Cops pose as beggars

[Scaaty]

This BS is making my blood boil. Damn Washington State Patrol set a up sting at a off ramp off I-5 down around Portland. Cop dressed as a BEGGAR at an off ramp with a flashlight and cardboard sign and saying "Happy Holidays and Buckle up". Of course, he was wired, and just around the corner were 2 patrol cars, and two cop bikes, AND a drug dog. In some Seattle paper over the weekend, first heard of it on Talk Radio Sunday, and today a 5 second bit on the news. <br /> The populace is a little ticked off, as this is going way too far. Heard that 30 were cited for various crap in an hour, and one kid got a $1050 fine for throwing a soda can at him when he approached the car....HELLO, he was dressed as a BUM. So 6 cops that I pay the salary to patrol THE ROAD for REAL IDIOTS, are out bribing you out of $101 for seatbelt at the very least (don't ask why $101-no one here knows either), and making sure you are safe.....stopped.....at a one way off ramp...... Be nice if the idiots would learn cause and effect, and go after the halting the CAUSE, not protecting the EFFECT. Should I mention that the state is broke? (Hmmm, what state isn't?)<br /> Thing that REAL pisses me off is he supposedly had to TURN DOWN ANY MONEY.

 

[DJ]

Re: Cops pose as beggars

he was dressed as a BUM.

Oh, so that makes it OK. Do you throw stuff at what you call bums? If so, you must be proud.<br /><br />If people would behave themselves on the roads, cops wouldn't have to do this. But, everybody thinks they are #1.

 

[RubberFrog]

Re: Cops pose as beggars

Sounds like a drag, but throwing stuff at bums is pretty lame. He's lucky it wasn't a kung fu bum.

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: Cops pose as beggars

What was the original intent of this "operation"?<br />To insure the roads were safe from those who refuse to buckle up? I guess I don't get it. <br /><br />BTW DJ, any unsolicited approach to me or my property (CAR) by an unsavory looking character would defiantly raise my defenses. As it should anyone’s. As for the pop can throwing incident, if the “kid” was a teenager fear may have prompted the action, I am sure you have taught you children to be weary of strangers, and take action if they feel threatened.

 

[BassCat73]

Re: Cops pose as beggars

Fairly creative way to do it in my opinion. They even give you warning sign. If you're not breaking the law, then don't worry about it. If you are breaking the law, well fairs, fair...

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Cops pose as beggars

I drove right by him. As stupid as it is to not wear your seat belt, this is complete BS. Maybe it would be reasonable if they were stopping drunk drivers, or reckless drivers...but they weren't.<br /><br />Absolutely pathetic. These cops should be out fighting crime, not pestering people for a $100 fine.<br /><br />

Originally posted by Limited-Time:<br /> BTW DJ, any unsolicited approach to me or my property (CAR) by an unsavory looking character would defiantly raise my defenses.

I agree. If a bum, or somebody dressed as a bum approaches my vehicle I lock the doors and step on the gas. I would hope that police officers encourage the general public to do the same.

 

[RubberFrog]

Re: Cops pose as beggars

Yea, sounds like the bum was a real bummer. But throwing a can at him? What if someone decided you looked scary? Should they start throwing cans?

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Cops pose as beggars

Originally posted by RubberFrog:<br /> Yea, sounds like the bum was a real bummer. But throwing a can at him? What if someone decided you looked scary? Should they start throwing cans?

No, throwing a can at anyone is not ok, but neither is fining somebody over $1000 for throwing a can at a bum. Would you get fined if you threw a can at me, even in front of a police officer? I doubt it. <br /><br />And if this cop makes a habbit out of approaching vehicles dressed as a bum, I hope he gets something heavier thrown at him.

 

[ehenry]

Re: Cops pose as beggars

i believe fining the kid over a grand is a little extreme....wonder what the charge or charges were?? Assault on a police officer with intent to litter and not wearing seat belt? or Assault on a police officer, Littering and not wearing a seatbelt? Who knows.<br /><br />Since there was a cop in the line of fire of the projectile can I"m sure this runs the fine way up. Had it been Joe citizen the most the kid would have gotten had he been caught would be littering.

 

[RubberFrog]

Re: Cops pose as beggars

Z, I understand your sentiment. <br /><br />I think police posing as bums to entrap people is a violation of the public trust.<br /><br />The fine for throwing the can should have been (maybe was?) the same as any other littering fine- if it was empty. If it was full, then we could be talking battery.<br /><br />As far as throwing something heavier, he was probably just some traffic cop obeying orders. I know you're a big business man and don't take orders, but lots of people do what they're told to keep their jobs. <br /><br />Whose the mayor? Time to start a campaign to get them out of office if they are supporting the Chief of Police in these matters.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Cops pose as beggars

"Robby", "LT" ,"EF" & "Z"....I couldn't agree more.....In fact I would go as far to say that the officer in question would be in violation of Seattle's aggressivem panhandling law.....I have never seen more homeless, or bums anywhere in the U.S. than here in the "Great Northwest"......It gets real tiresome being approached by hostile bums & I have bestowed my share of lumps on those who are deserving......Anyone who wants to stick there face in my open car window, with get a slap in the chops..... No questions asked!I'M just glad that it wasn't me, I would be arrested for assault on a police officer! I always have to smile when those who don't have to deal with something tend to be the most opinionated......That whole seat belt law is a joke.....It's just another way to reach into our pockets....Why did it go from $86 to $101?....It's all about the revenue, baby! I think the state of Washington would be better served if the highway patrol patrolled the highways.......& leave that sort of nonsense to the local boys or better yet refrain from this B.S. altogether....Thanks for the heads up, Robbie......JK

 

[RubberFrog]

Re: Cops pose as beggars

We got plenty of bums here in DC. And we have the BS seatbelt law. you still can't throw stuff at bums.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Cops pose as beggars

True....Why dent a can when I can use my fist.... ...JK

 

[RubberFrog]

Re: Cops pose as beggars

lol

 

[JB]

Re: Cops pose as beggars

I suspect that there is a lot more to this story than we have read.

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Cops pose as beggars

Originally posted by JB:<br /> I suspect that there is a lot more to this story than we have read.

Not really. It's been all over the local news. I doubt they'll do it again because of all the negative publicity - obviously they didn't expect that. It was simply an officer, dressed as a bum, holding a cardboard sign that said something like "buckle up or get a ticket". The jackass dressed as a bum then radioed down to other officers about everyone not wearing their seatbelt.<br /><br />There might be more to the can throwing incident that we haven't heard, but I doubt it...<br /><br />I always wear my seatbelt and anybody who doesn't is a complete idiot, but these officers could be put to MUCH better use fighting some actual crime.

 

[dtherrien]

Re: Cops pose as beggars

I personally dont think it is out of line for the cops to be dressed as bums. I would say that a good percentage of drivers today cant drive worth crap.....things i see everyday....i just cant believe it.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Cops pose as beggars

That is why they should be patrolling..... .....JK

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Cops pose as beggars

Originally posted by Haut Medoc:<br /> That is why they should be patrolling..... .....JK

Exactly. Wouldn't you feel safer if they were busting reckless drivers, or speeders, or drunk drivers, or drug dealers? People who don't wear seatbelts are only risking their own lives and pose no danger to me or my family.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Cops pose as beggars

Its a wierd tactic to be sure, but the whole point is to break from the predictable routine. People are real law abiding when they know law enforcements every move, then when they suprise you with a bum style sting operation, its "Oh my God, they are entraping me". First of all, it is only entrapment if an officer, in plaincloths, coerces(sp?) you to commit a crime, then arrests you for it. These guys are just sitting there catching people with their pants down, plain and simple. It all goes back to the bottom line. Do the right thing and you don't have to worry about this sort of thing.<br /><br />We have pedestrian crosswalk stings all the time, where plaincloths officers cross the street and people who run the crosswalk get ticketed. The saddest thing of all is that the public is informed this will happen in the paper for several days in advance, to include location, and people still run the crosswalks. Then they complain about tickets.<br /><br />I know I know, they should be out stopping real criminals. They are, trust me. They are also trying to keep people from hurting themselves. I don't know why it is so hard to buckle a seatbelt. Also, there is a significant amount of serious crime that is stopped due to traffic stops. You never know, that bum/cop could end up stopping a car that has an unbelted driver who just happened to have killed someone. Maybe that person is on their way to rob a liquer store, and that seatbelt stop spooks him, saving someones life that day because he decides to lay low for a few more days. Maybe that guy that just got stopped for no seatbelt has a warrant out for his arrest. Crime is stopped in the wierdest way sometimes, so think of the big picture before you jump to conclusions based on partial information. All you have to remember is criminals drive cars...