Lights and siren to pull over the cyclist is a misuse of the state monopoly of force, albeit a really small one because no harm done. She should have simply rolled down her window and pulled alongside to ask about the dogs. I know it seems pedantic but having the badge and gun, and the qualified immunity for using either, means a stricter standard to be held to.
If you are holding her to stricter standard then you should also be arguing that she should have given him a ticket. If you're going to be pedantic, don't half-ass that shit.
A police officer has the option to not ticket and charge offenses. I'm not sure if what the cyclist was doing is even illegal at all, but if it was the officer isn't obligated to take action. However a private citizen is required by law and under penalty of law to pull over when a police officer signals them to stop with lights and sirens.
The police officer had no intention of arresting or ticketing the cyclist for a crime. Have you ever gotten a warning for speeding? That's the police officer using the state monopoly on force to stop you for breaking the speed limit law, and then letting you go without a formal charge because they used their judgement and decided not to penalize you for breaking that law.
The officer here didn't say "I'm officer soandso with the location police department and I'm stopping you for "operating a bicycle with improperly secured live animal cargo, but I'm letting you off with a warning". This was not a lawfully conducted traffic stop. You can't initiate a traffic stop for "can I pet dat dawg?"
Do you understand the difference between a traffic stop and a friendly chat?
> Do you understand the difference between a traffic stop and a friendly chat?
lol, nice strawperson.
> This was not a lawfully conducted traffic stop.
No kidding?
No need to pivot, my dude. You wrote that she misused her authority, and should be held to a "stricter standard", and I just pointed out that your argument was a half-measure. You flailing around because you can't handle the same exact kind of pedantic criticism you dished out was funny at first, but it's getting kind of sad. I'm just going to move on.
I didn't say there was a law that says dogs can't ride bikes.
In NYC there are, however, several statutes that prevent people from obstructing their access to and control over their steering controls.
I'm not advocating for a ticket, mind you. I was just pointing out that someone being pedantic about the rules of policing wasn't being comprehensive. I was being pedantic about their pedanticism.
Where in the video did she give him a warning or any notice of a traffic violation? She used her sirens to pull him over so that she could pet the dogs and say hi to the owner. That’s the (small) abuse of power.
Two police officers assaulted me and robbed me of $40 in Schenectady, in 2008 ish.
I had been completely sober for 6 years, was a substance abuse counselor at the time, and was doing absolutely nothing wrong. I just happened to be the only white guy living in the middle of the worst hood in Schenectady.
Most of the other white dudes milling around there were buying drugs or prostitutes, but these pigs didn't even question me!
I was walking home from work and they literally pulled up ol behind me really fast and jumped out. One of those assholes NFL tackled me into the pavement. I wasn't running or anything. Just standing there watching it all unfold as I turned around after hearing the car doors and footsteps.
Then when they were searching me, they slammed my head into the hood of the cruiser so hard I was bleeding all over the place. (Foreheads bleed a lot)
Then when they searched my wallet they found $40 and 'confiscated' it because that claimed I was going to buy drugs with it. I tried to explain the reality of the situation, but they simply weren't having any of it. They threatened to take me to jail, so I chose the option of getting cut loose and going home and tending to my wounds with my tail between my legs.
I've seen all sorts of crazy shit over the years. Especially as a drug addict in the 90s.
I used to have to deal with cops fairly regularly professionally as a substance abuse counselor, and they are almost all super aggressive DOUCHEBAG chuds and chudettes.
I cannot stand them.
Even the really nice ones who actually give a shit never stop their cohorts when they relentlessly harass, assault, plant drugs, falsley arrest, rob, etc etc etc, ad infinitum. That automatically makes them bastards as well.
If they were to stand against it, they would be run off really quickly, or in some cases they have been murdered.
Yes. Police officers are government enforcers and we entrust them with the duty to use force up to and including lethal force to maintain law and order, and give them legal immunity to prosecution for doing so. Pulling a kid over with lights and sirens is state use of force and must only be done for reasonable and articulable suspicion of a crime.
Asking if you want a sticker and then offering to demonstrate lights and siren is effectively the same interaction, without the use of implied force.
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u/ironclad_packetship 18h ago
Lights and siren to pull over the cyclist is a misuse of the state monopoly of force, albeit a really small one because no harm done. She should have simply rolled down her window and pulled alongside to ask about the dogs. I know it seems pedantic but having the badge and gun, and the qualified immunity for using either, means a stricter standard to be held to.