Food for thought

[Pal334]

I had an interesting "exchange "with a member of a very large New Jersey Law Enforcement agency today. While diving on the New Jersey Turnpike at approximately 11am this morning , I was stopped by said member for driving while using a cell phone. I was in fact using my earpiece (which is allowed). As the officer came to my window, I rolled it down and was ending my conversation (I was speaking in spanish). The officer related the allegation, I replied that my phone was in fact in a buttoned pocket and I took the earpiece out of my ear to show him. He asked for my drivers license, registration and proof of insurance, which I provided. He then asked me for proof of citizenship!!! I told him that I would not provide him with proof of citizenship, and questioned his authority to even ask for it . I then provided him with my retired military ID, my retired Federal civil service ID, a Department of Defense Contractors Common Access Card (CAC) all of which, including the New Jersey drivers license are REAL ID Act of 2005 compliant to establish my identification, which I told him was all he was entitled to. And that if he wanted proof of citizenship, it would have to be requested by court order or by representative of one of the Federal Immigration agencies . After about 5 minutes of discussion, he requested a supervisor. After a discussion with the supervisor, he decided to give me a "break" on the citizenship question. Not being the type to accept that kind of "break", I drove to the Exit 9 Turnpike Authority Headquarters and filed a complaint.

My point in sharing this is to remind people that LEOs (I am a retired one)do have to play the game by the rules. You as a U.S. citizen are not required to carry Proof of Citizenship with you. BUT you do have to have proper document (s) while operating a motor vehicle to establish your identity. Don't let people pull the wool over your eyes, know your rights

[Rick]

Thank you. You should have claimed diplomatic immunity.

[canid]

i'm glad you did.

to all law enforcement agents/officers: you are required to know and comply with the limits and extent of your authority. if you can do that and show me proper respect, i'll show you the same.

the last time i was in an argument with a police officer it was because he tried to order me to address him as sir. if he hadn't been rude from the start, i would have.

i'll tell you, i've never had a disagreement with an an older cop.

[Pal334]

Thank you. You should have claimed diplomatic immunity.

I could not. I have not applied for citizenship in Traxistan yet.

Besides, the smart a** was keying in that I was speaking spanish since he also did address me as amigo. No quarter for smart a**es here

[Ken]

I'm gonna' leave quietly before I begin to rant.......

[Camp10]

I dont carry proof of citizenship with me anyways. I've never had much trouble with the LEO around here. Its one of the benefits of being a lineman, they know who I am and I know who they are and we have all spent many freezing nights out in the $hit dealing with the weather and the drunks, etc, etc.

[2dumb2kwit]

The last time I had a disagreement with a LEO, was many years ago. I was driving a dump truck, pulling a trailer. While sitting at a stop light, I heard the hissing, of a tire going flat. When the light turned green, I pulled through the intersection and pulled off the road, onto the shoulder. As I came to a stop, the LEO pulled in behind me. I thought the LEO was stopping to offer help. I was wrong. I was told that I had no business driving that truck, on a flat tire.....and then I was issued two tickets for improper equipment. One for the flat tire and one for a cracked headlight. (It was 4:30 PM...in July.)

[Rick]

Yeah, I ran into one like that in Ohio several years ago. I was in a marked company car. He ran the plate so he knew who owned it. Then turned to me and asked me if I was employed. (Dumb @#$$) I said, "Why yes I am. Is Ohio still looking for a few good men?" It went downhill after that.

[Pal334]

I'm gonna' leave quietly before I begin to rant.......

aaahh,, go on, a good rant is good for the soul.

I can only imagine what this guy was doing to others that are timid

[canid]

'no, i'm just using the company car to look for work...' here's your sign.

[Rick]

I generally turn my dome light on at night just to let the LEO know I'm no threat. I've only run into a couple of bad eggs. Most are upright and professional and treat you with respect. Folks just like the rest of us.

[2dumb2kwit]

I said, "Why yes I am. Is Ohio still looking for a few good men?" It went downhill after that.

LOL. I understand! Mine was a female LEO. After I told her that she needed to go home, take some Midol, cook her man some dinner, and stop f***ing with hard working people that are just trying to make a living....things got interesting! LOL

[Pal334]

I generally turn my dome light on at night just to let the LEO know I'm no threat. I've only run into a couple of bad eggs. Most are upright and professional and treat you with respect. Folks just like the rest of us.

You are exactly right. And I want to make it clear that I was not trying to dispargage the whole profession, I am a product of the profession, and see how nice I am?

[Pal334]

LOL. I understand! Mine was a female LEO. After I told her that she needed to go home, take some Midol, cook her man some dinner, and stop f***ing with hard working people that are just trying to make a living....things got interesting! LOL

I bet with that gift of communicating so effectively, you would be a shoo in for a Diplomatic Corp job

[canid]

yeah, i'd like to make it clear i'm not judging LEOs wholesale. i just feel that if somebody would like me to show them respect for the job they do, they should likewise expect me to temper it by the way they do the job.

[trax]

I could not. I have not applied for citizenship in Traxistan yet.

Besides, the smart a** was keying in that I was speaking spanish since he also did address me as amigo. No quarter for smart a**es here

Um, yeah, that wouldn't help. Free Traxistan doesn't exactly have diplomatic relations with...uh well with anyone. (Rick, see if you can rustle us up some ambassador types,we should look into this.) But as long as you stand by the "no quarter for smart a**es here" comment, you certainly qualify for citizenship, Pal.

[Camp10]

LOL. I understand! Mine was a female LEO. After I told her that she needed to go home, take some Midol, cook her man some dinner, and stop f***ing with hard working people that are just trying to make a living....things got interesting! LOL

Holy S*** man!! Your lucky you lived through that!! A buddy called a lady cop "di**less tracy" once and it didnt go so well.

[2dumb2kwit]

I bet with that gift of communicating so effectively, you would be a shoo in for a Diplomatic Corp job

Yeah.....well..... now, 20 years later, with friends in LE, a CCW, and a little growing up, I tend to handle things a little bit differently. Like Rick said, the first thing I do, is try to make it real obvious that I am not a threat.

[Rick]

Okay, Trax. But you know I'll have to look off forum for someone "diplomatic".

[Ken]

aaahh,, go on, a good rant is good for the soul.

I can only imagine what this guy was doing to others that are timid

OKAY!

Let me preface this post by stating that my dad was a cop, my brother was a cop, and 4 of my 10 closest friends are cops.

Nonetheless, I'm convinced that 50& of the latest generation of cops are dedicated public servants and the other 50% are arrogant, authority-drunk, thugs just looking to ruin anybody and everybody's day that they can. The violate civil rights every hour, perjure themselves in search warrant applications, police reports, and on the witness stand, and make one bad arrest after another.

The fact that many - very many - earn over $100K (with unnecessary overtime) helps them overcome any humility they may have otherwise had.

And don't even get me started about brutality. When tasers first came out, they were touted as an alternative to lethal force. Now, they're used to "gain compliance" ("what do you mean you're not going to sign that citation? - ZZZZAP!) and for other bullsh!t reasons, like "gaining respect." These bast@rds should be charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, get prosecuted in federal court, and spend 5 - 10 in federal prison. Half of all cops don't belong on the job and should be fired.

Check this out! http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/...Z4B2wD9CGRJNO0

No excuse for that. And only 1 out of 100 of these cases are even investigated.