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View from the cop: Crime & punishment

View from the Cop is moving to a new site on Wordpress. Blogger Steve Rose of the Sandy Springs Police Department gives his take on crime, offers safety tips and give his weekly picks from the police blotter. Follow Steve Rose to the new blog site.

AJC.com > Metro > View from the cop > Archives > 2009 > February > 05 > Entry

Hey, that’s a stop sign stupid!

By Steve Rose | Thursday, February 5, 2009, 03:13 PM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

We’re not the most studious of species when it comes to using our brains and driving at the same time, especially when it comes to four way stop signs.

We just don’t do that well.

Most traffic complaints come in two forms. Stop signs and speeding. Since I don’t like to drive over 50 MPH, I chose to look at some of the four way stop sign complaints.

I picked out an intersection listed on the complaint log and headed out. In order for me not to have to write a ticket, I parked my police car right up next to the intersection so that those traveling in any of the four directions could easily see me. The plan was to park the big police car up where everyone can see me and sit there for a while so that the drivers could see me and they would stop and then when they got home, they would call and / or e-mail all their friends and relatives that the cops were watching that intersection and thus, as I calculated it, thousands of potential traffic offenders would then observe the stop signs and life again, would be good.

The potential offenders would avoid a ticket, the complainers would see the cops at the intersection and sleep well and I could sit there for a while and surf the Internet while pretending to look intimidating in my sunglasses and stern look.

That was the plan.

As life often does, the events did not go as well as I hoped. I was just about to check out Oprah’s Book of the Month on her website when a big ol’ BMW came right through the intersection and she never slowed one bit. She never saw me because she had a cell phone up to her ear and was engrossed in deep conversation. This was more than even I could ignore—mostly because two other cars at the intersection who did stop were looking at me.

Oprah would have to wait.

I put the car in gear, pushed my sunglasses down to give me that even more stern look and off I went at speeds that hit almost 30 MPH. Fortunately the lady in the big ol’ BMW was still on the phone and had no clue I was behind her—which suited me fine since I was trying find the blue light button on the control panel. (Last time I did this I accidentally opened the hood.) I found it, turned it on and commenced to pulling that BMW over.

She didn’t pull over.

I turned on every light that car had, enough to be seen in space, but she kept right on going.

I had no choice but to activate the siren which I did and which did get her attention real quick. She made a right turn into her subdivision and pulled over. I checked the tag on my super police laptop computer after minimizing Oprah’s website and then checked myself out in the rear view mirror to be sure I had that very stern look on my face, and I got out of the car—keep in mind that I was wearing about fifteen pounds of belt-ridden equipment and a Kevlar vest.

As I got out I prayed that all that weight wouldn’t send me right to the ground as I exited the Tahoe. I’d look like a turtle, rolling back and forth to get off my back. I have to admit that regardless of how they improve Kevlar (bullet-proof) vests, they’re still damn uncomfortable. I looked like Frankenstein with a stern look walking up to that big ol’ BMW.

Well, by the time I got up there, she had her license out and had moved the phone to the other ear so she could hear me better. I didn’t say “Do you know why I stopped you?” I never say that. I figure you know or if you don’t, I’ll tell you.

Anyway, she must have called her neighbor friend who, by the time I got her license and put on my reading glasses, came down the street and stood by the big ol’ BMW. She waved at me so I waved back and then did the Frankenstein lumbering walk back to the Tahoe to check out her driver’s license on the computer.

By the time I got the return on the license, two more friends showed up. They waved so I waved back. I got out of the Tahoe, did the Frankenstein thing back to her car, waiting a couple of minutes for girls to conclude their conversation about how exciting it was to get pulled over so could lecture the driver. I told ladies that we were going to be at the intersection off and on because of the complaints we received but I had decided not to issue a citation, mainly because she was polite and seemed to understand the need to obey stop signs.

What I didn’t say was that I had left my pen on my desk at the station.

Everyone has a lucky day now and then.

Permalink | Comments (89) | Post your comment |

Comments

By STOP POLICE CORRUPTION

February 5, 2009 4:47 PM | Link to this

I think you could have called for back up, or asked the women for a pen. Now you know to keep an extra pen in the car.

By Stern Cop

February 5, 2009 5:38 PM | Link to this

A warning? After a blatent violation like that? Now she not only thinks she might get away with it, she just did! You do cops everywhere a disservice when you give a “stern warning.” If it’s serious enough to stop them, it’s serious enough to write them.

By ATLien

February 5, 2009 5:41 PM | Link to this

You left out the best part!?!?

What was Oprah’s Book of the Month?

-ATLien

By Clint

February 5, 2009 5:47 PM | Link to this

You are a very good writer. Please keep up the good work!

By jakesdad

February 5, 2009 5:52 PM | Link to this

I usually enjoy your stories but I hope this one’s a joke (& if so it’s in poor taste) - she completely blew through a stop sign (not rolled, not jumped her turn but completely blew through it) ON THE PHONE and you didn’t ticket her?

By Bubba Bluffton

February 5, 2009 5:55 PM | Link to this

Surely the City of Sandy Springs Police Department should reprimand Officer Rose for failing to add revenue to the city coffers for not being able to find his Bic, not to mentioning writing several tickets for running a stop sign, failure to stop, wreckless driving (for using a cellphone while running a stop sign and an additional ticket or two for her friends while interfering with an officer and failure to disperse. Shame, shame, shame! I was ticketed twice for doing nothing more than driving home because one of Sandy Springs’ overzealous officers decided to run my tag on his computer (while driving), advised me how to get out of the tickets in traffic court, (which was a huge fabrication that failed to work)forced a wait of six weeks for a court date only to find out that what passes for Traffic Court in Sandy Springs is little more than a preliminary hearing, gives preferential treatment to those who do not speak English, and serves as nothing more than a three hour waste of time to pay a minimum of $185.00 for every person in the building not on the county payroll.
Ms. BMW will continue using her cellphone while driving, continue to run stop signs and continue to drive distracted until she injures others, herself or total her vehicle. She will also continue to view driving as a right rather than a privilege and I would bet the ranch that she never mentioned it to her husband.
And people wonder why the Sandy Springs Police are viewed with such a jaundiced eye.

You’re a credit to your badge, Mr. Rose.

By Fred

February 5, 2009 5:55 PM | Link to this

Sorry, I just don’t see the humor in this. What are you going to do the next time she gets on her phone, blows though a stop sign and t-bones a soccer mom with a van full of kids? Try to make it sound humorous when you tell some dad that his family is not coming home tonight? I spend a minimum of 2 hours of commute time a day on these roads and it’s NOT A LAUGHING MATTER. I’ve have lived in a lot of different places but the drivers here are some of the most careless as well as some of the most aggressive. I’m tired of taking my life in my hands with tailgaters, speeders, cell phone oblivions and just plain careless drivers. You need to punish these people in the hopes that the pain in the wallet will teach then to drive more carefully. I feel better…..

By Stewie

February 5, 2009 6:11 PM | Link to this

Are you serious? Did you really let her go without a citation?

And this in the same week that two pedestrians were killed by drivers allegedly not paying attention.

Forgive me for not finding this humorous.

By Dusty

February 5, 2009 6:15 PM | Link to this

Awww…that was funny!

By hh

February 5, 2009 6:18 PM | Link to this

*I don’t find the story funny in the least. The woman could have killed somebody and deserved a ticket. *

By hh

February 5, 2009 6:21 PM | Link to this

*I don’t find the story funny in the least. The woman could have killed somebody and deserved a ticket. *

By Rick

February 5, 2009 6:29 PM | Link to this

Didn’t you just have a motorcycle police officer seriously injured by a motorist that wasn’t paying attention? You owe it to everyone to cite people like this. I see this kind of behavior every day when there is no officer around. Please make these people wake up and drive.

By Notfunny

February 5, 2009 6:33 PM | Link to this

I can’t believe you didn’t ticket her!!! And, you didn’t TELL her to get off the phone!!!

As others noted, this is not humorous!! How did you determine that she now understands she needs to stop at stop signs?? Oh, and she was polite…geeze!!!

By The only one to stop

February 5, 2009 6:37 PM | Link to this

There is an intersection on a hill at Conley Drive and Conley Road in Conley. Cars fly up and down the hill, rarely stopping at the 3-way stop sign or doing that nice roll. Its a hill, so I have even seen on occasion police roll through it, school buses roll through it, kids on bicycles (without helmets) kids on minibike without helmets. If you call to report the speeding in a 25 mph residential street, police say they can’t be everywhere. There are no city police, just county. Whenever I stop at the sign heading north, I am in fear of being rear-ended. I inquired years ago about speed bumps, but the neighborhood would have to pay. yea, right.

By What

February 5, 2009 6:42 PM | Link to this

And the taxpayers are paying expecting you to do what? Oh yeah, enforce the law…yeah, that’s it…

By DJ

February 5, 2009 6:45 PM | Link to this

“Bubba Bluffton” WOW, you really are a disgruntle individual! Life is so short to have some much hate. GET HELP!

GOD BLESS

By The Blogfather

February 5, 2009 6:46 PM | Link to this

Oprah’s book of the month club was an ingenious prop. I loved this narration, and officer steve is loved by more folks than he’ll ever know.

Cell phones…..we are going to have to make a decision, people…..and soon.

By kove michaels

February 5, 2009 7:03 PM | Link to this

Not cute. Not funny. News Alert: She did NOT understand the need to obey stop signs as evidenced the fact that she raced through a 4-way stop intersection and “never slowed one bit.” But you let her crime go unpunished becasue she was “polite”??? This is how children get killed. Do your job next time, please!

By mustang100

February 5, 2009 7:21 PM | Link to this

Looks like most of the responders here have some recent ‘revenue donation’ issues themselves, as in “it ain’t fair dammit!”

By James

February 5, 2009 7:32 PM | Link to this

I can not believe you did that. What are we all paying you for again? Why don’t you go do your job instead of blogging? Good day to you.

By Madison

February 5, 2009 7:39 PM | Link to this

What a piece of crap you are! She could have run over someone while on the phone and you would probably given her a warning ticket. Get a clue about being an officer or get back behind your desk!

By Van

February 5, 2009 8:06 PM | Link to this

Funny story.

Steve, have you heard of the 3-second rule at stop signs? Someone wrote to a local news station that they got a ticket for not waiting 3 seconds after making a complete stop. Is that a real law? Are drivers required to wait a defined period of time after coming to a complete stop?

By pj

February 5, 2009 8:12 PM | Link to this

This story was hilarious and well written. I would have preferred an ending that included you giving the woman’s friends a show by giving her a ticket that included not only running the stop sign, but any other charges you could have legally given her, like evading police (not responding until she heard the siren,) reckless driving, possibly an out-of-the-car dui test, commandeering her phone for being on it while you questioned her, etc. etc. etc.

By The Blogfather

February 5, 2009 8:19 PM | Link to this

Officer steve rose only wrote about one motorist, and he was out ther all day. He’s got more. Much more.

i dont know ‘bout youze but i cant wait. The fly on the wall narrative we get to peek into when a cop stops a moron who didn’t stop for a stop sign. Stop. ( Western union.) dee tadee tadee dee tadee tadee dee tadee tadee dee tadee tadee gawd I love that song.

I also love this song; “Our mouse is a very very very fine mouse, with two cats in the yard……hey, what happened to our mouse?

morons.

By pj

February 5, 2009 8:21 PM | Link to this

By Arlo

February 5, 2009 8:24 PM | Link to this

Please quit wasting taxpayer money surfing the web on the clock & do your job.

By MP

February 5, 2009 8:36 PM | Link to this

Steve, I think you blew this one. Please tell us it never happened. I could see you letting her go if she slowed down and was not on the phone. But not slowing down and on the phone is a no-brainer.

By The Blogfather

February 5, 2009 8:47 PM | Link to this

Wrong, MP, the fact you cant face is that the cell phone industry has forbidden our legislature from advancing any automobile/cellphone ban.

Maybe if you’d stop watching porn on your T&Aphone……

By Brock

February 5, 2009 8:49 PM | Link to this

It would have been good if you had issued the ticket in this instance. So many people “think” they are good enough drivers that they can talk on their cells and drive. They can’t, so until a law is passed banning them, perhaps the dept’s policy should be no warnings for violations occurring while chatting.

Studies have shown cell-impaired drivers are as unsafe as DUI drivers. If someone is killed by a polite woman on a cell, they are just as dead as one taken out by a drunk.

And for those who continue to chat it up, there are attys (I’m one) who know to subpoena cell records to document that a conversation occurred at the time of the wreck. Many large punitive damage awards have been made in cell-related wreck cases. Go ahead, put your kids’ financial futures at risk.

Steve, good writing though. I just did not like the ending.

By El Gringo.

February 5, 2009 9:40 PM | Link to this

I think cell phone use might actually be more of a threat to public safety than DUIs. Statistis with DUI are a problem, just because someone involved in a wreck has been drinking doesn’t mean that alcohol was a mitigating factor. For example; If i have been drinking and I am hit by another driver does that count as an alcohol related accident?

Cell phone use freaks me out. Only recently I discovered that is why people aren’t using their turn signals. Have you ever been trying to get on a road and someone is approahing, you wonder “Are they turning here?” If you knew you could maybe pull out and be on your way, but you wait and then they turn right beside you, while talking.

By El Gringo.

February 5, 2009 9:50 PM | Link to this

Is there a new word for young people that make a lot of money and seem full of themselves? Or do we still call them yuppies?

I saw two today. They were both on the phone as they turned beside me without using the turn signal. I wondered if they were talking to each other.

By JB

February 5, 2009 9:52 PM | Link to this

A few friends of mine who live in Sandy Springs have mentioned the poor reputation of the police force that has been put on the streets … basically that they’re just one cut above private security guards. After reading this narrative, it appears that is an insult to private security guards. What exactly do the citizens PAY you for anyway?

By The Blogfather

February 5, 2009 10:26 PM | Link to this

Sorry, El Gringo, but yuppy is in the lexiconic lore. You cant use it in real time anymore. You can only refer to it.

But not bad. Fertile ground indeed. I’m listening.

By The Blogfather

February 5, 2009 10:40 PM | Link to this

If they were talking to each other, then you’re supposed to report that. It’s in the Bush Patriot Act.

By The GodBlogger

February 5, 2009 11:02 PM | Link to this

The Newspaper In Heaven.

Does anyone here remember where they were when Christ was crucified? Send your comments to the GodBlogger.com. There will be a five minute delay so that my staff can come up with some really good ones. You should see my steno pool.

How many gods do U C in your life?

One. (Zero). Two. Infinity. allahtheabove.

By Phralf

February 6, 2009 12:32 AM | Link to this

Oh come on folks,Officer Rose is doing his best to control traffic in the high volume intersection he wrote about.By writing this low IQ driver a ticket he my induce her to slow down and put the cell phone down. If successful in changing her driving habits he will lower her chances of being eliminated from the local gene pool and she will continue to breed producing progeny with low driving skills.Our only hope is that she gets blasted from the gene pool without injuring others! So, speed on!

By Mr Charlie

February 6, 2009 12:51 AM | Link to this

Speaking of books of the month, a book to check into would be “The Shack.” It is by William Paul Young, and very worth reading!

By SexyCool

February 6, 2009 1:15 AM | Link to this

I once had an officer tell me that “all four wheels must come to a stop” at a stop sign. The smart aleck in me wanted to ask how many times had he seen just three wheels stop while the fourth kept spinning.

By Ted Striker

February 6, 2009 2:36 AM | Link to this

This was a great story. I’m sure the names have been changed to protect the innocent.

I assure you if I ever accidentally drive through a stop sign it is only because my wife is giving birth to triplets and the iron is on in the oven while I am late for a flight to give blood in Tucson.

By Grateful

February 6, 2009 6:15 AM | Link to this

Years ago, when I was 19 or 20, I had borrowed my brother’s car and was hit in a parking lot by the wife of a cop. She was obnoxious and thought she was going to blame me for the accident. The wise words of my dad, also a policeman, came to mind: Keep your mouth shut, but keep your eyes and ears open. A young-ish policeman arrived & took the info., etc., explained no-fault something or other as there we no lights or stop signs where the accident occurred, and sent us on our way. About an hour later, the cop showed up at my home. Uh-oh.

He wanted to speak with my brother, the owner of the car. After that, he then wanted to speak with me again. As it turned out, the car was not properly registered. Was I aware of that? No. Well, he said, technically, I was at fault since the car should not have been on the road. Oh, great, I saw my tuition money going to pay for high insurance premiums. However, the police officer said he wasn’t going to ticket me for it. I was grateful and thanked him. I think I may have relaxed enough to even smiled at that point. Then he asked if I was dating anyone.

By Ray

February 6, 2009 7:09 AM | Link to this

Not much of a cop. Allowed the person and persons to intimidate, and break several laws.

By nonono

February 6, 2009 7:16 AM | Link to this

If I am ever stopped by the police I must remember to be polite. Then I should not get a ticket - right ? If I do, can I refer back to this article? I see traffic going through a stop sign in my neighborhood everyday and there is a police officer on duty close by (within sight of the stop sign) and yet they NEVER issue tickets to these drivers. Sandy Springs is loosing revenue because of the economy, maybe they should start ticketing these people. This would do two things - make the roads safer, and provide income for the City.

By nonono

February 6, 2009 7:17 AM | Link to this

By nonono

February 6, 2009 7:23 AM | Link to this

By GT

February 6, 2009 7:30 AM | Link to this

I, too, am wondering if this is satire? This officer is proud of the fact that he pretends to do his job while surfing the net from his car? Then he doesn’t give a citation to someone who obviously deserves one, because she was polite?

This can’t be serious. If it is, as a person who works in Sandy Springs, I just got a little more nervous. This past weekend, five cars were broken into in the parking lot of the school where I work. It looks like the law-breakers are winning the battle around here. This article, if it isn’t meant as satire, makes it more clear of why this is.

By diane

February 6, 2009 7:45 AM | Link to this

if this had been in another neighborhood or another ethinic group the outcome would be oh so different..i once moved from the left lane to right lane and got a ticket for improper lane change without using a signal when that is a common occurence..i should have giggled maybe would have gottoen out of the ticket.shame on you..

By Super Dad

February 6, 2009 7:50 AM | Link to this

One time I got nabbed peeing on a passed out homeless woman and the police officer p** on her after he busted me. He let me go once we got out of sight of the crowd, and we cracked up about it for 20 minutes.

By JJ

February 6, 2009 7:58 AM | Link to this

That was the funniest story I have read so far. I am in tears.

I think most of this is made up for the “humor” factor. Keep up the good work, I love your columns.

Ya’ll need to calm down. I have plenty of blood pressure medicine to go around.

By Stevie B

February 6, 2009 8:05 AM | Link to this

Is it still illegal to host bum fights? A few years ago I would go around the city and pick up a few bums/migrant workers and have them fight for $20.00 a piece. In a few hours on Friday and Saturday night, I could make 2-3 thousand dollars off of the action.

By Mike D

February 6, 2009 8:12 AM | Link to this

Can I go to jail if I ask a day laborer to come in to Home Depot with me and then super glue his hands to a wheelbarrow? I just think it is funny to watch them rum up and down the isles chasing me while they are attached to one.

By Super Dad

February 6, 2009 8:19 AM | Link to this

Hey Steve,

If I kill a man in international waters, is it still a US crime? Just wanted to know.

Andrew Young

By ManOfTeal

February 6, 2009 8:22 AM | Link to this

Wow and I get a ticket for going 80 in a 65 but it’s apparently ok if I blow through a stop sign in front of a cop as long as I am polite to the cop who pulls me over….I see how it is.

By JMagic

February 6, 2009 8:24 AM | Link to this

I really hope this story is a joke. Someone blasting through a stop sign, talking on the phone and then continuing to talk on the phone once they are pulled over shows a lack of respect for other drivers as well as law enforcement.

I bet it wouldn’t be so cute if she would have t-boned another car and killed someone?

It amazes me how a number, not all, drivers in this town don’t really stop at stop signs, rather tap the brakes and go so they can beat you through the intersection. I know we’ve all seen it and have probably been guilty of it. Slow down. It’s not a race. I know your life and activites are more important than mine… but geez!

By Yolanda

February 6, 2009 8:29 AM | Link to this

I got caught shop lifting one time and the store security guard told me that if I gave him a Hot Carl, I could go. I didn’t know what it was, but when I found out I was disgusted and turned on. I’ve been giving Hot Carls ever since.

By Becky

February 6, 2009 8:34 AM | Link to this

Love to read your “stories”..I would bet that most everyone on here fussing about her not getting a ticket, wouldn’t be fussing if it had of been them not getting a ticket..Also, let me guess, none of y’all have ever ran a stop sign or done something stupid because of talking on the phone?

By A Citizen

February 6, 2009 8:56 AM | Link to this

Well, I’ve always suspected that cops are lazy morons. This confirms it. Unless the joke is on all of us and this whole thing is just a fictional story. Then my guess would be that he’s sitting in his car, munching donuts and laughing at out outrageous indignation.

By Leary

February 6, 2009 11:06 AM | Link to this

In the re-write for the movie, you will give her the ticket, won’t you?

By Cassie

February 6, 2009 11:34 AM | Link to this

Oh My God!

Leave Steve alone! He’s entitled to this little thing called “artistic license”….if he published the literal blow by blow, the moron in question might recognize herself and sue. Who needs that hassle?

And: no cell phones or blackberries in car unless you are hands free. It should be a law…but…when did our legislature do ANYTHING sensible?

By Brock

February 6, 2009 11:48 AM | Link to this

No Becky, I’ve never done something stupid behind the wheel while talking on the phone. Know why? Because I don’t use my cell while driving! You might want to try that too.

By the way, hands free does not allieviate the distraction caused to the brain while carrying on a phone conversation. I know, it seems fine, but statistics show any phone conversation makes one a dangerous driver.

By kove michaels

February 6, 2009 12:09 PM | Link to this

Becky, I did get a ticket a few months back in Sandy Springs. I wasn’t talking on a phone, but I tried unsuccessfully to beat a yellow light. I was polite, I still got ticketed, and I deserved it. The ticket definitely made me think about my driving habits. A warning would not have had the same effect.

By PinkoNeoConLibertarian

February 6, 2009 12:09 PM | Link to this

Too Funny.

So, Det. Rose…are they going to assign you to the K-9 squad next week? Just imagine the fertile avenues of writing that will provide. Not to mention the fertile deposits left in the car. LOL.

By KJ

February 6, 2009 12:54 PM | Link to this

“Also, let me guess, none of y�all have ever ran a stop sign or done something stupid because of talking on the phone?”

No, Becky, I have not. But the fact that you think such behavior is normal is telling. If you cannot avoid running stop signs while on the phone, then you need to hang up.

But, of course, you won’t.

By dj

February 6, 2009 4:39 PM | Link to this

I had this discussion with my wife. If you are a woman you do not get a ticket. All you have to do is smile, show a little leg and you get a warning. If you are a guy… tough luck! But hey, maybe one day, I will get pulled over by one of the hot looking female officers and I can crack I smile and show some leg and I may get a break ! Who knows ! Come on people … he forgot his pen give the officer a break ! Geeze… life is short enough … lighten up!

By The GodBlogger

February 6, 2009 4:57 PM | Link to this

Does that hot female officer have an older sister for me?

By dj

February 6, 2009 5:01 PM | Link to this

Hey Steve:

People are mad at you because you were on Oprah’s website. I recommend, next time, check out Men’s Health website. People might be a little more forgiving of you!

By rmbr343

February 6, 2009 8:15 PM | Link to this

People, people… get a grip will you? Since you don’t know for sure the amount of poetic license that was taken by Lt. Rose or the amount of sarcasm he used how about giving him the benefit of the doubt until you know for sure otherwise?

Do you really think that every police officer issues a ticket to every offender they pull over? C’mon! Of course not! You spouted off laws and facts like you’re experts. You also scolded Lt. Rose like he was your errand boy! Don’t criticize how he does his job when you wouldn’t last five minutes in his shoes. Especially when what you’d be getting paid is no where near what you’d deserve for dealing with all the aggravating, whiny, annoying people like yourselves!

Lt. Rose, please know that I thought this column was hysterical. Thank you for what you do. Thank you for bringing your “adventures” into our lives along with the only thing that would make doing your thankless job more bearable… a bit of humor!

By rmbr343

February 6, 2009 8:18 PM | Link to this

By sb

February 6, 2009 8:46 PM | Link to this

You are a hoot. My guess on reality: You were not reading Oprah. You may have been checking sports scores.
She did see your lights and pull over.
No, the neighborhood did not gather to watch and wave.
Yes, you did give the woman a warning. A written warning.

By Stlouisx50

February 7, 2009 11:24 AM | Link to this

It’s really not that hard to stop at a stop sign and note who stopped last. Thats all you have to do, go after the last car has come to a stop.

I hate dumb people at intersections that can’t take their turn.

By Stlouisx50

February 7, 2009 11:27 AM | Link to this

It’s really not that hard to stop at a stop sign and note who stopped last. Thats all you have to do, go after the last car has come to a stop.

I hate dumb people at intersections that can’t take their turn.

By The truth about cops

February 7, 2009 2:45 PM | Link to this

So cops are allowed to just pull up, park it, and cruise the internet on my dime?

This makes me sick.

They have too much time. Time to cut hours, lay off some cops. When these schmucks are spending their shifts just sitting on their arse, it’s time for some lay offs.

Illegal aliens overruning our streets? Cops got no answers. Drug trafficking everywhere you turn? No answers, only excuses. This guy writes articles chronicling the car break-ins every other week here, then spends his shift on his arse looking at porn.

You should all be outraged, but you’re too stupid, so this kind of thing will continue to go on like it has for years.

Remember, it’s no longer “protect and serve”, it’s “find and solicit”. Cops have become overweight government cash registers who have little to no interest in dealing with actual crime- not as profitable as dolling out bogus traffic tickets.

Welcome to the USA, the world’s largest Communist police state.

By stalled

February 7, 2009 4:31 PM | Link to this

What if you come to a four way stop, and the stop sign itself is full of bullet holes from drunken trailer trash given their opinion of the four way stop? I mean, are you supposed to completely stop, or does the fact that the sign is obliterated give you the right to just slow down a little through there?

Double Parked and stalled.

By catlady

February 7, 2009 6:18 PM | Link to this

Officer, couldn’t you have BORROWED a pen from her to write the ticket? She not only went through a sign, she failed to stop and probably several other crimes. There are lots of drivers out there just like her killing people.

She got her posse to intimidate you, and it worked.

By why bother

February 8, 2009 3:55 AM | Link to this

does this columnist actually get a paycheck for this drivel. does anyone really care if a pothead gets busted with a dime bag? seriously?

and the first arrest, a crack possession. this town sounds like an SS patrol beat.

By stalled

February 8, 2009 8:29 AM | Link to this

The proper name for Sandy Springs is “one horse town”. Lord please save steve from this one horse tow-ow-own. Lord please save steve from this one horse tow-ow-own.

By Someone

February 9, 2009 11:54 PM | Link to this

Wow Steve, first you slander and now you gave proof of your lack of skill as an officer. Sounds like a lawsuit I’m willing to take against you. My graduate skills at GSU in law are going to pay off far sooner than I anticipated. None of that waiting two years under a law firm. Thank you for the evidence. See you in court buddy boy. Word of advice, use a lawyer who was once in state government. Gee who could that be? I’d really like to test my skills against him; not only will I win the case but I’ll make a name for myself in the legal system.

P.S. Good luck.

By zzzzz

February 10, 2009 10:15 AM | Link to this

U cant sue someone for a bit, moron.

By steven

February 11, 2009 12:10 PM | Link to this

i could have told you that parking right next to a four way stop sign would not scare anyone from runnng the stop sign. iam a mp on ft gordon and i do the same thing and i still write about 4 tickets a day for people doing it, and if she was on post on a cell phone and not failure to stop at a posted stop sign she would recive a $140 in citations

By PoliceAdvocateInTexas

February 11, 2009 1:43 PM | Link to this