Normally, I don't even get involved in matters like this... Being from the enforcement side, I think I can help a bit. Lots of opinions out regrarding cops and doing there job just to screw over people. Well if the officer isn't out there, he gets complaints that he's not doing his job. Yes, he should be out solving "real" crime but, there are breaks between the action so..... Then there is the assigned traffic cop. What do you think he's gonna do. The officer's job is to enforce the laws that were decided upon by the people. Folks like to say that they didn't vote for that law, correct but the majority did vote for the representatives that drive the system. (sorry if you were on the loosing side)

Yes, fines and penalties are for generating income for the county, city, or state. When making a particular law, it's a fact that a percentage of folks won't abide (no matter the circumstance) thus, ensuring a revenue. No county, city, or state can survive on taxes alone so there must be alternative streams. Fines and penalties are an example.

Now, back in my patrol days, my rule was "5 you're fine, 10 you're mine" save for school zones and construction zone, zero tollerance! I can only speak for my agency but, it was left to the descretion of the officer on the out come.

As for safety, I love to go fast the same as the next guy but, there are factors that come into play as well. Area conditions (weather, lighting, side growth, etc.), traffic density, human population density, critter population density, road contidition (pot holes, turns and bends, visability, etc.), then the most important, the unknown (red ball therory, deer jumps, blown tire, etc.) When driving on public roads, its a gamble, in my 15 years as a paramedic and 13 years as a cop, I've seen a good share of those with a loosing hand. "Do you feel lucky?"

I was always told to enforce by the spirit of the law, not the letter... Many more options on both sides. Unless the officer is a complete jerk (of his own accord) don't shoot the messenger. They do empathize, they just have a job to do.