Witnessed this black guy getting stopped by the sheriff

[rookiescotty]

This happened a little while ago. I was at a train station in Los Angeles, CA. Well this police cruiser comes thru the parking lot patroling and sees this older black guy (around 40) smoking right behind me. He was talking with some friends. The sheriff gets out of his car and right away asks for the guys ID and asks him if has any warrants. Then he goes back into his police car with the guys ID for like 5 minutes. Comes back out and writes the black guy a ticket for smoking on a train platform. The black guy starts arguing that theres no sign that says "no smoking". Then the sheriff points out this hard to see sign that does say that. Then once the police left I could hear the black guy talking with his friends saying the only reason he was stopped is to see if he had warrants.

[Coastie 585]

This happened a little while ago. I was at a train station in Los Angeles, CA. Well this police cruiser comes thru the parking lot patroling and sees this older black guy (around 40) smoking right behind me. He was talking with some friends. The sheriff gets out of his car and right away asks for the guys ID and asks him if has any warrants. Then he goes back into his police car with the guys ID for like 5 minutes. Comes back out and writes the black guy a ticket for smoking on a train platform. The black guy starts arguing that theres no sign that says "no smoking". Then the sheriff points out this hard to see sign that does say that. Then once the police left I could hear the black guy talking with his friends saying the only reason he was stopped is to see if he had warrants.

Maybe the cop was racist.

[Pookie44]

Maybe he fit the profile of someone wanted. Or mabey the cop is familar with the rules of not smoking on the platform (hint hint). I would have told the guy smoking, to look around at his surroundings before puffing on the death stick next time. Smoking is banned at many public places. So it's the smokers responsibility to determine were he can and cannot smoke.

[BJJVad]

There was a sign for him not to be smoking and he was smoking. Hard to see or not, that is something to argue after you receive a citation.

[Samuel]

This happened a little while ago. I was at a train station in Los Angeles, CA. Well this police cruiser comes thru the parking lot patroling and sees this older black guy (around 40) smoking right behind me. He was talking with some friends. The sheriff gets out of his car and right away asks for the guys ID and asks him if has any warrants. Then he goes back into his police car with the guys ID for like 5 minutes. Comes back out and writes the black guy a ticket for smoking on a train platform. The black guy starts arguing that theres no sign that says "no smoking". Then the sheriff points out this hard to see sign that does say that. Then once the police left I could hear the black guy talking with his friends saying the only reason he was stopped is to see if he had warrants.

And your point is.... ??? :confused:

[cobravenom1]

This happened a little while ago....Comes back out and writes the black guy a ticket for smoking on a train platform. The black guy starts arguing that theres no sign that says "no smoking". Then the sheriff points out this hard to see sign that does say that.

So you were a witness to a Deputy doing his job. So what's the use of posting something you saw (a bit abbreviated without all the facts to include a bit anti LE). Are you arguing that the sign should be LARGER or disputing the way the Deputy issued the ticket?

Everyone who lives in LA knows that smoking in a public area ...i.e...train station/platform... is illegal (with very few exclusions of course). If you don't, then you just got here or your living under a rock.

The way you conveyed the contact, it was perfectly within reason. I run all contacts (suspects, victims, traffic stops...etc...). That's the way it is done and will always be done by most Deputy's.

In regards to adding the race/color of the person cited, what's the point?! Are you implying it was because of skin color the cite was issued?

Do a ride-along some time. You will see first hand, we don't care what race, color, creed, religion or what planet you come from. It's all about doing the job the best way we know how.:D

[ObMax1212]

Sound's like he was pissed that he got a ticket. Everybody who gets cited for minor violations like that always seems to feel they are being picked on because there could be some bigger fish to fry and the cop chose to give them a citation. There is the perception that the police are wrong for enforcing laws that others see as being minor infractions.

[chewy]

I don't see the problem, heck, arresting for warrants is WAY easier than catching criminals in the act of comitting a crime and it's a heck of a lot safer than trying to catch armed robbers.

[Joeyd6]

And your point is.... ??? :confused:

Exactly!

I just wasted two minutes of my life I will never get back!

[phantasm]

I write people for violations such as open container and disorderly conduct, and I likewise run a warrant check prior to issuing the summons. If I don't run the warrant check, and it turns out the guy has a warrant, I can get in trouble with my job.

[Mr. Peanut]

What the guy said:

talking with his friends saying the only reason he was stopped is to see if he had warrants.

What he meant:

WAAAAAHHH!!!! I got a ticket, woe is me! Life is so unfair!

[Piggy]

There was this one time I was at college and I had to unload some stuff. I forgot I parked my car in the loading zone. When I went downstairs I already had a ticket on my windshield. I found the campus police after I moved my car and apologized, he took care of the ticket. Now that you mention it, I wonder if it's because I'm white. Either that or I was driving a red car. I'm sure it had nothing to do with the fact I was doing something illegal. Come to think of it, I don't remember seeing a big sign.










There, now there's two completely useless stories for everyone!

[greenlead]

Sounds like a frequent customer.

[Switchback]

Nothing productive coming out of this one.