Here's another solution besides merely arguing or signing the ticket. It doesn't work with all cops, but generally works with me. A civil discussion about the speed limit signs and agreement that perhaps, as a driver, I should be more attentive to such. When there is a hint of resistance, verbal or otherwise, the natural tendency is to get assertive. Works both ways, but for the cop it can be deadly. Itchy trigger, or TASER, fingers should not overrule professionalism, but consider the talent pool that law enforcement has to choose from. I may be an old guy, but I have learned what my boundaries are and how to deal with the public. You don't "get it" over night.

When I first started driving .... I was scared to pass a bicycle ...

A year later .... I felt comfortable enough to hold my own ...

Years two and three .... triple digits all night long wasn't a problem ...

Twenty years later I run a business ... sixty miles an hour ... let the Young idiots deal with that over night crap ...

It comes with experience ...... if your willing to learn ..

Frankly, profession drivers are the least of my headaches. I have been assisted by them on more than one occasion and find them extremely knowledgeable about road rules and courtesies. It's the local labor pool type guys that drive me nuts. Running cars off the road and driving carelessly because they took a longer lunch and are running late doesn't fly with me. The average motorist will get defensive only because they got caught doing what they already know is illegal. Speeding, improper passing, running lights and stop signs are not new laws. As I said, if there are exigent circumstances about your particular situation, I will listen, but I won't argue or ask more than twice for your DL and registration. My dash cam is on, as is my microphone, to record our meeting. My TASER is reserved for "special" cases, not walking away from me. However, towing is always a possibility.

I would buy stock in a device like that!

straight up wrote:

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I went back and re watched this ... this cop probably beats his kids if they don't comply the first time ...

And ...  if you listen to the story he tells the other cop ....   He claimed that he warned the guy that he was going to tazer him  ...  but he never did ...  just shot a confused citizen in the back ....

What is wrong with you ....   What is wrong with you ...   several times he asked the cop ....
     

-- Edited by straight up at 23:19, 2007-12-02

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I had no idea you were anti cop. 

I'll be the first to say this cop has almost no people skills but I'll also say he didn't do ANYTHING wrong.  He didn't do a very good job of selling what he was doing but the kid was also spoiling for a fight from the beginning.  The cop told the  kid to sign which is required by law in Utah and is arrestable if you don't sign- which according to Utah law is only an agreement that you'll appear in court.  Then the kid got out and refused to follow the instructions to put his hands behind his back.  The officer should have told him that he was under arrest but that's not against the law not to- and the kid completely refused to follow instructions and turned and started walking away fromt he officer so he tased him- which is probably following policy.

The officer definately needs to get some remedial people handling class time- that's for sure- but he didin't do anything wrong/illegal/immoral/unethical.  Most people outside of LE have no idea what a use of force continuum is - and they have zero idea wht the USSC has recently said about escalating the force used- education is your friend.

straight up wrote:

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entre wrote:

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straight up wrote:

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So why shouldn't I use the same standard when looking at other people .....

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Because you're better than that, SU.  When have you ever settled for the standards of other people?

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not real concerned about the standards of other people ....   just tired of having my generosity crammed back in my face like I was some kind of freak ....

So this year I'm going to try to be more normal ....   You want help from me ...   better damn well be something in it for me or you can go fuck your self ....  


Or maybe I should just go find a different group of people to hang out with .... 

 

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I'm a pretty bitter/cynical guy myself- came from a hard life right off the bat.  but I've learned from my "adopted" family that shrugging off things like this and trying hard to stay positive is the only way to go- and it makes me feel better whenever I get to be generous or help people.