And You Wonder Why I'm a Cynic...

Rooster · Nov 2, 2007

I'd pay the guys ticket if I were you. So, did you get the ol 'stang squared away?
The most shocking part of your story for a country boy like me is the cost of the ticket. CRIPES! A ticket like that would be about $10 here. Better move to Iowa Senator.

thunderw21 · Nov 2, 2007

That stinks, sounds like the guy was on a powertrip. There are always a few bad apples that ruin the reputation of the lot.

Twitch · Nov 2, 2007

Those are the things that try our patience. At least none of it is personal, just the universe kicking us in the butt.

BellyTank · Nov 2, 2007

Bummer!
Sounds like a Seinfeld moment.

Same the World over: "I already printed the ticket...(robotic voice)"

Parking fines are such a great source of local govt. revenue that policy seems to have shifted to the "write the ticket anyway- the complainant will probably back down/go away". Don't the parking cops have a quota to fill nowadays and a bonus scheme..?

B
T

Story · Nov 2, 2007

"No good deed goes unpunished" is a very old saying and will be around long after everyone here is dead and buried.

See Kafka for additional historical references.

Feraud · Nov 2, 2007

BellyTank said:
Don't the parking cops have a quota to fill nowadays and a bonus scheme..?

B
T

Not sure about the bonus but there is a quota.

The irony here is if the traffic enforcement officials did their jobs with slight intelligence they could fill their quota, bring in revenue for the city, alleviate lousy traffic conditions, and remove unsafe drivers in this city.

Instead of having to give out that last lousy ticket to the old man or woman who cannot walk to the parking meter quick enough, why not engage the many horrid drivers that infest the streets of NYC? I frequently drive through a maze of double parked cars, reckless drivers, those on cellphones, etc. etc.
Ticket the guilty and the cash will flow like a river while doing a service for the city.

deadpandiva · Nov 2, 2007

Senator Jack said:
Thanks for the gracious offer Johnnysan, but I've already allocated that $115 out of my budget should it come to that. I hope he calls me, though; he left before I got his number.

At least you and the Good Samaritan are proof that not everyone is a heartless jerk.

Big Man · Nov 2, 2007

I'd be willing to bet why the cop did what he did. If he'd "given the guy a break" and not write a ticket for the expired meeter, the next person he did write a ticket to would have him in court because he didn't give them a break as well. Public officials used to have some discretion in when and where to "enforce the law", but in this day of law suits, you are forced to show no partiality. It's sad, but true.

Also, for everyone who complains about this cop and his actions, why don't you become a cop or a firefighter, or an EMS worker and see how the world looks from their perspective. I know there are always a few who make everyone else look bad, but most people in emergency services are good, descent people who are trying their best to do a good job. I'd venture a guess that if there had been an option to not give the ticket, that cop probabally wouldn't have given it.

Sorry for the rant. I just don't like to see emergency services workers slammed.

Fletch · Nov 2, 2007

(This is in response to a posting, since deleted, stating ticket quotas could be met by ticketing genuine offenders vs. nuisance ticketing.)

That's dangerous. It's also difficult. POs would not ever dare admit it, but their jobs are dangerous and difficult enough as it is. I'm sure they just regard nuisance ticketing as part of the job - regrettable but necessary. The pressure from the system sure isn't going to let up, nor is the system ever going to admit how useful and important nuisance ticketing is to them.

I was nuisance ticketed in NYC once for a subway violation. I paid the fine to stay out of court, but I wrote several e-mails protesting what I believed to be a low-level form of entrapment.* I received a personally written letter of apology from a transit sergeant.

You see, what I did was, I paid up and then took pains to address the principle involved. I realize not everyone can afford to do this - financially or morally. But I think it made some small difference in policy. I haven't seen the procedure I ran foul of at work at that station since.

* Transit cops had propped open an exit door off a platform, then stood around the corner hoping a fare-skipper would come thru. Distractedly, I left the platform thru the door when I meant to transfer trains, then turned back thru it when I realized my mistake. Too bad! Leaving, then immediately reentering, equals entering for free.

ScionPI2005 · Nov 2, 2007

Personally, I would be surprised if the cop even showed up at the court date. Or maybe I'm just thinking about how things are here in Albuquerque; so many hearings get thrown out because the officer doesn't even show up.

It really takes a specific type of person to be in Law Enforcement. Oddly enough, Albuquerque is suffering so bad from lack of cops that there was an article in the Journal (newspaper) several months ago that explained that the academy is lowering their standards, and even some cops with minor criminal records are getting hired.

Feraud · Nov 2, 2007

We should definitely not paint an entire group of workers with a broad brush.
However... when your experiences with certain city workers are negative, it tends to wear on you. I think experience and discretion is part of any job. Claiming "to just follow orders" is not an excuse for ticketing a good samaritan.

I could not get a NYC police officer to get out of his car or fill out (his job, not mine!) an accident report when my car was hit. Call a cop? Why bother? So I can wait for an hour for them to show up and hand me a form?

Fletch · Nov 2, 2007

If I may add...

I don't entirely disagree that cops are vulnerable to power trips. Their culture and training have changed them from simple public servants into a kind of parallel society, in the unenviable position of being both with us and against us - of us and not like us. I think even people of good character can occasionally go wrong in such circumstances.

Jack, if your good Sam can't beat this ticket and you want to pay it, I will happily join the others in kicking in. I'll even help draft a letter of protest to Commissioner Kelly.

Big Man · Nov 2, 2007

Feraud said:
... Call a cop? Why bother? So I can wait for an hour for them to show up and hand me a form?

I guess my views are clouded due to living in a Southern rural/small-town area (thank God). I've worked in emergency services for almost 30 years, and have never encountered the "power trip" or "just doing the job" attitude. I have encountered plenty of people (more so in the past several years) that complain about the service they receive, but have yet to see a single one of the complainers out at 3:00 AM on a Christmas morning fighting a house fire or trying to free an entrapped person from a car wreck. No, not one single complainer at all have I seen at any emergency scene trying to give a hand - but they sure do like to complain about things. :rage:

Again, sorry for the rant, but this really does get me twisted.

Feraud · Nov 2, 2007

Big Man said:
I guess my views are clouded due to living in a Southern rural/small-town area (thank God). I've worked in emergency services for almost 30 years, and have never encountered the "power trip" or "just doing the job" attitude. I have encountered plenty of people (more so in the past several years) that complain about the service they receive, but have yet to see a single one of the complainers out at 3:00 AM on a Christmas morning fighting a house fire or trying to free an entrapped person from a car wreck. No, not one single complainer at all have I seen at any emergency scene trying to give a hand - but they sure do like to complain about things. :rage:

Again, sorry for the rant, but this really does get me twisted.

Points well taken. There is probably a big difference between small town and big city police work. Not to mention the stress and workload associated with the job in both settings.

As Fletch noted, there is definitely an "Us vs. Them" mentality instilled in those on the job. Such mentality is not conducive to people who police their own neighbors.

I hope I didn't get political! I will now give it a rest.

PADDY · Nov 2, 2007

Don't let this cloud the good thiing that happened.

Don't let this overshadow the very kind act of kindness this man bestowed upon you in trying to help. Hopefully this should reinforce that there is good out there too

MsGlamour · Nov 2, 2007

That story just made me so mad! One of my cousins was a police chief for a long time, and he was one of the nicest most fair cops I had ever met.

Then I moved to a big city and encountered every rude cop I could ever imagine. I hope that guy challenges it in court and wins. What's wrong with people these days??

Lincsong · Nov 3, 2007

Mr. Big Man, you don't have to apologize for your (perceived) rant (it isn't a rant). BTW, I'm a big complainer, but I put my money where my mouth is, last year I saw a burning truck on the side of Hwy 92 in Half Moon Bay and I stopped to help.

indycop · Nov 3, 2007

Baron Kurtz said:
errr, what does one expect from a cop? I've yet to meet one that's not on a power trip.

Or maybe they're just tripping. Or drunk. How else to explain it?

bk

Wow! So much for feeling welcome at the lounge.

BellyTank · Nov 3, 2007

On the other hand...

I guess many of us have had at least one "negative experience" with a Cop,
which tends to stick in our collective craw. But when "you" have to deal with a public, have rules to go by and must enforce them, I guess, often times,
there is little room, or time for situational and individual nuance.
I'm sure we've all had similarly bad experiences when dealing with other authorities, who have to enforce laws and can't make an "exception" in each
and every instance -

Everyone tends to pile on when someone mentions a bad experience, try not to take it to seriously- just in case you were you were.
There are a lot of Cops here on the Lounge

B
T

Johnnysan · Nov 3, 2007

indycop said:
Wow! So much for feeling welcome at the lounge.

Don't let it get to you, IndyCop...there are many of us here who don't paint with such a big brush. I'm always amazed when folks who claim to be tolerant and fight against prejudice in other forms, make such sweeping generalizations about a particular group of individuals and fail to see the contradiction as it applies to their own lives.

It seems that we all have our prejudices...we just need the right trigger to bring it out into the light of day.

And You Wonder Why I'm a Cynic...

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