Driving tip: Don't honk at the cops

KingPriest2 · 02-24-2006, 11:38 AM

Driving tip: Don't honk at the cops
Student protests police using flashers to run red light

Friday, February 24, 2006; Posted: 11:16 a.m. EST (16:16 GMT)

Manage Alerts | What Is This? CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (AP) -- A Tennessee judge gave a college student a driving lesson in court this week: don't correct the police.

Clay Palmer, a student at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, honked his car horn when he saw a policeman turn on blue flashers to pass through a red traffic light. The officer then turned the flashers off after moving through the intersection.

Palmer said officer Matthew Puglise then stopped his patrol car and issued him a ticket for honking his horn for no reason -- a violation of the city noise ordinance.

The charge was reduced to a warning Wednesday when he went before a judge who told him he acted wrongly.

"The horn blowing is not the real problem here, it's that you were trying to correct the police and they didn't need correcting," Judge Russell Bean said.

Palmer left traffic court saying he still believed officers were abusing their authority.

"I see this cop with his blue lights come screeching up beside me and I didn't know what was going on," Palmer said. "Before they got to the next light, I could see they turned their blue lights off."

Officer Puglise said he was helping fellow police track down a speeder when Palmer saw him pass through the red light.

Judge Bean said Puglise was right and Palmer was wrong.

"I expect officers to follow the rules like everyone else," Bean said

KingPriest2 · 02-24-2006, 11:38 AM

I do agree with the kid. I see it all the time.

bkkcoh · 02-24-2006, 11:42 AM

i was coming into work today and was driving in a construction zone doing about 60 (55 MPH speed limit) and then I look over in the left lane and there is a highway patrolman that is pulling away from me. He had to have been driving around 65 MPH.... That would be a $200 fine for the common schlub, but nothing for him.

That is absolutely wrong.......

sedated · 02-24-2006, 11:44 AM

and the judge defended the cop.

what a surprise.

cops can shit on anyone's face and get away with it.

who will police the police? nobody, apparently.

sedated · 02-24-2006, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bkkcoh

i was coming into work today and was driving in a construction zone doing about 60 (55 MPH speed limit) and then I look over in the left lane and there is a highway patrolman that is pulling away from me. He had to have been driving around 65 MPH.... That would be a $200 fine for the common schlub, but nothing for him.

That is absolutely wrong.......

Kripsy Kreme must have just turned on the "Hot Donuts Now" sign.

ChiefsfaninPA · 02-24-2006, 11:51 AM

I think that there should be a police for that polices that police force. Oh wait, they already have on called internal affairs, and they are made up of fellow officers. So you know they are impartial.

**morphius** · 02-24-2006, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bkkcoh

i was coming into work today and was driving in a construction zone doing about 60 (55 MPH speed limit) and then I look over in the left lane and there is a highway patrolman that is pulling away from me. He had to have been driving around 65 MPH.... That would be a $200 fine for the common schlub, but nothing for him.

That is absolutely wrong.......

Of course you could have taken down the car number and called it in. I know my uncle used to get bitched at for speeding by his boss's when he was a highway patrol man.

Not that it will really do any good, but hey, its something you can do.

Denizen · 02-24-2006, 12:03 PM

So the officer felt the best way to help a fellow officer track down a speeder was to stop an issue a noise citation to another citizen. That usually doesn't work.

bkkcoh · 02-24-2006, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiefsfaninPA

I think that there should be a police for that polices that police force. Oh wait, they already have on called internal affairs, and they are made up of fellow officers. So you know they are impartial.

But I am sure that unless there are a lot of people that are complaining, it will fall on deaf ears.

Also, how about people not doing it because of fear of retaliation. I think that would keep a lot of people from doing it.

Braincase · 02-24-2006, 12:15 PM

Buddy of mine's sister was killed when she was broadsided by the HP. HP was doing over 100 MPH with no flashers on when he hit her little convertible as she was just getting onto the highway. She didn't see anybody coming, thought it was safe. 2 dead 19 year old girls.

Pitt Gorilla · 02-24-2006, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Braincase

Buddy of mine's sister was killed when she was broadsided by the HP. HP was doing over 100 MPH with no flashers on when he hit her little convertible as she was just getting onto the highway. She didn't see anybody coming, thought it was safe. 2 dead 19 year old girls.

I hope they threw away the key on that guy.

Braincase · 02-24-2006, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

I hope they threw away the key on that guy.

When the patrolman is the only surviving witness and he can say it's the other persons fault, and all his buddies are investigating the crime scene, there isn't a whole lot there to prosecute.

Pitt Gorilla · 02-24-2006, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Braincase

When the patrolman is the only surviving witness and he can say it's the other persons fault, and all his buddies are investigating the crime scene, there isn't a whole lot there to prosecute.

Well, the least one could do is drag the guy's name through the mud. Does the family have a website or something?

**Bob Dole** · 02-24-2006, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Denizen

So the officer felt the best way to help a fellow officer track down a speeder was to stop an issue a noise citation to another citizen. That usually doesn't work.

That's exactly what Bob Dole thought as he read the article.

Of course, what we don't know is that they announced they had apprehended the felonious speed demon just as the officer passed through the intersection, so his assistance was no longer needed.

greg63 · 02-24-2006, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KingPriest2

I do agree with the kid. I see it all the time.

Yep, especially small town police like where I live; the good 'ol boys club headquarters.

But honking at the police is never a good idea. It's a rap that you'll never beat.

02-24-2006, 11:38 AM
KingPriest2 Super Grover Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: KCMO Casino cash: $9125135	Driving tip: Don't honk at the cops Driving tip: Don't honk at the cops Student protests police using flashers to run red light Friday, February 24, 2006; Posted: 11:16 a.m. EST (16:16 GMT) Manage Alerts \| What Is This? CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (AP) -- A Tennessee judge gave a college student a driving lesson in court this week: don't correct the police. Clay Palmer, a student at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, honked his car horn when he saw a policeman turn on blue flashers to pass through a red traffic light. The officer then turned the flashers off after moving through the intersection. Palmer said officer Matthew Puglise then stopped his patrol car and issued him a ticket for honking his horn for no reason -- a violation of the city noise ordinance. The charge was reduced to a warning Wednesday when he went before a judge who told him he acted wrongly. "The horn blowing is not the real problem here, it's that you were trying to correct the police and they didn't need correcting," Judge Russell Bean said. Palmer left traffic court saying he still believed officers were abusing their authority. "I see this cop with his blue lights come screeching up beside me and I didn't know what was going on," Palmer said. "Before they got to the next light, I could see they turned their blue lights off." Officer Puglise said he was helping fellow police track down a speeder when Palmer saw him pass through the red light. Judge Bean said Puglise was right and Palmer was wrong. "I expect officers to follow the rules like everyone else," Bean said
Posts: 6,266

02-24-2006, 11:38 AM	#2
KingPriest2 Super Grover Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: KCMO Casino cash: $9125135	I do agree with the kid. I see it all the time. __________________ Quote: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Originally Posted by Taco John If you're not sure who you're voting for at this point in time, you can abandon all connection to the word "smart." ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Quote: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Originally Posted by Taco John ...He asked who I am voting for. I told him, "well, that depends... ."
Posts: 6,266

02-24-2006, 11:42 AM	#3
bkkcoh MVP Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Lewis Center, Ohio USA Casino cash: $9805595	i was coming into work today and was driving in a construction zone doing about 60 (55 MPH speed limit) and then I look over in the left lane and there is a highway patrolman that is pulling away from me. He had to have been driving around 65 MPH.... That would be a $200 fine for the common schlub, but nothing for him. That is absolutely wrong....... __________________ Brian K. Aspire to Inspire before you Expire
Posts: 5,506

02-24-2006, 11:51 AM	#6
ChiefsfaninPA "F_ck Family Fun Night" Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: York, PA Casino cash: $10005025	I think that there should be a police for that polices that police force. Oh wait, they already have on called internal affairs, and they are made up of fellow officers. So you know they are impartial.
Posts: 2,373

02-24-2006, 12:03 PM	#8
Denizen Starter Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $10004900	So the officer felt the best way to help a fellow officer track down a speeder was to stop an issue a noise citation to another citizen. That usually doesn't work.
Posts: 137

02-24-2006, 12:15 PM	#10
Braincase Banned Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Pond> Me <Barn Casino cash: $11298284	Buddy of mine's sister was killed when she was broadsided by the HP. HP was doing over 100 MPH with no flashers on when he hit her little convertible as she was just getting onto the highway. She didn't see anybody coming, thought it was safe. 2 dead 19 year old girls. __________________ BrainCase
Posts: 15,429