I just got a ticket for supposedly "rolling" through a stop sign on the way to a doctor check-up this morning at the end of the road that I live on -- not 200 feet from in front of where I live. I stopped, but I didn't stop for 3 seconds. I stopped for 1. I certainly didn't "roll" through the stop sign.
I am mad about this, because no one's life, limb, or property was anywhere near endangered. I knew he was coming after me as I passed by him and he started rolling. I pulled over and I was polite. I knew what he was going to say, because it couldn't have been for speeding, because I went by him at about 10 mph. Through the entire process, I was started out thinking, "This guy isn't going to write me a ticket," and then I was like "He's actually going to write me a ticket." Then I was like, "I cannot believe this guy is actually going to write me a ticket." That ticket was total BS. I would love to ask Officer ********** if he would like a ticket written to him under those same circumstances?
That is the kind of stuff that makes people resent the Hickory Police Department. I haven't had anyone pull me over for not stopping at a stop sign in 25 years. I have seen policemen make stops at stop signs right in front of me (all the time) just like I made this morning and I didn't find it to be offensive, so I really don't know where this guy is coming from. I just wish they would get some perspective.
(Please Read Harry Hipps's contribution below. It is a very good article about the Wayfinding issue and the missed opportunity that it represents, when it comes to the lack of citizen involvement in our City's relevant issues of the day.)
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Friday, February 6, 2009
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22 comments:
With people out of work. Cities, Counties, and States are getting less tax dollars in. Therefore they have to come up with ways to increase their income. Cracking down on driving offences is an easy way to do it.
The city does not retain money from ticket revenue here in Hickory. It goes to the State of N.C. and the public school system.
With that being said, I can adress the stop sign issue.
1. Did you stop or did you not is entirely a judgement call made by the officer who witnessed your driving.
2. It is very easily argued in court and the judge does find many more people not guilty of stop sign offenses as opposed to other moving violations because it is a judgement call made by an officer. It is unlike speeding which uses radar as co-oberation to officer testimony and D.W.I. which utilizes a breathalyzer test to co-oberate the officer's testimony.
3. I was not there to observe your attitude toward the officer but driver attitude does play a part in whether a ticket is issued by an officer. They are human and if you basically call them inept, wrong, or liars then you will probably be left holding the pink slip. Again, I am not saying that you did any of these things.
4. No citation is B.S. if the officer believes you have broken the law. Stop signs are there for a reason.
5. Were you targeted because of your voiceful disagreement with many of the Hickory leaders? You better believe it happens. It does!
6. Was the officer targeting you because of your race? You are white, and yes, reverse discrimination has been brought to the attention of police brass. One black officer has been suspected of reverse discrimination very recently.
7. I encourage you to fight the ticket in court if you honestly feel that you stopped for the stop sign. You can do it without an attorney. I have seen several citizens win a stop sign case in court by representing themselves.
maybe the police were watching for you because you have made your voice heard here in the city of hickory i believe i would stand up in court and fight the issue. sometimes they watch for those who oppose things. why don't you talk with the mayor about this or others who you have befriended in your cause for making things better around this town. do you even live in the city limits. what were the police doing out in that rural area in the morining at that time. prior to 9 am. TALK TO SOMEONE WHO CAN STOP THIS INJUSTICE !
I don't feel that I was targeted. I am usually not up that early in the morning. It was right at 8am and I was on the way to a doctor's appointment.
I am telling you in no way was I offensive to this officer. As I have stated, I pulled up to the stop sign and went. I had good peripheral vision and there were no cars coming in either direction.
Actually where he was sitting is not in the city limits. I did catch him out of the corner of my eye, but I didn't view it as being a police car. I just thought it was a car parked up at the neighbor's house. I pulled up to the sign, stopped, and went.
As I slowly drove past the officer's car he started moving and instunctually I knew that he was going to come after me. He approached the car and I knew that it could only be because he was going to say that I rab the stop sign. You can say here's another guy not admitting to an infraction, but I am telling you that I stopped at that sign. My momentum was stopped. I did not roll through that sign as though it were a yield sign. I was stopped.
He approached the car and said, "Do you know why I am pulling you over." An I said, "I think you think I rab that sign back there." He said, "You rolled right through it." I said, "I stopped at it. I didn't stop for 3 seconds, but I stopped for a second." Then he asked for my license and registration.
I was polite to the officer and I gave him my license and registration without any back talking or what not. Read my last post. I didn't say anything negative until after he issued the citation and all I said was, "You're really going to give me a ticket?" "Y'all really must need some money pretty bad."
That is exactly what happened.
So called Christians are not above the law. Are Christians not supposed to behave like Christians even when facing Caesar?
Calling the ticket B.S. and telling the officer, "Y'all really must need some money pretty bad" is not very Christian like. Do you think the officer was really trying to make money? Give me a break. Go pray and ask for forgiveness.
No, I don't think the police officer was trying to make money, but why was he sitting there? I really am curious about that. Where he was sitting is technically outside of the city limits. Where the stop sign is, is technically outside of the city limits, but that is besides the point.
Why does me saying an off hand remark, because I feel like I got a ticket for something I didn't do "Un-Christian." I'm being honest about it. And I don't really care about others judgments about my Christianity. I only answer to God about that.
Was I a quota, was I a justification? I am telling you that I did not "roll" through that sign. I'm not calling this guy out, because I have some sort of vendetta. I am calling this situation out, because stuff like this works against the law.
I am not above the law. I don't want to be treated above the law. I guess I will just have to use my day in court to explain where I am coming from, because I feel I have been wronged in this situation and this will be an unnecessary waste of my time and money.
I don't think it is right to call me a "so-called Christian," because I am upset over what I feel was a wrongfully administered ticket, that will be a no win situation, because one way or another it is going to cost me a few hundred dollars.
How do you like having your money flushed down the drain?
Well the cop said you violated the law. Who do we believe? You or the cop? We were not there. You always post about your Christianity on this forum so You made it a relevant issue. Is it Christian to call it B.S.? Just answer the question honestly. When you are in a public forum and YOU call yourself a Christian then you must answer when you don't represent Christians very well. Ask fallen pastors and Senator Larry Craig. They preached and then fell short. You can't have it both ways. Jesus did not call his arrest and crucifixion B.S. Just keep your mouth shut and go to court.
Yes, I think that I can be a Christian and use the term B.S. in a forum. You gave me an Idea for a poll.
How many people think the term B.S. is vulgar here? or P.O.ed as I have use before on here? I am a Christian, but I have never pretended to be Jesus.
Would you be happy if I weren't myself and turned to atheism just to suit you?
Your argument is specious at best, but thanks for your input. All are welcomed here.
It takes a lot of guts to be a atheist. It means you have to accept the reality of the world. Can't see it happening here.
Several quick points. First, the policeman, while not in the City limits does have jurisdiction some distance outside, so he was within his legal rights. Secondly, he was probably bored and there was nothing else going on so while this traffic offense was probably not the most threatening act to our society it is illegal and he took an opportunity. Third, is it just or unjust? It all boils down to the act. If you completely stopped, you're innocent. It you didn't you,re guilty.
Finally, using terms like BS is somewhat vulgar and should not be used. It's difficult to live by Biblical standards in a decrepit world but we are called to try. Yes, not a one of us is perfect with sin being a daily occurance, but we should try to do better. And people who delight in pointing out the bad actions and shortcomings of professing Christians have to answer a question. Yes, you can find fault with any human being, but can you find fault with Jesus Christ? We are not called to follow a church or fellow Christians, we are called to follow Jesus.
>>It takes a lot of guts to be a atheist. It means you have to accept the reality of the world. Can't see it happening here.<<
It doesn't take a lot of guts to post things like this anonymously. It isn't all of the other religions such as atheism, agnosticism, or other that are being questioned and attacked constantly these days. It always seems to be the Christians that others step out from their cloaks of darkness to attack. Why is that?
Do I attack you? All I do is profess to be a follower of Christ? Why is that such as bad thing? Why is that so offensive to you? And why must you attack me about that anonymously? It's very sad to me to be honest with you.
You know what...I feel as though you are a target...The cop was out of his patrol area...If his patrol area is larger than the city limits, why have a city limit? Why have city police?...The cop is wasting city resources (fuel)to HIDE outside this patrol area. In all the years you have lived there, how many times have you see a patrol there or drive through? Sadly Hound..some of the people you have "called out" have used their influence to get the police to hit you where it counts, Your wallet...Its time to protect yourself from the people who have run the Hickory area into the ground with their own personal gains. You have to keep an extra eye out...The cops know who you are and will be looking for you...You will see more of the police in your area and the route you travel to and from work...You better get a good lawyer because I feel that you will need it....I would contact the Mayor too...Good Luck and your voice is being heard...You got someone scared...
"you got someone scared." LOL, some goof on a local political blog is the least thing the city of Hickory is worried about.
I have to agree with the last anonymous comment. The police department has better things to do than stake you out because of a blog. There are a LOT more people in the city who bear closer watching than you. Mr. Hipps is correct in saying that the officers of the HPD do have jurisdictional responsibility for a certain area outside the city limits, although I too have never really understood why.
The rank and file cops could care less about The Hickory Hound or Mr. Shell. They certainly are not looking to "get him." All real cops hate the brass and the administration which includes city government. They probably would love Mr. Shell's comments about our leaders. Secondly, the officer may have been watching the neighborhood for crime due to recent crime there, when Mr. Shell just happened to run the stop sign right in front of the police officer. The officer is sworn to uphold the law and therefore he stopped Mr. Shell because he ran the stop sign and then the officer issued the ticket. Anytime you break the law in full view of the police then you will probaby be cited or arrested. Uniformed officers are supposed to write tickets for traffic offenses and that is what happened here. Nothing more and nothing less. If Mr. Shell had run the stop sign and killed a child then we would all be screaming for his head! Maybe by getting this citation Mr. Shell will be more careful before there is an innocent person in his path.
That's coll, but I didn't run the stop sign. But I am guilty til proven innocent.
Maybe you ran the stop sign and maybe you didn't. You keep asking and even wrote an article asking "When is stopping at a stop sign, not stopping?" If you don't know then you can't be sure that you did not run the stop sign. Stop whining that "I am guilty until proven innocent." waah waah waah. That horse has been beaten and ridden to death. Everyone usually has an opinion about someone's guilt or innocence. Take O.J. Simpson for instance. Everyone had an opinion about his guilt or innocence and they still have that opinion. People will always have an opinion about yours as well. No need to whine about it. Even if you are found not guilty it will not mean you are innocent of the crime. It just means that there was not enough evidence to convict you. Just ask O.J. Personally I think your personal matters should be kept personal. You do a good job here on "The Hound" but this is not your brightest move. There is no conspiracy to get you. It is just a traffic cop's opinion that you committed a small infraction. Go to court but "let it go."
Where above did I say that they were out to get me. You might be right about whether this was my brightest move, but I wanted to voice my opinion about what occurred. I am not going to please everyone on this blog and I am not out to win a popularity contest.
One day the shoe might just end up on your foot. You might want to check out your reading comprehension skills, because you certainly are carrying false assumptions about issues that have been fully vetted in this thread.
Mr. Shell,
Personally attacking me and my reading comprehension skills
is not the kind of thing a good man or journalist should or would do. I did not say that you stated that "they were out to get you." I simply stated my opinion to you and other posters.
I have received a citation on two seperate occasions and I accepted them like a man. I may not have agreed with the officer on both occasions but I acted like the Christian that I am, and I did not insult the officer or accuse him of having alterior motives for writing me a citation.
I am also sorry that I got to this post later than other posters and you feel that my opinion does not matter because these "issues have been fully vetted" already.
You are starting to sound like some of our city council leaders. Your opinion is the only opinion that matters and you are always right. You also personally attack readers like me because I offer constructive criticism in my belated opinion. If you want to attract people to "the Hound" then you must be open minded.
Linebacker, I totally agree with you. Shell does not listen to or respect anyone's opinion other than Harry Hipp's. I think he has a man crush on Hipps. Maybe we should call him "Sally" or "Shelly". Afterall he sounds more like Sally Fox everyday.
The above comment was deleted because of inflammatory and foul language.
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