[targa911man]

Cut the guy a break. The officer was just a compassionate conservative doing his job.

[Jim Richards]

Originally Posted by targa911man

Cut the guy a break. The officer was just a compassionate conservative doing his job.

I wonder, did he start out being a "war officer" and now redefined himself as a "peace officer?"

[Vicegrip]

I saw this broadcast when it aired. Yes it is stupid to sit on the side of the road for an ambulance when he could save the sit time and drive but the cop was only doing his job as written. What if they did not make it? Have a baby in the back seat with no help or in the back of an ambluance with a trained person at hand.
The hubby and wife also admitted they were a little short with the cop and kinda gave him the "talk to the hand" 'tude. The cop could have hammered the driver with far more of a ticket but was not a total @$$#%. He had to write the guy up for something as he had to follow them to the hospital while they drove on the side of the road past traffic. He then found something small $ and low to no points.

No comment on the hubby and wife waiting so long to go in the first place? For the most part babies only pop out fast and without prior notice in the movies.

[Jazzbass]

That true - to the letter of the law, the cop was doing his job. And cops always write a ticket for someone when they break a traffic law, regardless of circumstance, right?

Oh, unless the guy driving is an ther cop. Or a judge. Or a prosecuter. Or a Senator. Or a Representative.

[Parenn911]

What a fine example of Johnny Law "protecting and serving the public" . The funny thing is that probably 10-15 years ago, the cop would have escorted the couple to the hospital and said congratulations instead of handing them a ticket. Hossa's nowadays, that's all they are.

[VaSteve]

Originally Posted by jazzbass

Oh, unless the guy driving is an ther cop. Or a judge. Or a prosecuter. Or a Senator. Or a Representative.

Or a sports figure, or a movie star, or someone else we deem a celebrity...

Chris, you have a PM (on another topic).

[markwemple]

Just another time where rural NY kick's MD/Va butt. MY dad was rushing to the hospital to keep up with the ambulance taking my mother there when a sherriff pulled him over. He recognized my dad as he was the officer who responded to their home and escorted him to the hospital. My dad did not have an emergency but the officer understood my dad's situation and acted responcibly and kindly. Obviously in FAirfax, the $ is king (well, everywhere down here for that matter). The cop follewed the letter of the law but as a judge will tell you there are exceptions to all rules. I, for one, would never believe that an ambulance would arrive in 5 minutes. No one pulls over for them, down here, so they get stuck like everyone else. The cop should have used his flashlight to find his heart then escorted them, took the time to advice the husband on why the stop took place (safety issues) and to not do it again. End of story. Man do I feel like being able to call cops in when they pass a disabled vehicle to catch a speeder doing 5-10 over.

[Eli]

Arlington county isn't much better. When I bought my 912 I took the plates of my other car to drive the 912 home, which is roughly 4 miles from where it was parked.
While driving down Wilson Blvd at about 5:30 in the afternoon a police woman jumped off the curb and right in front of my car with the radar gun in hand, waving and screaming at me to pull over.
I asked why I was getting pulled over to which she replied "speeding"
She went throught the usual routine "License and registration...etc" I handed her my license and the title, went on to explain that I just bought the car and was driving it home. She went back to the car, called for back up, two more cars showed up.
Through the bullhorn she instructed me to step out of the car and place my hands on top of the vehile. Two more cops proceeded to search me, the whole car, all my belongings, etc.
After all said and done she impounded my car saying I can pick it up after properly registering it in my name and gave me a ticket for improper registration (which I can understand) and "aggresive driving (following too closesly)" (yeah right, this is at 5:30 on wilson in rush hour traffic, who's not following too closely....) I asked her what happened to the original "speeding" her and the 3 other cops just chuckled...
Now I've got a court date in October for both charges...can't wait!!!

[markwemple]

You got to love cops. Anything for a search. Yup, another white man driving an old german car - must be drugs there somewhere? Seriously be glad you aren't hispanic. I can't tell you how many bogus tickets those guys get! Anyway, fight the ticket. There must be somewhere during the incident that they stepped over the line and you may get off. Atleast make them work for their pay. Heck, you know they don't have a clue about your constiututional rights.

[Eli]

Originally Posted by markwemple

Anyway, fight the ticket.

I've been looking for a decent lawyer, a happy median between an overpriced "downtown" type and your run of the mill $200 flat fee...