4 ms·

If those troopers are the same state police who are primarily charged with traffic enforcement and public safety, using them as revenue agents sure seems like a

by bsg75 9y ago

If those troopers are the same state police who are primarily charged with traffic enforcement and public safety, using them as revenue agents sure seems like a misuse of public resources. I wonder if they collect enough tax revenue to cover salary.

tlrobinson 9y ago
> misuse of public resources Is it still misuse if it’s net positive for the state?
- bsg75 9y ago
  I guess it depends on perspective, and how the net is measured. If net positive _revenue_, and your perspective is stage budget (or you benefit from state funding) its a win. If the net is a calculation of revenue, public safety, and overall community, maybe not. Troopers are generally traffic and criminal law enforcement agents - public safety. Tax law enforcement may be the jurisdiction of state police in that region, but its rare to use patrol to enforce those laws. There is typically a division specific to revenue. Taking focus from patrol away from the enforcement of criminal and traffic laws and pivoting that to securing the state budget would be considered by many to be a misuse. If troopers are looking for unpaid taxes, who is looking for reckless or drunk drivers? Who is conducting area patrols where visibility is a much a crime deterrent as actual arrests? What probable cause is used to stop any car at the state border and look at receipts? Traffic violations do not provide for vehicle searches, and IIRC there are no dogs that sniff out undocumented expensed. Such divisions in jurisdiction are in place so that the "long arm of the law" does not get too long.
throwaway2016a 9y ago
To restate my disclaimer: > No idea if they were "boogey man" stories or real though. It may very well be a tall tale designed to scare people into filing their sales tax payments. And/or shopping in state because the net gain for shopping in New Hampshire would be $0.

by bsg75 9y ago

tlrobinson 9y ago

> misuse of public resources Is it still misuse if it’s net positive for the state?

bsg75 9y ago
I guess it depends on perspective, and how the net is measured. If net positive _revenue_, and your perspective is stage budget (or you benefit from state funding) its a win. If the net is a calculation of revenue, public safety, and overall community, maybe not. Troopers are generally traffic and criminal law enforcement agents - public safety. Tax law enforcement may be the jurisdiction of state police in that region, but its rare to use patrol to enforce those laws. There is typically a division specific to revenue. Taking focus from patrol away from the enforcement of criminal and traffic laws and pivoting that to securing the state budget would be considered by many to be a misuse. If troopers are looking for unpaid taxes, who is looking for reckless or drunk drivers? Who is conducting area patrols where visibility is a much a crime deterrent as actual arrests? What probable cause is used to stop any car at the state border and look at receipts? Traffic violations do not provide for vehicle searches, and IIRC there are no dogs that sniff out undocumented expensed. Such divisions in jurisdiction are in place so that the "long arm of the law" does not get too long.

throwaway2016a 9y ago

To restate my disclaimer: > No idea if they were "boogey man" stories or real though. It may very well be a tall tale designed to scare people into filing their sales tax payments. And/or shopping in state because the net gain for shopping in New Hampshire would be $0.