# No DWI for this Police Officer **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 20, 2003, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-dwi-for-this-police-officer/156393 "2003-02-20T20:11:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2003, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-dwi-for-this-police-officer/156393/21 "2003-02-22T19:00:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GaWd \* > \*\*I believe he “wanted to beat the shit” out of the trooper because he didn’t fall for the blue wall bit. And I think it was mostly meant tongue-in-cheek. Christ, go take a pill already. \*\* Exactly! > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tapioca Dextrin \* > **You wanted to assault a state trooper who pulled you over for speeding?** I think you’re looking a little bit too far into what’s being typed here. I’ve had partners who wanted to beat the hell out of me for screwing something up. It doesn’t mean they had any intentions of doing so. Being pissed about something and actually intending to do something abvout it are 2 different things. Letting another copper off the hook for speeding isn’t coruption. It’s discreation. I make a lot of traffic stops, and I give out a lot of verbal or written warnings. Sure I also write a lot of citations. But each situation and individual is unique. And my departments policy gives the ultimate decision to ME. Not you. I suppose you think I’m corrupt because last week I let a woman off with a warning after nailing her going 44 in a 30. And she wasn’t a cop. But she was polite, coutesy, and had a clear driving record. Why screw that up over a momentary lapse? There are very few things a cop has discretion over. Issuing tickets is one of them. I don’t have to write a ticket every time to be doing my job well. If letting another cop off for speeding is coruption, 90% of all police officers are guilty. But I’ll tell you what. Seeing you equate some minor speeding offenses with things like drunk driving and rape(:rolleyes: ) the next time I’m on the job, nobody get’s a break for any reason! Seeing I’m only on the job part-time now, I won’t work a shift until the first week of March. But when I do, no one get’s a break. No verbal or written warnings. All tickets. Don’t drive through here on that day folks. **Tapioca Dextrin** doesn’t think I’m doing my job unless I be a bounty hunting prick and everyone get’s a ticket. ---
**Author:** ![Tony\_Montana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@Tony\_Montana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tony_Montana)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2003, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-dwi-for-this-police-officer/156393/22 "2003-02-22T19:52:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pkbites \* > \*\*Okay, driving drunk is inexcusible. But you can’t tell me you’ve never badged yourself out of a speeding ticket. \*\* What if… **Badge** obeys traffic laws off duty? ---
**Author:** ![Deadly\_Nightlight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Deadly\_Nightlight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deadly_Nightlight)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2003, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-dwi-for-this-police-officer/156393/23 "2003-02-22T20:42:51Z")
Why should the police be able to “badge” out of violations? Just because they are the police? If I am accountable for speeding the police should be too, Why should they be held above the law? ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2003, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-dwi-for-this-police-officer/156393/24 "2003-02-22T22:10:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Deadly Nightlight \* > \*\*Why should the police be able to “badge” out of violations? Just because they are the police? If I am accountable for speeding the police should be too, Why should they be held above the law? \*\* They’re not. But are you saying that everytime a person goes with a warning instead of a ticket that makes them “above tghe law”? You’re all acting like every cop badges his way out of a ticket every day. It’s been over 9 years since the last time I did it. (I was going 11 over on the freeway. I don’t even pull people over until 13).And it must be at least 6 years since I’ve pulled somebody over for a minor violation and it turned out to be a cop. Were not talking about someone going 20 over the limit here or driving nuts. ---
**Author:** ![GaWd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f08c70/32.png) [@GaWd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaWd)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-dwi-for-this-police-officer/156393/25 "2003-02-23T03:33:09Z")
Hell, people “badge” out of tickets all the time…and they don’t even have a fucking badge! One more time, in case you missed it: - Girls cry and blubber and flirt - some probably flash their breasts - Sometimes, a cop will let you off with a warning if he feels you’ve had a rough day If you’ve ever had a sob story for a cop, cried, or in any way tried to influence a cop into being EASY on you, you’re guilty of the same thing. Notes: 1- There is no universal law that says that cops don’t ticket cops 2- If a cop gets off with a warning for a traffic violation(not drunken driving), it’s not “corruption”. 3- Never done it before, but since I only have 2 notes, “Hi Opal!” 😃 Sam ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-dwi-for-this-police-officer/156393/26 "2003-02-23T04:25:02Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by GaWd \* **1- There is no universal law that says that cops don’t ticket cops** Just ask my buddy who got the ticket from the State Trooper, while he was on duty! **3- Never done it before, but since I only have 2 notes, "Hi Opal!"** I hope I never ever pull Opal over. What would I write on line #3 of the citation?😛 😛 😛 😛 ---
**Author:** ![threemae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f9b8f/32.png) [@threemae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threemae)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-dwi-for-this-police-officer/156393/27 "2003-02-23T07:46:11Z")
As somebody with some very limited “badge waving potential” (local volunteer SAR group), but also very angry with the story cited by the OP: I think it’s reasonable that cops provide other cops/DA’s/firefighters/SAR with a little bit of lee-way for some minor traffic rules. I think it’s a little way of saying thanks for doing a thankless, difficult job. But what annoys me is when people change their behavior becasue they know that they can get away with something that most people cannot. An ex-leader from my search and rescue group (teenager) drove recklessly and fast because she was the sherriff’s niece, a member of our SAR group, and an attractive seventeen year-old girl. She would brag about being pulled over and let go through any number of these means. When she finally got a ticket from a deputy that had worked with her and recognized her both from calls and as his boss’s niece for a 71 in a 40, I was happy to hear it. She refused to pay the increased insurance, and her parents took away her car. Her maturity level in terms of this and my search and rescue group as a whole was so low that it eventually led to her resigning from the group. We were all happy to see her go. So, when this “proffessional courtesy” causes people to change their behavior, I draw the line. PK, I generall agree with you, but, nothing personal, do you really believe you guys would have been doing 82 in a 65 had you not been on duty with four cops in a car? –Threemae: Driving for over a year and as of yet not-pulled over, but hoping that SAR connections will help in any event ---
**Author:** ![bdgr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@bdgr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bdgr)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-dwi-for-this-police-officer/156393/28 "2003-02-23T07:55:50Z")
Here in Fort Worthless, a cop beats up his girlfriend, chokes her, and the DA never even gets to see the report. The police try to bury it, give the guy a 30 day suspension with no criminal charges. ANd when the investigative reporter confronts the police chief with it, he tells her to mind her own business…that its just a class c misdomenor(a ticket), even though its a class A that carrys jail time…A city of rednecks… ---
**Author:** ![Tony\_Montana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@Tony\_Montana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tony_Montana)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-dwi-for-this-police-officer/156393/29 "2003-02-23T16:05:49Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by pkbites \* \*\* > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GaWd \* > **1- There is no universal law that says that cops don’t ticket cops** > Just ask my buddy who got the ticket from the State Trooper, while he was on duty! From [here](http://www.ketchikandailynews.com/index.shtml): > [@](#): > > A judge Tuesday found a Ketchikan city police officer innocent of speeding because the officer was on an emergency call in a squad car at the time of the incident. > Ketchikan Police Officer Tyrone Walker had been ticketed on Sept. 13 after he missed negotiating a curve at the corner of First and Jefferson Streets, according to Chief Grant Sirevog. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-dwi-for-this-police-officer/156393/30 "2003-02-23T17:24:41Z")
My friend got ticketed because, even though he was in an emergency vehicle, he did not have his lights and siren on and was not on a call that justified making a silent run. When that Trooper pulled us over we were all laughing hysterically…until he came back with a ticket in his hand. then the car got reallllllllllllllllll silent. ---
**Author:** ![Badge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Badge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badge)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-dwi-for-this-police-officer/156393/31 "2003-02-23T21:23:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pkbites \* > \*\*Okay, driving drunk is inexcusible. But you can’t tell me you’ve never badged yourself out of a speeding ticket. \*\* Actually, I can tell you that. I’ve been stopped twice in the 17 years that I’ve been a cop (once for a head light out, once when the year tab fell off of my license plate), and never identified myself. I avoid tickets by obeying the law, not by using my badge. I know that other cops do use their badges to get out of tickets, but I think that it is wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Klaatu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Klaatu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Klaatu)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-dwi-for-this-police-officer/156393/32 "2003-02-24T03:50:01Z")
Yes **pkbites** it IS BULLSHIT! That’s why fucking asshole cops do get away with crap. Sure, it’s a ticket this time, oh, WTF, let’s let the DUI slide next time blah blah… Pretty fucking arrogant attitude dude. But it’s the “I got the Power” baditude thing. Screw you. ---
**Author:** ![GaWd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f08c70/32.png) [@GaWd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaWd)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-dwi-for-this-police-officer/156393/33 "2003-02-24T04:33:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Klaatu \* > \*\*Yes **pkbites** it IS BULLSHIT! That’s why fucking asshole cops do get away with crap. Sure, it’s a ticket this time, oh, WTF, let’s let the DUI slide next time blah blah… > > Pretty fucking arrogant attitude dude. But it’s the “I got the Power” baditude thing. > > Screw you. \*\* Huh? Did I miss something here? Sam ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-dwi-for-this-police-officer/156393/34 "2003-02-24T17:35:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Klaatu \* > \*\*Yes **pkbites** it IS BULLSHIT! That’s why fucking asshole cops do get away with crap. Sure, it’s a ticket this time, oh, WTF, let’s let the DUI slide next time blah blah… > Screw you. \*\* what the mother fuck are you talking about? Where did I do anything but condemn that guy get ting out of a DUI? WTF?:eek: WTF?:eek: WTF?:eek: WTF?:eek: WTF?:eek: What the fuck are you talking about? ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-dwi-for-this-police-officer/156393/35 "2003-02-24T17:46:14Z")
Thank you Badge, it’s nice to hear an officer of the law condemning special treatment. ---
**Author:** ![auntie\_em](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@auntie\_em](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auntie_em)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-dwi-for-this-police-officer/156393/36 "2003-02-24T18:22:12Z")
Hmm, reminds me of a [similar incident](http://www.cjonline.com/stories/062101/com_sergeant.shtml) around here a couple of years ago: > [@](#): > > A police sergeant testified Wednesday he wanted to arrest his superior, Maj. Roland A. Whye, last July for an alleged domestic attack, but was overruled by a captain who had been summoned to the scene. > > Sgt. Byron Endsley explained that an arrest was warranted because he saw marks on the throat of Whye’s girlfriend and a witness said Whye had been choking her. He said the ultimate decision not to make an arrest was out of step with Topeka Police Department policy. > > According to police rules and regulations, an arrest is to be made in a domestic dispute if injuries are visible and there is an independent witness, Endsley said. > > But the incident linked to Whye wasn’t a normal case, he said. > > “He’s the third in command at the police department. He’s my boss,” Endsley said, referring to Whye, who was in charge of the department’s uniform division. A police major is outranked only by the deputy chief and chief. Whye supervised more than 200 officers. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-dwi-for-this-police-officer/156393/37 "2003-02-25T05:58:16Z")
Predictably, my views coincide with those of **Badge** when it comes to being courteous as the primary route in avoiding a citation. Several years ago I was enroute to New Mexico and was cutting across southwest Kansas in an effort to miss a snowstorm coming out of Colorado. My frustration grew as folk in a little bohunk town drove 10 MPH below the speed limit owing to rainfall. As the exit of town appeared on a straight road, I seized the opportunity, and punched the pedal, passing three cars in one shot. With nothing in front of me aside of a nasty looking sky, I wound it up to 80. A few miles later, I saw some distant flickering in the mirror. I continued to pass cars and maintain glidescope, but the flickering drew closer. Eventually, I figured that that flickering was in pursuit of you-know-who, and I should decelerate and allow apprehension to take place. On the roadside, radio off, window down, thumbs under the steering wheel and fingers pointed up, Mr. Officer asks me if I know why he has stopped me. For speeding, says me. No, says Mr. Officer. I’m stopping you for passing those three cars in Pawnee Creek. When you re-entered your lane, it was no longer a passing zone. Darn, you’re right, says me, but Pawnee Creek was ten miles back up the road. Mr. Officer then says he’s been doing 120 trying to catch me. I then smile and trump him by saying, didn’t I start this out by admitting I was speeding? Mr. Officer had a good laugh, ran my papers, and gave me a warning. Approach a law enforcement professional with your hat in your hand, and 9 times out of 10, they will give you the benefit of the doubt. They see asshats every day-do your part to be a bright spot, and your candor will work in your favor. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Janie\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/13edae/32.png) [@Janie\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Janie_Jones)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-dwi-for-this-police-officer/156393/38 "2003-02-25T16:50:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by danceswithcats \* > **Approach a law enforcement professional with your hat in your hand, and 9 times out of 10, they will give you the benefit of the doubt.** What’s the color of your skin, **danceswithcats**? (Hey, it’s the Pit, innit?!) Anyway, an update. The chief cop (the guy allegedly driving drunk) is suspended for two weeks without pay: [http://www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress/news/local/states/wisconsin/5255177.htm](http://www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress/news/local/states/wisconsin/5255177.htm) ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-dwi-for-this-police-officer/156393/39 "2003-02-25T22:57:23Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by Janie Jones \* \*\*What’s the color of your skin, **danceswithcats**? Thusfar, I’ve been classified as Caucasian. However, I’ve known law enforcement professionals of white, black, and hispanic ethnicity, both male and female, and a respectful approach to someone who is doing their job is always the best course of action. You may not make matters any better for yourself by being courteous and pleasant, but being an asshat is pretty well guaranteed to make matters worse, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2003, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-dwi-for-this-police-officer/156393/40 "2003-02-28T00:52:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by World Eater \* > \*\*Well if I ever am busted for anything I’ll just utter… > > And then me and the officer will enjoy a hearty chuckle, as I call home. \*\* To paraphrase a Monty Python sketch: Officer: Did you know you ran right over that little girl? Driver: Oh. err, is she all right? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-dwi-for-this-police-officer/156393.md?page=1)