have been one of the unfortunate recipients of a speeding ticket or other traffic citation in Fircrest, give me a call, I can help.
Amazing.
Great post Jon. I think you should create a Google map for all of the "Red Towns" that are screwing tax payers and hassling us "Free Americans" with "THE LAW".
Its time Amercian wake the heck up and fight this travesty. We all hate being "hunted" by our own police force that we fund with our taxes.
So now we know not to STOP or SHOP in Fircrest.
Best, Tim R.
About 2 years ago I was pulled over by fircrest PD in a parking lot. Caught on radar.
I employed a local attorney to fight the ticket and learned that Fircrest has a full time prosecutor even for their traffic offenses.
I appeard in court and was told by my attorney that we were to go last. When I went before the Judge, all charges were dismissed.
What shocked me more was that the prosecutor didnt want the other cases to be heard regarding the radar before mine went to court.
Its high time that we as citizens start to realize that the courts and traffic enforcement arent about safety, its about commerce under the guise of safety.
Its only going to get worse..
Peace
I'm happy to go around Fircrest. In fact, I haven't gone though Fircrest in a decade.
As I recall, their speed limit is 15. I suppose if I have to, just to be safe, I could go 10. Hope the residents aren't in a rush. Ever.