| Author | Message | ||
     Mayor McCheese Supporter Username: Mayor_mccheese  Post Number: 2208 Registered: 7-2004  |
It is too bad that there is no one to ticket police for their bad driving. There I was driving across Prospect on Parker with a green light. Then to my left a police car comes and doesn't stop at the red light. No lights on, not speeding, just not stopping for the light. It was too late for me to stop, so I hit the gas in my attempt to avoid him. I might have been going 15 - 20 mph. Well, he put on the brakes and didn't hit me and the car full of children. But what the hell!? Just because you are in a police car doesn't mean you can make up your own driving rules. And the worst thing about this was that he pulls behind me on Parker, and as I turned on to Summit Ave I could see him slow down and stare at my car. I wish he had followed me, I would have pulled over and given him a piece of my mind. While I like the way that police protect me, I don't like it when they try to kill me. | ||
| KRNL Citizen Username: Krnl Post Number: 124 Registered: 9-2005 |
I agree. In their normal patrolling Maplewood's police drivers are a paradigm of how NOT to drive. They never signal a left or right turn, go through stop signs and red lights without stopping and too frequently seem to be speeding when not responding to a call. In the past couple of days I've seen them apparently speeding to respond to a call--high speed through intersections, no flashing lights, no 'beeping' of the siren at intersections, going through red lights. I understand urgency and speed when responding to an emergency, but I don't understand the recklessness that so frequently appears to acompany their driving. | ||
| amandacat Citizen Username: Amandacat Post Number: 1180 Registered: 8-2001  |
I saw this while walking home from the train earlier this week: a police car comes zooming up Oakview (from the direction of Valley) with lights flashing, catches up to a car stopped in the left turn lane at Dunnell, pulls up to the LEFT of that car and makes a RIGHT (around the left turning car) turn onto Dunnell, then pulls into the police station parking lot and parks. That's it. No real emergency. I was flabbergasted! | ||
| Matt Foley Citizen Username: Mattfoley Post Number: 789 Registered: 6-2004  |
fyi: If you are hit by a police/fire/ems vehicle in the line of duty (anytime) you cannot claim it against the town or it's insurance. It will be filed through your insurance carrier end of story. | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 9164 Registered: 5-2001  |
Years ago, I was sitting in a left turn only lane (in JC) and there was an unmarked cop in the right turn only lane. When the light changed, he jumped in front of me and turned left. No lights, siren, nothing. I hit my brakes and horn. I also yelled "what's your problem?" and shook my hand at him. Well, he pulled me over. We had a face-off. He said things like "you gestured" and I said things like "yes I did; you starled me." At one point, he started to lecture me on how he was racing to the scene of a crime and I told him that he'd best hurry up with his little traffic stop, then. I didn't get a ticket, but my blood pressure waws thru the roof. The abuse of power infuriates me. Not that I think MPD is that bad (I would hope) but it's not like they are stuck in a NYC-style traffic jam. What is especially appalling is that traffic laws are public safety laws. What's gonna happen when one of them causes an accident? | ||
| hch Citizen Username: Hch Post Number: 365 Registered: 8-2002 |
I routinely see police cars speed in my neighborhood. No lights, no sirens, just speeding. | ||
| eb1154 Citizen Username: Eb1154 Post Number: 539 Registered: 5-2001 |
I am not defending any of these incidents because I was not there, but there are some reasons they drive in some of the manners described here. Sometimes a call requires no lights and sirens so they don't tip the perp that they are coming or are near. Going to the left while you are in the left lane even if the right lane is open is one of the first things you learn when driving an emergency vehicle. Just as we as citizens are taught to pull to the right when an emergency vehicle is approaching. Lights on and parking at the Police Station usually means they had a prisoner in the car. | ||
| Soda Supporter Username: Soda Post Number: 4161 Registered: 5-2001  |
SOPD rocks, but the Parking Authority guys are a joke. -s. | ||
| John Caffrey Citizen Username: Jerseyjack Post Number: 549 Registered: 11-2005 |
eb1154, as you are an officer, I appreciate the insight you give. Except for one thing...when approaching a perp, it is a good idea to not use the siren. However, why not at least use the lights? If you are so close that he is going to see the lights, the cover will be blown in a minute or less anyway. Now, if its a choice between blowing the cover and finding my ••• in the hospital because of some cop's decision to play Marshall Dillon, I will chose blowing the cover any day. Other opinions? Damn. Dave's program wouldn't let me write •••. | ||
| Scully Citizen Username: Scully Post Number: 1002 Registered: 8-2005 |
Why do you think eb1154 is an officer? | ||
| John Caffrey Citizen Username: Jerseyjack Post Number: 553 Registered: 11-2005 |
Transcendental Psychology. That's why I was accepted as a member of Mensa. If he is willing to identify himself, I bet $5.00 he is a cop and if I win, you can just buy me a coffee at Manny's. | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 9176 Registered: 5-2001 |
Better pay up. Eric is a public servant but he's not a cop.  | ||
| John Caffrey Citizen Username: Jerseyjack Post Number: 555 Registered: 11-2005 |
•••• | ||
| Scully Citizen Username: Scully Post Number: 1003 Registered: 8-2005 |
Ha!!! GOTCHA!!! | ||
| Scully Citizen Username: Scully Post Number: 1004 Registered: 8-2005 |
Oh yeah, thanks greenetree! Guess I'd better get back to work. | ||
| jet Citizen Username: Jet Post Number: 1205 Registered: 7-2001 |
#1 cause of police deaths , heart attack, # 2 driving accidents. | ||
| SO Ref Citizen Username: So_refugee Post Number: 2147 Registered: 2-2005  |
Another pet peeve with local police officers - using a cell phone without a hands-free device. | ||
| Mayor McCheese Supporter Username: Mayor_mccheese Post Number: 2234 Registered: 7-2004 |
SO Ref, I was going to add that to this thread today. Earlier today as I pulled out of my driveway I saw a police officer driving down the street talking on a cell phone. It didn't bother me until I saw him run through the stop sign at the end of the street. If he had seen me do that I would have gotten two tickets. But because he is a cop he can do whatever he wants. | ||
| Buttercup Citizen Username: Buttercup Post Number: 119 Registered: 12-2005  |
Cops are the worst at breaking the law. I was once hanging out with some drunk, idiot cops from Eatontown. In a restaurant parking lot they took out their guns and proceeded to play fight/shoot each other while families and couples walked from the restaurant to their cars. They then drove home. Drunk power-trippers. | ||
| Old and Gray Citizen Username: Pastmyprime Post Number: 409 Registered: 2-2005 |
"Police/fire/ems are exempt from the cell phone law if they are acting within their duties..." I asked and thats what I was told. I questioned a cop on this because it bothers me as well. I think if you see a police car going somewhere in a hurry they are most likely doing something that requires it be done quickly regardless if they have lights and sirens or not. What is safe and reasonable to the public is up to interpretation...If your a cop, im sure you do a lot more dangerous driving, and probably are less sensitive to realize they are being somewhat reckless behind the wheel...On the other hand, if I need Police assistance, I want them there as fast as possible. | ||
| Mayor McCheese Supporter Username: Mayor_mccheese Post Number: 2255 Registered: 7-2004 |
Yes, but if they drive like maniacs and crash on the way to your house they can't help you at all. In addition, the two police I saw and commented on in this thread were not driving fast. They were just ignoring the traffic laws which they didn't feel like obeying at the time. | ||
| jet Citizen Username: Jet Post Number: 1208 Registered: 7-2001 |
Has the cell phone law actualy been enacted ? Is cell phone use while driving illegal or must you be stopped for something else ? | ||
| jet Citizen Username: Jet Post Number: 1209 Registered: 7-2001 |
Nobody has benefited more from cell phones then cops & drug dealers. Got a material delivery in JC , call the cop on the beat $180.00 cash flat rate for him to sit on the delivery . Need to close the street to use a Hi-Lo for an hr. or so $ 60.00 per hr. cash. Nobody wants to take the sargents test. | ||
| SO Ref Citizen Username: So_refugee Post Number: 2153 Registered: 2-2005 |
The cell phone law has been in effect since last year and is a secondary offense, as noted here. Just like seat belts used to be... |
