Comments on: And again grrrr

By: Bruce

Bruce — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 21:13:55 +0000

I got a ticket for wading. I was a skinny teenager–at a city park and there was a big fountain. I was sitting there and put my feet in the fountian to cool off. There was no one around. This officer came out of nowhere, up behind me and grabbed me then shoved me to the ground.
He keep yelling, and wanted my name–I gave him a fake one of course. We got in a tug of war with my bike because he said he had to confiscate it for evidence.

He was an old cop-mustache type. I remember his face got really red, and sweat was dripping from his head during the tug of war. He let go and shoved me away and he left. I think he was about to have a heart attack.

By: Coghauler

Coghauler — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 18:18:03 +0000

This is such a major contention for the
bicycle community. No problem pulling over
a no-hands rider, but let unlit cyclists
go right by on a nightly basis in any
number of high-traffic areas. Uneven application
of rules that they themselves are fuzzy on.
Enforcement was Arizonas’ lowest rated item on the
“Leagues” rating of states’ bicycle accommodation
standards. Forget platinum until the cops take
seriously the proper regard for bicycle rules and
responsibility. I’m enough of a driver to understand
the fustration drivers feel when a dark-clad, unlit
cyclist comes out of nowhere riding on the wrong side
of these dark streets.
And, yes, if the cops refuse to set appropriate priorities then the priorities will have to be set
for them.

By: Dean

Dean — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 17:54:57 +0000

Now I wish I would have stuck around the scene that night. It would have given me great joy to wave goodnight to the officer. I think it’s great that this harassment bust fizzled in his face. What a bunch of clowns! Score one for us.—-D

By: g

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 16:03:57 +0000

It is illegal to ride no hands on UA property (they have their own special rules since they are state property not city).

I hope you take this to the civilian complaints board, not that those bunch of toadies will do anything.

By: ScottM

ScottM — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:21:28 +0000

Funny story, but saddening. It’s laughable that the cop called for backup to help him find a violation that wasn’t there.

I ride around Tucson “no hands” all the time, and had never once considered I might be pulled over for it! Wow.

I really enjoy the blog, thanks for the good work here.

By: Ron K.

Ron K. — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:16:03 +0000

We often need to remind people of the importance of all keystone species. Today, we are all reminded of the unimportance of some of the TPD *Keystone Cops*…

By: Tony

Tony — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 07:54:44 +0000

28-816. Carrying article on bicycle
A person shall not carry a package, bundle or article while operating a bicycle if the package, bundle or article prevents the driver from keeping at least one hand on the handlebars.

I find it strangely amusing that it took me about two minutes to find this statute, and all other statues related to bicycles, in a search of the A.R.S. available online at http://www.azleg.gov/ArizonaRevisedStatutes.asp. The ‘law enforcement officers’ took… how long?

I wonder sometimes, if a person cannot enforce a law that they do not understand; Do they realize what they are effectively doing? What purpose do they have pretending they are enforcing the law?

AZPOST certified peace officers are required to commit to a code of ethics, and I’d rather give the whole thing, so here: “I will exercise self-restraint and be constantly mindful of the welfare of others. I will be exemplary in obeying the laws of the land and loyal to the state of Arizona and my agency and its objectives and regulations. Whatever I see or hear of a confidential nature or that is confined to me in my official capacity will be kept secure unless revelation is necessary in the performance of my duty.

“I will never take selfish advantage of my position and will not allow my personal feelings, or friendships to influence my actions or decisions. I will exercise the authority of my office to the best of my ability, with courtesy and vigilance, and without favor, malice, ill will, or compromise. I am a servant of the people and recognize my position as a symbol of public faith. I accept it as a public trust to be held so long as I am true to the law and serve the people of Arizona.”

I do not have faith in officers that are ignorant of the law they are supposed to enforce. A few great words come to my mind: malfeasance, misfeasance, nonfeasance. Are the people of Tucson aware that any conduct or pattern of conduct that tends to disrupt, diminish, or otherwise jeopardize public trust in the law enforcement profession is reason enough to have a peace officer’s certified status revoked?

Ask an officer to recite their code of ethics; If they cannot, or will not, it is safe to assume that they are not certified peace officers, and impersonating a peace officer is a violation of A.R.S. 13-2411 (a class 6 felony, or class 4 at worst, which is treated as the same bad as stealing $3,000 to $4,000 worth of property or the engine or transmission out of a car!). Who has the guts to arrest a false officer of the peace? Should the people of Tucson have to consider doing such a thing? It is absurd to think that it is less punishable by law to impersonate a cop then it is to steal a car! Imagine the kinds of sociopaths that will take advantage of this situation! There is potential for a multi-million dollar a year industry!

Goodness, I start thinking and I get into these awkward places… I don’t want to take what I say seriously, but looking around at the world as it is today, I wonder, is it really safer to be this concerned?

By: Andy

Andy — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 07:16:00 +0000

Hilarious. TPD is such a joke.