So Apparently state law does not apply to cops (texting while driving)

[HumblePie]

I will say I thought this thread is a repost from something in P&N cause I remember reading about this weeks ago.

 

[squarecut1]

The speed limits, stop signs etc also don't apply to cops - even when they don't have the siren / lights on.

The laws are for the great unwashed only...

 

[jlee]

Texting is misleading. But is looking away from the wheel and typing on a laptop screen any different?

However you look at it, it's negligence and a person died from the distraction.

I don't disagree, but it is a blatantly intentionally dishonest headline.

 

[jlee]

Getting killed by police negligence: it's not just for poor black kids anymore.

Because the media doesn't care about white kids and police.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news...erage-of-/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS

 

[Phoenix86]

I think people just assume because he was texting prior to the accident that it is somehow relevant to him using his computer and getting into an accident.

BUT WHY?

If I'm playing a video game, stop, get in the car and drive the fact I was playing a game a minute earlier is completely irrelevant. It doesn't mean I was playing a video game while driving.

NS1 is on the real issue here, he LIED about the incident to cover it up.

 

[Phoenix86]

The speed limits, stop signs etc also don't apply to cops - even when they don't have the siren / lights on.

The laws are for the great unwashed only...

That's not true (by law) anywhere I have ever been. Maybe in an obscure municipality or something but in general they can only violate speed/stop lights/signs with lights and sirens rolling.

In practice, yeah, one cop car isn't going to pull another one over.

 

[jlee]

That's not true (by law) anywhere I have ever been. Maybe in an obscure municipality or something but in general they can only violate speed/stop lights/signs with lights and sirens rolling.

In practice, yeah, one cop car isn't going to pull another one over.

That's not entirely correct....I was reading a while back about a few Arizona agencies that got in a feud and kept stopping each other for stuff.

NH also required lights or siren for speed, and lights *and* siren for stop signs/traffic lights.

 

[Childs]

From the article:

In a statement taken at the scene, Wood claimed that Olin had veered into his lane. The DA reported that the opposite was true.

So not only is texting while driving OK for cops, but apparently falsifying your statement to the cops is OK too.

And why they hell are they texting anyway...they have radios and cell phones. No excuse not to go hands free.

 

[her209]

Well there is this story.

Details still unclear after deputy shoots 10-year-old in manhunt
http://www.walb.com/story/25999058/...ty-deputy-in-manhunt-douglas-not-need-surgery

 

[smackababy]

BUT WHY?

If I'm playing a video game, stop, get in the car and drive the fact I was playing a game a minute earlier is completely irrelevant. It doesn't mean I was playing a video game while driving.

It shouldn't be relevant at all, but since there hadn't been a cop hate thread in like 6 hours, as noted by purbeast, we all have to jump on the bandwagon as quickly as possible for every reason!

NS1 is on the real issue here, he LIED about the incident to cover it up.

Do we even know he lied? He could have actually believed the cyclist swerved into this lane (as he was going straight, and the road and cyclists curved with it). So, he could have been under the impression the cyclist did swerve into this lane.

The reality of the situation is: he was using his laptop to answer a service call about possibly being required to provide backup to another officer. In doing so, he took his full attention off the road for some brief amount of time and it resulted in a tragic accident. Rather than wanting to lynch the cop, why don't we think of better ways for this to be avoided in the future? Cops are still going to have to communicate and use their laptops. Why don't we try and find a way, or training, to better accommodate and facilitate that while driving?


And, let's be honest here, the cyclist was at fault no matter what!

 

[BoberFett]

That's not true (by law) anywhere I have ever been. Maybe in an obscure municipality or something but in general they can only violate speed/stop lights/signs with lights and sirens rolling.

In practice, yeah, one cop car isn't going to pull another one over.

That's not entirely correct....I was reading a while back about a few Arizona agencies that got in a feud and kept stopping each other for stuff.

NH also required lights or siren for speed, and lights *and* siren for stop signs/traffic lights.

The reality is that cops speed all the time in their patrol cars with no lights or sirens, and even let each other off as "professional courtesies" even when they're pulled over in their personal vehicles.

But no, it's just a few bad apples...

 

[jlee]

The reality is that cops speed all the time in their patrol cars with no lights or sirens, and even let each other off as "professional courtesies" even when they're pulled over in their personal vehicles.

But no, it's just a few bad apples...

Oh, you again. Drawn by the bright light of cophating?

 

[Rinaun]

I'm being 100% honest when I say I'm starting to think being a cop is the way to go in life. It's like a never-ending frat and as long as you don't cause waves, you have the ability to get out of almost anything in life by flashing your badge. This is on top of the best benefits for govt agencies (at least in San Jose).

Don't get me wrong, there are good/great cops, but its just so rare to see those cops. Most cops I've seen are "couldn't make it at college/military" wannabes.

 

[smackababy]

The reality is that cops speed all the time in their patrol cars with no lights or sirens, and even let each other off as "professional courtesies" even when they're pulled over in their personal vehicles.

But no, it's just a few bad apples...

And normal people don't speed all the time? So, when a cop breaks a law you routinely break it is bad, but it is just fine for you to do it?

 

[Linflas]

I was in traffic court once and watched a guy get a distracted driving ticket dismissed by cross examining(?) (not sure if that is a proper term for Joe Citizen in traffic court) the cop asking him if he ever did things like change radio stations, use the 2 way etc. The cop of course answered yes to each question and he then said to the judge that he maintained that in each of those instances the cop was guilty of distracted driving. He then ruined his whole presentation by launching into his Constitutional arguments at which time the judge shut him down and dismissed the ticket.

 

[Phoenix86]

That's not entirely correct....I was reading a while back about a few Arizona agencies that got in a feud and kept stopping each other for stuff.

NH also required lights or siren for speed, and lights *and* siren for stop signs/traffic lights.

Yeah, but you off all people know about "professional courtesy". If it were normal for cops to be pulled over for violating the law it wouldn't have escalated into a feud. It'd be business as usual.

 

[Phoenix86]

And normal people don't speed all the time? So, when a cop breaks a law you routinely break it is bad, but it is just fine for you to do it?

Except normal people do, with regularity, get pulled over for these things. Cops also, with regularity also break these laws (as much as anyone else, I'm sure), however........

 

[BoberFett]

And normal people don't speed all the time? So, when a cop breaks a law you routinely break it is bad, but it is just fine for you to do it?

When I break a law a cop is within his duties to take action against me. Pull me over for speeding, ticket me, etc.

Cops are allowed to do it with no repercussion.

See the difference? Stop and think before opening your piehole.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

I remember making a post about this back in 2009 and everyone got mad at me.

 

[jlee]

Yeah, but you off all people know about "professional courtesy". If it were normal for cops to be pulled over for violating the law it wouldn't have escalated into a feud. It'd be business as usual.

For what it's worth, I've never let an LEO off for anything I haven't also let a "normal citizen" off with as well. I also happened to stop maybe 5-10 LEOs in five years, vs thousands of other stops.

Maybe things are different in NH than wherever most of ATOT lives? I dunno.

 

[jlee]

I'm being 100% honest when I say I'm starting to think being a cop is the way to go in life. It's like a never-ending frat and as long as you don't cause waves, you have the ability to get out of almost anything in life by flashing your badge. This is on top of the best benefits for govt agencies (at least in San Jose).

Don't get me wrong, there are good/great cops, but its just so rare to see those cops. Most cops I've seen are "couldn't make it at college/military" wannabes.

Get hit, spit on, bled on, hated by almost everyone, work nights, weekends, holidays, potentially get sued for doing something, or get sued for not doing something, and get constantly worsening retirement benefits?

Firefighting is the way to go if you want "perks." Everybody loves a firefighter. They have ridiculous schedules (our guys worked one day/night, had two off, worked one, had four off), get paid well, often get to hang out, BBQ, wash firetrucks, and sleep.

I am less than two years in IT and am making more than I would have if I stayed with my PD (which would give me almost 8 years' experience), I work M-F, have nights, weekends, and most holidays off, and an income trajectory that is very enticing.

I miss law enforcement and would love to be a reserve officer somewhere, but I do not miss LE as a career.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Do any laws apply to cops? Who would have more fire power than them that can enforce them? Military I guess?

 

[jlee]

Do any laws apply to cops? Who would have more fire power than them that can enforce them? Military I guess?

The military doesn't enforce civilian law. It's actually quite strictly prohibited.

 

[Red Squirrel]

The military doesn't enforce civilian law. It's actually quite strictly prohibited.

Yeah was more speaking in theory. I suppose in a situation where things got really bad the military could maybe intervene but even then I don't think it would happen.

 

[jlee]

Yeah was more speaking in theory. I suppose in a situation where things got really bad the military could maybe intervene but even then I don't think it would happen.

Given that you're seeing LEOs refusing to enforce laws they see as unconstitutional, I would hope it never becomes a problem requiring attention. Sorry for the extremist news sites..that's what popped up in Google:

http://conservativetribune.com/ny-police-wont-enforce-anti-gun-law/

http://www.americasfreedomfighters....olice-refuse-to-enforce-new-gun-control-laws/

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/16/u...-laws-on-gun-control.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Quote from the 2nd link:

Hardy reported that with the lack of support of police, Connecticut faces massive civilian resistance, with police officers refusing to enforce a law that to most citizens crosses a line that is unacceptable in a free society.

Different topic entirely...but we're far from what many people call "a police state."