How far is too far?

[Somebody]

I love running traffic, it is definately one of my favorite things to do

The other day, I saw a woman run a stop sign, and of course stopped her. She immediately jumped out of her vehicle, and I immediately told her to get back in. Of course, she already had "attitude" written across her face in big, bold letters... so my guard was already up.

After telling her I stopped her for running the sign, she started arguing "I made a complete stop!" (at ~10 mph) Then I asked her "Do you know what stop means? Your wheels can not be moving"...

Well, the woman takes her ticket (she also had no insurance, since she "can't afford it") then calls me a few hours later pissed that I treated her like a "19 year old kid". Ok, fair enough, I wasted no time and sent her to my sgt :D

Anyway, I was probably a little peeved at her attitude, and I probably don't have to go into details about it. My question as a new officer is, was I out of line? or was this woman over-sensitive? She complained that I told her to get back to her car (not that I was rude, just that I made her go back) and that I shouldn't have asked her if she knew what "stop" meant. I guess she took offense that I challenged her intellect :rolleyes:

[corporal716]

My question as a new officer is, was I out of line? or was this woman over-sensitive? She complained that I told her to get back to her car (not that I was rude, just that I made her go back) and that I shouldn't have asked her if she knew what "stop" meant. I guess she took offense that I challenged her intellect :rolleyes:

As I'm sure you know, telling her to get back into her car was the right thing to do. Asking her if she knew what stop ment might have been throwing fuel on the fire.
Sounds like the thread about not citing after giving a speech.

This lady was not going to be happen with anything. She was going to be problem no matter what you said to her.

[greenlead]

How on earth did she call you?

[acreature]

Out of line? Out of line doing what?

[SnowLeopard]

After telling her I stopped her for running the sign, she started arguing "I made a complete stop!" (at ~10 mph) Then I asked her "Do you know what stop means? Your wheels can not be moving"...

Well, the woman takes her ticket (she also had no insurance, since she "can't afford it") then calls me a few hours later pissed that I treated her like a "19 year old kid". Ok, fair enough, I wasted no time and sent her to my sgt :D

Anyway, I was probably a little peeved at her attitude, and I probably don't have to go into details about it. My question as a new officer is, was I out of line? or was this woman over-sensitive?

Really? I had them complain that I talked to them as dogs. Point was in my case, I was not talking to them like a dog but rather, picking and using the words that could achieve distance with minimal lung volume ("halt", "hold").

In direct answer to your question, you were not of line if you used no profanity with her, didn't call her degrading comments. You position becomes even stronger if you addressed her with terms of respect such as "ma'am" and you did not raise your voice at her though if you needed to to get past her volume or get her attention, that would be okay, too.

As far as her being overly sensitive, I'd say she was ovely something be it sensitive, arrogant, superior, or whatever.

Whether or not you should have asked her if she knew what stop meant as oppose to directly correcting her without a question is something of a judgement call. Given the frame you have presented her in, it does not seem possible that there would have been any remorse and therefore, the situation of correcting without citation. There may be other situations, however, where one can correct incorrect thinking with just a warning. It is the question at times, afterall, "Do you know why I stopped you?".

But essentially, provided you maintained your cool and used nondegrading language, I'd say you were quite in line.
------------------------------------------
("You're dispicable!"--Daffy
"And you're a spotted ground pigeon!"--Bugs
"I'm a spotted ground pigeon? I'm a spotted ground pigeon!"--Daffy....Bugs holds up the spotted ground pigeon (hunting) season sign for Elmer, (w,stte), "Bugs Bunny")

[jatty26]

To hell with that. You don't come to her job telling her how to make big macs, so why should she give you a hard time while you are doing your job?

[LidaRose]

I'm not LEO, but it sounded like you treated her like the "child" she was portraying. I think what you did made sense.

LR

[Johninaustin]

Ho boy, she would have had a heart attack if it had been me:D

[Shagnwrx]

She set the level of intellect for the engagement... You just obliged is all. I don't see anything wrong with what you said, or did.

If I'm respectful with an officer, The officer is always respectful back. Ma and Pa taught that to all of us. Apparently her parents didn't.

(edited for bad speelliingg)

[txinvestigator1]

There was no need to belittle her by asking if she knew what stop meant. Just issue the cite and let her go.

[Shagnwrx]

There was no need to belittle her by asking if she knew what stop meant. Just issue the cite and let her go.

Nah, if she goes into "Huff'n'Puff" mode, I'd say a little ribbing is practically warranted. :D

[JD45]

I love running traffic, it is definately one of my favorite things to do

The other day, I saw a woman run a stop sign, and of course stopped her. She immediately jumped out of her vehicle, and I immediately told her to get back in. Of course, she already had "attitude" written across her face in big, bold letters... so my guard was already up.

After telling her I stopped her for running the sign, she started arguing "I made a complete stop!" (at ~10 mph) Then I asked her "Do you know what stop means? Your wheels can not be moving"...

Well, the woman takes her ticket (she also had no insurance, since she "can't afford it") then calls me a few hours later pissed that I treated her like a "19 year old kid". Ok, fair enough, I wasted no time and sent her to my sgt :D

Anyway, I was probably a little peeved at her attitude, and I probably don't have to go into details about it. My question as a new officer is, was I out of line? or was this woman over-sensitive? She complained that I told her to get back to her car (not that I was rude, just that I made her go back) and that I shouldn't have asked her if she knew what "stop" meant. I guess she took offense that I challenged her intellect :rolleyes:

I would have done the same thing. People are unappy because they are getting a ticket and they think by complaining it will change things. I found a little explanation doesn't hurt things. I.E. do you know what the speed limit is or do you know how fast you were going? Any statements they make are admissible in court and helps you.

[harley27]

Not that you handled it wrong but be carefull what you say to people and the way you say it. You should remain professional at all times. They are upset enough over the ticket and it really doesn't make the situation better if they are upset with your attitude also. People will go to court and sometimes say, the cop was rude, foul language, unprofessional, etc etc. That is totally irrelevant concerning the violation but if the judges keep hearing the same type of comments over time they will form an unfavorable opinion about you. I have also found that the more professional you are with people the more likely they are to accept the citation and plead guilty rather than come to court with their lies and excuses.

[massgrunt]

Just as a member of the public, I've never had a bad experience with a cop. And I don't think it's unrelated to the fact that I've always been respectful, even when I was a teen aged, baggy pants idiot. While friends of mine would get their balls busted, I've gotten rides home, etc. I think that the people who have problems with the police bring it on themselves. Not to say there aren't ***holes in law enforcement, but if you're concerned about this, then you obviously aren't one of them.

[Somebody]

There was no need to belittle her by asking if she knew what stop meant. Just issue the cite and let her go.

Knowing that the statement probably looked bad, I can definately see this point, which is why I brought it up. I ask "everyone" if they know what stop means when they argue that they stopped. Why?

Many many people feel that slow rolling is a stop. I have gotten to the point where I quote the AZ legal definition of "stop" after asking if they know what it means. While it wasn't my intention to be a jerk, I can certainly see how I would come off that way. Ah well, live and learn ;-)