I hate using Dig Lounge to gripe. But not everything is peaches and roses in LA. Take this morning for example. On my way into work an LAPD officer (car 209) made a u-turn, from the non-turn lane, at a red light. I expected him to turn on his lights and zoom off. I assumed he was going to save someone’s life or stop a bank robbery. Nope, he just casually drove up the street in front of me. I pull behind him at the next light, he fiddles with some paperwork, the light turns green and we’re off again. Now he pulls one my biggest peeves of all drivers in LA, he makes a few lane changes without using his signal. We turn on Stocker where the speed limit is 50. I’m going 55, he must be doing 65, because he disappears down the road in front of me.
Illegal u-turns, unsafe lane changes, excessive speed, you would think I’m describing a car chase.
I’m no expert on police ethics, but he seems to be taking advantage of the fact that he’s a cop, and feels like he doesn’t have to follow the same rules of the road that the rest of us civilians do. If there was a legitimate emergency he should have turned his lights on. His driving could have caused an accident, but at the very least, sets a bad example for the community in general.
25. January 2007 at 9:58 am
I could be wrong, but I believe a patrol car can only break the law when in Code 3 (sirens blazing). Otherwise, with Code 2 and Non-Coded, they must follow street law.
If you feel strongly about it, you should talk to an officer some point and ask. Every officer is a Public Relations person when it comes to policing.
Good story, keep on it!
25. January 2007 at 4:58 pm
I know he probably was breaking the law. And if I ever have the opportunity to talk to a officer about it I will, thanks!