# Cops sitting in cars in empty parking lots? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 14, 2019, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-sitting-in-cars-in-empty-parking-lots/833969 "2019-05-14T19:40:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2019, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-sitting-in-cars-in-empty-parking-lots/833969/41 "2019-05-15T16:29:51Z")
There was a house so notorious in my hometown that the cops would watch it, and pulled over any car leaving their, often finding illegal drugs in it. I suspect there may be such a house on the same block as the church. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2019, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-sitting-in-cars-in-empty-parking-lots/833969/42 "2019-05-15T17:39:32Z")
the church is in an area where houses are $400k and up. Not likely to be an area with drug dealers. The area is about 50% Indians who work tech jobs. ---
**Author:** ![KMS94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ad7895/32.png) [@KMS94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KMS94)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2019, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-sitting-in-cars-in-empty-parking-lots/833969/43 "2019-05-15T17:40:08Z")
In my area, police will park in areas with good, free wifi to watch netflix and play on facebook, bypassing the way the laptops normally connect to the police servers (so it’s not monitored) I was an officer way back when laptops started to be installed in police cars, and I told the Chief allowing internet access was going to cause problems. Now you can practically drive by a parked police car in a “speed trap”, guzzling a half gallon liquor bottle and flipping the cop the middle finger, and he/she won’t even glance up from their screen as you drive by. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2019, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-sitting-in-cars-in-empty-parking-lots/833969/44 "2019-05-15T17:49:24Z")
> [@KMS94](#): > > In my area, police will park in areas with good, free wifi to watch netflix and play on facebook, bypassing the way the laptops normally connect to the police servers (so it’s not monitored) > > I was an officer way back when laptops started to be installed in police cars, and I told the Chief allowing internet access was going to cause problems. Now you can practically drive by a parked police car in a “speed trap”, guzzling a half gallon liquor bottle and flipping the cop the middle finger, and he/she won’t even glance up from their screen as you drive by. Don’t a lot of departments have cameras that transmit to the computer screen by now? I believe our local police use these for seat belt checks in my area. They can zoom in and see much better that way. ---
**Author:** ![ManassasReader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@ManassasReader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ManassasReader)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2019, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-sitting-in-cars-in-empty-parking-lots/833969/45 "2019-05-15T20:30:09Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > the parking lot section they park in is not close to a road , so it’s not a speed trap. I can’t imagine they have much paperwork other than the tickets which they fill out when they catch you. You might be surprised how much paperwork can be generated on routine calls for service. Don’t be so suspicious. Maybe go over and strike up a conversation. You might be surprised. Just cough and make noise as you approach so as not to startle them. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2019, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-sitting-in-cars-in-empty-parking-lots/833969/46 "2019-05-15T21:41:14Z")
Cops sitting in cars in empty parking lots I can’t help but read that and think “worst Jerry Seinfeld talk show idea ever.” ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2019, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-sitting-in-cars-in-empty-parking-lots/833969/47 "2019-05-15T22:12:28Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > the church is in an area where houses are $400k and up. Not likely to be an area with drug dealers. Do you really believe this? Bless your heart! ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2019, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-sitting-in-cars-in-empty-parking-lots/833969/48 "2019-05-15T22:29:48Z")
Forgot to include the obligatory link. This one happens to be the from [Stephen Colbert’s 5/14 interview with Tony Dokoupil](https://www.cbs.com/shows/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/video/FKI1D1FpC1xKd2eXIWdIgXBCne4j0FSn/the-late-show-5-14-19-gayle-king-anthony-mason-tony-dokoupil-pete-holmes-the-national-/), the new guy from CBS This Morning. It’s just after the second commercial break, starting 22:00 in, and you’ll have to sit through a buttload of commercials before it comes up, but trust me, it’s worth watching! ---
**Author:** ![EdelweissPirate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8491ac/32.png) [@EdelweissPirate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EdelweissPirate)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2019, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-sitting-in-cars-in-empty-parking-lots/833969/49 "2019-05-16T06:44:32Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > My church actually gives away alcohol toward the end of the service. If I follow you, that’s not alcohol—it’s blood. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2019, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-sitting-in-cars-in-empty-parking-lots/833969/50 "2019-05-16T08:27:48Z")
There’s a closed up movie theater that has a giant empty parking lot and I constantly see half a dozen city cop cars parked there with cops inside in the early morning. I’m curious if that’s where they “rally” before going out on patrol since it’s right next to the city limits line. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2019, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-sitting-in-cars-in-empty-parking-lots/833969/51 "2019-05-16T08:41:04Z")
> [@UCBearcats](#): > > Yeah, that is a great way to get shot. …cite? We are in General Questions. How many people have been shot for knocking on windows and asking the police a question? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2019, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-sitting-in-cars-in-empty-parking-lots/833969/52 "2019-05-16T11:25:52Z")
> [@Banquet\_Bear](#): > > …cite? We are in General Questions. How many people have been shot for knocking on windows and asking the police a question? Justine Ruszczyk is one example. ---
**Author:** ![DChord568](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@DChord568](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DChord568)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2019, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-sitting-in-cars-in-empty-parking-lots/833969/53 "2019-05-16T19:36:22Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > Near where I live there is a McDonald’s right beside a busy roundabout. A couple of years ago I noticed that there was often an ambulance parked in their car park. I wasn’t the only one who noticed and there was soon a letter in the paper about NHS Ambulance crews skiving off. > > They stopped parking there after that and now park in a nearby parking area, out of sight behind an office. > > The reason they were there is because ambulances have response targets to maintain and by stationing a crew there, they were able to cover the area more speedily. McD’s also have facilities that they can use. I suspect that by “response targets” you mean what I’m about to speak of. Twenty or so years ago, my firm did marketing/PR work for the area’s most prominent ambulance company. One of the stories we did was about their installation of a computer system that tracked every call they responded to geographically, and in so doing developed algorithms that (allegedly) could predict approximate locations where the next calls would come in from at any given moment. The company would then position their ambulances strategically within their service area so as to be able to respond to those predicted areas as quickly as possible. So it was quite common (and still is) to see ambulances parked in the lots of various businesses, both large and small. After a period of time, the ambulances would move to other areas, presumably in response to changing data. I know it sounds like voodoo, and I have no information that speaks to the effectiveness of such a system other than what we were told, but the company obviously believed in it enough to continue paying for it over time. It would appear they still do. So this is the first thing I thought of when the mention was made of cop cars sitting in empty parking lots. But I have no idea if police departments have embraced systems such as these. There’s obviously a deterrence factor with patrolling (as opposed to stationary) police cars that is not an issue with ambulances. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2019, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-sitting-in-cars-in-empty-parking-lots/833969/54 "2019-05-17T11:07:23Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Justine Ruszczyk is one example. …is it the one and only example? Is what happened to Ruszczyk typical of what happens when you knock on the window of a police car? I’m genuinely curious if this is a normal American expectation. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2019, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-sitting-in-cars-in-empty-parking-lots/833969/55 "2019-05-17T12:19:29Z")
> [@Banquet\_Bear](#): > > …is it the one and only example? Is what happened to Ruszczyk typical of what happens when you knock on the window of a police car? I’m genuinely curious if this is a normal American expectation. I ain’t taking one for the team. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2019, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-sitting-in-cars-in-empty-parking-lots/833969/56 "2019-05-17T15:45:48Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I ain’t taking one for the team. Aw, _man_! ---
**Author:** ![butler1850](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@butler1850](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butler1850)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2019, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-sitting-in-cars-in-empty-parking-lots/833969/57 "2019-05-17T18:01:53Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > My church actually gives away alcohol toward the end of the service. For the 10% of my income they ask for, the portions stink! ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2019, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-sitting-in-cars-in-empty-parking-lots/833969/58 "2019-05-17T18:35:43Z")
> [@butler1850](#): > > For the 10% of my income they ask for, the portions stink! The bread’s really dry, too. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![UCBearcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/77aa72/32.png) [@UCBearcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UCBearcats)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2019, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-sitting-in-cars-in-empty-parking-lots/833969/59 "2019-05-17T21:12:00Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I ain’t taking one for the team. Agreed. Walking up to a cop car in the dark is asking for trouble. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2019, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-sitting-in-cars-in-empty-parking-lots/833969/60 "2019-05-17T21:27:04Z")
> [@UCBearcats](#): > > Agreed. Walking up to a cop car in the dark is asking for trouble. Yes, that poor woman in Minneapolis. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-sitting-in-cars-in-empty-parking-lots/833969.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-sitting-in-cars-in-empty-parking-lots/833969.md?page=4)