I was driving home last night and got off the freeway and into the city (SF) and saw a homeless guy in the middle of the street...he was walking up to the cars that were stopped at the light and was asking for change, etc. Anyway, I rolled down my window and gave him an extra gatorade that I had with me. A cop pulls up next to me and gets on his loudspeaker and tells the homeless guy to get out of the street or he'll cite him and then yells at me on the speaker for "encouraging them while he's trying to keep them safe and on the sidewalk". Right. Anyway, I felt like flipping the cop off and wondered what would have happened. If anything...
2006-08-17 06:29:44 · 25 answers · asked by droconnell 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
Well the point is I'm helping a homeless guy out...for the betterment of mankind...the cop was just being an *** because well, cops are assholes. Point in case. Here's a guy that has no money and can't eat and I'm offering him a drink. The cop should worry about finding the guy that got shot down the street from me and a little less on people trying to help out those less fortunate. So yes, I want to flip the cop off.
2006-08-17 06:38:31 · update #1
A little help is better than no help. Yes I've voluteered at a shelter during school. I'm surprised how inconsiderate and thoughtless people are in the world.
Anyway, traffic was stopped as it's at a stoplight. I'm going to continue to give out free drinks to homeless guys. Most of them have issues that prevent them from getting jobs.
And, one time, I'll probably flip a cop off. Just to see but I appreciate all the answers, flames and stories!
2006-08-17 07:43:58 · update #2
If you flip off a cop in front of other people (or tell him the same sentiment), you can cited or arrested for disorderly conduct or whatever that charge is termed in your area. To stand that charge, some civilian has to have been in the area, as the charge can't stand if there is only the cop - he cannot be offended by the action or words, he protects citizens from this by not himself.
However, if there is no one around and you flip off a cop, you might have to deal with his reaction when no one is around to witness what may come next. Your best bet is to think the cop is a jerk and let it go at that. In most cases, ridiculous cops that do more to hurt the public than help get theirs in the end anyway...
2006-08-17 06:39:27 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Yes you should get a citation for disrespecting a Police Officer. They are NOT a**holes. They have taken on a dirty & dangerous job that few of us could do even once let alone on a daily basis, & most of them love their jobs. It's their job to keep people safe in general, & not to worry about your personal need to unload an extra Gatorade on some guy at the side of the road. It's because of people like you that beggars are able to continue without feeling the need to get a real job. You are NOT benefiting society when you give a beggar a handout, you are enabling him to be a burden on society. If you are so determined to better society, why not try volunteering at a shelter or something & see how long you can stand it. It's a lot different than just tossing out any handout when it's convenient to you, while you tie up traffic.
2006-08-17 06:52:54 · answer #2 · answered by No More 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I understand your frustration and that was nice of you to help that homeless man, but if he had tried to rob you or steal your car, you would have been thankful for that cop(or any other cop)....the cop was trying to keep the homeless person safe by staying away from the cars(he could have been run over)....it's good to know that the cop was just doing his job(Serving and Protecting).
To answer your question about your wondering what would have happened if you "flipped the bird" at the cop....depending on his mood, he might well have given you a warning, ticketed you or even arrested you for that. It's tempting though, isn't it?
2006-08-17 06:52:31 · answer #3 · answered by STRETCH 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A cop can pretty much do whatever they want. Where
I live it is 25 mph going down the road and the cops out here will cite you if you go 1 mile over the speed limit. Now I have seen these cops do 50 down through here. Makes no since. I guess if they make the law, then they can break it.
2006-08-17 06:39:00 · answer #4 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know if you would get a ticket, but when SF cops make a video pretending to run over homeless people, I would say that it might be an indication that they are not trying to ensure their safety or are even interested in doing so. I say he was just being a pain in A**. I say flip em off!
2006-08-17 08:45:19 · answer #5 · answered by Chris S 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Just as you can for sticking out your tongue at a cop, swearing at a cop, or generally "disrespecting" a cop.
The cop was correct, the man should not have been in the middle of the street. Many areas often have panhandling laws as well. You may have been abetting such a crime.
2006-08-17 06:52:10 · answer #6 · answered by Goose&Tonic 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My sister threw a clipboard at a Virginia State Trooper once, and nothing happened to her.
She had gotten a speeding ticket one Monday morning on the way to work. Later in the week, she's pulled over again, and the cop writes her another ticket. She was pissed, so she signed the ticket, ripped off her copy, threw his clipboard at him, and peeled out of the median where he had stopped her. She said she looked in the rear view mirror and he was just standing there with his mouth agape, staring at her driving away.
I don't know how they could cite you for it. You're exercising your first amendment right, right? Now if you had flipped him off and screamed that you were going to kill him and all his fat little piggy friends back at the doughnut shop, yeeeaaaahhh, I imagine he could probably write you a ticket for that. :)
2006-08-17 07:14:45 · answer #7 · answered by brevejunkie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes you can. You can get arrested if you argue with them too. Best to just thank them and move along. They kinda get to decide whether you walk or whether you get arrested.
My best friend got arrested for interfering with an officer when she said "Shame on you!" to a policeman who was ticketing cars that parked on the street in front of a hospital. Nevermind that hospital parking was closed for re-paving.
They threw her into a paddy wagon and left her in it for several hours through a shift change.
They make the rules. You have to do what you're told.
(I don't like it, but it's true.)
2006-08-17 06:41:22 · answer #8 · answered by barbiehow 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would have said some harsh words to the cop and flip him. He might arrest me out of anger, but I can sue for wrongful arrest. Cursing out a cop, or flipping him/her is not a reason for arrest.
2006-08-17 06:38:15 · answer #9 · answered by Jerry H 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, my husband flipped off a cop and then the cop pulled him over and gave him a warning ticket. It's 'harrassment'
2006-08-17 06:35:32 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋