« Shutterfly's Hardcover Photo Books Are Really Nice | Main | Google Calendar 'CL2' Screenshots Leaked »
March 7, 2006
Coffee-Loving Cop Parks Illegally to Refill Mug
We all see it every day: police cars with no sirens or lights on whizzing through traffic lights, blatantly speeding, not using their turn signals, and just general bad driving that would otherwise get any one of us proles pulled over, if not a ticket.
This example of abuse of power I spotted yesterday. A cop pulled his car into a no-parking zone four feet from a busy city intersection. He then hopped out (well, "hopped" might be generous) of his car, ginormous spill-proof coffee mug in hand, and proceeded to walk the 60' or so to the coffee shop, assumedly to get a (free?) refill. The car was parked there at least 10 minutes, so maybe he got a scone to go as well. The photos show some details:
The cruiser is parked well within 10 feet of the intersection, in a "Tow Zone", even. I was taught that isn't permitted.
Oh, Mr. Policeman in car #03365, why do you do these things?
===================
I think I just answered that last question. This is from the Ohio Revised Code (emphasis added):
4511.68 Parking - No parking of a vehicle is permitted in the following areas unless unavoidable or authorized by a police officer....
- Within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.
- Within 30 feet of a traffic control device.
...
- At any place where signs prohibit stopping.
So, it's the old "because I said so" excuse. Good thing to know that parking your cop car where Joe Civilian can't park, just to go grab some coffee, is validated by state law. So I guess a more accurate title for this entry would be "Coffee-Loving Cop Parks Where You and I Aren't Allowed Just to Refill Mug". Nice.
Posted by Craig in Society / Politics
Comments
Typical. They pull that crap everywhere, unfortunately. :-(
Posted by: Renee at March 7, 2006 4:28 PM
So you guys would rather have him park down the block and have to be a few minutes away from his vehicle if you were calling for help?
Posted by: me at March 31, 2006 4:17 PM
There was an open spot right in front of the store -- you can see it on the left edge of the top picture there.
Posted by: Craig at April 1, 2006 10:11 AM