Maybe all of us should get dash cams:...

Steve_m Loc: Southern California

http://videos.komando.com/watch/5930/viral-videos-you-have-to-see-what-this-dash-cam-caught-a-police-officer-doing?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=tvkim&utm_content=2014-07-03-article-screen-shot-b

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

:oops: :thumbup:

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

IMHO that trucker was arrogant. It is not his job to police the police, besides the fact that police are exempt from the V&T law while on duty. If not then they wouldn't be able to enforce the law(one has to speed in order to catch a speeder).

Bill Coleman

Whose job is it to police the police? When in doubt, err on the side of freedom.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

nimbushopper wrote:

IMHO that trucker was arrogant. It is not his job to police the police, besides the fact that police are exempt from the V&T law while on duty. If not then they wouldn't be able to enforce the law(one has to speed in order to catch a speeder).

As an ex cop I have to tell you that police are not exempt from the traffic laws. Of course they have to speed to catch speeders but other than in the enforcement of laws they have no special rights to disobey traffic laws. If they are over the speed limit to take a report of a crime then they are breaking the law. If speeding to get a severely injured child to a hospital then they are within the scope of their duties.

Dennis

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

dennis2146 wrote:

As an ex cop I have to tell you that police are not exempt from the traffic laws. Of course they have to speed to catch speeders but other than in the enforcement of laws they have no special rights to disobey traffic laws. If they are over the speed limit to take a report of a crime then they are breaking the law. If speeding to get a severely injured child to a hospital then they are within the scope of their duties.

Dennis

Perhaps I should have been more specific! I cannot speak for CA, but in the state of NY from where I am a retired peace officer, I can state unequivocally that police are simply exempt from the V&T law when they are on duty and operating a law enforcement vehicle. Now I am not suggesting that police can or should speed around needlessly talking on a cell phone. If they are caught at it they cannot be given a summons(even by another cop) and especially not by a civilian. Anyone can complain about a PO's actions that don't seem proper, and can do so through proper channels. I did a few years as an internal affairs investigator so I know that this happens.

You said that you are a former cop, so you must realize that it would be total chaos for civilians to be able to call out cops every time they think one is violating the V&T law. Criminal offenses are another matter.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

nimbushopper wrote:

Perhaps I should have been more specific! I cannot... (show quote)

Of course I realize that and of course citizens do complain about police officers from time to time. Most citizens are put off though when reminded that a false report is a crime. My duty was in California so of course we are in different states but having grown up in NYS I still find it hard to believe that a police officer can simply, if he wants to, drive up and down the NYS Thruway at 120mph without legal penalty while going to no assigned call.

There is also a fudge factor built in to calls. We wanted to catch bad guys so occasionally if dispatched to a man with a gun call or a possible robbery we did not drive there with lights and siren as the law requires. We would put the lights on to clear traffic and often we would exceed the speed limit to get there as quickly as possible. Using the siren would have made the bad guy leave sooner than we wanted him to. Having said that if we were ever in a vehicle accident the fault was on us because we were not within the law of having to use lights and siren.

Where were you a cop in NY if I might ask?

Dennis

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

dennis2146 wrote:

Of course I realize that and of course citizens do... (show quote)

I was in Suffolk County! Your example of going 120 MPH could constitute reckless endangerment, which is a crime. Where in NY are you from?

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

nimbushopper wrote:

I was in Suffolk County! Your example of going 120 MPH could constitute reckless endangerment, which is a crime. Where in NY are you from?

Yes it could and where I was a cop one of our deputies was cited for speeding by a State Highway Patrolman. It was a crime for him to be going over the speed limit with no assigned call and not in pursuit of anyone.

I was born in Olean but later moved down to Putnam County, Carmel to be exact.

Dennis

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

dennis2146 wrote:

Yes it could and where I was a cop one of our deputies was cited for speeding by a State Highway Patrolman. It was a crime for him to be going over the speed limit with no assigned call and not in pursuit of anyone.

I was born in Olean but later moved down to Putnam County, Carmel to be exact.

Dennis

If he was cited he could have beat it by quoting that section of the V&T I referred to. I believe Putnam is the smallest county in NY. Very beautiful country east of the Hudson river there. I used to fly my Cessna over it from LI on my way to New Palz to visit my in laws at least once a month through the 70's, 80's and 90's. I retired 12 years ago and moved to Tampa.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

What I am saying is CA does not have the section you are referring to. He was going at a very high rate of speed and endangered motorists. He deserved the ticket.

Enjoy your retirement. I know you worked hard and earned it.

Dennis

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

dennis2146 wrote:

What I am saying is CA does not have the section you are referring to. He was going at a very high rate of speed and endangered motorists. He deserved the ticket.

Enjoy your retirement. I know you worked hard and earned it.

Dennis

Sorry, I thought you were referring to NY. Thanks brother, after 30 years on the job my only tough decision now is what cigar to smoke as I watch a game! By the way, I spent a couple of years in CA while in the Navy. Target rich state for photography!

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

nimbushopper wrote:

Sorry, I thought you were referring to NY. Thanks brother, after 30 years on the job my only tough decision now is what cigar to smoke as I watch a game! By the way, I spent a couple of years in CA while in the Navy. Target rich state for photography!

Yes everything is beautiful here. Lots to photograph.

Dennis

gmcase Loc: Galt's Gulch

I have to say the cop had some humility about the situation (though he was poorly denying some things) which I think is extremely rare in this context. I applaud him and the truck driver. The cop was called on his recklessness and but didn't retaliate like a brute so many seem to be.

Black Bart Loc: Indiana

dennis2146 wrote:

Of course I realize that and of course citizens do... (show quote)

I don't know what the law is in Indiana but the state troopers are allowed to use the patrol car when off duty.
I was a long distance trucker for 42 years so I spent a lot of time on the road and I have seen them pass me NOT in uniform had wife in front seat and kids in the back and driving 80mph and even faster.
I ask one why they never got stopped and the answer I got was we extend him professional courtesy.

Not a good way to build goodwill because a few hours later he is on duty arresting people for driving 65mph.

Just last week while in the barber shop he told me about this Indiana Trooper that has a Dodge wing car I think they called them Superbird but he took the barber for a ride and was doing 140mph the barber said he told him to slow down they were going to get a ticket. The reply he got was I'm a Sargent on the Indiana State Police who the hell is going to arrest me.

Sadly the answer is no one.
Like I said I don't know what the law actually is but in this state the cops are above the law they drive like idiots knowing nothing will result from it.