Just something to read, not worth the bash...

This was printed in the Caldonian Record Sat,


Island Pond First In NEK For Ticket Revenue


BY JACOB L. GRANT, Staff Writer
Saturday December 2, 2006


The controversy surrounding Brighton Constable Ted Miller is nothing new, nor are claims that his strict traffic enforcement is merely a ticket revenue operation for the town.

A report from the Vermont Judicial Bureau indicates that Brighton reigns as No. 1 in the Northeast Kingdom for generating revenue from traffic tickets and is No. 10 in the state.

According to the report, Brighton, population 1,200, generated about $71,000 in ticket revenue between July 2005 and June 2006. It is followed by the town of Newport, population, 1,500, which generated about $37,000 and North Troy, population 700, which received about $35,000.

Robert Greemore, director of administrative services at the Vermont Supreme Court, said a town's ticket revenue can't be gauged based on population because such revenue includes tickets issued to out-of-town travelers, which are sometimes more than those issued to local people.

The revenue listed in the report reflects money from tickets issued by all law enforcement entities, added Greemore, though Brighton, for example, generates its revenue through Miller's persistence.

"I don't write tickets to make money," Miller said after considering the figures. "I just do it for public safety reasons."

Miller said Brighton's high ticket revenue comes from the busy intersection in the village of Island Pond, which sees people traveling to and from New Hampshire and Canada. It's a high-traffic area, he said, and during the summer and winter tourist seasons the population swells.

Joel Cope, the town's administrative assistant, said the traffic at that intersection is horrible. Nearly a dozen state officials once studied the area, added some signage to better alert people to the intersection, and converted the 30-inch diameter stop signs to 36, but people still blow through, he said.

"People insinuate that they were given a ticket and they didn't do anything wrong," Cope said. "Yes, they did. That's a dangerous intersection."

Cope said Miller videotapes all of his traffic stops and wins nearly every challenge brought against him.

Cope also said that Miller does not receive any revenue from the tickets he issues, nor does it affect his salary when he is elected. The money goes into the general fund and is at the town's disposal to use, he said.

Businesses Affected?

"We won't be going through Island Pond anymore," is a commonly written phrase throughout dozens of letters to the editor to area newspapers about Miller. Some business owners are tight-lipped about commenting on the issue, others don't seem to mind.

"Ted is going to be Ted, and Ted is doing his job," said Craig Goulet, owner of Brighton Chevrolet. "I think he's doing a great job. What hurts us more is not having snow, not having the deer population that we used to have."

Goulet said about 50 percent of Brighton's homes are owned by out-of-town residents. During the summer months, and also in the snowmobile season, the population increases enormously and Miller has to become a one-man police force. Maybe he could write more warnings, Goulet said, maybe he does frighten a few people away, but, "I think he's doing a great job."

Ted Firestine, owner of Ted's Market, said customers often complain to him about the strict law enforcement in town, especially out-of-towners. He said he thinks the intersection in Island Pond is confusing to people and said perhaps too many traffic tickets are issued for honest mistakes when a warning would be sufficient. However, there are two sides to every story, he added.

"I think we do generate a little too much revenue from traffic tickets," he said. "As a business in this area, we need to generate our revenue from our tourists in a proper manner and make them feel welcome in Island Pond."

"I think what happens," Miller said, "is you get a group of people that don't like me, can't prevail against me in court, and they try to villainize me and try to make up things to make me look like I'm doing something wrong."

Statewide Statistics

Brighton maybe No. 1 in the Kingdom, but throughout the state it's No. 10, overshadowed by South Burlington: population 15,000, revenue $159,000; Woodstock: population 3,200, revenue $154,000; and Bridgewater: population 980, revenue $150,800.

When assessing towns like Bridgewater, it's clear that with revenue topping that of Burlington's $115,000, it's not the local community that contributes to that revenue, it's out-of-state drivers, especially if the town is located on a major highway. Bridgewater, for example, located on the popular Route 4, which runs from Portsmouth, N.H., to East Greenbush, N.Y., sees heavy traffic going both ways and is patrolled by the sheriff's department 10 hours a day, seven days a week.

Town Treasurer Victoria Young said the route experiences heavy seasonal traffic as well, and there is a school along the road, which is why it is monitored so closely. People have been clocked going 70 and 80 mph, she said.

Newport Selectman Steve Barrup said it's a similar situation in Newport where a major road, Route 105, runs right through town. The speed limit drops dramatically from 50 mph to 35, which is the speed everywhere in the town of Newport. The 35 mph ordinance throughout town makes it easier for law enforcement to win cases in court, Barrup added, so Newport's revenue could be slightly higher because of that.

"Any contact you have with the police is really self-inflicted, absent of being a victim," said Lenny Zenonos, chief of police in North Troy. "Most officers are seriously injured or killed while doing traffic stops. It's not like we enjoy doing this."

Zenonos said the ticket revenue statistics are hard to gauge because of the complicated formula the state uses to distribute revenue, depending on what law enforcement agency issues the ticket and whether it was issued under a state statute or town ordinance. He thought the numbers for North Troy sounded too high.








KR

He is killing that little town. Hardly anybody wants to go there anymore because of him. He is the reason Rock Maple stopped racing there.

I'm glad they mentioned Newport, there freaken tough there too

Interesting, reading the complete article shows the tourist trap of the rich Woodstock and skier travel alley Bridgewater having more ticket revenue. Wonder if those travelers or the locals are complaining there. I doubt those folks who keep traveling through the towns enroute their favorite playlands have found new destination places.

woodstock is different as it gets most of their ticket revenue from trucks. that town HATES tractor trailors, dumptrucks, log trucks and everything else. if the driver looks at the cop funny, they get pulled over and the scales come out. portion of these local cops are DMV CERTIFIED!!! what's that tell ya?

our log truck got a $5,000 one day. luckily, we beat it on a technicality.

this summer we performed a road reconstruction requiring a lot of hauling with the dumps... we made it clear to the higher-up that if they left our trucks alone, the job would go much faster and be much cheaper. never had a problem.

Woodstock is a very rich town......... I worked on the hockey rink and the superintendent on the job said if you go into town DONT Speed. I went into town and saw a few cops just in 5 minutes....... Woodstock is a pretty hardass town.

Now I'm sure I won't be going to VT to sled, ever.

Sweet, just one example why i love vt trails,stories like these plus insurance keeps most uninsured riders on the wrong side of the trail in NH. Don't get me wrong I love to ride in pittsburg once in awhile during the week ,but even then i almost got killed by two yahoos on my side of the trail the year before last. Just seems everyone is more accountable in VT

Hey OT, that ain't right
Vermont and Island Pond are in the spot light and have been for a few years. You know what kills me is entire state of NH makes all there revenue from giving out tickets and citations.

Both on the trail and on the Roads the NH cops set up sneaky hidding spots and nab ya. I never seen a worst State. But you don't hear anyone bitching about that because its a huge source of income for NH. So stay where you are and the next time your driving through Colebrook or Lancaster keep your good eye open for that speed trap cause you know there gonna be there. Or even better when your all cruizing down the straight aways on trail 112, 137 or 138 and see the cops I hope you get that sick feeling in your belly.

In Vt we know where the tough cops are so you be careful, maybe even stop and bulshit with the enemy? at least we know where they hang out. JMO

been up in the northeast kingdom during the winter the last three years. the speed trap on the way to jay peak is notorious and you just slow down (btw jay peak even talked about on their website)

in island pond been down there to eat and pass thru many times - damn i know the 35 on the way into to town seems like the truck is going stall :tease: but it is what it is. i get to the stop at simon the tanner and sit. i make sure i look both ways three times and with ted sitting accross from me never an issue even with massachusetts plates. like dgree said you kinda know where to be carefull and if you are they wont single an out of stater out.

do i think it is right - hell no !

but i just take that can't fight city hall approach

i am fortunate enough to not have had a run in with "teddy the terrible" yet... would like to keep it that way... :beerchug:

and if you ever get a log truck, don't ever take it through woodstock.



don't be fooled, we have more than our share of yahoos over here as well. every year i have more than one close encounter. it's just the way it is.

I would like to see some new roads built to bypass these communities. It is very hard when you travel alot like I do. I have made my share of contributions in VT.

Ummmm... Is this suuposed to upset us Vermonter's? What a jackass......

lmao...Is that all it takes to wind you up? Me saying I won't be riding Vt.? It merits getting called a jackass? Hmmm...one more reason to not bother.

You can ride w/me in Derby anytime you want but you need to bring your own towstrap.

Wouldn't be the first Ski Doo I towed out HO, you're on!

play nice in the sandbox children or you may have to be put in a timeout.

Nah, don't worry,all in fun.Gotta admit tho,he waxed me on that one!

I remember when I was a kid , woodstock was voted the prettiest town in America.

I usually register Maine , NH and VT every yr. They all have good things and they all have drawbacks ( nh has statewide speedlimits. VT has speed limits on state owned land) Maine I have to freeze my balls off to have a smoke after dinner , well VT too