Make your own using our Graph Builder or upload your own files, images or videos. All our charts are user-submitted.
« Previous How a Government Gets a Job Done | Wholesomeness of Disney Next »
Make your own using our Graph Builder or upload your own files, images or videos. All our charts are user-submitted.
« Previous How a Government Gets a Job Done | Wholesomeness of Disney Next »
This post reserved so that no one writes “first”.
you forgot “to get to a wreck where the police car creates a bigger obstruction to traffic than the wreck itself”.
but i totally agree with the largest section, over half the time I’ve seen a cop with his lights on its just so he can blaze through red lights and then he turns the lights off a hundred feet after the intersection.
100 feet? I’ve seen them turn their lights off as they’re crossing the far crosswalk.
Also escorting WVU to the cincinnati game, creating a huge mess on the freeway Friday evening rush hour.
WTF.
Maybe he needs to go somewhere? If your house was being burglarized, wouldn’t you want him to get there a little quicker instead of sitting at a red light?
then why turn the lights OFF? if its an emergency they can keep them on until they get where they’re going.
flipping the lights on just for a red light means the cop is doing it just because he can.
You know there are some crimes the police report to where they don’t want to show up lights blazing and sirens blaring. It’s called a “tactical” approach. Unlike the awesome knowledge of TV where everything is lights, sirens and sliding up to the scene sideways.
and those situations have nothing to do with turning the lights on just to get through a red light. if its an emergency that requires a ‘tactical approach’ the lights would be on until they get a block or so away from where they are going. Turning the lights on and off for an intersection serves no purpose if they are just going to lazily drive the speed limit to the emergency.
You can believe that every time a cop dangerously cuts through an intersection hes heading off to negotiate a hostage situation. Personally that seems more like a naive belief fostered from television than simply admitting that many cops frequently cut corners even when illegal to do so. Contrary to the popular opinion (reinforced by cops themselves) LEO’s are not above the law.
Meh, I’m not going to complain about cops using their lights/sirens; I always assume there’s a reason for it (same as firefighters taking the truck to the grocery store). I would rather a couple of cops used their lights to get through intersections unnecessarily, than not have cops around when I need ‘em.
So because they are police officers, they have the right to ignore laws whenever they feel like it?
Yes. There is, of coarse, a reasonable limit to the laws that they can ‘break’.
Actually in NY, it is written into the V&T law that on duty Police vehicles may disregard all traffic laws with out the use of lights and sirens legally should the need arise.
And yes, they do light it up to go though a traffic light. The longer the lights are on the the greater chance of an accident occurring. You don’t need to be going lights and siren to a domestic, but you don’t need to be sitting at every light either.
Once I went to drop off some rental movies that were due. I got to a light and it was red. A police officer turned on his lights and went thru. They light changed a few seconds later and I went on to the rental place. There was the police officer walking up to the door to drop off his movies. Sometimes police will abuse their lights. I personally think that there should be some record of every time they use them and that the police officer should be required to explain the use of them.
I’ve witnessed a patrol officer doing the same thing, through three straight traffic lights on a long stretch of road. Pulled up to a red light, switched on his light bar, drove through the intersection, then turned the lights off. It was obvious what he was doing.
In my driving career, I’ve been in four near misses with police officers out on the roadways; which, if an accident had occurred, would have been the cop’s fault because they were doing something they shouldn’t have been doing. And, in direct opposition to this graph, did not have their emergency lights (or sirens) on when they were doing what they shouldn’t have been doing.
One passed me in a U-turn. No lights or siren.
One nearly hit me head on by driving the wrong way down a one way street. No lights or siren.
One almost rear-ended me at a stop sign because they were leaned over and looking for something on the floor of their cruiser. Watched this unfold in my rear-view mirror.
One rolled through a red light while I was making a U-turn on my right-of-way. No lights or siren.
Now I appreciate what police officers have to go through day after day, and the things they have to deal with just to do their jobs. But at the same time, I as a civilian am expected to put my life, my trust and my faith in the hands of people who choose to put on the police uniform as a career. If I have reservations about trusting them with minor things like obeying the same traffic laws they enforce, how am I supposed to trust them if something major were to happen?
Not to mention all the times you see them yakking on cell phones, AGAIN, in violation of state or local law. My brother saw one cause an accident on the highway doing that.
Sure there’s abuse…but cops are human. Of course, to be more accurate, at LEAST half of that red section should be labeled “Racing off to help another officer/off to a call in another part of the city”
Unfortunate timing for this one…4 cops were killed yesterday…
That would be a valid use of lights. However, instances where cops abuse their authority in the realm of traffic laws is more extensive than you might think.
I don’t hate them like some crazy fools, and when they do a good job I’m appreciative, but it’s naive to assume that the vast majority of them don’t consider themselves above the more minor traffic laws that they ticket non-cops for.
No, it’s cynical to think that the “vast majority” of officers think they’re better than everyone else. I haven’t seen a single instance of light abuse; if I had seen a car flick it’s lights on to turn them back off a few seconds later, then I always assume like Jason and Orzo say: there’s a reason I don’t know.
I’ve grown up in a cop family- almost everyone in my immediate family is a cop, has been a cop, or worked for a law enforcement agency. Perhaps that makes me biased? Or perhaps it lets me see the fact that they ARE human, are able to make mistakes or get lazy, and are just as able to put themselves in dangerous situations with the lowest type of people without demanding the respect and understanding they deserve from the masses.
You don’t demand respect, you earn it. And you don’t earn it by acting like you’re above the law, and constantly whining like a pussy about how hard your job is.
Just easier to whine like a pussy online about other people who have jobs harder than yours.
No one forced them to be cops. Coal miners have dangerous jobs too, but we don’t let them break the law because of it.
Ever notice how the ‘tough jobs’ excuse only gets dragged out after some officer beats the hell out of an unarmed teenager, or tasers someone for no reason? A healthy degree of skepticism regarding police action is not a bad thing. Sure they have tough jobs, but because of the powers entrusted to them it is important that their actions are carefully scrutinized. That won’t happen if people just keep assuming that the cops know best.
Yeah, like it’s so hard to strut around in a uniform, dishing out crap. I *wish* I had a job that easy.
I swear to God, I hope something very bad happens to you and the cops just sit there and laugh at you. You make me sick, you pig.
I repeat random guy’s comment Brianna
Ever notice how the ‘tough jobs’ excuse only gets dragged out after some officer beats the hell out of an unarmed teenager, or tasers someone for no reason? A healthy degree of skepticism regarding police action is not a bad thing. Sure they have tough jobs, but because of the powers entrusted to them it is important that their actions are carefully scrutinized. That won’t happen if people just keep assuming that the cops know best.
My father is in the military and even he says that the excuse that their job is harder than others deosn’t make it ok!
durrrrr my fathers in the military
Most of what cops do or don’t do, you don’t see. You can’t hear the calls on the radio, you don’t know if there’s a burglary, a call for backup (even for a traffic call), an emergency, whatever. Most of the times those lights are used for the purpose they were intended, which is to get somewhere fast.
The -abuse- of the system is not as frequent as people like to assume. It’s childish to be upset that you ‘don’t get to do the same thing’, considering those guys are being paid to take chances with their lives you will never have to take. I personally give them a break going through a light to drop off a movie. I say, ‘Okay, I call them when I have someone drunk with a weapon on my street’ and I don’t have to get myself shot at. I think it’s an even trade off to let them have a few perks like double parking or going through a red light.
Well put!
Oh man, so true! LOL
I agree with Velpine. You don’t hear the radio…he could be responding to somethin “code 2″ which requires lights, but after he went through the light, the radio broadcast a “code 4″ which means “can handle with units on scene”. In the departments I am familliar with, if an officer continues to proceed with lights after a “code 4″ is issued, he faces disciplinary action.
Sure, some abuse takes place, but by and large, their actions are legit. Just because you don’t know why or what is going on doesn’t mean your perception or assumption is correct.
I find that when people bitch about stuff like this, thy are usually flat wrong, and are just shooting off their mouths and taking an available cheap shot at the people who protect them. Remember your crappy attitude next time you need help…maybe you could call a gang member or a crackhead for help instead of 911?
How ’bout you try to NOT assume the worst all the time when police are involved…since they are willing to give their lives to protect you and your community, maybe you could be willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.
Sure, gangmembers and crackpots would be an excellent help at least if someone is, for example, robbing you and then after calling for help, the robber would notice you’re there and point a gun at you, the gangmember would just get his homies with him and they could beat up a small army if they’d be skilled or just 1337, and the crackpot could either try to sell the rubber some good weed or something and if that would fail, he’d be a great diversion for you to escape or he’d make an excellent meatshield.
And besides, are you saying that gang members and crackpots are the next best thing or the first thing to come to one’s mind as a substitute to use if the police are out of reach?
Lolled at my own typo… Meant “to sell the robber some good weed”, instead of rubber. Would be a fun sight though.
Lets think about this, That milisecond of time is unrealistic. They wouldn’t have made the code 2 in the first place if in reality it was a code 4. Just like in other uniform professions i.e. military, firemen, etc. They must be sure or a mistake can be made.
You forgot the “When trying to approach the crime scene without being noticed by the criminal” part.
I hope that it is only in films, but I’ve seen many cases when the criminal did not know that tha police was on the way before he saw tha flashing lights and heard the sirens of a dozen or so police cars.
That is mainly a movie thing. Most of the time, if the cops need the criminal to not know that they’re coming, they won’t have their lights/siren on. That’s also what’s going on some of the time that they go through a red light with their siren on and then turn it off. They need to get somewhere quickly, but don’t need to be seen/hear.
My father used to be a cop, and yeah… I’d say this is accurate (aside from them also using them other times when they have a valid reason to get somewhere in a hurry). He admits to using his lights to get through red lights/stop signs, etc. All the time. He’d also sometimes park his car like he’s running radar, but actually be asleep. That’s something I, myself, have seen other cops do, too.
The police aren’t supermen, you know. They sometimes get lazy, too, and like to use their power for stupid little things. I think it’s just normal.
your dad gives cops a bad name. I’m sorry, but I know plenty of cops who actually are doing their job 99% of the time, and they do it right
Oh what ever… at least hes honest about it.
So you lesser informed people know, certain counties/cities have strict policy regarding running code (lights and siren, woowoowoo). It’s not like the movies where they are responding to a burglary that has already happened with lights on and sirens going. They can really only run code on a handful of calls, and these are usually the most important ones, but there are numerous other calls that are equally important yet they are not able to go code.
While there are the assholes in law enforcement, that’s only a small percentage. And focusing on that percentage and assuming the rest are like that is ignorant to say the least.
MewNya, back 20+ years ago, that was common, but now, unless you’re in a rural area, it doesn’t occur as much as you think. With GPS in the cars, they are closely monitored. And they better not be caught not listening to the radio cause if dispatch is trying to get a hold of them and they don’t respond, they’re screwed.
In my town its either to get to station for shift change or to meet buds for coffee. At shift change you can see them coming code 3 then they shut it off a block from the station.
But even if they are using the lights/siren just so they can get to the Dunkin’ Donuts faster – so what?? Every job has its perks. People who work in many fast food places get free meals. People who work in dept. stores get discounts on their merchandise. I once worked for a utility company and we got 10% off our electricity and 30% off our gas. So as long as they do it safely I really see no harm. BTW I do not know any cops.
Officers shouldn’t be doing anything a private citizen couldn’t do as a “PERK”. It only takes a few abusers to give people a bad opinion about officers. On the other hand, they are only human & those people who aren’t officers would probably be guilty of doing the same thing. The fact that they often loose their lives & their bodies are badly beaten up after a career in LE protecting us & cleaning up the mess others have created makes me appreciate them anyway. They have their faults but it’s not everyone who would do their job. Even the people who hate the police call them when they need help. I don’t condon bad behavior on their part but taking advantage of of things when their is an opportunity to do so occurs in EVERY job.
You could see using the lights to get to someplace faster and ignore the red traffic sign as a perk… Or you could see it as a dangerous action which may result in serious injury, something most perks do not cause. So I disagree with your point of view here.
SO effin’ true. I was just given a ticket by the EXACT SAME COP that almost hit me last week for going the wrong way down a wrong way street. And no, no lights, no siren, just cutting a corner to save time. F the police. They are NOT above the law!
God your stupid- how do you know what they were doing?
I would have hit you – lucky you only got a ticket.
F the haters
R-tard, it was the COP going the wrong way down the one way street.
heh, with all the job stress, i can understand why a local cop does 70 in a 45mph zone for 1 mile, makes a U turn and goes back a mile. and repeats it. seems like he’s there every day i am up before 5am
We put our lives on the line everyday for idiots like you. God forbid, we do something that if a civilian did the same, would end up with a ticket. Get off your lazy asses and become a cop if you don’t like it. Oh and you know how many times I was dispatched to an emergency (lights and sirens) only to be canceled by dispatch halfway there, hence turning off the lights and sirens. Also, if we have an emergency, say at 3 in the morning, when there is not a lot of traffic out, we will use lights at an intersection just to be safe, but nowhere else. Why wake people up at 3 am???
Yeah your so compassionate that when someone on the internet disagrees with you, you wish them bodily harm so that police can laugh at their misery.
Its also nice that you blatantly admit that you think cops should not be arrested for violating civilian law. Blow through an intersection and cause a wreck, not your problem. Illegally walk on to someones property and shoot their dog, not your problem. Taser an unarmed person during a routine traffic stop, not your problem.
Im not saying that you personally have done any of that. However like most ‘good cops’ even if you dont do these things yourself you cover for and defend officers that do. It happens every day, one ‘bad cop’ does something terrible, and everyone ignores all the ‘good cops’ manipulating evidence, lying on police reports, and general covering the ass of people you should be ashamed to work with. Your attitude at the very least indicates you have a greater concern over your privilege and standing then the rights of citizens.
“Yeah, like it’s so hard to strut around in a uniform, dishing out crap. I *wish* I had a job that easy.” <— that's not disagreeing…that's being an ignorant bitch.
I'm an Army Veteran and Police Officer. You have no idea the things I have witnessed in my line(s) of work. I am a "good" cop, not dirty. You sir, are just a douchebag. just out of curiosity, what is your line of work?
Ok, so when someone on the internet is an ignorant bitch, you wish them bodily harm so that police can laugh at their misery. Is that better? Does that make you a more compassionate person?
I could be flipping burgers or writing legislature, you’ll never know, but more importantly my job has nothing to do with the validity of the complaints I have made. The fact that you, a self professed police officer, have done nothing but insult people and make appeals to (your own) authority does not inspire trust.
If you had made a few statements about all the work you put forward to insure the safety of your community, or talked about all of the efforts you exert to help people, or all the lives you saved or protected through dutiful police work, I wouldn’t be so critical of you. At least then I would know your heart is in the right place.
Instead you came on here and called everyone idiots and then basically said we should all just be grateful that you exist because your a cop and thats sooo awesome. You didn’t ask for respect or consideration, you demanded capitulation to your authority. Which is the exact thing I have been criticizing. Is this how you deal with disagreeable people in real life? If so it just confirms everything I said about you in my initial assessment, and cops in general.
I don’t have to validate myself or my actions for you or for anybody. But I’ll give you a little background from my 6 year career. I have saved lives, I have taken lives. I have given missing children back to their parents, I have taken children away from sexual abusing parents. I have seen dead infants at car crashes. I have walked into houses where an elderly person has been dead for days. I have been shot at, I have been beaten up. Do you know how much I make?? Do you? 12 bucks an hour. That’s it. I’m a “part-timer”…meaning I work 4 days a week with NO sick time, vacation, etc; and NO medical benefits or life insurance. Not many people can do my job, especially for the measly pay I get. So, yes…I am terribly disturbed when some ignoramus says all we do is strut around in uniform, saying our job is easy. You need to butt out, because, really, I wasn’t even talking to you in the first place.
I once saw a cop flash his blues so he could make a left into Dunkin’s, then he turned them promptly off. What a cliche!
Booo!!! Let’s lock the author up for a night with a murdering, raping, drug addict, and see if he thinks anarchy is a good idea then. ‘Coz that’s what we’d have with police.
*without* police, dear…but I like the way you think…lol
If the world worked with the thought process that because those who defend us do sooooo much good and go through soo much risk, then our country would be ruled by the soldiers, and officers of our armed forces. There is no ligitimate excuse other than if there really was an emergancy.
Had a situation where a officer of the law made a uturn after I crossed over yellow lines in an attempt to make a uturn. I saw police car and continued in same direction. Officer did a uturn put his lights on and pull me over. He turned his lights off briefly and turned them back on. When lights go on the video camera starts recording. Office asked me where I was coming from then claimed I drove on the wrong side of the road. He lied. He never followed me. He just said that to make the stop stick. Got charge with DWI. This ever happen to anyone else?