Jones County police lost driver’s respect

I've heard about travelers saying that they will never return to Cedar Rapids because of what they believe was an unfair camera ticket on Interstate 380. I understand their frustration.

On Thanksgiving, I received a speeding ticket in Jones County while traveling to get Grandma out of a nursing home to spend the holiday with us. As a CDL driver, this wasn't my first ticket, nor will it be my last.

What made this traffic stop so different was the behavior of the officer. He was an overzealous bully who did all he possibly could to try and tease me into a more serious situation. I contested the ticket in court (thank God that is our right!) and lost.

Will my family ever travel through Jones County again? No. But not because we want to “punish” their businesses. It's because our family has lost respect for Jones County police.

I suspect that the same argument could be made for the police here. If these cameras are truly for public safety, then perhaps our city should use them in conjunction with those overpriced message boards that are positioned just before the cameras. That way, we have given every opportunity for these travelers to observe the law!

Residents want to feel that the police are here to “serve and protect,” not just out to rob them.

Brad Shoemaker

Cedar Rapids