lblair1 asked this question on 3/11/2000:
I have a certain question that I need answered by a professional because I do not know what to do. I was traveling down a somewhat slow main highway (within normal speed limits.), as I pulled up to a stop light a police officer who I saw from my rear view mirror was getting closer and closer to me and finally ended up right behind me, we were at a red light, the officer turned on his flashing lights and siren and also honked his horn with great intensity, I had no idea what the reason for all of this was, again I was at a red light and even though this was happening I did not want to just go through the red light. I knew beyond a reasonable doubt that there is no reason he should be after me, I had my seat belt on, my insurance in hand and all my stickers were updated on registration, also all tail lights were working, blinkers, etc. Apprehensive, I went through the red light, the officer pulled me over and said, and I quote "You ran that F'n red light", and you were in my way. I told him I did not know why I was being pulled over, he said that he was trying to get to the vehicle in front of me because it appeared that they had been drinking, so get this, he doesn't go after the vehicle in front of me, he gives me a ticket for running the red light and says to me "Well I guess this is your lucky day". Actually provoking an arguement, I could just see me being hauled off for arguing with an officer so I said nothing. Meanwhile the car in front of me with the alleged drunk drivers,politely get off scott free. Wait till you hear this, and this is how it happened every step of the way. The officer wrote the ticket, and said I could leave, the police officer walks over to the passenger side of his police car and starts urinating IN PUBLIC, it was night time but that was outrageous, I never saw anything like this in my entire life. My question is this, can I contact internal affairs and report this situation, or am I just wasting time. I just want justice to be served. This type of behavior is completely unacceptable, even for a drunk person, which I am sure he was not under the influence. Still it is his word against mine and I still have this darn ticket for running a stop light. Believe me this is one for Ripley!
Detective gave this response on 3/11/2000:
Well I assume there were no independent witnesses to your situation. You do have about four choices that I see here: 1) Contact Internal Affairs and lodge a complaint. 2) Fight the ticket in court. 3) Levy a Civil law suit against him 4) Accept the situation and pay the fine. I really don't what to tell you to do as the decision can only be yours. However, if it were me I probably would let Internal Affairs know exactly what happened because it seems like this may be a very unprofessional, if not somewhat dangerous, police officer. Of course you are to make every effort to clear a path for an emergency vehicle and that could mean having to run through a red light if the vehicle cannot go around you. The officer's actions regarding the other vehicle he was previously interested in doesn't make any sense either. Urinating near his car is also most likely a minor crime in your jurisdiction but what can you really do about it. I would suggest you speak with a local attorney about some of these options and strongly consider reporting the entire incident to the police department. If you did not feel comfortable going to Internal Affairs, try the Chief of Police or senior Patrol Division officer at the department. Its a shame the occasionally law enforcement officer will act this way but thank goodness, it is rare!
Take care and good luck!
Michael Director of Investigations TACTICS Private Investigators http://www.tacticsone.com
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