Law Enforcement

I was pulled over by a cop in what I thought was some freak occurrence earlier this week. On a two lane road, the police car was blocking one of the lanes, and the cop was out directing traffic through the one remaining lane, and he was motioning for vehicles in my lane to keep driving. So, I kept going, when suddenly he started waving his flags like crazy and stepped out in front of my car. I stopped, of course, and rolled down my window, and the following conversation ensued:

Cop: Ma'am, you were going way to fast for seeing a cop car.

Me: I was not speeding, and you were motioning me on.

Cop: But it's rainy and the roads are slippery. (Note: I won't deny that the roads were wet, but it wasn't a downpour, just little showers here and there)

Me: Okayyyyyy?

Cop: You just need to be more careful.

So, I continue on my way, wondering what the heck that was about. I'd done nothing wrong. Was the cop just so arrogant that he was upset that I didn't cower at his presence? I assumed so.

It was only after telling the story to a few people that I was told about some new law pertaining to moving over for emergency vehicles. It sounded an awful lot like what people are supposed to do for ambulances, so I looked into it.

Move Over America.

Apparently, there are a significant amount of police injuries and deaths due to cars hitting them while they are standing on the side of the road with another car, giving out a ticket. The new law states that you have to move over a lane and slow down to 20 mph below the posted speed limit. In more searching, I found a news article specifically geared towards Monroe county. It explained that the law has been around since January, but they are really starting to enforce it now and over the next several weeks.

So, here's my problem: How is an average citizen supposed to find out about this, or any other new law? Having an unpublicized law will not create change. I think it is also unfair to punish citizens for doing something that they very well may not have known was wrong. If the government wants to pass new laws, and cops want to enforce them, they should find a way to communicate them to the entire population.

Here's my next problem: They did try to communicate. There was a story on the local the news and in the newspaper. Maybe this makes me an abnormal citizen, but I do not have a TV or get the newspaper. Both of these things cost money. Even online newspaper subscriptions cost money. Just the internet service I used to find the article online costs me near $50 a month. I pay taxes to the state and federal government. I should NOT have to have an additional paid service to find out what they are doing and how it will effect me.

My thought is simply to offer a grace period on punishment for breaking new laws. I'm sure a cop can tell when talking to someone about an offense that they are totally clueless. Instead of giving them a ticket, for the first year or so of the law, give them an explanation.