What do you guys think of this? I didn't really check the sources, is this legitimate? What would you have done?

 

Edited October 24, 201411 yr by Lennox82

Not only is he wasting this officers time, but he's not helping to accomplish by doing this. Rather than help stop real criminals and decrease local crime, he bugs the Police and prevents them from doing their job.

Edited October 25, 201411 yr by CriminalKillaz

Not only is he wasting the time of this officer, but he's not helping accomplish anything with this. Rather than stop real criminals and help decrease local crime, he bugs the Police. 

 

this is the issue in the pacific NW in general, people are so worried about holding others accountable, that they themselves end up looking stupid. Theres a reason for unmarked cars. If he is so worried about the law, why doesnt he go to the city, or the state, and complain to them. If the officer went in and demanded a new car due to what this guy said, he would be laughed at, and sent back out on patrol, and most likely put behind a desk for wasting the captains time. 

This is a legitimate incident that occurred. However, this "constitutional activist" needs to re-read the section of Washington's statues that he's citing, since it contains exceptions from the marking requirements.

 

 

This section shall not apply to vehicles of a sheriff's office, local police department, or any vehicles used by local peace officers under public authority for special undercover or confidential investigative purposes.

 

So all the Sheriff of that county has to do is define that vehicle as being used for undercover traffic enforcement, and it's perfectly legal. A lot of the people you see posting YouTube videos claiming to know the law or advocate Constitutional rights really have no idea what they are talking about or try to take portions of the law out of context to suit their own agenda. The people who actually do know the law, don't make YouTube videos looking for attention trying to show everyone how much they know...

 

 

Edited October 24, 201411 yr by johnclark1102

This is a legitimate incident that occurred. However, this "constitutional activist" needs to re-read the section of Washington's statues that he's citing, since it contains exceptions from the marking requirements.

So all the Sheriff of that county has to do is define that vehicle as being used for undercover traffic enforcement, and it's perfectly legal. A lot of the people you see posting YouTube videos claiming to know the law or advocate Constitutional rights really have no idea what they are talking about or try to take portions of the law out of context to suit their own agenda. The people who actually do know the law, don't make YouTube videos looking for attention trying to show everyone how much they know...

 

If you look at it from a grammatical point of view, it can actually be interpreted as not applying to sheriff or local police departments at all. Basically like this:

 

This section shall not apply to:

• vehicles of a sheriff's office,
• vehicles of a local police department,
• or any vehicles used by local peace officers under public authority for special undercover or confidential investigative purposes

But this can definitely be interpreted in a few different ways, and law makers really need to start writing the law in a way that actually makes sense.

People, such as this individual, waste too much time of police officers and law enforcers internationally. It's simply ridiculous, because these men and women are out to keep the public safe when it comes down to it.

 

Instead of questioning someone who protects him, he should be walking over to thank him...

I think that was totally assinine, the guy was obviously a real sheriff ok you have the right to ask a uniformed officer for an actually i.d. card but to hassle him and give him a surman is not only dehumanizing but totally rediculus

I remember a similar guy baiting Washington State Patrol into stopping him so he could receive a traffic citation and make the argument in court because he had made numerous complaints and nothing was done.  The law was then updated and the Washington State Patrol exemption was added thereafter.  This constitutionist makes a ridiculous argument.  Sure the unit was unmarked, it was awaiting decals and the Sheriff wasn't willing to jeopardize public safety by not having it out on the street.  There is a thing called "The spirit of the law and The letter of the law".  I think this guy needs to keep that in mind when reading any laws.  You have a fully uniformed officer in a vehicle that screams police vehicle, fully equipped, the only thing it didn't possess was agency markings.  I really don't see the issue of them using the vehicle during day time hours and the deputy is in full uniform.   On top of that his complaint shouldn't have been with the deputy, but this is something he should address with the specific agency, maybe even state.  The guy wastes 15 minutes of the deputy's time addressing this minor issue.  It wasn't like the agency wasn't going to comply with the law, it's a matter of having limited budgets and resources and taking care of public safety while juggling these complications.  You have to ask yourself is public safety jeopardized more by having an unmarked police vehicle with a fully uniformed officer patrolling the area in day time hours or by not having that deputy out there and having one less patrol on the road?

This guy should be thankful that he picked a cool and polite officer, some other cops wouldn't have been so nice. But seriously, instead of wasting an officer's time, he could've made a complaint to the actual agency. What makes him think that deputy had any power to do something about the car?

Interesting yet not surprising set of responses from you guys. If I may play the devils advocate here, I'll attempt to side with him due to a couple small points.

 

Impersonation. I'm sure you guys have heard about the incidents where people have been pulled over by unmarked "officers" who weren't officers at all. Then there's the flip side, if I go grab a retired CVPI, that "screams police vehicle" what with the ram bar, steel wheels and spotlight, should that be acceptable in the eyes of the public?

 

It seems we have built up a bit of a grey area, where civilians and officers alike can drive almost identical looking vehicles, and some are taking advantage of it. 

I hope this guy knows that that deputy is probably laughing his ass off after he drove away and he isn't going to do shit about changing his "illegal" unmarked police vehicle. xD

It may be a waste of time for the officer, and a stupid argument, but I agree with the overall message of the author of the video. 

Police in America have this idea that they can and will do whatever the hell they want, and they have this idea because they are never held accountable under the claims of "within their force" and often times "resisting arrest". Accountability within departments and agencies nationwide would surely shape up the disgraceful act many agencies are presenting their citizens with. 

 

I think this officer was very professional and represented his department very well. Unfortunately this cannot be said for every situation and while I am a strong proponent of the idea that the small amount of bad apples outshadow the large amount of good ones, it sure would be nice to see a little more legal action regarding violations of those who serve the public 

I remember I saw a person that purposely got stopped by a trooper just for this. It's ridiculous. They worry about fake cops, just look at them if they're not fully uniformed then they're probably not a cop. And you can always ask for Dept. ID. And the deputy couldn't do anything about it it's the car he was assigned to.

I would so lose my shit if someone told me how to do my job like this. I mean, who he thinks he is to pull over a police officer and lecture him about the law and stuff? Is that the world we are living in? People questioning if cops are right to drive an unmarked car? Who cares about this seriously, besides those dumb guys like this one?

 

EDIT: I actually share the opinion of one of the comments below the video on the youtube page: "So this guy wants to enforce all little bullshit laws?  This cop should follow this asshole everywhere he goes with a marked car and pull him over for one MPH over and whenever he signals too early or too late.  This officer seemed like "one of the good ones" leave him alone." Exactly what I'd do.

Edited October 24, 201411 yr by Hystery

What was he going to accomplish by pulling this cop over, come on people stop acting like you know the law and get some education on it first, my goodness what a complete waste of the offciers time.

At least he was polite about it, instead of most of these "activists" who would start being a dick to the officer, and then cry when the officer yells back.

Man, that citizen pissed me off so hard that I gotta do some UNMARKED LCPDFR patrol right now ! :D :D

Edited October 24, 201411 yr by sebek91

In my region, I swear that just about every police vehicle is unmarked. I've seen more unmarked vehicles than I have marked ones. Australia is very different then the US regarding laws, though.

 

I can't stand people who stop authoritative figures and shove laws in their face like they own the place. As Mathieu Young said in the YouTube comments:

Maybe I should show up to your work, shove a camera in your face and tell you how bad of a job you are doing. This cop is just doing his job and you're harassing him.

Interesting yet not surprising set of responses from you guys. If I may play the devils advocate here, I'll attempt to side with him due to a couple small points.

 

Impersonation. I'm sure you guys have heard about the incidents where people have been pulled over by unmarked "officers" who weren't officers at all. Then there's the flip side, if I go grab a retired CVPI, that "screams police vehicle" what with the ram bar, steel wheels and spotlight, should that be acceptable in the eyes of the public?

 

It seems we have built up a bit of a grey area, where civilians and officers alike can drive almost identical looking vehicles, and some are taking advantage of it. 

 

If you have doubts, you can call up the police department and confirm the person in question is a real cop. In Finland (and I can assume safely a lot of other European countries) we have numerous unmarked units and people don't have a problem with it. Should they have a problem, like I said, they can call up 911/corresponding emergency number.

 

Anyway, the way this guy went on about enforcing his views on the matter was wrong in all honesty. Don't waste a cop's time because of something like this. You could always contact law makers directly, or maybe use other normal channels if you're trying to influence something.

Edited October 24, 201411 yr by Olanov

Second thought I was talking about the wrong video, I am sorry.

 

Edited October 24, 201411 yr by timnboys