OT: Cops Driving

**CYdTracked** · 03-07-2007, 12:35 PM

Ok, lately this is a topic that has really started to irk me lately driving around Des Moines. For instance today I was running an errand over lunch in a 35 MPH zone probably going about 35-40 MPH myself and this cop car goes by me probably doing about 45 or a little more. No lights on and he weaves in and out of traffic some never using his turn signals, gets in the left turn lane and waits for the green and never uses a left turn signal in the process of turning left. All these are violations I'm sure this cop has given tickets out for at some time.

I notice several cops in the Des Moines and surrounding suburbs that drive just like this latley. I can understand if they are going to a call but usually they'd flash their lights if they needed to get there in a hurry. But if you are going to give any of us a ticket for driving like that let's not be hypocritical and have disregard for the rules of the road just because you are driving a squad car. Maybe there was a 2 for 1 donut sale going on that he was in a hurry to get to, I dunno...

**garn91** · 03-07-2007, 12:43 PM

or you see cops driving and talking on their cell phone at the same time. Nice example to be setting for the general public.

**mike4cy** · 03-07-2007, 12:46 PM

90% of all cops account for 75% of the hypocritical population in the world. And BTW, 60% of the time...I am right everytime.

**cytech** · 03-07-2007, 12:56 PM

I will let you be the one that pulls over the cop to let them know of their infractions lol. The faster they go the faster I can go behind them

**DaddyMac** · 03-07-2007, 01:14 PM

I'm right there with you, that's a big pet-peeve of mine. DSM area cops are some of the worst drivers around. I actually saw a WDSM cop change lanes in an intersection in front of me a few weeks ago. No signal - nothing.

Some will say that unless they're in an actually emergency, they won't use sirens or lights as they can be distracting. Now, I have yet to hear a clear definition of what constitutes "not an actual emergency", yet requires doing 55 down Grand Avenue.

I've guessed that the call came in for the "Day old" doughnut sale at Hy Vee, but I could be wrong...

**SuperCy** · 03-07-2007, 01:35 PM

I was actually at the intersection of Merle Hay and Douglas the other day. I was stopped for lights and there was a DMPD squad car next to me in the turn lane. I looked over and what did I see? He was reading. How is that even possible? He had a paperback book that he propped up over the steering wheel as he was stopped. I couldn't believe it. I guess the laws don't apply to all of us.

**cyQlone** · 03-07-2007, 01:59 PM

There is a law about reading at a stop light? Sweet!

**CYdTracked** · 03-07-2007, 03:42 PM

I would love to find the article on this but a year ago I know the rag did a story on a Des Moines police officer driving an undercover vehicle at like 2 in the morning got pulled over doing 90 on I-235 by WDM police. Well they suspected he may have been drinking, called his boss and someone came and drove him home. No ticket, no sobriety test, nothing and he was off-duty in a government vehicle! So Marc Hansen did a story how if this ever happened to him to please call his boss to come give him a ride home and listed what an OWI costs which is like $5000-$6000 in costs by the time you factor in everything plus some expensive insurance.

My girlfriend's dad always tells me the story how he got a judge to let her sister off the hook once for a 90 mph ticket in a 55 because he said if Terry Brandsted's son could get off the hook for drunk driving then his daughter should be able to get off the hook for a speeding ticket. The judge bought it somehow and forgave the ticket!

**Wesley** · 03-07-2007, 08:06 PM

Those cops must have graduated from EIU.

**ia8manfan** · 03-07-2007, 08:10 PM

Originally Posted by cytech

I will let you be the one that pulls over the cop to let them know of their infractions lol. The faster they go the faster I can go behind them

That's not true either....I got a ticket in Minneapolis for going 65 in a 60 when the cop ahead of me was going at least 70. He slowed down, got behind me, and pulled me over. He even wrote me for doing 60 in a 70, not 70 in a 60, but Hennepin County just amended the ticket when I went to fight it.

**JHudd** · 03-07-2007, 08:30 PM

Originally Posted by ia8manfan

That's not true either....I got a ticket in Minneapolis for going 65 in a 60 when the cop ahead of me was going at least 70. He slowed down, got behind me, and pulled me over. He even wrote me for doing 60 in a 70, not 70 in a 60, but Hennepin County just amended the ticket when I went to fight it.

I love Hennepin County, Bloomington cops are the best, so nice and polite when they give you a 39 in a 35 in your work vehicle during a speed trap. (**Side Note** My record officially erased all tickets 1 day prior.) I guess this nice Suburban driving officer was having no luck else where.

At least you went to fight yours, I gave up on the phone with the cranky old DMV lady who acted like she was the only one in the world who had a work schedule to keep when I said 1030 on a Friday morning was not the best time for me to fight my ticket and tried to get one of their 330 slots.

Thank you for bringing this memory back up.

**Cyfan322** · 03-07-2007, 08:42 PM

It is not necessary for a cop to have his lights and sirens going for every call that he/she is responding to. It is entirely possible that the cop that you saw speeding was responding to a call. I agree that some cops stretch the law at times, but don't judge a book by it's cover. Unless of course the cop is reading a book while on duty, then you can judge all you want.

**lloyd4cy** · 03-07-2007, 08:58 PM

I like it when I get pulled over by a cop and he ask if I noticed the speed limit or if I was too busy talking on my phone. I must have interupted his conversation on his cell phone or else he wouldn't have been such a donkey/mule. Speaking of which when's the last time you were able to talk to a cop with out him being rude and short. I know it's a tough job at times but for crying out loud, if you hate the job that much quit!!!

**ISUKyro** · 03-07-2007, 09:02 PM

Just to throw out an example of cops that have been very helpful: we had a bunch of rumors going around at the school that I teach at that there was going to be a major gang fight. For the next few days we had on duty and off duty cops come in before, during, and after school in full uniform. Later I found that many did not get paid, that they were volunteering just to be there.
We figured it was just a rumor that spread a grew, it turns out that was right and nothing happened. But just having the cops on campus all day really made everyone feel safe and let us continue the day as normal as we could.

**cyclonekj** · 03-07-2007, 09:32 PM

From my personal experiences, the Des Moines Police are some of the best I've encountered. Usually quite friendly and helpful, especially considering what a thankless job they have. They also tend to let the minor infractions (like 39 in a 35) go.

The more you know.