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Doesn’t sound that different from traffic control details in Massachusetts. While I don't know the details of their agreements first hand, I believe they are r

by kbos87 3y ago

Doesn’t sound that different from traffic control details in Massachusetts. While I don't know the details of their agreements first hand, I believe they are required by law to be off-duty cops, they are expensive, and have something like a 6 hour minimum. What I can validate is that they are usually seen chatting with people or sitting in their car rather than doing a single thing to help streamline traffic or in the interest of safety. Their union props up laws by saying it needs to be someone experienced and couldn’t be a cheaper certified citizen (as it is in many other states) but the net effect is that you get someone who is entitled and complacent.

ben7799 3y ago
Came here to mention this. It's the biggest shakedown of all time in Massachusetts. They are required to do all these jobs that most states don't require them to do. They are extremely expensive, like 10x what a construction worker costs to wave flags on the side of the road. And the police don't even really pretend to do the job most of the time. They are off on the side of the road drinking coffee and playing with a smartphone. What I have seen is lots of contractors will try to do things on the sly to avoid having to hire the police detail. E.x. a tree cutting crew that is technically going to block the road even briefly. The police detail will cost more than the work crew costs, so the contractor will try to sneak it in, otherwise the customer avoids having the work done completely or can't afford it. Even if the tree cutting takes 15 minutes the property owner would have to pay an entire shift's pay for the police detail. In the case of the original article though.. rowdy night clubs having to have police on board is no different than police being present in a school a large sports gathering.. it makes sense as those situations can be a powder keg waiting to go off.
- kbos87 3y ago
  If I thought we had a chance against the police union, I'd suggest we co-found a computer vision startup that does the same job for free ;)
  - ben7799 3y ago
    Anytime I drive through VT or NH it's amazing how well the construction workers direct traffic, and they don't get to charge $100 an hour or whatever the police actually charge.

by kbos87 3y ago

ben7799 3y ago

Came here to mention this. It's the biggest shakedown of all time in Massachusetts. They are required to do all these jobs that most states don't require them to do. They are extremely expensive, like 10x what a construction worker costs to wave flags on the side of the road. And the police don't even really pretend to do the job most of the time. They are off on the side of the road drinking coffee and playing with a smartphone. What I have seen is lots of contractors will try to do things on the sly to avoid having to hire the police detail. E.x. a tree cutting crew that is technically going to block the road even briefly. The police detail will cost more than the work crew costs, so the contractor will try to sneak it in, otherwise the customer avoids having the work done completely or can't afford it. Even if the tree cutting takes 15 minutes the property owner would have to pay an entire shift's pay for the police detail. In the case of the original article though.. rowdy night clubs having to have police on board is no different than police being present in a school a large sports gathering.. it makes sense as those situations can be a powder keg waiting to go off.

kbos87 3y ago
If I thought we had a chance against the police union, I'd suggest we co-found a computer vision startup that does the same job for free ;)
- ben7799 3y ago
  Anytime I drive through VT or NH it's amazing how well the construction workers direct traffic, and they don't get to charge $100 an hour or whatever the police actually charge.