# Why can't cops lift their car hoods? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 24, 2006, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-cops-lift-their-car-hoods/369995 "2006-08-24T03:49:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2006, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-cops-lift-their-car-hoods/369995/21 "2006-08-24T15:17:06Z")
I’d say they don’t want their officers playing mechanic and possibly screwing up police department equipment. That need is much better served by a tow truck/garage, which the officer would probably help you get in touch with. ---
**Author:** ![diggleblop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@diggleblop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggleblop)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2006, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-cops-lift-their-car-hoods/369995/22 "2006-08-24T15:21:03Z")
[QUOTE=spingears] Giving jump starts is not their job. [/QUOTE] I thought "to protect _and serve_ was their job? ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2006, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-cops-lift-their-car-hoods/369995/23 "2006-08-24T15:29:28Z")
[QUOTE=diggleblop] I thought "to protect _and serve_ was their job? [/QUOTE] Come on, dude! The “serve” part is talking about their actual duties. It does not refer to being at the beck and call of everyone who needs something done. People have provided perfectly reasonable explanations—both technical and procedural—for why it might not be a good idea for a cop to provide a jump start. I guess, according to your formulation, if i need to move a couch and haven’t got any friends available, i should be able to call the police department and have a couple of cops come over and help me out. Or perhaps, next time i’m parked outside a 7-11 and i see a cop, i’ll ask him to bring me out a coffee. ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2006, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-cops-lift-their-car-hoods/369995/24 "2006-08-24T15:53:02Z")
In Dallas, I’ve seen cops with their hoods up when they have to leave their cars idling in the heat of summer. Presumably, this helps prevent overheating. ---
**Author:** ![Carnacki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b5e925/32.png) [@Carnacki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnacki)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2006, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-cops-lift-their-car-hoods/369995/25 "2006-08-24T16:06:31Z")
[QUOTE=mhendo] Come on, dude! The “serve” part is talking about their actual duties. It does not refer to being at the beck and call of everyone who needs something done. People have provided perfectly reasonable explanations—both technical and procedural—for why it might not be a good idea for a cop to provide a jump start. I guess, according to your formulation, if i need to move a couch and haven’t got any friends available, i should be able to call the police department and have a couple of cops come over and help me out. Or perhaps, next time i’m parked outside a 7-11 and i see a cop, i’ll ask him to bring me out a coffee. [/QUOTE] I like it, I think cops should work for tips. Sure, he’ll find out who burglarized your house, but you best slip him a fiver or else next time he’ll piss in your spurpee before he brings it to you. ---
**Author:** ![diggleblop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@diggleblop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggleblop)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2006, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-cops-lift-their-car-hoods/369995/26 "2006-08-24T16:36:59Z")
[QUOTE=mhendo] Come on, dude! The “serve” part is talking about their actual duties. It does not refer to being at the beck and call of everyone who needs something done. People have provided perfectly reasonable explanations—both technical and procedural—for why it might not be a good idea for a cop to provide a jump start. I guess, according to your formulation, if i need to move a couch and haven’t got any friends available, i should be able to call the police department and have a couple of cops come over and help me out. Or perhaps, next time i’m parked outside a 7-11 and i see a cop, i’ll ask him to bring me out a coffee. [/QUOTE] Yes, and while he’s at it, he can give me a foot massage as well. Are you serious? I was joking, man. Sarcasm. Though it’s hard to tell in text format, I know. But either way, I don’t see how asking for a jump equates to the cop going and fetching me coffee. When a person has a dead battery, they are usually in need of some help and fetching coffee isn’t a necessity. Giving a person a jump could be considered “serving the public” in my opinion. Funny how people get so much “information” and take things so personal just by one sentence others post. lol ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2006, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-cops-lift-their-car-hoods/369995/27 "2006-08-24T16:48:24Z")
[QUOTE=diggleblop] Yes, and while he’s at it, he can give me a foot massage as well. Are you serious? I was joking, man. Sarcasm. Though it’s hard to tell in text format, I know. [/quote] Well, if you were in fact being ironic or sarcastic, it certainly didn’t emerge in your post. [QUOTE=diggleblop] But either way, I don’t see how asking for a jump equates to the cop going and fetching me coffee. When a person has a dead battery, they are usually in need of some help and fetching coffee isn’t a necessity. Giving a person a jump could be considered “serving the public” in my opinion. [/quote] Ah, so you _weren’t_ being ironic at all. You _do_, in fact, believe that giving a jump start is part of the “service” that police might reasonably provide. Giving a jump start is not “serving the public” if it impedes the cops or makes it harder for them to do their actual work. Sure, it would be great if an idle cop could help start a car with a dead battery, but if that might prevent him or her from getting to an emergency in a timely manner, or if it might blow out the radio or computer equipment, the cop’s ability to serve the public might be compromised. [QUOTE=diggleblop] Funny how people get so much “information” and take things so personal just by one sentence others post. lol [/QUOTE] I didn’t take it personally at all. I merely disagreed with you. ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2006, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-cops-lift-their-car-hoods/369995/28 "2006-08-24T17:13:10Z")
[QUOTE=mhendo] Or perhaps, next time i’m parked outside a 7-11 and i see a cop, i’ll ask him to bring me out a coffee. [/QUOTE] “You’re a public servant. Get me a glass of water!” -George Carlin ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-cops-lift-their-car-hoods/369995/29 "2006-08-25T00:55:21Z")
Locksmiths and towing/auto service companies frequently get bent out of shape when the police perform services for free that these companies would like to perform for a fee. It becomes an issue of private business having to compete with a government agency. So many municipalities have an agreement with these businesses to stay out of their pool. My dad, a former Washington State Patrol officer, had a special device for giving jump starts. It was a self-contained unit, completely separate from the patrol car’s system, and if fact was not even attached to the car. It was kept in the trunk. I think it was basically just a battery with jumper cables attached, but all in one box. Probably good for one jump. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-cops-lift-their-car-hoods/369995/30 "2006-08-25T01:29:49Z")
[QUOTE=Phase42] My dad, a former Washington State Patrol officer, had a special device for giving jump starts. It was a self-contained unit, completely separate from the patrol car’s system, and if fact was not even attached to the car. It was kept in the trunk. I think it was basically just a battery with jumper cables attached, but all in one box. Probably good for one jump. [/QUOTE] Like this: [http://www2.northerntool.com/product/200323721\_200323721.htm](http://www2.northerntool.com/product/200323721_200323721.htm) The only downside I can see to something like that (other than the cost) is that the batteries in it can only last a certain number of years, and how often do you need a jumpstart? ---
**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:** [August 25, 2006, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-cops-lift-their-car-hoods/369995/31 "2006-08-25T02:19:44Z")
[QUOTE=Duggy Fizzle] Its a departmental policy. If something were to get fried in the dead car while attemting to jump it, that person would expect the PD to pay for it. We also have a policy that we can’t help someone change a flat tire. Liability and all. Blame the lawyers. [/QUOTE] It’s our departments policy too, and it is absolutely a liability issue. We are are not allowed to jump cars, open locked car doors, or help change tires. As much as we would love to help, too many people have sued over electric locks damaged and too many officers have gone on 'comp after changing a tire and pulling a muscle. We used to have a waiver form that we had people sign, but some judge in 1989 said those were meaningless. Sorry folks. Get Triple A. ---
**Author:** ![BusDriver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/77aa72/32.png) [@BusDriver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BusDriver)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-cops-lift-their-car-hoods/369995/32 "2006-08-25T03:24:22Z")
[QUOTE=crazyjoe] Also, any sort of interference from the other party could put the officer at a lot of risk. Say, for instance, he is attaching the cables and you decide to touch him with the other ends? [/QUOTE] I imagine he would stand there and say “Why are you touching me with those jumper cables?” ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-cops-lift-their-car-hoods/369995/33 "2006-08-25T03:25:16Z")
[QUOTE=diggleblop] “serving the public” [/QUOTE] Look at that phrase: Serving The Public. Especially the last two words. Helping any indivdual is, at best, a byproduct of that mandate. In your scenario, it would be a distraction. ---
**Author:** ![diggleblop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@diggleblop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggleblop)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-cops-lift-their-car-hoods/369995/34 "2006-08-25T04:18:14Z")
[QUOTE=Derleth] Look at that phrase: Serving The Public. Especially the last two words. Helping any indivdual is, at best, a byproduct of that mandate. In your scenario, it would be a distraction. [/QUOTE] True, but still could technically be considered “serving the public”, nonetheless. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-cops-lift-their-car-hoods/369995/35 "2006-08-25T05:55:33Z")
[QUOTE=control-z] Like this: [http://www2.northerntool.com/product/200323721\_200323721.htm](http://www2.northerntool.com/product/200323721_200323721.htm) [/quote] Yeah, something very much like that. > [@](#): > > The only downside I can see to something like that (other than the cost) is that the batteries in it can only last a certain number of years, and how often do you need a jumpstart? I imagine the state police would be a little different from city cops, in that the state guys are more likely to encounter somebody in need of aid far from the nearest city. So this is just one of the things they carry. I seem to remember Dad telling me about some of the patrol cars being equipped with a device to siphon precisely one gallon of gas from the patrol car’s tank, too, but I may be remembering wrong. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-cops-lift-their-car-hoods/369995.md?page=1)