Police departments making up for lost revenue.

I can only speak from what I've seen in the Twin Cities area, but it sure seems that local law enforcement is spending a lot more time behind unsuspecting motorists with the cherries blazin'.

This week alone, visitors to Minneapolis-St. Paul International have seen ramped up enforcement of the speed limits on not only the airport proper, but also the expressway that runs along the east side of the facility. Last week, airport police were perched at the departures area, tagging any vehicle occupants not wearing seat belts. I tell you, it was like shooting fish in a barrel.

While I can understand the use of police resources for this type of enforcement at the airport, what I saw earlier today pushed me over the edge...

In a south Minneapolis neighborhood (Lake St. And Lyndale for the locals), there stood a Minneapolis cop, in the middle of street, pulling motorists over to the side of the road for, you guessed it, seat belt violations.

Now granted, this was 8:30 in the morning, so I'm guessing all the hookers and drug dealers were in bed. At least I didn't see any; But this is nuts! This has nothing to do with protecting the public and everything to do with generating revenue for the ever shrinking city coffers.

The ultimate slap in the face though was a report that a bike trail in an affluent west metro suburb was being patrolled by area police not to protect them from muggers or other wrong doers, but only to write tickets to cyclists unwilling to break momentum to stop for stop signs along the trail.

I don't expect cops not to write tickets and I don't blame the officers. They are only doing as assigned. I just am waiting for the first public official that has the seeds to admit that all this extra ticket writing is a great way to make up for budget shortfalls.

-Adiós.