# How could a police officer be this wrong? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 30, 2012, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759 "2012-06-30T00:54:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2012, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/101 "2012-07-05T01:51:25Z")
> [@tapu](#): > > Small minds often assume that if they don’t know about it, it must not exist. what about people who assume what other people think? ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2012, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/102 "2012-07-05T02:07:35Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > You don’t seem to be all that familiar with **Ambivalid** , are you? > [@tapu](#): > > My opinions about this issue are independent and long-standing. None of it depends on the character of Ambivalid. Thank you! And, for the record, I stand by my character, both here on the board and in real life. While I do look back on my entrance to this board with a small cringe (I feel that I shouldn’t have been so “guns a blazing”), I do feel that I was unfairly maligned early on in my time here and have been unable to escape that shadow ever since. To me, it is a testament to the character (or lack thereof) of some of the members here who get more satisfaction out of lambasting (disingenuously in many instances) every little aspect of my presence here rather than engaging with me in the threads I’ve posted in. ETA: At least _ **I** _ make worthwhile fucking contributions to this board. **clears throat** ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2012, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/103 "2012-07-05T02:52:17Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > I feel that I shouldn’t have been so “guns a blazing” Well there was a bit of that but this is your third thread along the same lines. Picture someone starting a thread asking if they should dial 911 because they saw a speeder and then another asking about people running stop signs. I personally wouldn’t make the call but that’s me. YMMV. There is definitely a theme in your threads and you obviously feel strongly about it. I don’t think it’s healthy to think ill of someone who at least at one time needed the parking space. Maybe you could give the person the benefit of the doubt until you learn otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2012, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/104 "2012-07-05T02:52:56Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > . While I do look back on my entrance to this board with a small cringe (I feel that I shouldn’t have been so “guns a blazing”), I do feel that I was unfairly maligned early on in my time here and have been unable to escape that shadow ever since. Hey, Back then I tried to nicely caution you that you would develop a reputation but you just had to keep on keeping on and now here you are. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2012, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/105 "2012-07-05T02:55:36Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Well there was a bit of that but this is your third thread along the same lines. Picture someone starting a thread asking if they should dial 911 because they saw a speeder and then another asking about people running stop signs. > > I personally wouldn’t make the call but that’s me. YMMV. There is definitely a theme in your threads and you obviously feel strongly about it. I don’t think it’s healthy to think ill of someone who at least at one time needed the parking space. Maybe you could give the person the benefit of the doubt until you learn otherwise. SMH. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2012, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/106 "2012-07-05T03:06:11Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > Hey, > > Back then I tried to nicely caution you that you would develop a reputation but you just had to keep on keeping on and now here you are. > [@Ambivalid](#): > > …some of the members here who get more satisfaction out of lambasting (disingenuously in many instances) every little aspect of my presence here rather than engaging with me in the threads I’ve posted in. Yeah, you were cautioning me because your attitude towards me was being cemented back then wasn’t it? That quote of mine above could be a verbatim description of _you_, in my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2012, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/107 "2012-07-05T03:23:50Z")
You’re not going to change peoples’ opinions of you over night – especially not if you keep going over the same topics again and again. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2012, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/108 "2012-07-05T04:49:03Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > You’re not going to change peoples’ opinions of you over night – especially not if you keep going over the same topics again and again. Look-I’m not trying to drag this needlessly on but once again: three threads in thirteen months. Am I not allowed to bring up these issues whatsoever? If I do am I automatically branded a “one-trick pony”? Because I don’t see how on earth that sort of sparse thread generation on a subject could possibly be considered “going over the same topics again and again”; especially when (as I’ve already noted) each specific thread was based on certain circumstances unique to the situations presented within it. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2012, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/109 "2012-07-05T09:56:12Z")
The coffee place doesn’t open for a bit yet, and I got curious. A cursory look at your posting history reveals 103 threads started, and based on the titles and mouseovers, about 14 are handicap related, and maybe as many as 10 of these are the parking/plane/gym subset. So at least 90% of the time you’re not starting ‘parking spot at the gym’-threads. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2012, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/110 "2012-07-05T10:08:43Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > If, on the small chance that he _is_ disabled and chooses to use an expired placard, _so what?_ Disabled people have just as much of a responsibility to use handicapped parking spaces in the proper, legal manner as do able-bodied people have the responsibility not to abuse those spots. Man, nothing gets my goat more than _people who don’t fill out the correct paperwork!_ ---
**Author:** ![BunnyTVS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BunnyTVS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BunnyTVS)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2012, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/111 "2012-07-05T11:43:37Z")
I’ve gotta give Jamie some credit this time. Look at his first parking post where he blocked the guy in and how everything escalated. Yeah he came across as an arsehole. This time he called the cops, using the method reccomended by an officer. And when he didn’t get the exact response he was hoping for, what did he do? He came here to ask for clarification. And it turns out that the laws on parking and issuing tickets varies widely. So he’s going to take the advice he was given here and request clarification from local law enforcement. I kinda think this is what the Dope’s supposed to be about, that and the snark of course.\* As for “regularly” posting about matters involving his disability, I’m assuming that being in a wheelchair is a major factor of life for someone who spends most of their waking life _in a wheelchair_. I know I’m a drive-by poster with little to offer to most discussions here. But I admire the different attitude Jamie showed on this occasion. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2012, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/112 "2012-07-05T11:58:46Z")
> [@BunnyTVS](#): > > I know I’m a drive-by poster with little to offer to most discussions here. But I admire the different attitude Jamie showed on this occasion. I concur. I’ve really been impressed by how much Jamie’s civilized himself. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2012, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/113 "2012-07-05T13:11:42Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > The coffee place doesn’t open for a bit yet, and I got curious. > > A cursory look at your posting history reveals 103 threads started, and based on the titles and mouseovers, about 14 are handicap related, and maybe as many as 10 of these are the parking/plane/gym subset. So at least 90% of the time you’re not starting ‘parking spot at the gym’-threads. > [@MandaJo](#): > > I concur. I’ve really been impressed by how much Jamie’s civilized himself. In case that didn’t come across in the post above - me too. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2012, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/114 "2012-07-05T13:27:06Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > …Then what in the hell was this officer talking about? If it’s owned by a company, issue the _company_ the ticket. My guess, as this officer _was_ young, is that she had no experience with such matters and she didn’t know how to proceed. But come on, if a car is illegally parked, it gets ticketed. Regardless of the owner. But from a _police officer?_ They are the ones that are supposed to be versed on the ins-and-outs of the law. It’s worth noting that police are given quite a disturbing degree (to me, at least) of immunity for not knowing the law they are charged with enforcing. Consider [this example,](http://www.michaelrighi.com/2007/09/01/arrested-at-circuit-city/) in which a man is arrested when he refuses to show his driver’s license to a police officer. The charges were eventually dropped, but I don’t believe there were any consequences for the arresting officer. So yes, PO’s are supposed to be well-versed on the ins/outs of the law, but often they are not - and there’s not a whole lot you can do about it. ---
**Author:** ![CannyDan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cannydan/32/548_2.png) [@CannyDan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CannyDan)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2012, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/115 "2012-07-05T13:49:26Z")
Ninja - d by **BunnyTVS**! I was among those giving Jaime a ration in some of his previous complaint-fests, but in this instance I think he’s done everything exactly right. He even presents the issue here in a totally different light. And I too await some rational explanation of a police policy (if in fact it exists) that exempts company owned vehicles from parking enforcement unless the driver of said vehicle volunteers to [del]self-incriminate[/del] – er, identify him or her self. That’s asinine. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2012, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/116 "2012-07-06T01:22:58Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > SMH. I don’t see what is so mind boggling about giving someone with an expired handicap tag the benefit of the doubt. You’ve invested a fair amount of emotions over this. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2012, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/117 "2012-07-06T01:46:00Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I don’t see what is so mind boggling about giving someone with an expired handicap tag the benefit of the doubt. You’ve invested a fair amount of emotions over this. This is a person who 1) had a temporary placard from _three years ago_, not a just-recently expired tag. And 2) specifically and carefully put an eyeglasses case over the _exact_ location showing the expiration date on the placard; and who put the placard on the dashboard rather than hang it on the rearview mirror as designated. And finally 3) had this “coincidence” occur on numerous, often consecutive, days at the same establishment. Who, with a single ounce of brain matter, would give someone with this behavior and lack of proper authorization the “benefit of the doubt”. I stand by my SMH and add an extra vigorous “S” just for making me explain this to you. ---
**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:** [July 6, 2012, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/118 "2012-07-06T01:50:38Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I don’t see what is so mind boggling about giving someone with an expired handicap tag the benefit of the doubt. You’ve invested a fair amount of emotions over this. But he is directly impacted by the act. In his shoes, I’m sure I’d be pissed. However, I’m not directly effected by the act and I honestly don’t remember the last time (ever?) I noticed a handicap parking scofflaw. He can have my share!🆒 Meanwhile, I glare through my sunglasses at boaters who take up ramp space while they do the things that should already be done. Bastards! ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2012, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/119 "2012-07-06T02:10:55Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > This is a person who 1) had a temporary placard from _three years ago_, not a just-recently expired tag. And 2) specifically and carefully put an eyeglasses case over the _exact_ location showing the expiration date on the placard; and who put the placard on the dashboard rather than hang it on the rearview mirror as designated. And finally 3) had this “coincidence” occur on numerous, often consecutive, days at the same establishment. Who, with a single ounce of brain matter, would give someone with this behavior and lack of proper authorization the “benefit of the doubt”. > > I stand by my SMH and add an extra vigorous “S” just for making me explain this to you. I don’t think anyone thinks it’s a “coincidence”. The benefit of the doubt would be for all incidences and is based on the possibility that this person is still disabled. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2012, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/120 "2012-07-06T02:13:33Z")
It’s not difficult for me to believe (which is no comment on rightness, Jamie or anything else) that its an unintended wrinkle in the law. Parking in handicap spot, could be something that the driver has to be ticketed for due to reasons of the nature of the crime, whereas parking tickets in general attach to the car as they are under a different code. It might be as much an unintended technicality as anything else (as in, perhaps while its called a parking ticket, it is recorded under a criminal code or something - if I’m making any sense at all) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759.md?page=7)