Taken "downtown" for littering. Should the officer amend the cite?

[SgtChewbacca]

I haven't heard the second or third sides of this story, but I think it's hilarious:

A co-worker of mine was out drinking the other night. She and another co-worker were about to leave a bar and were out by their cars in a separate parking lot talking when a police officer partolled by. She saw him and began dumping the beer she had in her hand and chucked the bottle. Well, the officer saw this and made contact with them and began questioning her.

And she has a huge mouth on her. She started with the whole, "You can't do this to me," and, "I have rights," and, "fill in the blank here ;)." Apparently she mouthed off so much that they took her to jail! They only charged her with littering, but I can think of probably three other charges they could have nailed her with.

She should feel lucky the officer let her off that easily with a littering cite only. Granted, she needed someone to bail her out, but like I said, there are 3-4 other charges they could have hit her with.

So here's my question: if a citizen called you and said, "She didn't learn her lesson, she's complaining about the break you gave her, would you amend the charges?"

I can guarantee you she didn't learn her lesson, in fact, she was "traumatized" from getting thrown in jail, but still pissed at the cop about it.

She lied to a cop, destroyed evidence, public display of alcohol, and drunk in public (not the Tater Salad variety, either).

So, should I call the officer and let him know or does he already have a good idea of what type of turd he was dealing with?

[Wombat311]

She lied to a cop, destroyed evidence, public display of alcohol, and drunk in public

What did she lie about? What evidence did she destroy? (and don't say the beer bottle)

Your friend hasn't told you everything, since there's a few gaps missing in the story (not including what I've just asked)

[Wombat311]

Bugger. No edit. I always forget that.

Once you answer those two questions, I'll get stuck into this post, but otherwise, no, stay out of it. You don't need to call the officer is the short answer.

[TPDHellhound]

So here's my question: if a citizen called you and said, "She didn't learn her lesson, she's complaining about the break you gave her, would you amend the charges?"

I can guarantee you she didn't learn her lesson, in fact, she was "traumatized" from getting thrown in jail, but still pissed at the cop about it.

The reason for the arrest is obvious. The reason for booking her rather than cite/releasing her is because her behavior would likely continue if she were released.

But what's the reason to stack additional charges? To teach her a lesson? Well, she's obviously an idiot! You can't teach these people anything. You just throw them in jail.
Furthermore, it makes the officer look like he took the incident personally. And believe me, if you start getting emotionally involved, it's only a matter of time before you do something that lands you on the front page.

Now, normally I cite for all relevant charges at the time of offense. But I never stack charges after the fact, and I never stack silly charges simply to rack up the punishment.

[Johninaustin]

Move on to the next clueless idiot. It's not like they are going to get scarce. ;) I would have snatched her for drinking outside a licensed premise instead of littering. (Somebody may actually pay attention to that charge down at the court. )

[Terminator]

Not familiar with all state laws, but how can someone be arrested for littering, an infraction?

If anything, I would have thought she'd been arrested for an open container charge or maybe disorderly conduct.

[ExUSPP]

Not familiar with all state laws, but how can someone be arrested for littering, an infraction?

If anything, I would have thought she'd been arrested for an open container charge or maybe disorderly conduct.

One possible way is the litterer didn't posses I.D. and she failed to properly identify herself. This wasn't mentioned in the post so I doubt it was the case here. Or perhaps she refused to sign the citation if it was required. People who post scenarios about "friends, co-workers, relatives" when they weren't actually present usually leave out significant details.

[michiganstud]

How does a user get 8 red tarts in only 28 posts?!?!?!?


:confused:

[michiganstud]

Not familiar with all state laws, but how can someone be arrested for littering, an infraction?

If anything, I would have thought she'd been arrested for an open container charge or maybe disorderly conduct.

--------------OR---------------------

You have one drunk dummy telling a wild story to another dummy only make the story more appealing, then said dummy comes here to tell their own version of the story.

How does a user get 8 red tarts in only 28 posts?!?!?!?


:confused:

[Kimble]

Probably with posts like this:

http://forums.realpolice.net/showthr...916#post423916

Ahh yes, I remember that thread well. Fond memories ( :rolleyes: ). Hopefully SgtChewbacca has since learned to READ the context of a post before commenting on it... but I guess we'll see for sure in time.

[michiganstud]

Probably with posts like this:

http://forums.realpolice.net/showthr...916#post423916

Thanks DC!! Missed that one! Make that 9 red squares now.

[SgtChewbacca]

Thanks DC!! Missed that one! Make that 9 red squares now.

I appreciate all the negative rep here. I may just go for a record ;)

BTW, dillema is spelled with two l's, not one. Just an FYI since you guys love to harp on people with poor grammar/spelling.

[TPDHellhound]

I appreciate all the negative rep here. I may just go for a record ;)

BTW, dillema is spelled with two l's, not one. Just an FYI since you guys love to harp on people with poor grammar/spelling.

WHAT??? DUDE! Seriously, at least get a dictionary before correcting someone's spelling. Dilemma.... not "dillema." C'mon, that's like 6th grade spelling.

I'm not going to redtart you because I'm a huge Star Wars fan.. but you earned what you're about to get.

[Ken K]

I appreciate all the negative rep here. I may just go for a record ;)

BTW, dillema is spelled with two l's, not one. Just an FYI since you guys love to harp on people with poor grammar/spelling.

I am glad you appreciate the red you just got from me. Get your stuff together before you fire a shot...you....

[SgtChewbacca]

I am glad you appreciate the red you just got from me. Get your stuff together before you fire a shot...you....

might as well finish up what you were going to say... I doubt it'll bother me at all.

Thanks for the red tarts, people. As I've said previously, I might as well go for a record, and correcting someone's spelling with a spelling error is a decent way of going about getting those yummy red tic-tacs.

I guess that's one of those jokes one has to keep to themselves because it's only funny to them.