Political Question

[EasternPromises]

When you go to work as a LEO, is your view of law very black and white? By that, I mean a violation is a violation no matter what?

Have you ever had to enforce a law with which you disagree personally?

I'm trying to think of a good example. Let's say jaywalking. For example maybe your opinion would be that as long as someone crosses the street safely, with awareness and doesn't create a disturbance to traffic (walking right out in front of someone) that it would really be a "non crime". But perhaps your department demands that you thoroughly enforce jaywalking statutes? Thoughts?

(I know jaywalking is a bad example cause you all have much bigger fish to fry, but I think it illustrates the point, I hope)

[retdetsgt]

With most minor traffic violations, we have discretion as to whether to write a ticket. Few crimes give us that discretion, we can face liability for not enforcing.

Frankly, I can't recall any instances were I had to enforce a law I disagreed with. When mandatory arrests in domestic violence cases took away any discretion with arrest, we got used to it. Prior to that, if the injured party didn't want to prosecute, we generally didn't arrest. After DV laws passed, we had to arrest whether the victim wanted us to or not.

[SnapShawt]

Officer discretion a lot of the time. But then there are times that little word "SHALL" comes into play.

[Creeker]

I fail to see how this is "political".

Here I was looking for a question about how Presidential elections affect how Liberal (read "willing to allow criminals out of Jail") the Supreme court will become... or already has... :rolleyes:

[ChesCopPodz]

Do I think the drinking age should be 18? Yes. If you can go to Iraq and fight and die for your country, you should be old enough to have a beer. But the drinking age is 21. So that's what I enforce.

[EasternPromises]

I fail to see how this is "political".

Creeker, I guess the question I was really thinking of is "How do you feel about laws that protect us from ourselves" For example, Seat Belt laws. And let's get this straight, I wear my seat belt every time I get in the car, it's just a good idea. But the question is should whether the state be in the position of using LEOs to force people to perform actions that are in their own best interest.

And I understand that if it's against the law in your state, you enforce it that way. But is a law virtuous simply by its essence as a law?

[mcsap]

When I can use discretion , I do. When I cannot , I don't. It isn't personal , it's business.

PA has repealed their helmet law but are big on seatbelts. I don't particularly agree with this opposite standard but thats the way it is. BUT , seatbelt offenses are a secondary offense, I cannot stop/ticket someone for that alone.

[retdetsgt]

Creeker, I guess the question I was really thinking of is "How do you feel about laws that protect us from ourselves" For example, Seat Belt laws. And let's get this straight, I wear my seat belt every time I get in the car, it's just a good idea. But the question is should whether the state be in the position of using LEOs to force people to perform actions that are in their own best interest.

And I understand that if it's against the law in your state, you enforce it that way. But is a law virtuous simply by its essence as a law?

On a personal level, I couldn't care less if you wear your seat belt or not. Whether or not you are willing to die or be severly injured in a minor car wreck is your business. However, on a financial level, I demand you wear it. Everytime some moron gets injured in a car wreck because he wasn't wearing a seat belt, my insurance rates go up to pay for his medical bills. So you see, it's not just protecting the passenger or driver, but it protects us from his/her bad decisions.