View from the cop: Crime & punishment
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AJC.com > Metro > View from the cop > Archives > 2008 > February > 12 > Entry
Questions of the week
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Lt. Steve:
I was driving up 400 and a cop stopped me for speeding. There was traffic to my right so I pulled over to the left against the median wall. The officer was agitated with me and I didn’t like his attitude. I couldn’t pull over to the right because of the traffic. What should I have done? Was I dumb to do that?
Dear Dummy:
Having been there myself, I’m guessing the officer was a bit on the agitated side knowing that he was about to be run over. The only thing that would fit in that lane is a clown car so I’m sure half of yours and the cop’s car, which of course is behind yours and will be the first one hit, was sticking out there to be hit by one of our fine drivers who just may be on his or her cell phone, texting something insignificant that could have waited.
Here is what you do, stick you hand out of your driver’s window and wave to acknowledge that you see the blue lights. Make sure you wave with all of your fingers. Turn on your right turn signal and then cautiously ease over to the right, lane to lane, taking as much time and distance as you need to do it safely. As long as you’re not changing lanes at 80 MPH the officer won’t be alarmed.
Lt. Steve:
What kind of drunk-tests do they give when you get pulled over?
Dear Overimbiber:
Field sobriety tests, commonly referred to by officers as “FSTs”, are simply a series of exercises designed in theory to test balance, coordination and divided attention (the ability to do two things at once). There are over a dozen such tests which have been used to varying degrees, the more common among them being one-leg-stand, walk-and-turn, nystagmus (following an object like a pen or finger from side-to-side with your eyes), the Rhomberg test (also called “modified position of attention”), hand-pat, finger-to-nose, fingers-to-thumb and alphabet recitation.
If the driver has a mullet, additional tests may include reciting the words to “Free Bird.” Also taken into consideration is the physical appearance of the driver. For instance, if the driver is lying face down on the horn, or urinating out the driver’s window, this too would indicate he may be a “less-safe” driver.
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Comments
By ElBubba
February 12, 2008 3:55 PM | Link to this
Lt. Steve,
Do cops practice that standing on one leg thing? That little fat guy that pulled me over was good at it. I think he had a specific gravity type advantage, I’m tall and skinny.
I can just immagine you guys at roll call. “Now, let’s do the left leg. Fife! You need to work on that!”
It’s all good, the world is a safer place.
By I just gotta know
February 12, 2008 4:42 PM | Link to this
I hope somebody with some sort of credentials reads this & can give me a legitimate answer……
Let’s say you go through a road block on your way home from a party. Officer asks if you’ve been drinking. If you answer “yes”, does that obligate him to give you a FST? Or is it discretionary?
By Rick
February 12, 2008 4:55 PM | Link to this
Lt Steve, have you noticed how a cop these days cannot walk past a mirror with out checking him self out? Some of these guys really like the uniform. I can only imagine what goes on at home. It is also been my experience the folks who like the military like being a cop. The rules, the regs, having someone to tell them what to do, being able to jerk around other people. It all fits a certain type.(weirdos) I know the make drug busts( and keep a little for resale). I know the confiscate cash and turn in most of it.Basically great guys.
By Grumpy
February 12, 2008 5:16 PM | Link to this
Roadblocks are just a cheap and easy way of generating revunue and destroying peoples lives. If I ain’t weaving and speeding, go find a real problem. I discussed this with a cop once and he said, ‘for a lot of people this is the only way we can catch them, they don’t do anything wrong when they’re driving’.
Honkey please!
By mustang100
February 12, 2008 5:48 PM | Link to this
If it’s Freebird, I’ve got it knocked. “Will tha beyall, ossifer?”
By Van
February 12, 2008 5:53 PM | Link to this
Steve,
Does anyone ever pass a FST, even a sober person?
By Chris
February 12, 2008 6:00 PM | Link to this
I always learn a little bit from reading Steve Rose’s columns. However, in his quest to appear funny, he usually comes across as arrogant, sarcastic, rude and all knowing. Most police officers are not like this and I certainly hope that people don’t get the wrong idea when they see blue lights in their mirror that they will be met with this type of attitude. The Lt. seems like a knowledgable guy who could teach all of us a thing or two. I just wish he’d lose the “I’m better than you are” attitude.
By Jason
February 12, 2008 6:02 PM | Link to this
In order to complete the Standardized Field Sobriety class, officers have to administer the tests over and over and over. Other officers in the class have are the people you practice it again.
The tests really aren’t that hard to do. One of the things you have to figure is that when you go to trial, the jury members are going to try the tests on each other, so they can’t be too hard.
A sober person can pass them easily.
By Steve Caudill
February 12, 2008 8:52 PM | Link to this
Dear Cop, every day I read or watch the news, and there is a story of some Georgia cop who has gone nuts or committed a criminal act. Are Georgia cops fit to back up the guards at the two Georgia nuclear power plants, or to respond to emergencies involving nuclear shipments on Georgia’s highways? thanks, Steve Caudill Senior Nuclear Plant Inspector U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region II - Atlanta, GA
By JBR
February 13, 2008 12:26 AM | Link to this
Regarding cops, news, etc. What you dont apparently understand is that with any social/work category (albeit police officer, firefighter, doctor, judge, reporter, nuclear plant inspector, etc) has issues and certain people will make bad decisions, even to the criminal level. Same goes for any criminal. Dont judge all cops by what you see on the news…and shame on the categorizing of “Georgia Cops.” The media reports what they want, what they think is a good story. Bad cops are out there…but I bet an officer would be persecuted for saying all citizens are criminals and not backing it up in court. As far as nuclear shipments…one would think you have a policy in place…but as far as “back-up?” Yes. Emergency situation on the highway…that’s a bad day and if such “shipment” is compromised I think the US Military would intervene at some point.
By Lewis Cazenave
February 13, 2008 3:49 AM | Link to this
For those of you critical of the law enforcement profession and officers of the law, in general, please consider attending a Citizens’ Police Academy or better yet, give some thought to becoming a police officer. You will see life from a different prospective.
By Coach Eizzle
February 13, 2008 5:16 AM | Link to this
for Elbubba, just FYI….the “short, fat” officer you speaking of just happens to be one of the best D.U.I. officers in the Metro Area. Consider your self lucky you were stopped by such a professional.
By FST yourself
February 13, 2008 7:11 AM | Link to this
I’ve got a novel concept… Let the circus clowns keep the one legged dancing routines to themselves. If I’ve not been drinking (and I don’t drink and drive) I will simply say that I’m not performing any tricks today, just give me a breathalyzer and then he better be prepared to explain why he stopped me. Your performance of the FST is entirely up to his discretion. I have no tolerance for drunk drivers but I also have no tolerance for the revenue generating schemes that the cops seem to be preoccupied with. I had a cop stop me and tell me he couldn’t see my license plate but while we were there just show him my papers. Couldn’t see my plate? When was the last time he got his eyes checked? Half of the traffic stop is to engage you in conversation and get you to admit to something that he can later use against you. Hand over your license and ask why you were stopped. Don’t answer anything like “Do you know why I stopped you”. It is none of his business where you are going. Make note of his name and badge number and if you are treated improperly, file a formal complaint.
By John
February 13, 2008 7:56 AM | Link to this
An attorney friend of mine advised me NEVER to submit to a field sobriety test, as it is entirely subjective.
Legally you are required to submit to a breath test, but not a field sobriety test. Don’t give up your rights.
By TC
February 13, 2008 8:09 AM | Link to this
Let’s see now. You ask us not to judge all cops by the actions of a few, then think it’s ok for law enforcement to use “profiles” to go after people who haven’t done anything. Aren’t they judging us by the actions of others?
By Cindy
February 13, 2008 10:15 AM | Link to this
wow. just wow. I’ve just scrubbed out all the corners, so it’s nice and fresh…what a p** match ya’ll had.
good grief. I’ll tell ya’ll a little secret…cops deal with the people who don’t play well with others. please try to overlook their shortcomings and social non-graces that are developed as a result. otherwise…heck join up…they’re hiring…see if you can do a better job.
bunch of whiny butts. grrr.
p.s. Steve doesn’t seem to view himself as better than…perhaps you view yourself as less than. I’ve never left the blog feeling subservient.
By Chrissa
February 18, 2008 10:53 AM | Link to this
Dearest Grumpy, Roadblocks ARE A GOOD thing. My father was a drunk that caused accidents and was never cited for the simple fact he never got out of the car. If he had been stopped at a road block after partying hard with his young kids in tow, maybe some of my nightmares could have been averted. As a side note, I have gone through my fair number of Lawrenceville roadblocks, sober. At the last one, 9 years ago, I did not have proof of insurance with me, this was before it was completely computerized. The officer did ask me to pull over where he ran my license, while I looked through my dump of a car and still turned up nothing. The officer let me go w/o even a warning. They can run roadblocks all they want as far as I’m concerned. If you keep your nose clean, you have nothing to hide/worry about.