# Don't know how to feel about this cop's question...
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-know-how-to-feel-about-this-cops-question/601263
**Category:** The BBQ Pit
**Created:** [October 30, 2011, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-know-how-to-feel-about-this-cops-question/601263 "2011-10-30T06:02:45Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 15
### Author:  [@Lord\_Mondegreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Mondegreen)
#### Post date: [November 1, 2011, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-know-how-to-feel-about-this-cops-question/601263/281 "2011-11-01T23:11:06Z")
> [@1010011010](#):
>
> Good thing you had a disability that to cop approved.
>
> Imagine if you had emphysema or something that limited your physical exertion or mobility but had no obvious external indications.
I think you are slightly missing the point. It seems like the cop was gauging how quickly the question was answered rather than what the answer was. In this case the answer, “I have emphysema and can’t walk very far without being exhausted” probably would have satisfied him. But even if it didn’t, all that would mean is he would have taken the next step and checked the driver’s id (and maybe radioed to check the plates).
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### Author:  [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)
#### Post date: [November 1, 2011, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-know-how-to-feel-about-this-cops-question/601263/282 "2011-11-01T23:24:20Z")
> [@CannyDan](#):
>
> Cripes, you really are an asshole. If I type really slowly, will you try to understand?
>
> If I had given a “cronkie answer” my cop might have decided it was within “reasonable suspicion” to poke around a bit more. Then he might have turned up an undersized snapper or something. Or he might have uncovered _a thousand pounds of cocaine_, or _half a dozen illegal immigrants_, both of which are rather common here. Hell, I might have even possessed a valid fishing license the whole time.
>
> The obvious crime isn’t necessarily the only crime, or the most important crime occurring, which is something that all cops are extremely well aware of.
>
> In your case, waving the placard out the window could have been the act of someone desperate to have the cop go away before his buddies came running out of the store carrying the loot from their robbery. Instead it was just you, being you, which he swiftly determined to be of no further concern. After all, being a jackass still isn’t illegal. (Although I occasionally have hopes.)
Waving the placard was merely my attempt to save us _both_ the wasted time and hassle of having him get out of his car and come up to mine. It might not have been a well-thought out action but that is why I did it.
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### Author:  [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)
#### Post date: [November 1, 2011, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-know-how-to-feel-about-this-cops-question/601263/283 "2011-11-01T23:26:26Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#):
>
> I agree 100%.
>
> I’ve been on a couple of ride-alongs w/ a cop friend of mine, and he spent most of his time trying to find the bigger crime hiding within a small infraction. He’d specifically target cars with tail lights out because it could lead to who knows what else - and he’d never be accused of racial profiling or whatever because he had a valid reason to pull the car over in the first place.
>
> Doesn’t Flint PD have enough problems without you giving them a shitty time, Jaime?
Except there was no initial crime or violation that gave this officer any probable cause to ask me what my disability was. I was legally parked, my car was stationary, in park, and I was not committing any infraction whatsoever.
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### Author:  [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)
#### Post date: [November 1, 2011, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-know-how-to-feel-about-this-cops-question/601263/284 "2011-11-01T23:29:57Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#):
>
> Yep, I am suggesting that you didn’t have to answer the question if you didn’t want to. I generally think that cops hassling folks who don’t seem to need handicap hangtags is not a terrible thing. I’m sorry if that means that young guys like you in sportscars get hassled more than old folks in minivans but I think you would agree that it is a fair trade if it kept all the assholes from parking in handicap spots.
>
> I recently went to the rennaisance fair in Maryland and about half the folks in the handicap parking spots did not have handicap tags and I saw one family unloading from a van with handicap plates and noone had to use the attached wheelchair ramp (or even a cane), they were just borrowing grandma’s van so they could park in a handicap space. Noone seemed to care.
>
> BTW, its not that they are unaccepting, its that you made a HUGE splash when you first arrived on the scene and you made a pretty lasting negative first impression. Now I personally think you were justified in blocking in that guy at the health club and the health club (as dangerous as it was) and I think the health club handled things horribly but the whole thing about the wheelchair in the airplanes was a bit over the top it sounde a bit whiny and self entitled.
I will agree that I mishandled the whole “airplane thread” and I understand the reactions I received (initially, at least) to my postings there. But honestly, that is the only subject I have brought up here that I feel misgivings about now.
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### Author:  [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)
#### Post date: [November 1, 2011, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-know-how-to-feel-about-this-cops-question/601263/285 "2011-11-01T23:37:33Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#):
>
> I agree 100%.
>
> I’ve been on a couple of ride-alongs w/ a cop friend of mine, and he spent most of his time trying to find the bigger crime hiding within a small infraction. He’d specifically target cars with tail lights out because it could lead to who knows what else - and he’d never be accused of racial profiling or whatever because he had a valid reason to pull the car over in the first place.
>
> Doesn’t Flint PD have enough problems without you giving them a shitty time, Jaime?
Oh, and this was Davison PD. I would flat-out have been rendered _speechless_ had this happened in Flint with the Flint PD. I mean, Jesus, they don’t respond to half the murder calls in the city. :eek: AND…I didn’t give this officer a shitty time. I was pleasant and friendly and I thanked him for his work.
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### Author:  [@1010011010](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/1010011010)
#### Post date: [November 1, 2011, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-know-how-to-feel-about-this-cops-question/601263/286 "2011-11-01T23:44:37Z")
> [@Lord\_Mondegreen](#):
>
> I think you are slightly missing the point. It seems like the cop was gauging how quickly the question was answered rather than what the answer was. In this case the answer, “I have emphysema and can’t walk very far without being exhausted” probably would have satisfied him. But even if it didn’t, all that would mean is he would have taken the next step and checked the driver’s id (and maybe radioed to check the plates).
No reason to check the plates, as the placard is tied to the individual, not the vehicle.
And to be honest with you, I’d be fine with the copper taking the wave-off on the basis of seeing a superficially valid placard. Does this mean people will borrow their disabled auntie’s placard and park illegally? Yes. Is that sufficient reason to subject all disabled people to “papers, please” style harassment? Not really, no.
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### Author:  [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)
#### Post date: [November 2, 2011, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-know-how-to-feel-about-this-cops-question/601263/287 "2011-11-02T00:09:57Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#):
>
> Except there was no initial crime or violation that gave this officer any probable cause to ask me what my disability was. I was legally parked, my car was stationary, in park, and I was not committing any infraction whatsoever.
You misunderstand probable cause. They can _stop_ you for any reason they like. Hell, they can stop you on the highway just to make silly faces at you for 30 seconds. That’ll probably earn them a complaint and an internal smack upside the head for unprofessional conduct, but they can legally do it. Probable cause only is necessary for a search or arrest. Stopping you to talk to you doesn’t fall under either of those.
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### Author:  [@Lord\_Mondegreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Mondegreen)
#### Post date: [November 2, 2011, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-know-how-to-feel-about-this-cops-question/601263/288 "2011-11-02T00:11:48Z")
> [@1010011010](#):
>
> No reason to check the plates, as the placard is tied to the individual, not the vehicle.
Oh, OK, thanks for that info. I didn’t realize that was the case. So then the only check required is the ID against the placard.
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### Author:  [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)
#### Post date: [November 2, 2011, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-know-how-to-feel-about-this-cops-question/601263/289 "2011-11-02T00:18:31Z")
> [@Bosstone](#):
>
> You misunderstand probable cause. They can _stop_ you for any reason they like. Hell, they can stop you on the highway just to make silly faces at you for 30 seconds. That’ll probably earn them a complaint and an internal smack upside the head for unprofessional conduct, but they can legally do it. Probable cause only is necessary for a search or arrest. Stopping you to talk to you doesn’t fall under either of those.
I was responding to the poster who said he had been on ride alongs with a cop buddy who would target cars committing minor infractions, in order to have a valid reason to pull them over and then question them to try and discover larger crimes. I was saying that I was guilty of no initial “minor infraction” that gave this cop any reason to light me up in the first place. And I was never pulled over. I was never driving. I was parked and the cop approached me in the parking space.
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### Author:  [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)
#### Post date: [November 2, 2011, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-know-how-to-feel-about-this-cops-question/601263/290 "2011-11-02T00:18:34Z")
> [@aux203](#):
>
> Yes. Thought I made that obvious.
I think all of us have made that obvious to anyone that does not have their mind set like two week old concrete.
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### Author:  [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)
#### Post date: [November 2, 2011, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-know-how-to-feel-about-this-cops-question/601263/291 "2011-11-02T00:22:38Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#):
>
> I was responding to the poster who said he had been on ride alongs with a cop buddy who would target cars committing minor infractions, in order to have a valid reason to pull them over and then question them to try and discover larger crimes. I was saying that I was guilty of no initial “minor infraction” that gave this cop any reason to light me up in the first place. And I was never pulled over. I was never driving. I was parked and the cop approached me in the parking space.
Right, the poster said his cop buddy looked for solid infractions so he wouldn’t be accused of profiling. Doesn’t mean he _has_ to, period.
Besides, the cop saw a car without plates in a handicapped spot. Right there should be enough probable cause to check up and make sure everything’s fine.
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### Author:  [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)
#### Post date: [November 2, 2011, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-know-how-to-feel-about-this-cops-question/601263/292 "2011-11-02T00:41:29Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#):
>
> I was never driving. I was parked and the cop approached me in the parking space.
He wasn’t trying to get you for DRIVING in a handicapped PARKING space illegally now was he?
Damn you are dense aren’t you?
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### Author:  [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)
#### Post date: [November 2, 2011, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-know-how-to-feel-about-this-cops-question/601263/293 "2011-11-02T00:55:51Z")
> [@billfish678](#):
>
> He wasn’t trying to get you for DRIVING in a handicapped PARKING space illegally now was he?
>
> Damn you are dense aren’t you?
LOL, would you stop this nonsense? Go look at the quote I was replying to. :rolleyes:
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### Author:  [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)
#### Post date: [November 2, 2011, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-know-how-to-feel-about-this-cops-question/601263/294 "2011-11-02T00:57:26Z")
> [@Bosstone](#):
>
> Right, the poster said his cop buddy looked for solid infractions so he wouldn’t be accused of profiling. Doesn’t mean he _has_ to, period.
>
> Besides, the cop saw a car without plates in a handicapped spot. Right there should be enough probable cause to check up and make sure everything’s fine.
That’s the stupidest thing I’ve heard all thread.
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### Author:  [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)
#### Post date: [November 2, 2011, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-know-how-to-feel-about-this-cops-question/601263/295 "2011-11-02T01:00:06Z")
Ok, I’ve made my point on this stupid ass topic numerous times. Anyone who legitimately needed to understand has done so long ago. I am going to test myself and see if I can resist posting in this fucking thread again. Even though I know you bastards are going to continue dumping on me. We’ll see…🙂
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### Author:  [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)
#### Post date: [November 2, 2011, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-know-how-to-feel-about-this-cops-question/601263/296 "2011-11-02T01:00:44Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#):
>
> That’s the stupidest thing I’ve heard all thread.
Yeah, I figure you don’t actually read what you write.
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### Author:  [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)
#### Post date: [November 2, 2011, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-know-how-to-feel-about-this-cops-question/601263/297 "2011-11-02T01:01:25Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#):
>
> LOL, would you stop this nonsense? Go look at the quote I was replying to. :rolleyes:
The cop didn’t know you weren’t guilty until he FUCKING CHECKED.
I hope from now on every damn handicapped parking space you and too many 1s and 0’s ever try to use is taken up by some teenage little shit illegally using grandma’s placard.
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### Author:  [@CannyDan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CannyDan)
#### Post date: [November 2, 2011, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-know-how-to-feel-about-this-cops-question/601263/298 "2011-11-02T01:12:29Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#):
>
> Waving the placard was merely my attempt to save us _both_ the wasted time and hassle of having him get out of his car and come up to mine. It might not have been a well-thought out action but that is why I did it.
And you expected him to ascertain its validity at that distance via his superhuman vision? Or by clairvoyance? As for wasting time, no, checking up on things that arouse his suspicions is exactly what a cop does. It isn’t considered to be a waste of his time-- it’s the point of his job. And none of this changes the validity of my previous post. You though remain too obtuse to see the situation from any perspective other than your own. So don’t now try to tell us you were looking to save \*the cop’s \*time. That’s pure BS.
> [@Ambivalid](#):
>
> That’s the stupidest thing I’ve heard all thread.
Well no, not even close. It doesn’t compare for stupidity with, say, your post quoted here. But even that isn’t the high mark. The really, truly stupidest post in the thread has to be the OP. When it comes to self righteous overblown and unjustified outrage, you’ve sure got it nailed. Selfish \*and \*stubborn.
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### Author:  [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)
#### Post date: [November 2, 2011, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-know-how-to-feel-about-this-cops-question/601263/299 "2011-11-02T01:32:47Z")
I just noticed something way back on the first page. I asked you: “Out of curiosity, would you have been okay with him asking to see the placard and your ID if the wheelchair was visible to him?” to which you replied…
> [@Ambivalid](#):
>
> Sure. Maybe he just doesn’t see it.
From that and the fact that you showed him part of your wheelchair instead of answering his “How are you handicapped” question or showing him your ID I infer that you seem to feel that possession of the wheel chair is more important then proving you can legally park there? Is that the case? I mean, you basically stated it twice.
That brings up some interesting questions…
Who should be allowed to in a HC spot? People that doctors/gov’t decide can park there?
-People who need wheelchairs?
-People who deserve to park there?
Is relying on a wheelchair more important the possession of a HC placard when parking in a HC spot? If someone didn’t have an HC placard (not didn’t have it on them, didn’t own one), but they were paraplegic, should they get to park there, legally?
If so, who should get to decide which non-placard holders get to use those spots? You?
Again, I remind you, you presented your placard and a piece of your wheel chair to the officer.
Also, when I asked you if you would be okay showing your ID to the officer if your chair was in plain sight instead of in the back seat you said you would be okay with it under the assumption that the officer didn’t see it.
Again, I’ll remind you, based on everything you’ve said in this thread, _I_ could have parked in that spot and not received a ticket as long as I was in your car with your chair in the back.
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### Author:  [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)
#### Post date: [November 2, 2011, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-know-how-to-feel-about-this-cops-question/601263/300 "2011-11-02T01:39:22Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#):
>
> Except there was no initial crime or violation that gave this officer any probable cause to ask me what my disability was. I was legally parked, my car was stationary, in park, and I was not committing any infraction whatsoever.
Didn’t you say he initially approached due to your window tint? You said yourself that it was barely legal.
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