What are these cops doing outside my house?

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

I was awakened by the sound of idling, and idle chit-chat.

I peeped out the window to see two cops, on police motorcycles, parked outside my house. They were side by side, perpindicular to the sidewalk, facing the street, in between two parked cars. Right underneath my bedroom window.

After a few minutes, one of them took off. A cyclist after my own heart, he went the wrong way for about 15 feet of my one-way street, then turned left and took off down the two-way street. (I do this myself every time I leave my house in that direction.) I heard a bleep from his siren (an advantage I do not have when bending the traffic laws).

Then a few minutes later, the other one took off after him.

I thought it was over until I heard more idling. I looked out again, and sure enough, one of them was back. In my head I composed a rant about how idling is ILLEGAL, don’t you know, and also really noisy and annoying, and is it really keeping my neighbourhood safe from murderers for him to sit idling under my window?

Then, as if he heard me, he switched off. Yippee!

Then the other cop came back, and they both sat there with their engines off for a while.

Then one took off.

Then the other took off.

Then they both came back.

What are they doing? What kind of police operation would require occasional drive-bys from motorcycle cops at 8:30 in the morning?

Should I go out and ask them?

I’ll let you know if I hear any gunshots …

2

At first I thought your thread was suggesting an UNGODLY hour for the cops to be cruising, but then you mentioned 8.30am, which is, y’know, actually business hours!!

I don’t know what the cops are doing outside yer’ house, but whatever it is, it ain’t serious at that time of the day.

:wink:

3

Maybe they were staked out. It’s not uncommon to pick up folks with warrants out on them as they leave the house in the morning.

4

You could always bring 'em a cup of coffee and ask them if something is wrong.

5

But see, they’ve left, then come back, six or seven times.

Never once have they brought a handcuffed arrestee with them.

I would think if they were staked out, they would stay put until they found what/who they wanted, then take it away, and not come back for a while.

I know it’s not serious. I should just go ask them. But I fear people with guns on their belts.

6

Is there a busy intersection or a school zone they could be watching? Motorcycle cops get traffic duty a lot of the time. They are probably just handing out tickets to red light runners or or other scoflaws of that ilk.

7

Maybe they are doing a prostitution sting a block away? The decoy picks up a john, the calvary shows up, the john is booked, and the decoy placed again, then the calvary waits below your window.

8

Cavalry, dear, cavalry.

And how do you know they aren’t staking out YOU, waiting for you to go to work? You seem awful nervous about cops…!!!

9

Idling is illegal? Since when?

10

Well in NJ you can’t idle in a parking lot for more than 3 minutes

From NJDEP

  1. Are regular gasoline-powered vehicles subject to idling restrictions?

Yes, gasoline-powered motor vehicles are subject to similar idling restrictions including a 3 minute limit on idling (see N.J.A.C. 7:27-15). However, diesel vehicles emit much more fine particulate matter, commonly called soot, than do gasoline-powered vehicles and they will continue to be the subject of increased enforcement oversight.

11

In the words of a smart-ass often used when mouthing off to cops, “it’s a free country, isn’t it?”

You’re free to go ask them what’s up, but right now they just happen to be using some parking spots in front of your house and I don’t think that police need any special permission to use public parking spots. Also, most police motorcycles aren’t like obnoxiously loud Harley’s, but if it’s a continuing annoyance to you, I would suggest what other posters have suggested: take out a cup of coffee and tell them that you find their noise to be obtrusive to enjoying your home. If they aren’t assholes or have a compelling reason to be there, they’ll move.

12

And doughnuts.

:smiley:

13

Routine traffic patrol most likely either picking off speeders, or if there is a traffic light at the intersection, red light runners.

14

And say, “Thank you for your vigilance.” :rolleyes:

15

There’s probably a third cop up the street with a radar gun and a radio. He tags the speeders, calls ahead to the motorcycle cops with a description, the bike cop pulls the guy over and gives him a ticket. Rinse and repeat.

16

cowgirl fears people with guns on their belts? :confused:
Damn, woman, you’ve ruined my day. See, I had this mental image of cowgirl on her horse wearing boots, chaps and with…a six-gun on her belt. Oh well, back to the drawing board with you!

17

Next thing you’ll be telling me is that cowgirl isn’t even a girl.