Posted on 05/08/2008 2:07:04 PM PDT by BGHater
MELISSA, Tx -- Mark Robinson was driving through downtown Melissa last week when he was pulled over for failing the use his turn signal.
But instead of getting a ticket, the officer took the 24-year-old to jail.
He was booked, strip searched, and sat for 3 hours with criminals. “People talking about using drugs and shooting heroine. They asked me what I was in there for and I said a turn signal violation,” said Robinson.
There aren't any warrants out for Robinson. In fact he says he's never been in jail. But he does admit to challenging the officer's questions during the stop.
“It’s just unacceptable to me to have my son thrown in jail for such a minor offense,” said Mark Robinson, the father.
His father thinks the officer assumed he had drugs because of his age, which he didn't.
“I think if they had stopped me in the same circumstances, I would have never gone to jail, or probably get a ticket,” said the father.
In fact News 8 contacted various cities in Collin County, many of which have not made a single arrest this year for not using a turning signal. Even the police chief in Melissa acknowledges he's never seen this happen in his own city. “In the 6 years I've been the police chief, this is the first time,” said Chief Duane Smith, Melissa PD.
But he stands behind his officer, saying state law gives him the power to arrest someone for many crimes, no matter how minor.
“I can't discuss the specifics of the case. The officer was in his right to arrest the person, which he did,” said Chief Smith.
Still, he tells News 8 this afternoon he will review department policy and may make changes.
For Mark Robinson, what he most wants is an apology, he says, for a trip he never should have been forced to make.
E-mail jbetz@wfaa.com
At the very worse he should have been taken before a Judge and had a bond set. Something is missing here,take it from me.
Just another case of DWW.
We’re gonna need a bigger jail.
This story does seem a little thin on details.
susie
But he does admit to challenging the officer's questions during the stop.
Pretty vague. Quite possibly a lot more to this one. Hard to tell.
There has to be at least I would hope there is more to the story than a failure to signal violation....
On another note I just moved to TX (Dallas) and not signaling is the norm around here....it drives me crazy !!!!!
I suspect the kid turned into a smart ass. The officer probably took offense and the rest is history.
I don't like the idea of the kid being arrested, but if his demeanor did reach a certain level, I can see why an officer would take him in.
Id organize a no turn signal day....let him arrest the whole town
I have only heard of arrests in these circumstances when the driver while arguing with the cop refused , or gave the impression his was going to refuse to sign the ticket which usually serve as a promise to appear .
It does me too.
Why do I have a feeling there is a lot more to this story than we read here?
The entire state of Idaho needs to be locked up!
“Something is missing here,take it from me.”
There is no “there” there. Hardly any info at all. I’ve noticed that is the trend with these stories posted on TV news sites. They tell you what they want you to know so you can form an opinion that mirrors theirs, I guess.
I wonder about this as well as the "ability to arrest for many offenses no matter how minor" statement. Arrested for a moving violation? Somehow I doubt that is legal.
” ... and sat for 3 hours with criminals. “People talking about using drugs and shooting heroine. They asked me what I was in there for and I said a turn signal violation,” said Robinson.”
Made me think of Arlo Guthrie on the “Group W” bench. He should have added: “and creating a nuisance”.
Huhhhh???? At the very worst he should have been issued a summons to appear in traffic court. This ego bloated cop needs to be taken out and tarred and feathered. Arrested for a turn signal, is this America or North Korea????
I’m sure he was such an important person that he could mouth off to the policeman because his father (also an important man) would froth at the mouth and give everyone involved a piece of his mind.
/johnny
"... There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one MAKES them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. ......just pass the the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced nor objectively interpreted -- and you create a nation of law-breakers -- and then you cash in on guilt.
A Rand
Which is why you were arrested, bonehead.
“It’s just unacceptable to me to have my son thrown in jail for such a minor offense,” said Mark Robinson, the father.
He wasn't, Bonehead Senior. He was thrown in jail for mouthing off to a cop.
His father thinks the officer assumed he had drugs because of his age, which he didn't.
No, B.S., the officer objected to your mouthy son's disrespectful behavior.
“I think if they had stopped me in the same circumstances, I would have never gone to jail, or probably get a ticket,” said the father.
Unless you mouthed off, in which case you'd be sitting next to your son in that cell. And rightfully so.
I wonder if his 'challenge' included swinging a fist or a threat'?
My guess? He called the officer a few choice words. Maybe even threatened him.
But you never know.....
The cop could have been a total jerk-wad.
“”””But he does admit to challenging the officer’s questions during the stop.”””””
There’s your missing info.....hidden in that one little sentence of this “cops are evil” hit piece.
All the info you need is in the story. First, he challenged the officer, which means he lied about not using the turn signal. Then, he lied to the reporter describing his “ordeal”. D’uh!
Yep, I thought “littering” would have been a good answer.
If we could also lock up slow drivers in the fast lane, then things will be all right.
Utards need to stay out of Idaho and Nevada . Their turn signals are always left on .
That would be a different set of charges.
Cooperate, by giving up your Constitutional rights voluntarily, or spend some time in the pokey. That's the way the game is played these days.
/johnny
Or the questioning could have been a little over the top and the young man questioned back.
Police: What have you got in the car?
Man: Nothing special
Police: Where are you going?
Man: Why do you need to know that?
Police: Just answer the question, boy.
Man: Why do you need to know where I am going?
Police: Up against the car!
(Excepting Alice)
I demand to see the 8X10 color glossy photos with the circles and arrows!!!
...so you mean if you don't kiss the ass of the LEO you deserve to go to jail?
This isn't by accident; it's a security measure. The theory is that if you're from around hear, you already know where I'm turning; if you're not from around here, I don't want you to know.
‘mouthing off to a cop.’
I’m sure there is way more to the story. However, it is not a crime to tell the LEO to go to hell.
After all, they are our servants, not our masters.
There's a reason old men are old --- they learned to tell the difference and not let their mouth overload their brain.
I’m down with that. I hate hate HATE when people don’t use their turn signals. And I refuse to let them over if they’re not signaling.
I mean, really ... if you don’t signal, how on earth do I know what you want?
“””I suspect the kid turned into a smart ass.”””””
I am almost certain he did. The way kids are raised nowadays .... they got no respect for their parents, even less for a cop if the parents are the type to say “EFF the police!”
They are actually taught to question authority.
Not only that, you WILL go to jail. It's the way things work today.
/johnny
In Texas, you get arrested...
In Utah, you get tasered.
There is also that possibility Joe. No doubt about it.
It does seem like a petty reason to pull over a driver. The last time I was pulled over was for having an expired sticker on my license plate. The first thing the cop asked was "Do you know why I pulled you over?" My answer was simply, "My tag is expired." However, since my registration was current and only the sticker wasn't updated, and I was cooperative, the officer wrote a fix-it ticket for $10 and that was it.
-PJ
My country is beginning to sound more and more like one of those communist hellholes where everyone is guilty of something until the police decide that you are innocent... or not.
In some of these small towns, the statement “To serve and protect” should be replaced with “The boot on your neck!”
Police are out of control in the USA.
Sounds like his dad might be one of his biggest influences.
“He was thrown in jail for mouthing off to a cop.”
Although I agree that a non-confrontational demeanor is always best when in a defensive position, I do have to wonder why you would be agreeable to this type penalty.
I doubt you will find, within any state statutes, wording referencing “mouthy”, “smart alek” or attitude” that would make the same a ^jailing^ offense.
Why would you accept this?
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