The fact that I have no doubts at all that this is true makes me wonder if this noble experiment has finally failed.

I had a Nevada State Police guy go all power trippy on me after I had the temerity to honk at him and flip him off for sliding sideways at me in my lane for a good distance. He made the mistake of talking trash in front of 4 witnesses. Got him a few weeks unpaid vacation and a note about it in his record. Needless to say, I am EXTREMELY careful in Nevada.

In California, the CHP would have drawn his gun. IMO, the cop in the video was pretty nice.

Good for you, Tobra.

The problem here is having a double standard.

We all realize cops have a dirty job to do - but that doesn't justify having two sets of rules when it comes to obeying/enforcing the law.

The problem is the type of person who is needed in law enforcement is the same type of person who is an outlaw himself. Maybe "one step" away.

There are exceptions - I'm just generalizing as to the topic of discussion.

Law enforcement needs to enforce their own but typically they don't do that because of the "unwritten code" to watch each other's backs. So that is the basis for what happened in the OP's initial post.

A private citizen couldn't sit by and witness a cop behaving in a dangerous (not to mention illegal) fashion without doing something.

I say good for him.

Doesn't mean you or I should do this.

A trucker? He's a "road warrior" and has more at stake for the most part.

To a degree it's also our job to call these jokers on it - but there's different ways to do it without pulling them over. Dash cams and jotting down plate numbers and vehicle IDs.

The mainstream media should be airing some of this stuff as well.

Low paying job? Seattle has billboards up advertising starting positions at $75k per year. That's more than engineers start at here where I work. It's not unusual in the least for senior officers to make over $150k with overtime.

The AAA rates Washington as one of the worst top few states in which to drive. The driving factor in our horrible rating is the heavy handed, unjust and, dare I say, un-Constitutional enforcement of our traffic laws by all agencies. It is purely a money-making racket these days. This is all driven by a change in traffic court procedures introduced on the sly in the mid 1980's. In Washington, we have:

No right to representation.
No right to a jury trial.
No right to appeal.

Plus, the standard of evidence required of the police and prosecutor is that of "preponderance". You legal types know what that means - 51% of the available evidence, a standard used in civil court to decide disputes between citizens. It was never meant to be used by the state against its citizens.

This has left us with speed traps everywhere and notably dubious enforcement. Many jurisdictions now budget based upon the inclusion of traffic fine revenue. Officers write spurious tickets, and we have no chance of winning in court except on a paperwork mistake by the officer.

Many of us Washingtonians are beyond frustrated with this. I know the situation is better in other states but, for now (until something changes) Washington really stinks. Especially frustrating is seeing officers who are clearly above the law flaunting it while holding all the cards - men and women of exceedingly low character, no more than hookers turning tricks for the state on the side of the road, with their badges and guns. Lowlife scum.

Someone has to pay the liberal constituents.
.
Couldn't help myself. :o

I don't know how that response could be interpreted as advocating living in fear of LEO.

absurd

Since we were talking in generalities about cops, I took the liberty of generalizing on their pay.

52k is the median salary of a cop according to the internets


I am not really sticking up for officers. I am sure many of them are dillholes. Im not 100% certain the proportion is any worse than the general public though.

What I am critical of is "mall ninja" type vigilantism

Dude is lucky he didn't go to jail

Yeah disturbing the peace...

That is surprisingly low, considering what they make around here. While I'm sure it's regional, and I'm sure the reporting will be biased depending upon the point one is trying to make, the billboards don't lie. Starting wages...


Do a quick search on domestic violence among police. They are the league leaders, far in a way outdistancing others by profession.

We are continuously told (by cops) that they are "held to a higher standard" when, in observable practice, they get away with far more than the average citizen. They only answer to themselves - their brothers and sisters in arms - who are equally guilty of the same malfeasances. It's frustrating; it's maddening.

I would disagree that there is any parallel whatsoever between honest citizens confronting missbehaving LEO's and "mall ninjas". Completely different mindsets and goals.

Well they just aired the story on "Inside Edition".

Good - not sure if it will really change anything but at least it highlights on a national stage an issue that deserves attention and correction.

LEOs will violate your rights as much as you'll let them.
They're also the biggest liars. I don't believe a single word an LEO says to me.
Lie to a cop...against the law. Cop lies to you...totally legal.
I have no problem with laws as long as they're fair. This one isn't.
The one I hate the most? When they search you "For your safety and mine". Though you've done nothing to threaten them. Ask the officer: OK, when you're done patting me down, do I get to search you"? "Since we're talking about both our safety here"?
Also, "I have to cuff you before I put you in my cruiser. Department policy". Were you to do this, you could be charged with false arrest or kidnapping. Restraint against your will is an assault.
Also, "Am I under arrest"?
"No, I'm just detaining you".
"How come it feels like I'm under arrest"?

No one held a gun to a person's head and made them become an LEO. They get what they deserve, perhaps not enough.

Carter

See a Georgia State Patrol officer like clockwork every weekday driving into Atlanta on I-20 during morning rush hour doing 80-85 or some days much better than that following him some mornings going to myself man this is as fast as I am going to go. They all use the fact that most drivers seeing them I the rear view will move over and let them pass. I don't mind at all if they are responding to a call but these guys just hauling A** for no reason should be held to account. Most of them don't have the driving skills to be going that fast. I have seen them slid off at the side of the road on the many exit ramps we have around Atlanta that are decreasing radious turns. One even killed some family members of one of the Atlanta Braves trainers not long ago as he lost control of his cruser. I think he did wind up losing his job as he had a history of this sort of thing. Just because they have a tin badge and a few hours of driving on a skid pad does not make them near the driver most of them seem to think they are, I know they have a tough job to do and it is not one I would want. They should all get put in a SCCA drivers school for a weekend as part of training.