Posted on 04/14/2014 10:10:47 AM PDT by Half Vast Conspiracy
Lets put it this way, anyone who makes a left turn in front opposing traffic which has the green light right away, when they cannot clearly see the oncoming opposing traffic has a GD suicide wish...
>>Yep, some folks could easily know more than you about the current situation on the ground. When driving, it’s best to assume people know what they are doing until your are fully assured that they are, in fact, idiots.<<
When I was in HS (just after I got my DL), I was in a similar situation. I was cruising along and traffic to my left was stopped. I just shrugged my shoulders and baralled along (just like Ted). And came 1 foot away from killing someone walking in the crosswalk against the light. I was legally right but would have never been able to bear the idea I killed someone.
Now, when I see stopped traffic on either side, I assume they are stopped for a reason. And so far, every time it has been true. 40+ years and counting.
>>I have passed traffic that was stopped in one lane for any number of reasons including people not paying attention to the fact they have a green light. <<
Not a good strategy.
You don't do that!
This is not complex.
Now you know why so many Russians have dash cams!
>>Lets put it this way, anyone who makes a left turn in front opposing traffic which has the green light right away, when they cannot clearly see the oncoming opposing traffic has a GD suicide wish...<<
I said the cop didn’t have to lie. It is a judgement call if he exercised proper caution (we obviously all judge he did not). There were a lot of other issues here until he lied and his comrades lied with him.
That actually makes our little chat rather irrelevant. If I was a defense lawyer and that cop was a Prosecution witness, I would RUN to the courthouse to file an appeal (I know you can’t appeal based on case facts but you might make a technical legal argument that a liar on the stand constitutes misconduct).
I hope he and his jackbooted friends get fired without pension and live out their lives as midnight shift security guards answering to their 22 YO boss, Skippy.
I am pretty sure we agree on THAT!
The intersection described in the article is in Queens, New York, by JFK Airport.
>>Now you know why so many Russians have dash cams!<<
After seeing those guilty pleasure (Lord, talk about binge-watching!) videos I did some research and found out that dash cams are indeed a cheap way of keeping both cops and insurance companies in Russia close to “honest.”
Timetec Road Hawk
http://www.amazon.com/Timetec-Windshield-Dashboard-Camcorder-Microphone/dp/B00CXB186Y
Uh, he lied due to the fact he was completely 100% at fault here.
>>Uh, he lied due to the fact he was completely 100% at fault here<<
As I said, he took it from a judgement call to just plain wrong.
Wrong again.
Anyone who makes a left turn in front opposing traffic which has the green light right away, when they cannot clearly see the oncoming opposing traffic is suicide.
That's exactly why those driving vehicles used in emergencies are supposed to be trained, and not willy nilly pull into the path of right away, green light traffic, if they cannot see it's safe to do so...
You don't do that!
Having spent more than a few years driving emergency vehicles and also researching the actual state laws, Mr BP Officer is totally in the wrong as far as the Uniform Traffic Codes go, which are basically incorporated in most state laws.
Any legally authorized person may use flashing lights and/or audible warning/siren and deviate from the normal traffic patterns, directions, indicators and signals, but in doing so they “must exercise due care and caution” at all times. In practice, this means basically if you get into any kind of accident when your emergency warning equipment is in use, you’re at fault. Automatically. Doesn’t matter what you or anyone else was doing. No excuses. It’s the way the law is written as worded.
I’ve had state troopers, deputy sheriff’s, etc., tell me that they would rather run without lights and siren to an emergency scene, because if *anything* happens, they will be considered at fault, automatically. And their departments won’t or can’t back them up in that case. So they felt safer, both physically and legally, by just running silent, even if it meant exceeding the speed limit or other “violations”.
Although, in court when it comes down to taking the “word” of the officer or the citizen, naturally the black robe tyrant will often side with the officer contrary to evidence or other things. So the cop has no ‘downside’ to making up whatever will save his ass... unless someone has a recording that totally contraverts his story.
It’s also interesting to note that most people who have ever run equipment with lights and sirens agree that those things only make you more of a *target* for idjit drivers. Once you light up, you have to assume that *everyone* is aiming for you.
So this BP officer was immediately at fault because he got into an accident while running with lights/siren. Not using ‘due care and caution’. But unless some witnesses at the accident said otherwise or, as in this case, it was recorded, the BP officer’s “story” could probably win out in court. But he was at fault according to the UTC, and he was at fault in actuality, and it was recorded.
Then he lied about it. Fry him.
I agree with you on both points. I noticed that too.
I am starting to seriously consider getting a dashcam.
The article says that the place where the accident occurred was marked as NO LEFT TURN.
Every day on my way to work I drive on a divided highway with lots of left turn openings, but no left turn lane. It is very common for the left lane to come almost to a complete stop while the right lane continues on at 55, which is the posted limit.
It's a good idea and no longer prohibitively expensive. Millions of Ruskies living in a corrupt police state can't be wrong...
And came 1 foot away from killing someone walking in the crosswalk against the light. I was legally right but would have never been able to bear the idea I killed someone.
Personally, I think walking against the light in any kind of traffic should bring consequences that, at the very least, leave you with a permanent limp.
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