Posted on 04/22/2008 7:23:04 PM PDT by BGHater
PORTLAND, Ore. — A lawyer who watched a police officer park illegally in front of a restaurant, then wait around while his meal was prepared, issued the officer a series of citizen-initiated violations.
Eric Bryant said he was sitting at the restaurant March 7 when Officer Chad Stensgaard parked his patrol car next to a no-parking sign and walked inside to wait for his food, the Portland Mercury reported Thursday.
Bryant told the weekly paper that when he asked Stensgaard about his car, the officer asked Bryant: "If someone broke into your house, would you rather have the police be able to park in front of your house or have to park three blocks away and walk there?"
Bryant filed a complaint as a private citizen alleging several violations, including illegal parking and illegal operation of an emergency vehicle.
Stensgaard was issued a summons to appear in traffic court in May.
The fines could total $540.
"Citizens should be concerned that he used his status as an officer of the law as justification for breaking the law," Bryant said.
Cathe Kent, a spokeswoman for the Portland Police Bureau, said Stensgaard would fight the complaint in court, "as he rightfully should."
Parking is limited on city streets, especially with many construction projects downtown, she said, and officers remain on duty even when they're picking up food.
"We are emergency responders and need to be ready to take an emergency call," Kent said Saturday.
Many news outlets have taken an interest in my court case against Officer Stensgaard. This is a healthy public dialogue and I encourage it. It should be noted that the Portland Police Bureau has a policy that officers shall obey all laws. The law in Oregon states that emergency vehicles are exempt from traffic laws only in certain circumstances. None of the exemptions apply to this case because Officer Stensgaard was not responding to an emergency or pursuing a violator of the law.
Geez, where can I contribute? I’d love to see this stick.
I've seen them rip away from resturants on an emergency and would rather have them take off from a no parking zone on the street than scream through a parking lot and risk hurting someone or getting blocked in.
I did this years ago.
In Baton Rouge, LA, at about 2:30 AM, I was sitting stopped at a traffic light on a 4-lane boulevard. A police officer in a marked patrol car pulled up next to me at the red light and sat there for several minutes.
He then flipped on his lights and pulled through the red light, then turned off his lights and continued up the road at an unhurried pace. Right then the light turned green, so I raced off after him.
I got close enough to get his unit number and license place number, then turned for home.
The next morning, I went to the PD HQ and swore out a citation against the officer.
His little scofflaw action cost him $160 in court, even though he and the city court tried their best to weasel out of it with several continuances - hoping that I’d fail to appear.
“Cops can” should be “Cops can be,” and “you” refers to the lawyer, not the person who posted this. PIMF and Iron Fist Rule. Sigh.
I hope this same cop meets you on a dark road after he has to pay his fine, and pulls you over, and when you ask why, since it is only his rights... you have none..... tazes you to shut ya up.
;-) No offense intended.
lawyer vs. policeman...
hmm.
So who’s the bad guy?
That’s different. He was already in his car. Plus, if he was on a code 2, you could have eaten an obstruction of justice or interference with official biz charge, neither of which if minor.
Reminds me of Barney Fife and Gomer Pyle. Citizens arrest, citizens arrest.
I thought well at least he didn't make the civilian do what he didn't do.
Of course, if you are out to pick up your dinner, you are not responding to anything. But he will be available to “respond at a moments notice”,if his car is right there and available at any given moment. They eat too, and should be able to do so, but also respond when necessary.
I can imagine the outrage when he ran out of someplace to help someone, and his car is a quarter of block away and is delayed by having to get there. Everyone would scream about “not be ready or able”.
Not only that, but leaving a police vehicle unattended is not something that would be a very good idea. Do you think they would take a key and lock it, and then have to unlock it to get somewhere. Time is usually of the essence.
I live in a small town, and maybe I have a different picture of things, but they are always there where you need them.
Good for you. Some cops need to be reminded that they are not above the law.
Police officers should follow the law.
Period.
I love this. I see cops break the law all the time...like passing me on 287 going 85 when I’m going 68. Without their lights on, they are required to obey the speed limit.
Probably one of the SH**IEST jobs in the world has got to be that as "Traffic Agent" (or Meter Maid, as it were) ... why some sleazeball lawyer would want to play 'Meter Maid', to a Cop no less, in order to raise a ruckus is a complete mystery to me.
Sounds like you would be right at home in a police state.
Geez.
I am siding with a lawyer over a cop?
Times have changed. I hope the cop gets busted.
If it was important for the cop to stay near his car, he could have picked another restaurant to eat at. He could also have done a drive through.
Fire trucks need to respond to emergencies as well and I never see them parking illegally.
He wasn’t code sh!t.
He was on his way to the barn, ready to go off shift. He never touched his radio, was yawning steadily, and sat at the redlight > 2 minutes before getting tired of waiting and breaking the law.
I didn’t obstruct or interfere with him in any way.
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