Bart Police
My boyfriend is nice enough to drop and pick me up at bart everyday in order for me prevent dealing with the horrid parking situation at West Oakland. Yesterday was a commuter nightmare at the station, there was some sort of delay in the transbay tunnel around 5:30 pm. So, of course, there was an even greater amount of passengers waiting for their rides at once. Not to mention a huge line of cars trying to pick up these passengers.
To make matters worse, a Bart Police Officer was there "directing traffic" or more like causing havoc in the drop off area. Pulling people over for stopping by the bus red zone, which I understand, but there was honestly no room to move. Her "directing-of-traffic" was really causing more congestion.
My boyfriend was driving by the drop off area (I repeat drop off area, NOT the red zone), saw me, and continued to slowly move as I sprinted to get in the car. Note: I sprinted because the bart police was screaming at him like if he was blocking traffic (no one was behind him)and he'd driven there seconds before I saw him. She went on to talk to him like he had some sort of mental retardation with phrases such as "Do you not hear me talking to you?" and "I tooooooold you to move the car, I don't care if she's already here". He continued to slowly drive, she then puts her foot next to the tire and said, "Are you going to run my foot over?" As I sit there flabbergasted at what was occurring, she asks for his driver's license. She makes the call to start running the plates and DL. At this point, the car is now blocking traffic. Dirty looks became those of pity when people see her standing behind the car.
Minutes later she tells him to get out of the car and I get out thinking she's going to give him a some lame excuse of a warning (For what I don't know, there was no reason for a ticket). She tells him that his license is suspended (ticket payment wasn't processed). My BF of course, is freaking out. I ask if she is sure, she defensively replies, "Do you think I'm lying?" I am now thinking she is definitely riding her power horse and tell her to just do what she needs to do. "Get in the car young lady and give me your license!"
She then goes on to lecture him of the grave danger of blocking traffic (emergency vehicles can't get through). In the meantime people are actually in the red zone, taking advantage of the fact that she's busy with us. My BF points this out, she says that the longer she's here writing his ticket, the longer it will take her to give them theirs(?). She hands me back my license, and tells me I can drive the car. I'm thinking this is the most excitement she can get out of her job, she certainly seems content now. This incident took about 25 minutes.
I'm not ranting about her taking away his license, that is an issue that is being resolved. I'm ranting because the ticket issued was for driving with a suspended license. There was no other infraction, none at all. Meaning that she had no reason to pull him over. I'm ranting because she was rude and condescending.
But like she said, he was lucky that she was "nice" enough not to impound the car. Did we get her on a good day after all?
Does anyone know where I can submit a complaint against a bart police officer? I'm sure they won't care, but I can honestly say that she has been one of the worse police officer's I've encountered in my life. Aren't I lucky?
You are seriously going to
You are seriously going to bitch about the fact that your "BF" was driving on a suspended license? Why would someone on a suspended license have to say anything to a cop except "Yes sir/ma'm"?
Here's the drill, honey. If a copy tells you to poop green coals, do it. That's why we have a court system to deal with law enforcement abuse. But in the heat of the moment, no matter what the circumstances are, nobody but a FOOL disobeys an order from a cop. They have the power to detain you and do whatever they want. It was stupid for your "BF" not to keep moving. He's lucky all he got was a ticket.
Thanks for your wonderful
Thanks for your wonderful advice! You obviously misread all I posted, it is due to morons like you that the oh-so-wonderful legal system is as shitty as it. Stay on your knees and continue to worship it. This is NOT about the suspended license, which was done so by a clerical/processing error. This is about a horrible police officer who has no people skills (I guess that's not a requirement) and needs to take some vacation. I don't care what a person's "job" is, they have no right to disrespect me and neither do you. Have a wonderful night!
Oaksfrider25, If you are
Oaksfrider25,
If you are comfortable doing so, email me at the email at the bottom of my post and tell me what this Officer looked like. I'd like to talk to you...
Shrapnel
BARTRage.com Co-Moderator
BARTRage.Moderators@gmail.com
the Officer's name and badge
the Officer's name and badge # should be on the ticket.
I want to hear how this pans out!!
PLEASE keep us updated!!
transit first: been there
transit first: been there done that..
yea the court system is good is you have $3000->$6000 to pay a lawyer up front until trial (and another $5000->$8000 up front if you want to go to trial).
I am currently dealing with a case right now where I was assaulted & battered from behind in a bar ( I was hit so hard in the back of the head my glasses flew off my face landed 6 over feet away) then the attacker press charges on me saying i pepper sprayed him for no reason.
As for the cop placing their own foot in danger, that is just f*cked up setup!
If you ran over her foot (and assuming you don't get shot :-). You *may* get off on the charges ( after spending several days in jail ) if and only if you have three or four witnesses and an spare $10K to pay a lawyer.
But you will forever have "charged with assault on a officer" on you record and it will haunt you for the rest of you life when ever your pulled over and they run your plates.
Attempted murder of a police
Attempted murder of a police officer and vehicular assault...
Shrapnel
BARTRage.com Co-Moderator
BARTRage.Moderators@gmail.com
The officer did have a
The officer did have a reason to pull your boyfriend over. You cannot double park or stop a vehicle in a traffic lane for the purposes of loading and unloading passengers. On the other hand, I'm familiar with the horrible parking situation at the West Oakland station and that passenger pick up curb is totally insufficient during commute hours.
My guess is that you or your boyfriend did something to provoke the officer. If an officer tells you to move along and you ignore it and pick up your passenger anyway, it shows as a sign of disrespect. Your boyfriend should have moved the car to another part of the lot and picked you up there. If you started questioning the officer about their actions, it just gets worse from there. Some officers make judgements based on the attitude test. In my opinion, your boyfriend got off pretty well since the officer was, as you said "nice" enough.
If your boyfriend knew he was driving with a suspended license, the car should have been towed. He also could have been cited for double parking or failing to obey a lawful order from a police officer.
Complaining about the officer will not accomplish much because it seems they were within their legal right to make the stop and issue a citation. Perhaps you should concentrate on solving the root of the problem and complain to BART about the lack of a proper pick up/drop off zone.
"10-4, Flat Officer @ West!"
"10-4, Flat Officer @ West!" I think that's how it would have went. Why would an officer put their foot in front of the tire. I dated an officer and so has my friend. My friends boyfriend said that they an do what they want. My former boyfriend said that it is common for officers to do what they want and cover for each other. The officers who do not want to be involved claim to not have been at the scene. So I don't know if this is true, but her point was that the officer was rude. It does seem clear that they knew the DL was expired and they were ok with that part. It's almost like they were expecting it. Not mad about the DL, not mad about the car impound, but mad about being polite.
Chrystal Flanders -"You're Saying it or You're Not! You're a Punk or You're Not!"
Thanks flanders, I think you
Thanks flanders, I think you are the only person that actually read most of the post. He did not know the license was suspended, he was not "double-parking". And we did nothing to provoke the officer. Why would someone assume that when a cop is being an a** solely depends on the civilian "provoking" them?
Don't worry, I read your
Don't worry, I read your post too (unlike transit first) and completely agree. Hopefully Shrapnel will be able to resolve the issues to all involved party's satisfaction.
Unless there's something missing from your story this is a simple case of her being an asshat and I hope she gets a good dressing down for the incident.
Just out of curiosity transit, which part made you think "It was stupid for your "BF" not to keep moving."?
a)"My boyfriend was driving by the drop off area (I repeat drop off area, NOT the red zone), saw me, and continued to slowly move..."
or
b) "...she then puts her foot next to the tire and said, "Are you going to run my foot over?""
It was stupid of the COP to stop someone they were screaming at to keep moving, which they were doing in the first place. In case you still don't get it, consider this:
"At this point, the car is now blocking traffic." & "She then goes on to lecture him of the grave danger of blocking traffic (emergency vehicles can't get through)..." except what has she done but blocked traffic and is now ignoring flagrant lawbreakers (those now using the red zone) in favor of what? Teaching someone a lesson because she's having a bad day? So she congested traffic even further so she could yell at someone about congesting traffic (which they weren't even doing in the first place).
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here is the problem i see
here is the problem i see with this whole situation: it is really just your bf's word vs. the cops. i have been pulled over for "speeding" when i know i wasn't. but the problem is that you go to traffic court and the judge asks you your side of the story and the cops side. and it becomes a total he said/she said. the judge then assumes that i was lying, because what would the cop's motivation be in giving me a ticket for no reason? in my instance, i know the reason. it was 3am on 280 through san jose and he was hoping to nab some drunk drivers. unless the cop has a history of complaints, your bf is probably SOL.
and i do agree with transit first that you should do what a cop tells you to. not because it is always the right thing to do, but because they have a gun, badge and the ability to make your life a living hell if they want to. shitty but true.
That is why I mentioned in a
That is why I mentioned in a above post what you need to "have three or four witnesses". Without which you S.O.L with the judge.
I have considered looking into installing my own "dash cams" for this very reason.
Last I was pulled over it was for not having a front license plate, the officer that did so was never in front of me before be pulled me over.
and i have a sneaking
and i have a sneaking suspiscion this could have all been avoided if the bf STOPPED his car when the cop started berating him. stop the car, acknowledge the cop's presence and apologize for not moving faster when told to do so. maybe even pull at the cop's heartstrings a bit. "i'm very sorry officer. i heard you telling me to move, but i saw my girlfriend running toward the car and i couldn't bear making her wait while i did another lap around the parking lot. she's had a long day at work. i didn't realize i was holding up traffic. i'll be more careful next time." a little cooperation goes a long way. rolling through the loading zone while a copy is trying to talk to you? not so much.
Sooooo, the cops yelling at
Sooooo, the cops yelling at him to move, he IS moving just not fast enough to her liking, so she STOPS him in the way of traffic because she feels he's... stay with me now... IN THE WAY OF TRAFFIC. Huh. Sounds like a rocket scientist.
Yes, be polite. No, don't bend over for authority figures. Respect is earned and politeness is a 2-way street.
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Would you consider sponsoring me for AIDS/Lifecycle 7? http://www.aidslifecycle.org/2145
"Respect is earned and
"Respect is earned and politeness is a 2-way street"
i totally agree with this, but sometimes you have to be the one that shows the respect first. especially when the other person already has the upper hand in the situation. and i would argue that a cop always has the upper hand. i'm not saying the cop was in the right, i'm just playing devil's advocate.
The bottom line is that most
The bottom line is that most cops can and will do about anything they like and we are nearly powerless to do anything about it at the time. The best thing to do is always be cooperative, take mental notes and when the time is right seek legal counsel if you feel you have been wronged. Cops are not interpreters of the law, they only enforce the law in how the see it at the time. Being polite and respectful will go a long way in your interactions with cops, even if they are clearly wrong or doing something illegal. It is not your job to point that out to them, that is what the courts are for. Remember they are people too and have good and bad days, treat them with the respect that you expect to be treated with even if they are not doing the same. Any direct conflict you have with a cop is a losing battle if you disagree with their actions at the time. It's a battle that can't be won, so choose to battle them in the courts where the playing ground is at least a little more even.
boopiejones said: "unless
boopiejones said: "unless the cop has a history of complaints, your bf is probably SOL."
This is very important here, as some Officers do have looooooooooong strings of citizen's complaints. I think this is something worth looking into - who knows? - it just might work out in your favor, if it is the Officer I am thinking of.
Shrapnel
BARTRage.com Co-Moderator
BARTRage.Moderators@gmail.com
New Movie coming about bad
New Movie coming about bad cops.. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0947802/
Chrystal Flanders -"You're Saying it or You're Not! You're a Punk or You're Not!"
The original question from
The original question from the OP was...
Does anyone know where I can submit a complaint against a bart police officer?
Maybe I missed it, but I haven't seen the answer to the original question in this thread.
It's nice for Shrapnell to offer herself up as the BART PD sounding board.
But, I'm willing to bet that ain't her job.
As an autonomous police force, one would think that there is some sort of formal process to lodge complaints.
And, are the complaints which are made open to the public?
Maybe not open during an investigation, but when the matter has finally been resolved.
It should be an open matter because BART is a public agency.
don't taze me bro
jbap21
http://bart.gov/about/police/
http://bart.gov/about/police/phoneNumbers.asp
Internal Affairs: Sergeant David Chlebowski 650.758.4316, dchlebo@bart.gov
To report the misconduct of BART police employees.
Was there ever a resolution
Was there ever a resolution to this?