Cop pulled me over because I was doorless
06-13-2010, 06:38 AM
#21
JK Newbie
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: eastern shore
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
06-13-2010, 06:45 AM
#22
JK Super Freak
I'd like to apologize to the OP on behalf of the national law enforcement community. I'm sorry for the negative experience he had. While it appears the officer was justified in the stop and citing the driver, it's never excusable to scream, demean, or act unprofessionally with the taxpayers - the folks who pay us to be out there.
I've been on the job for 22 years and have matured a lot in that time. I'm a supervisor now, a sergeant in a fairly large midwestern city (about 800,000 people in the greater metro area). I still make my share of stops, but it's rare that I issue tickets. I seem to be able to effect change in driving behavior by giving breaks, but curry favor for the PD at the same time.
Try not to generalize about your paladins in blue, brown, olive and gray. Most of 'em are guys and gals just like you, out trying to make a difference and earn a living for their families.
I've been on the job for 22 years and have matured a lot in that time. I'm a supervisor now, a sergeant in a fairly large midwestern city (about 800,000 people in the greater metro area). I still make my share of stops, but it's rare that I issue tickets. I seem to be able to effect change in driving behavior by giving breaks, but curry favor for the PD at the same time.
Try not to generalize about your paladins in blue, brown, olive and gray. Most of 'em are guys and gals just like you, out trying to make a difference and earn a living for their families.
06-13-2010, 07:05 AM
#24
JK Super Freak
I'd like to apologize to the OP on behalf of the national law enforcement community. I'm sorry for the negative experience he had. While it appears the officer was justified in the stop and citing the driver, it's never excusable to scream, demean, or act unprofessionally with the taxpayers - the folks who pay us to be out there.
I've been on the job for 22 years and have matured a lot in that time. I'm a supervisor now, a sergeant in a fairly large midwestern city (about 800,000 people in the greater metro area). I still make my share of stops, but it's rare that I issue tickets. I seem to be able to effect change in driving behavior by giving breaks, but curry favor for the PD at the same time.
Try not to generalize about your paladins in blue, brown, olive and gray. Most of 'em are guys and gals just like you, out trying to make a difference and earn a living for their families.
I've been on the job for 22 years and have matured a lot in that time. I'm a supervisor now, a sergeant in a fairly large midwestern city (about 800,000 people in the greater metro area). I still make my share of stops, but it's rare that I issue tickets. I seem to be able to effect change in driving behavior by giving breaks, but curry favor for the PD at the same time.
Try not to generalize about your paladins in blue, brown, olive and gray. Most of 'em are guys and gals just like you, out trying to make a difference and earn a living for their families.
I just want to know the difference in some one driving a motorcycle with no doors,roof,front or rear bumper and someone driving a jeep with no doors but still has a roll cage,front bumper and a rear bumper not including the obvious difference in size of the two vehicle's.
Not to mention the driver of the jeep more than likely was wearing his/her seatbelt.
Last I checked motorcycles are not equipped with seat belt restraints, just a helmet to keep the brain matter from flying all over the ground when they hit the jeep that has his/her doors off.
I don't understand stupid laws like this.
06-13-2010, 07:16 AM
#26
JK Enthusiast
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 449
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Instead of crafting their own standalone one they made a poor one that was mated to a manufactures equipment list.
I see the point your making, but nothing to do with bikes really.
Same as school buses with no seat belts.
06-13-2010, 07:28 AM
#27
JK Super Freak
It is because of how they came from the factory, and how this state has written their law off if it.
Instead of crafting their own standalone one they made a poor one that was mated to a manufactures equipment list.
I see the point your making, but nothing to do with bikes really.
Same as school buses with no seat belts.
Instead of crafting their own standalone one they made a poor one that was mated to a manufactures equipment list.
I see the point your making, but nothing to do with bikes really.
Same as school buses with no seat belts.
06-13-2010, 07:29 AM
#28
JK Enthusiast
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 449
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The problem is.....they always refer back to the inspection code.
Their argument is that the vehicle will not pass inspection because it originally came with doors fitted from the manufacturer. If it won't pass inspection, then it isn't legal to have it on the road. I don't agree with that assessment, but thats what I had shoved down my throat. It depends on your interpretation of the law the way it is written. Do you read it line by line, or read the whole law and make a decision on that. The only way around it is to fight the ticket and allow a judge to interpret the law themselves. I just got harassed and then given a written warning......not much to fight there except making a formal complaint to the police department. Which I didn't figure was worth my time or effort.
Their argument is that the vehicle will not pass inspection because it originally came with doors fitted from the manufacturer. If it won't pass inspection, then it isn't legal to have it on the road. I don't agree with that assessment, but thats what I had shoved down my throat. It depends on your interpretation of the law the way it is written. Do you read it line by line, or read the whole law and make a decision on that. The only way around it is to fight the ticket and allow a judge to interpret the law themselves. I just got harassed and then given a written warning......not much to fight there except making a formal complaint to the police department. Which I didn't figure was worth my time or effort.
Like I said I agree with your comment about time. You have to choose your battles, but apathy will not make things better in PA for Jeep owners.
In general it would be nice to see Jeep, as a company, post the laws someplace for each state and to become a better advocate for their customers in regard to this. Think a Steve Jobs style 'Thoughts on Flash/Doors' type post @ Jeep.com.
Jeep is on twitter and FB. Maybe it's time for folks to respectfully contact them via these sites to let them know we are concerned?
Cheers
-wsn
06-13-2010, 07:51 AM
#29
JK Junkie
I have a degree in criminal justice so I can relate to you a little even though I'm not an Officer.
I just want to know the difference in some one driving a motorcycle with no doors,roof,front or rear bumper and someone driving a jeep with no doors but still has a roll cage,front bumper and a rear bumper not including the obvious difference in size of the two vehicle's.
Not to mention the driver of the jeep more than likely was wearing his/her seatbelt.
Last I checked motorcycles are not equipped with seat belt restraints, just a helmet to keep the brain matter from flying all over the ground when they hit the jeep that has his/her doors off.
I don't understand stupid laws like this.
I just want to know the difference in some one driving a motorcycle with no doors,roof,front or rear bumper and someone driving a jeep with no doors but still has a roll cage,front bumper and a rear bumper not including the obvious difference in size of the two vehicle's.
Not to mention the driver of the jeep more than likely was wearing his/her seatbelt.
Last I checked motorcycles are not equipped with seat belt restraints, just a helmet to keep the brain matter from flying all over the ground when they hit the jeep that has his/her doors off.
I don't understand stupid laws like this.
06-13-2010, 08:44 AM
#30
JK Freak
I hear what you are saying (time) but unless folks in PA get the law changed, somebody will need to do this and win/get the citation dropped. This will help set precedent for others in the state and could be posted here, for others to have in hand, when they go to court to fight future citations.
Like I said I agree with your comment about time. You have to choose your battles, but apathy will not make things better in PA for Jeep owners.
Cheers
-wsn
Like I said I agree with your comment about time. You have to choose your battles, but apathy will not make things better in PA for Jeep owners.
Cheers
-wsn
Here is the kicker. Then he goes on to tell me that if I got "some of those tube doors", I would be OK and they wouldn't bother me. Now wait a minute.......you can't have it both ways. The law states either we don't need doors or we need OEM style latching doors (depending on how you interpret it). This is when I brought it up that he had just blown his credibility and I knew he was just harassing me for the sake of harassing me. He started backpedaling with his words and getting all frustrated and tongue tied. At that point I kind of cut the conversation short and asked if we could leave.