The official "Ask a cop/deputy anything!" thread

[UncleWede]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

That's smart being a civilian. Get a CCW though.

Tried. Even when nightly carrying cash from the Little League snack bar, in some of the worst area of the county, local sheriff would not grant. And NOT because of my history. When I worked feds, I had TS. I'm CLETS cleared now. . .

[MKSixer]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

Tried. Even when nightly carrying cash from the Little League snack bar, in some of the worst area of the county, local sheriff would not grant. And NOT because of my history. When I worked feds, I had TS. I'm CLETS cleared now. . .

Fool!!!

It's your BP association that's messing you up!!!

[UncleWede]

Originally Posted by MKSixer

Fool!!!

It's your BP association that's messing you up!!!

Joekerr did just warn me about famous people rubbing off on me. . .

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

Tried. Even when nightly carrying cash from the Little League snack bar, in some of the worst area of the county, local sheriff would not grant. And NOT because of my history. When I worked feds, I had TS. I'm CLETS cleared now. . .

That's annoying. Establish residency in Kern County. They grant after 30 days I believe. A little Tinder side piece who resides in the county would be perfect to assist you in such exploits. <eeps>

In all seriousness, that is annoying, especially given your background and employment.

[NorCalAthlete]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

One caveat....


...My opinion is if you are carrying lawfully with a CCW, TELL ME. Why? If for any reason I see a print of a gun, get a suspicious feeling, etc. and I pull you out of the car, search you and feel a gun, you're going to have a bad day (...at least until it's all cleared up). It's not worth the inconvenience.

Follow-on to this : Don't just go "hey man I have a gun" to the officer. Be smart, be calm, be professional, and be discreet.

Suggestions :
1. Hand the CCW permit over with your license. This will probably prompt the question "thank you, are you armed right now?" to which you can respond in the affirmative. The officer may or may not choose to disarm you, but most likely will simply say "where? 3 oclock? Ok please leave it there and do not touch it or reach for it."

2. As you're handing over your license, you can say something like "would you like my concealed permit as well? I should inform you that I am legally armed at this time."

3. In some states it's MANDATORY to let an officer know you have a permit and are armed. No option to try and play it quiet. Failing to do so may result in your permit being pulled - I'm not sure if it's a ticketable offense; probably depends on where you are.

4. Generally speaking, polite + calm + professional is a winning formula when interacting with people doing their jobs regardless of the situation, be it a barista, waitress, hotel staff, or anything else. Police are kinda like the customer service reps of the government, except if you're rude they can do a hell of a lot more than just deny you a discount.

Just my $0.02 heh.

[UncleWede]

I have a popular misconception about DUI. Sitting in the vehicle, but the keys are in my pocket (not the ignition) then I can't get a DUI?

Related, since the new vehicles don't even HAVE an ignition, and with the keys in my pocket I could just depress brake and start/stop, is the even a popular misconception any longer?

[NorCalAthlete]

You can still get a DUI even if you're sitting in the backseat. Police have a bit of discretion here obviously but it's happened.

Even if you're just standing NEAR the car, drunk, if they even think you were driving recently you can be arrested for DUI. Likelihood varies but if you've been drinking go sleep inside somewhere don't sleep in your car. Uber home and come back for your car if you need to.

[Sara]

Louisiana has drive thru daquiri shops. As long as I don't put the straw in, it's not considered a DUI nor open container.

Ya'll's other states are too strict. Damn.

[minn19]

Originally Posted by Murf993

Your point about reading the bible I suspect isn't just true of Catholics, I'd be willing to bet that many folks who call themselves christian accept the word from who ever ministers to them. I call myself a christian although I don't attend church or read the bible, but I live my life according to my christian upbringing.

Jesus was a skirt chaser?

Sorry, I kid, I couldn't help it.

[Murf993]

Originally Posted by NorCalAthlete

You can still get a DUI even if you're sitting in the backseat. Police have a bit of discretion here obviously but it's happened.

Even if you're just standing NEAR the car, drunk, if they even think you were driving recently you can be arrested for DUI. Likelihood varies but if you've been drinking go sleep inside somewhere don't sleep in your car. Uber home and come back for your car if you need to.

If you are passed out or sleeping in the back seat of your car and are impaired, in Canada that is considered "Impaired Care and Control". Same as driving drunk. Now I would generally exercise discretion in that situation. If someone knew they'd had too much and were sleeping it off, I may give them a break. The problem is that when you wake up you may still not be ok to drive, not as drunk as when you get into the back seat but still over the limit.

I suspect most jurisdictions have something similar on the books.

[minn19]

Originally Posted by Murf993

If you are passed out or sleeping in the back seat of your car and are impaired, in Canada that is considered "Impaired Care and Control". Same as driving drunk. Now I would generally exercise discretion in that situation. If someone knew they'd had too much and were sleeping it off, I may give them a break. The problem is that when you wake up you may still not be ok to drive, not as drunk as when you get into the back seat but still over the limit.

I suspect most jurisdictions have something similar on the books.

The problem in the states is liability, (and I'm guessing Canada to). If said person woke up, drove drunk and hit somebody on the way home you know who would be liable for not making the arrest etc.

I was with many an officer that wanted to cut somebody a break, but couldn't because of that issue.

[Murf993]

Originally Posted by minn19

The problem in the states is liability, (and I'm guessing Canada to). If said person woke up, drove drunk and hit somebody on the way home you know who would be liable for not making the arrest etc.

I was with many an officer that wanted to cut somebody a break, but couldn't because of that issue.

No problem here in Canada, give them a 12 hour licence suspension, put them in a cab or if you're feeling generous drive them home. Of course much of how this plays out is based on the response and criminal record of the person sleeping in the car. Impaired driving in Canada nets you a one year automatic criminal prohibition of driving privileges and pretty hefty fines, once you get your licence back, it is almost impossible to get insurance which you must have to drive in Canada. The tine for no insurance is $5000 the first time. The other thing to consider is processing an impaired driver from a best use of time point of view is at least 6 hours from the time you encounter them until you can clear for service.

So if the guy/gal sleeping in the car was trying to do the right thing and has a clean recored and was decent with me I'd likely give a break, I wouldn't bet on it happening with every copper though.

[Lady Jane]

Originally Posted by Murf993

So if the guy/gal sleeping in the car was trying to do the right thing and has a clean recored and was decent with me I'd likely give a break,

I'm guessing Attachment 2537143

[Murf993]

Originally Posted by Lady Jane

I'm guessing Attachment 2537143

I did an awful lot of work with the Oh Dot's and the Horse but I worked for Toronto.

[MKSixer]

Originally Posted by Sara504

Louisiana has drive thru daquiri shops. As long as I don't put the straw in, it's not considered a DUI nor open container.

Ya'll's other states are too strict. Damn.

Exactly.

The first time I lived on the east coast at 18 years old, I nearly got gang tackled by the staff when I was about to walk out of a bar on the Jersey Shore with my drink in hand. The person I was with explained that I was from Louisiana and this was my first time in a bar up there. The simply said, "Louisiana...why didn't you say that in the first place? We would have told him the rules."

#toodamnstrict

[Joekerr]

Originally Posted by Murf993

If you are passed out or sleeping in the back seat of your car and are impaired, in Canada that is considered "Impaired Care and Control". Same as driving drunk. Now I would generally exercise discretion in that situation. If someone knew they'd had too much and were sleeping it off, I may give them a break. The problem is that when you wake up you may still not be ok to drive, not as drunk as when you get into the back seat but still over the limit.

I suspect most jurisdictions have something similar on the books.

Well frick - that's something I didn't know. I figured that would be perfectly ok to be honest. If I'm ever planning to have a few to drink, I stay over at my buddy's house so it hasn't been an issue, but I always figured that was a good safety net.

[Lady Jane]

Originally Posted by Murf993

I did an awful lot of work with the Oh Dot's and the Horse but I worked for Toronto.

Long commute from Dog Lake. Cottage maybe? I did some schooling in Kingston so I know the area a little bit.

[Murf993]

Originally Posted by Joekerr

Well frick - that's something I didn't know. I figured that would be perfectly ok to be honest. If I'm ever planning to have a few to drink, I stay over at my buddy's house so it hasn't been an issue, but I always figured that was a good safety net.

Most people think that it's just for the guy passed out behind the wheel with the car running, technically not driving but clearly in care and control. This carry's over to guys passed out or sleeping in the back seat, the car doesn't even have to be running. My view has always been that if folks are decent to you, honest about what's going on and aren't rounders I'd try to cut them some slack. I think it was better for someone to leave an interaction with the police feeling that cops aren't all bad. The consequences for even a driving infraction can be significant for some folks, the fines could be grocery money for a week, an impaired charge could cost a lot of folks their job. I always weighed those things when I was laying charges. Besides, working in busy divisions the best use of my time might not be 6-8 hours of paperwork on an impaired. Not everyone felt that way, but I'm pretty content with my decisions.

[minn19]

Originally Posted by Murf993

No problem here in Canada, give them a 12 hour licence suspension, put them in a cab or if you're feeling generous drive them home. Of course much of how this plays out is based on the response and criminal record of the person sleeping in the car. Impaired driving in Canada nets you a one year automatic criminal prohibition of driving privileges and pretty hefty fines, once you get your licence back, it is almost impossible to get insurance which you must have to drive in Canada. The tine for no insurance is $5000 the first time. The other thing to consider is processing an impaired driver from a best use of time point of view is at least 6 hours from the time you encounter them until you can clear for service.

So if the guy/gal sleeping in the car was trying to do the right thing and has a clean recored and was decent with me I'd likely give a break, I wouldn't bet on it happening with every copper though.

I wish those were options officers had here for people with clean records etc.

[Murf993]

Originally Posted by Lady Jane

Long commute from Dog Lake. Cottage maybe? I did some schooling in Kingston so I know the area a little bit.

I've been retired for almost 5 years now. I grew up in the big smoke, lived in Bloor West/Baby Point until about 12 years ago, moved to Oakville, and then NOTL when I retired. Moved to Dog Lake last October.

[Murf993]

Originally Posted by minn19

I wish those were options officers had here for people with clean records etc.

I suspect most cops have options and discretion. Not everyone likes to exercise them though.

[Lady Jane]

Originally Posted by Murf993

I've been retired for almost 5 years now. I grew up in the big smoke, lived in Bloor West/Baby Point until about 12 years ago, moved to Oakville, and then NOTL when I retired. Moved to Dog Lake last October.

Oakville? I had a townhouse in Glen Abbey on Leewood Drive across form the golf course while working at Trafalgar Memorial and working on my M.Sc. at U of T. Small World.