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Unit 5302 · 09-23-2002, 01:18 PM

MustangII460, and any other cop who happens to be flying through this topic, there is a lot here that ticks me off.

First off, people using their lawful rights should not be treated with disrespect. Somebody asking to see your radar if they know you're lying about the speed is a good thing. It keeps cops and departments way more honest if they know they can't get away with pulling people over for garbage. If you give somebody no reason to ask, and they still ask, they're not calling you a liar, they're just making sure you're doing your job. So why are you upset about it? If you're doing your job, you don't have to worry about it, and it just gives police a BETTER reputation if they're all forced do do a better job. Wouldn't you like it better if more people gave your profession the respect it deserves? I know it makes me feel a lot better to know the officer knows that he's dotting his i's and crossing his t's. It makes for less people wrongfully charged, and for those who are rightfully charged, a swift kick in the nuts from the scales of justice.

Second, the judge should never, ever side with a cop because they are a cop. I'm sorry, but it's directly against this country was founded on. Innocent until proven guilty. If it comes down to an officers word against an accused, and nothing else, the accused should win every single time. That's what the law was designed to do. The burden of proof is supposed to be on the prosecution, and if you think otherwise, you should be ashamed of yourself. You should have no more pull in court than a janitor. Present the facts, not the profession.

I agree there are good cops, and bad cops. They are people, not machines, and you're gonna have those who are better naturally, and those who've made themselves better consciously. In my mind, a police officer showing a grudge towards a person who's just making sure his rights are protected is an officer who needs to look at the situation from the other person's shoes, and re-examine the principles this country was originally built on.

There are times you get busted for stuff you shouldn't, and there are times you don't get busted when you should. The idea behind our system of law is that nobody should be busted when they don't deserve to be, even at the cost of getting away with stuff you shouldn't sometimes. People who do break the law with regularity are bound to get nailed. Even if it's a minor deal like light speeding.

Rev, have you ever been to court, and seen how effective a lawyer is? LOL. Forget it. The lawyer is expensive as hell, and the chances of him getting you off from something like that is almost nil. I've seen probably 20 trials of that nature, and the ONLY thing the lawyer is good for is plea bargaining, for the exact reason MustangII460 is so confident in court. Illegal, and inexcusable bias. If the cop shows, you're screwed, unless you're really good, and the cop does very poorly (unlikely since they are schooled on how to present their case in court).

I'll also tell you prosecutors do really respect a person who does their homework and presents it to them professionally. You're likely to get the same deal a lawyer will get you if you're bargaining. I know from experience. There are instances where lawyers know each other well, in that case, you may get off a little lighter by using a lawyer.

Bottom line is a cop generally does what he's told to do by his commanding officer, who gets his agenda from the mayor/legislators and/or city council, who get their perogative from the people. The people don't want to be harrassed, and they don't want illegitimate tickets given out. They want convictions for violators, and the innocent not bothered. If the officer decides he knows best by going against what the community wants, he's likely to get the boot or at least a re-alignment of priorities from his superiors.

Knowing, and exercising your rights is the most effective way to make sure the good guys get respect, and the bad ones get the boot.

Being a police officer is supposed to be a profession, not a power trip. Here's a toast to those who exercise that belief!

09-23-2002, 01:18 PM	#33
Unit 5302 Registered Member Join Date: May 1999 Posts: 5,246	MustangII460, and any other cop who happens to be flying through this topic, there is a lot here that ticks me off. First off, people using their lawful rights should not be treated with disrespect. Somebody asking to see your radar if they know you're lying about the speed is a good thing. It keeps cops and departments way more honest if they know they can't get away with pulling people over for garbage. If you give somebody no reason to ask, and they still ask, they're not calling you a liar, they're just making sure you're doing your job. So why are you upset about it? If you're doing your job, you don't have to worry about it, and it just gives police a BETTER reputation if they're all forced do do a better job. Wouldn't you like it better if more people gave your profession the respect it deserves? I know it makes me feel a lot better to know the officer knows that he's dotting his i's and crossing his t's. It makes for less people wrongfully charged, and for those who are rightfully charged, a swift kick in the nuts from the scales of justice. Second, the judge should never, ever side with a cop because they are a cop. I'm sorry, but it's directly against this country was founded on. Innocent until proven guilty. If it comes down to an officers word against an accused, and nothing else, the accused should win every single time. That's what the law was designed to do. The burden of proof is supposed to be on the prosecution, and if you think otherwise, you should be ashamed of yourself. You should have no more pull in court than a janitor. Present the facts, not the profession. I agree there are good cops, and bad cops. They are people, not machines, and you're gonna have those who are better naturally, and those who've made themselves better consciously. In my mind, a police officer showing a grudge towards a person who's just making sure his rights are protected is an officer who needs to look at the situation from the other person's shoes, and re-examine the principles this country was originally built on. There are times you get busted for stuff you shouldn't, and there are times you don't get busted when you should. The idea behind our system of law is that nobody should be busted when they don't deserve to be, even at the cost of getting away with stuff you shouldn't sometimes. People who do break the law with regularity are bound to get nailed. Even if it's a minor deal like light speeding. Rev, have you ever been to court, and seen how effective a lawyer is? LOL. Forget it. The lawyer is expensive as hell, and the chances of him getting you off from something like that is almost nil. I've seen probably 20 trials of that nature, and the ONLY thing the lawyer is good for is plea bargaining, for the exact reason MustangII460 is so confident in court. Illegal, and inexcusable bias. If the cop shows, you're screwed, unless you're really good, and the cop does very poorly (unlikely since they are schooled on how to present their case in court). I'll also tell you prosecutors do really respect a person who does their homework and presents it to them professionally. You're likely to get the same deal a lawyer will get you if you're bargaining. I know from experience. There are instances where lawyers know each other well, in that case, you may get off a little lighter by using a lawyer. Bottom line is a cop generally does what he's told to do by his commanding officer, who gets his agenda from the mayor/legislators and/or city council, who get their perogative from the people. The people don't want to be harrassed, and they don't want illegitimate tickets given out. They want convictions for violators, and the innocent not bothered. If the officer decides he knows best by going against what the community wants, he's likely to get the boot or at least a re-alignment of priorities from his superiors. Knowing, and exercising your rights is the most effective way to make sure the good guys get respect, and the bad ones get the boot. Being a police officer is supposed to be a profession, not a power trip. Here's a toast to those who exercise that belief!