Using My Driveway to Complete a Traffic Stop and Blocking My Vehicles in
My question involves a traffic ticket from the state of: RI
I know this may not be the proper forum, if so, can someone please move it to whichever forum it may be.
On Thursday evening. My wife had to run to CVS for some medicine for our son. Upon going to the door she said we were blocked in by a police officer who pulled over an individual (who does not live on the property) and had all our cars blocked in. CVS closed in 12 minutes so I went outside and politely said "Officer, I understand you need to do your job, but you have us blocked in." He responded with "do you need to leave right now?" I said yes. He then just turned away and ignored me and continued to initiate the traffic stop. I then asked for his badge number as I intended to file a complaint against him. He gave me his badge number and then I asked my wife for the keys and with some careful maneuvering (I work as an auto tech at a dealership, so I have much practice at car shuffling in tight spaces), I was able to move the vehicle out. The whole time he is yelling at me telling me I have to wait and threatening with some crime of some sort that probably does not exist. I got out of the car and ignored his childish rantings and gave the keys to my wife who managed to get to CVS a minute before closing, thankfully. Upon returning she told me that the cop just got in his car, gave the person their license and registration back and just gave up on the traffic stop (I assume gave them a spoken warning and no ticket) and then just flew off.
My question is, what rights do I have here, to not be impeded on or obstructing from conducting my personal and legal business in both non, semi and full blown emergency situations?
Re: Using My Driveway to Complete a Traffic Stop and Blocking My Vehicles in
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SpawnedX
My question involves a traffic ticket from the state of: RI
I know this may not be the proper forum, if so, can someone please move it to whichever forum it may be.
On Thursday evening. My wife had to run to CVS for some medicine for our son. Upon going to the door she said we were blocked in by a police officer who pulled over an individual (who does not live on the property) and had all our cars blocked in. CVS closed in 12 minutes so I went outside and politely said "Officer, I understand you need to do your job, but you have us blocked in." He responded with "do you need to leave right now?" I said yes. He then just turned away and ignored me and continued to initiate the traffic stop. I then asked for his badge number as I intended to file a complaint against him. He gave me his badge number and then I asked my wife for the keys and with some careful maneuvering (I work as an auto tech at a dealership, so I have much practice at car shuffling in tight spaces), I was able to move the vehicle out. The whole time he is yelling at me telling me I have to wait and threatening with some crime of some sort that probably does not exist. I got out of the car and ignored his childish rantings and gave the keys to my wife who managed to get to CVS a minute before closing, thankfully. Upon returning she told me that the cop just got in his car, gave the person their license and registration back and just gave up on the traffic stop (I assume gave them a spoken warning and no ticket) and then just flew off.
My question is, what rights do I have here, to not be impeded on or obstructing from conducting my personal and legal business in both non, semi and full blown emergency situations?
I would have given the cop a more complete explanation...ie, CVS closes in 12 minutes and we need to get medicine for our son, but other than that, I think that the cop was being a bit of a jerk. You can register a complaint, but he probably won't get more than a slap on the wrist for it.
Re: Using My Driveway to Complete a Traffic Stop and Blocking My Vehicles in
The police officer did not make the traffic offender pull into your drive. He is not legally required to deviate from proper traffic stop procedures to please you. If he wanted to, he could have cited you for obstruction of a police officer in performance of his duty. Procrastination on your part, does not constitute a legal emergency on his.
Re: Using My Driveway to Complete a Traffic Stop and Blocking My Vehicles in
A traffic stop is, perhaps, the most dangerous activity an officer can engage in. Disengaging to maneuver a patrol car or even to engage a resident in a discussion/debate is not going to be a priority for him.
You can certainly complain to the agency, but, while unfortunate, the officer did nothing wrong in not heeding your initial request. Now, his "childish" rants may be a different story, though I know I would be terribly concerned about someone maneuvering around MY patrol car on a stop as well.
Re: Using My Driveway to Complete a Traffic Stop and Blocking My Vehicles in
What the heck "rights" do you want?
You got the car out.
Your wife made it to the store.
You got his badge number.
Nothing bad happened to you.
File a complaint with the PD if you want to.
Or get off your high horse about an insignificant momentary inconvenience and get over it.
Re: Using My Driveway to Complete a Traffic Stop and Blocking My Vehicles in
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adjusterjack
What the heck "rights" do you want?
You got the car out.
Your wife made it to the store.
You got his badge number.
Nothing bad happened to you.
File a complaint with the PD if you want to.
Or get off your high horse about an insignificant momentary inconvenience and get over it.
The only one on a high horse here is you. Acting as if a LAW ABIDING, un-involved citizen, with no dog in the fight over the traffic violation should just sit down and shut up when his property was used without his permission in such a manner that it inconvenienced his day to day affairs.
This is why law enforcement is under such scrutiny by citizens and the media, because not only do they feel above the law, but in cases like this, they seem to forget that they have 2 jobs SERVING and protecting. As a tax paying citizen with cars with absolutely no violations on them and no moving violations in at least 10 years, I have every right to know what sort of protections I have in these situations and there is absolutely nothing wrong with me asking. That is the purpose of this forum.
If the health of my child is something you consider a momentary inconvenience, than whatever job you hold in relation to law, whether it be a lawyer or a law enforcement officer, needs to be resigned from.
Some police officers need to be reminded, that ultimately they work for the citizens of the community they serve and protect and a citizen wanting to be respected by an officer is not the one in the wrong when the officer doesn't do so.
Re: Using My Driveway to Complete a Traffic Stop and Blocking My Vehicles in
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SpawnedX
Acting as if a LAW ABIDING, un-involved citizen, with no dog in the fight over the traffic violation should just sit down and shut up when his property was used without his permission in such a manner that it inconvenienced his day to day affairs.
The time to debate the officer is when he is no longer engaged with a suspect. No officer worth his salt is going to drop what he is doing in such a situation and turn his full attention to you and your driveway. His first priority will be to his safety and that means addressing the suspect in front of him, first. THEN, if he feels things are secure or has a second officer respond as cover, he might consider your request. Otherwise, he will wait until his contact is over (typically between 8 and 12 minutes at the outside). While for YOU that time frame was important, he does not know why and is in no position to engage in a discussion over it - nor would I expect him to until after he had addressed the situation in front of him.
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This is why law enforcement is under such scrutiny by citizens and the media, because not only do they feel above the law, but in cases like this, they seem to forget that they have 2 jobs SERVING and protecting.
This situation was not about his attitude so much as it is about his safety. The officer's safety will come before your convenience. Sorry.
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As a tax paying citizen with cars with absolutely no violations on them and no moving violations in at least 10 years, I have every right to know what sort of protections I have in these situations and there is absolutely nothing wrong with me asking. That is the purpose of this forum.
And, you have every right to complain to the employing agency about the officer's demeanor.
Understand that an officer does not always have the capability of controlling where a suspect yields his vehicle. The officer then has to position HIS vehicle at the best position of advantage he can find behind the suspect's vehicle - sometimes this is going to be in front of a residential or even a commercial driveway. That's unfortunate, and inconvenient. But, with the high risk associated with traffic stops he is going to be less concerned with your convenience than his safety - that's simply the fact of the matter.
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If the health of my child is something you consider a momentary inconvenience, than whatever job you hold in relation to law, whether it be a lawyer or a law enforcement officer, needs to be resigned from.
Adjusterjack is not a police officer, but I am.
And, a question: If the medicine was of such vital import, why did you wait until closing time to go get it?
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Some police officers need to be reminded, that ultimately they work for the citizens of the community they serve and protect and a citizen wanting to be respected by an officer is not the one in the wrong when the officer doesn't do so.
And sometimes members of the public need to be reminded of the risks involved in making contacts with unknown parties and that officer safety is paramount in an officer's thoughts (or should be). Sometimes stuff happens.
Re: Using My Driveway to Complete a Traffic Stop and Blocking My Vehicles in
Please show me video if the officer ordering the offender to pull into your driveway and block your cars. Otherwise, stifle it. Next time you have an emergency, advise the operator you would prefer the police, fire and ambulace not come onto your property to save your life and just send a coroner for the remains.
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SpawnedX
The only one on a high horse here is you. Acting as if a LAW ABIDING, un-involved citizen, with no dog in the fight over the traffic violation should just sit down and shut up when his property was used without his permission in such a manner that it inconvenienced his day to day affairs.
This is why law enforcement is under such scrutiny by citizens and the media, because not only do they feel above the law, but in cases like this, they seem to forget that they have 2 jobs SERVING and protecting. As a tax paying citizen with cars with absolutely no violations on them and no moving violations in at least 10 years, I have every right to know what sort of protections I have in these situations and there is absolutely nothing wrong with me asking. That is the purpose of this forum.
If the health of my child is something you consider a momentary inconvenience, than whatever job you hold in relation to law, whether it be a lawyer or a law enforcement officer, needs to be resigned from.
Some police officers need to be reminded, that ultimately they work for the citizens of the community they serve and protect and a citizen wanting to be respected by an officer is not the one in the wrong when the officer doesn't do so.
Re: Using My Driveway to Complete a Traffic Stop and Blocking My Vehicles in
OP could have called the PD and asked for the supv; he may radio to cop to move the car or not.
And many felons are caught during traffic stops ... FYI
If the cop told you to stop your maneuvering, you may have been able to have been arrested.
Write your state legislators for the law to be changed; that is how it is right now.
Re: Using My Driveway to Complete a Traffic Stop and Blocking My Vehicles in
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cdwjava
Understand that an officer does not always have the capability of controlling where a suspect yields his vehicle. The officer then has to position HIS vehicle at the best position of advantage he can find behind the suspect's vehicle - sometimes this is going to be in front of a residential or even a commercial driveway. That's unfortunate, and inconvenient. But, with the high risk associated with traffic stops he is going to be less concerned with your convenience than his safety - that's simply the fact of the matter.
How hard is it to get on the loudspeaker and ask the driver to pull forward more, so that you don't have to block someone's driveway?
Is that not what you would do if he/she had pulled over, say, immediately after a highway ramp? Surely you would not block the ramp with your vehicle?
And on top of that... if keeping his attention on the suspect is so important, why was he yelling at and threatening the OP for simply maneuvering his vehicle out of the driveway?