Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Common Interests Cops and "blue light pass"

I had an ambulance pull the "turn the lights and sirens on to get through a light" thing the other day. I followed him all around town, keeping with him despite his running every red he came to. Where was he responding to a call at? The Carls Jr. parking lot for lunch! Reported his @$$! That crap pisses me off.

good! try doing that to a cop and see how far it gets..

Personally, I believe that lights, if not lights and sirens SHOULD be required when police are responding to an emergency call. When lights and/or sirens are not on, the officer should be required to obey all traffic laws, at least to the extent that they require any other citizen to do so. If they feel the need to go with traffic in a non-emergency situation, then it is hypocritical for them to ticket us for going with traffic (which is frequently done). Police Officers should serve an example to everyone else on how to behave while on the road. Unfortunately all too many officers provide a bad example, flashing lights to get through traffic lights, passing on the shoulder, weaving, all the things we would get a ticket for.

I have an uncle who's a cop, and he admits that civilian complaints on officer's driving get relegated to the circular file. I agree with Toronto's idea to get cops more out in the communities, so people get to know them, and a better two-way dialogue starts between police and citizens.

Here where I live, we don't have the "Blue light pass"... They have Red/White/Blue strobes... :p

And what profile might that be? :rolleyes:

In the Washington Post, I've seen a few letters about bad police driving in the Dr. Gridlock column--he tries to get an answer about it from the involved police dept., and publishes either the official response (which is usually "we don't condone that behavior and the officer involved has been counseled" or something like that) or that he couldn't get ahold of anyone at the dept. willing to deal with it.

Strangely enough, cases of the latter are very rare...

Brian

I think this is the law in some states, only I can't remember which ones?

From your post it is obvious that you do not have the first clue concerning police tactics. Think about responding to domestics, robberies, etc, and you will see where it's not always smart to announce your presence from 2 miles away with the lights/siren. :rolleyes:

Hey, thanks, I appreciate that! Nice to konw that I have a good reputation with some on these forums...

Thanks, Rara, and you are correct, there are a good number of losers behind the badge. I don't have any answers or excuses for that, other than they are human too, and you are bound to find that in any profession. Most departments do all they can to screen applicants in the hiring process, but it's not the easiest thing the world to do. I think the most important part about being an officer is that the job has to be much more than just a paycheck to you.

I get my kicks by wearing the badge and uniform, I'll admit. I like the fact that I have earned the trust and respect of the people I have sworn to protect (even if they don't always give me that respect). I enjoy, by virtue of the office I hold, being the person that others turn to when they really need help. It's the public responsibility, the mental challenge of deciphering the criminal mind, and the knowledge of having done good for others that attracted me to this job (and, of course, my father who was an Illinois State Trooper). I'm intelligent enough to do anything I want, but there is nothing else I'd be as happy doing. Bah, 'nuff said.