| Author | Message | ||
     Jaimec |
Remember that motorcyclist who videotaped his traffic confrontation with the overzealous cop? The police tried to throw the book at him for posting the video on YouTube. Sometimes common sense prevails: http://blog.washingtonpost.com/story-lab/2010/09/w iretapping_charges_dropped_ag.html As a reminder, this is the incident in question: (Message edited by jaimec on September 28, 2010) | ||
| Cowboy |
I dont know how most of you see it but from my view that dude is damn luckey to be a live. If a un marked car cuts me off and a dude jumps out in civies and pulls a gun I am going to do my damdest to blow him in half. | ||
| Rwven |
Common sense had nothing to do with the charges being dropped. Public opinion and the spectacle of this story getting more bad press were the deciding factors. | ||
| Glitch |
Around here, unmarkeds aren't allowed to pull anyone, over for the reasons stated by Cowboy. | ||
| Jaimec |
Common sense says that a cop performing his duties on a public roadway in plain sight of the public has no expectation of privacy. And trying to say that camera was a device specifically designed to surreptitiously video people without their knowledge is absurd... anyone who's ever used a helmet cam knows there's NOTHING surreptitious about one. The cop is an IDIOT for not only his behavior, but failing to notice the OBVIOUS recording device on the rider's helmet. In this case, "Big Brother" works BOTH ways. (Message edited by jaimec on September 28, 2010) | ||
| Andymnelson |
{Judge Emory A. Pitt Jr. had to decide whether police performing their duties have an expectation of privacy in public space. Pitt ruled that police can have no such expectation in their public, on-the-job communications. Pitt wrote: "Those of us who are public officials and are entrusted with the power of the state are ultimately accountable to the public. When we exercise that power in public fora, we should not expect our actions to be shielded from public observation. 'Sed quis custodiet ipsos cutodes' ("Who watches the watchmen?”)."} good on the judge. | ||
| Xl1200r |
I dont know how most of you see it but from my view that dude is damn luckey to be a live. If a un marked car cuts me off and a dude jumps out in civies and pulls a gun I am going to do my damdest to blow him in half. My exact thoughts. No cop car, no uniform, no badge. I have no legal obligation to stop in my state, either. Pulling a gun on anyone in street clothes is a bad idea. I'm kind of curious why the officer behind the rider didn't open fire, lol. | ||
| Bikertrash05 |
"Those of us who are public officials and are entrusted with the power of the state are ultimately accountable to the public. When we exercise that power in public fora, we should not expect our actions to be shielded from public observation." -Judge Emory A. Pitt Jr. Very nice quote.  | ||
| Paint_shaker |
I agree with Judge's ruling. | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
wow that sounds like the cops were digging in to the law books for that one... They are just mad because some one caught them on tape being an idiot. I hope he sues for harassment or something for that. | ||
| Pwnzor |
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| 86129squids |
Pwn- you don't know how good your emoticons look wit my jazz. | ||
| Doughnut |
I agree. I have taken Police action off duty and the FIRST thing I do is announce myself as Police. I have pulled my gun once off duty (that "gentalman" has sinced moved away). Was this Officer on duty in an unmarked or off duty? Either way a traffic stop is not (in most cases) a time to pull out. I have seen a lot of stupid traffic but it is not the time to go gun ho. I have done traffic twice off duty. Both were accidents that uniformed Officers were not yet on seen. Niether even remotly required my sidearm. | ||
| Rah7777777 |
Right on!! I'm glad this judge has a brain!!! Here in Texas, it's all open as far as recording an officer. Hell, there recording you when stopped, no reason one can't record on there own too. I had a friend get pulled over in a construction zone. Officer noted that workers were present on his ticket, he signs the ticket nicely and pulls out his phone and starts recording out of his sunroof a 360 degree view. Officer comes back to his car and asks what he's doing, my buddy says I'm getting my proof no construction workers are present to show the judge. Cop never showed to court... I have the highest respect for law enforcement, but the cop above was off his rocker!!! Video shows he is an ass hat! Pwnzor, I like the dancing bear! That was my avatar on another site for a while. Very fitting here. | ||
| Kc10_fe |
That cop should just buy that dude a dozen krispy kremes say sorry dude and call it good. | ||
| Oddball |
I'm sure that stop will be a lesson in academy training. Wiretap charge was bs though he did of course commit some moving violations. Hold both accountable for their errors and all is fair, right and just in the world once more. | ||
| Jaimec |
Was he speeding? Can't really tell from the full video (no sound... below). What I CAN see is that he passed Mr. Gung Ho cop and it looks like the cop didn't like it and sped up to start pacing him. Now, putting myself in the rider's position... I see a car suddenly speed up and start pacing me, and it's NOT a police car, and the driver is NOT in uniform, and my first thought is that he's some kind of whack job. So, I'd do pretty much EXACTLY what he does in the video: drop the hammer and get away from the jackass, then get off the next exit: I think a good lawyer could probably get the motorcyclist off of the speeding charge too. And the cop deserves desk duty for a loooooooong time. And maybe some anger management classes too. | ||
| Poppinsexz |
I guess my questions are, What does the first part of the video show? was there a lighted cop chasing him? Did he know it? Was he trying to get away by exiting? If so then he probably knew mr dummy was a cop and he really should go to jail. Just like the rodney king thing we are missing some information that might be important. edit- and as for the video, that is a no-brainer, public setting no expectation of not being recorded. Finally a good call by a Judge. Who watches the watchmen? (Message edited by poppinsexz on September 29, 2010) | ||
| Aeholton |
Just like the rodney king thing we are missing some information that might be important. Nothing is missing. He was ticketed and paid the ticket. He never said he didn't deserve a ticket. The whole thing was about the fact that the motorcyclist went home and posted the video on Youtube. Then, several days later the police raided his house, confiscated PCs and cameras, arrested him for the BS recording/wiretapping charge. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Sounds like he has a good case for claiming damages. | ||
| Cowboy |
After it is all said and done it boils down to just the man. There nothing like a common sence LEO that knows what he is doing and does his job. Nothing as bad a smart ass, LEO when he is in show your ass mode. | ||
| Just_ziptab |
Just noticed that the biker was back peddling after he stopped. Gun,back pedal? | ||
| Whisperstealth |
At 1:07 he passes the Cop, who is in an Unmarked car, looks as if it's a personal vehicle. His speed at that time is 69, on a 6 lane freeway. Not exactly ridiculous, but still speeding, and he slows down. The cop had to Speed rather fast to catch up with him, and pace him. In again, an Unmarked car. The cop was in civies with No Identification visible. He said he was a cop AFTER the gun was pulled, and he went up to the guy. I never did see any ID from the guy. My opinion for whatever it's worth, is that the cop is bully with a badge. If he was off duty as it appears, why was he making a routine traffic stop? The bike was not flying by, and a danger to the road when he passed the cop. IF there was an on duty cruiser with lights going, the off duty should have been back up only, and not been the first one out of a car and approching the suspect. This cop saw a biker speeding a little, probably has a burr up his ass about bikers, and decided to be a jerk. Cowboy is correct, that cop is a lucky man. The Rider should be awarded damages for the invasion into his home, and loss of the use of personal private property. Lost in all this: The judge who signed the warrant. He should be held accountable as well. | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
ok My whole driving life (at least in the U.S.) has been in La. and TX and most of our big highways are between 60 and 70 MPH depending on were you are at. So if he was only going 69 and getting a gun pulled on him for speeding what is the speed limit there? | ||
| Buellkowski |
Found this link today. Answers questions about what or who can be photographed & where. The Photographer's Right | ||
| Augustus74 |
Glad to see the charges dropped, that was effin' ridiculous. | ||
| J2blue |
Police officer was out of touch with reality. They are there to serve and protect the public. Not harass the public. They frequently get confused on who the public is. Yes, Johnny was playing too rough on the playground with his motorcycle... it's a common occurrence among most males of the species. Common sense, absent in the officers mind, would have said, "ok, I'll follow him until a marked car can flash his lights on him..". And then the officer clearly makes many mistakes because he perceives a non-existent threat. Just ridiculous. The motorist are not the enemy, period! | ||
| B00stzx3 |
Such an embarassment for us Marylanders.... thank God he got off. The corrupt MD machine lives on however  Love my state, hate my state government. | ||
| Buellish |
"Just noticed that the biker was back peddling after he stopped." Do we know the road was level?He could have been rolling back with no hand or foot covering the brake. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Dumb cop, it's not as if he was going to slam it in reverse & do a bootleg spin. Be interesting to see what sanction is applied to the officer in question. |
