Law enforcers as law breakers ....

• Philippines

23 Jan 10

Hi Benny, Very well said. Yes, these police officers should adhere to the same traffic laws they are enforcing to the public when there is no emergency. At least, they should serve as role models for the public, especially the drivers. Hahahaha, to the two police officers. That was good for them! Sometimes the public need to "teach" them some of the basic things. (Some police officers may not understand why we need to do it --- others find a way to get back at us. We should not discount this fact. Some police officers retaliate because their pride was "touched".)

1 person likes this

bystander

@bystander (2292)

• Philippines

23 Jan 10

Only in the Philippines! I live here in the Philippines, so I know and have seen what you are saying about law enforcers as law breakers. We seem them everyday in our streets. These petty crimes perpetrated by law enforcers seem to be a mirror of the regard (respect!) many of our government officials have for our laws. While I believe that it's not only in the Philippines those aberrations of order exist, I also believe that, in time we'll be able to get rid of these things that sure endanger the moral fiber of our nation.

1 person likes this

• Philippines

24 Jan 10

Hi Bystander, I don't think that this is only found in our country. There may be ones like them in other countries, too. Some police officers abuse their authority because they are cuddled by some high-ranking government officials. Others are even said to be on the personal payroll of some high-ranking govt. officials. It is sad.

1 person likes this

• Philippines

25 Jan 10

You are absolutely right, Bystander. You may call me MMT, for short.

bystander

@bystander (2292)

• Philippines

25 Jan 10

that's true, moneymakingtoday. we don't have a monopoly of corrupt practices the permeates every level of the bureaucracy. the global corruption index shows that we're not. let's just hope our economy improves, creating more opportunities for making honest and decent income. perhaps, if that happens, so will corruption, particularly the petty kind, will be a thing of the past. good day, moneymakingtoday.

schulzie

@schulzie (4061)

• United States

23 Jan 10

Yes I have seen this many times. I used to work for a police department and I saw many instances where they broke the law, etc. Of course they abuse their powers sometimes, they're only human. I'm not saying all of them are like that but a good majority are. If they're late coming back from lunch or need to get back in order to sign out for the end of their shift they will put their sires on, etc. just to get through traffic, even though there is no real emergency.

Have a great day and happy myLotting!!!

1 person likes this

• Philippines

24 Jan 10

Hi Schulzie, Hahahaha, that is very common here. Some use police vehicles in their personal business. There was one case of a policeman here whose service vehicle figured in an accident because he was drunk. And worse was, he went inside a motel with a lady not his wife. It was in the papers and he was administratively charged and punished. Some of the police officers get off the hook, especially if the media does not notice them.

1 person likes this

diamania

@diamania (7011)

• Netherlands

23 Jan 10

Police officers are allowed to park their cars where they want whether there is an emergency or not. I've once caught a few police officers ruining my front door because they got a report that somebody was lying injured in our home. But they didn't first check whether this report is genuine so what they did was just use their feet to smash up the door and did they send the technical guys to repair it? Yeah they actually did, but did they install a new door? No I don't think so...

1 person likes this

law enforcers

law violation

• Philippines

23 Jan 10

Hi Diamania, That is sad. You bore the expenses then? I don't think it is appropriate for them to just park anywhere they want. This is especially so if there is a constant fast flow of traffic. Sometimes they are conspicuously parking on corners of the streets where the vehicles tend to converge. These parked vehicles of the enforcers just clog up the roads instead of ensuring a smooth flow. It is different in times of emergencies though.

1 person likes this

diamania

@diamania (7011)

• Netherlands

25 Jan 10

Here police officers do everything to nag everyone. It's not as bad as in Australia where they burn your boat if you're an illegal fisherman But what the heck I can't even ride my bike through the outdoor shopping mall on a Sunday when there are no costumers around without getting cautioned while the mall is the ideal place to vent your frustration paddling to the metal.

Jane

@jaiho2009 (39140)

• Philippines

23 Jan 10

hello moneymaking, You said it right,and,what more to say with traffic violations? Many times i've met police officers doing/violating traffic rules and other driving rules...and,just showing their id to traffic enforcer and...case dismissed(ugh!) Using their influences to break rules. Happy weekend

1 person likes this

law breakers

• Philippines

23 Jan 10

Hi Jaiho, That is really very correct in our scenario. Some of these acts are so visible to us. We just feel how some of them abuse their power. Not only police officers do this. Some high-ranking government officials do it at times. They "flex their muscles" to refrain from traffic penalties and citations. These are really happening.

Jane

@jaiho2009 (39140)

• Philippines

23 Jan 10

and i want to add more on this "ignorance of the law excuses no one" how can they assumed that every citizen of this country are aware of all the traffic and driving rules they're implementing,when,they themselves...knows the rules and implement the rules were the ist to break their own rules? And,where are all those signages?...faded signages...and,even posted as high as the high rise building (grrrrrr)

1 person likes this

bystander

@bystander (2292)

• Philippines

23 Jan 10

speaking of signages... it's only in the philippines where we have instant signages, off-and-on signages, per-need signages, and stolen signages.

1 person likes this

RachelleNH

@RachelleNH (1396)

• United States

23 Jan 10

Well, not in that aspect. They can't just park wherever they wish...but I have a few stories from my experiences to share! I had a lady rear-end me 1 year ago..I was in shock from it. A state trooper walked up and started screaming at me that my son needed a booster seat. I didn't know at the time because his daycare said no-he was over the weight requirement. Wrong! It's height..under 4'9-a booster seat is required. He wrote me a nasty ticket and later called me AT home to rant some more about my "carelessness." Talk about a day...so then I paid the entire ticket without fighting it..1 month later, I get a call from our local clerk of court and they tell me that he unlawfully wrote the ticket for 3 times the amount allowed! I got a big refund and a smile! Second...we have a cop living next door. My daughter and his were friends when we first moved in. I have an elderly neighbor living next door-and one day he tells me that this cop had run my tags and told everyone in the neighborhood that I had a violent ex husband. Argh, I was trying to bury that past! I thought they could only run your tags if they are behind you and suspect you doing something wrong not living next door to you prying into your personal business!

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RachelleNH

@RachelleNH (1396)

• United States

24 Jan 10

This is true...I don't hate him-I stay away from him. I think the guy is envious of everyone...and a little bit crazy too. The other neighbors avoid him like the plague so that tells you something!

• Philippines

24 Jan 10

He seems to have psychological problems. He seems insecure with self. Let us pray that he realizes what he is doing.

• Philippines

24 Jan 10

Hi RachelleNH, Lol, to him on the first case. I always believe that people who always do right are rewarded in some other ways. It was surely an injustice corrected in your favor. That was good. On the second case, maybe the cop is envious of you? I oftentimes hear that when a tree is laden with fruits, lots of people want to throw stones at the tree to get the fruits. It surely works with people. There are some who are envious about the success of others. Just think of it that way and don't allow yourself to be affected by it. It is his problem, not yours. Never sow hatred. Have a nice day.

1 person likes this

sid556

@sid556 (30953)

• United States

24 Jan 10

Hi moneymakingtoday, The law enforcers are the worst offenders of all and they can get away with it because no one is enforcing them. They all band together! Where to start? They can get away with pretty much anything and everything because they just can. They beat my brother up once so bad that an officer appologized to my mom and then in the court room denied everything and got away with it. I know cops that smoke pot and yet will bust only the ones they don't like...cuz they can. It all depends on who you are and who are know. You are better off making friends with them rather than enemies because you will never win if you are not on their side.

• Philippines

11 Feb 10

Hi Sid, Sorry for the late response. I very well know what you mean. They are here, too --- in fact, a lot of them. There are cops who cuddle snatchers and robbers. They are said to get a bigger share from the loot. Why, when you are an influential person (happened to a wife of a local public official) things that are snatched from you are returned to you in hours? The cops only need to know where the incident happened and ... if you are close to the "powers that be" and if a cop is a friend, your lost items comes back to you quickly.

cream97

@cream97 (29085)

• United States

23 Jan 10

Hi, moneymakingtoday. I have not seen any abusive traffic officers. But, I have heard of them. I have seen where an cop was running a man down because he committed a crime. I mean this guy was running for his life and the cop was tailing him from behind. The cop's car drove through apartment complex areas and all just so he could catch this guy. He was wrong for that. We have crooked cops all over this world. Some of them we may know about while others are hidden in secret. Their badges should be taken away for acting in this manner.

1 person likes this

• Philippines

24 Jan 10

Hi Cream97, You may call me MMT, for brevity.

Some police officers think that being police officers, they are "clothed" with all the available powers. Because of their positions, they think of themselves as superiors and above the law. So many times that we hear about violations committed by some police officers. They always find ways to get out of it because some have very close connections with some government officials. Some of them are really abusive. There are always exceptions.

1 person likes this

bellis716

@bellis716 (4799)

• United States

24 Jan 10

Even worse than the behavior you described was what I read about in the city newspaper. A city cop was convicted of arresting a woman for alleged traffic violations and agreeing to let her go if she performed special favors for him.

1 person likes this

dorannmwin

@dorannmwin (36392)

• United States

25 Jan 10

The offense that I see the most often here by police officers is not stopping for traffic lights even when they don't have their lights and sirens on. This is not only a blatent offense of the law, it is also very dangerous and it will eventually cause someone to be hurt or killed if it hasn't happened yet. I am always very, very cautious at traffic lights because I have seen far too many accidents happen at them by civilians, but seeing the police run red lights makes me want to be even more cautious.

• Philippines

11 Feb 10

Hi Dorannmwin, Sorry for the late response. Yes, these are blatant displays of arrogance and utter violation of the law which cops are, at most times, expected to enforce while abiding to it. They think they have the law in their hands and are superior than the civilians. What is worse, they cuddle criminals and enrich themselves through the illegal activities of these criminals. There are those who are "moonlighting", getting salaries from the government while being paid personally by politicians and other influential people. I can continue enumerating what they blatantly do here. Of course, there are always exceptions. I can name cops who are truly desirable and respected in the exercise of their duties. To them, I salute!

DenverLC

@DenverLC (1143)

• Philippines

23 Jan 10

It may happen, but not an absolutely true conclusion. These kind of enforcers are not really law enforcers but are dermites behind the agency. There are also some who does their duty with self discipline, dedication and honesty, we can call them as Heros of today. For the violators, i hope their race will not increase and I long to see them crying rotten in jail one day.

1 person likes this

• Philippines

23 Jan 10

Hi Denver, I have been misunderstood. I did not mean that ALL of them are law breakers. I was only referring to the erring ones. I was interested to know if you also see these type of law officers/enforcers in your area. In general, they are our heroes and they defend us from the injustices done by violators. That is why it is easy for us to pinpoint a few because instead of acting as "heroes", they are blatant in violating the laws that they are supposed to enforce.

1 person likes this

iharidh

@iharidh (308)

• Indonesia

24 Jan 10

For this matter, I can quote Sum41 lyric 'everybody has his problem' lol. I must admit that in my place, something like that happens all the day until now. There are so many law breakers on the street, so the law enforcers ended up just looking at them. This is not something to be tolerated though. A bike rider and a small bus in my place do what they like, without even noticing how to be a good driver. They are not yet aware even if there are so many accidents happen in the street. I just hope that this kind of problem is not happening again in the near future, but as a ordinary people, I don't know what to do to solve the problem. I just hope the law enforcers are improving their performances.

• Philippines

24 Jan 10

Hi Iharidh, We can never say that people working in a department all perform according to rules and regulations. There are those who break rules. Traffic enforcers are no exception. They are just too conspicuous with their "acts" because they are there on the streets with the public eye focused on them. They are so blatant in their acts that people easily notice how bad they project the image that they portray as law enforcers. It is an irony for them to be the ones to break the law.

jayeshrevised

@jayeshrevised (52)

• India

24 Jan 10

we almost see this everyday. i have seen them breaking the green signal. they actually get the power of breaking rules officially after they become policeman. the time has really come to change the whole system. it is the higher authorities who are to be blamed for this. if no one is there to keep a check on them this is bound to happen. somewhere down the line we all are also responsible for these kind of acts done by them. we never have revolted against them. they really have no fear of anyone.

• Philippines

24 Jan 10

Hi Jayeshrevised, Oh yes --- them catching drivers who beat the red light but they do it blatantly, too. Some are confident that they have the power and even arrogant to people. Well, there are those that speak against them. There are those who are brave to take pictures of these "daring" violations. I know of policemen who were also sent to jail for grave offenses. Generally, though, most people cower in reporting offenses by policemen. It is a sad fact.

ErickJ

@ErickJ (186)

• United States

24 Jan 10

i've seen cops run a red light. They just turned their sirens on and go through traffic and once they get to the other side of the street, they turn the sirens off. to me thats corrupt. Another insident happened to me when i first moved to los angeles. my girlfriend and i were walking to the store and i had my hand on my rigt leg because i walk with a limp (not to be cool, i was in a car accident) then this cop made a u-turn and decided to yell at me from across the street. "WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN YOUR POCKET!" and smiled. i guess he just pick me out to harass just because my hand was on my own leg.