Posted on 01/06/2012 8:10:43 AM PST by Altariel
A Chicago police officer allegedly turned a $132 speeding ticket into a pick-up opportunity when he later tracked down the female driver and asked her out, saying the least he could do for the money he cost her was to treat her to dinner, according to a lawsuit the woman filed in federal court.
Evagelina Paredes filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Chicago, accusing police officer Chris Collins of violating her privacy, according to the Associated Press. She alleges that after she was ticketed on Oct. 22, Collins searched for her address in the motor-vehicle database and left a handwritten note on the windshield of her car, which was parked outside her apartment in the Chicago suburb of Stickney, asking her out on a date.
In the note, a copy of which appeared was included in the court documents and was obtained by the Associated Press, the 27-year-old police officer tried to woo the female driver with humor and a seemingly heartfelt plea.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Doesn't matter if he got her information off the ticket he wrote - that information is CONFIDENTIAL. It was given to him under duress, as part of providing ID for a traffic violation. It was not given to him "personally" - that is a very different thing. It's not a secret, in fact it's virtually "shouted into his face" during training, over and over again. Not just once, not twice; over and over, repeatedly. Private, Confidential, protected, personal - I don't know of any other words to make it more clear.
The mere act of a policeman using this information against another man, woman or child is rehensible. My wife works for the airlines, and has access to practically any politician or celebrity's personal information you can think of. Name the artist, actor, businessman or politian; and chances it's in her company's database. If she's bored at work, and even looks at this our of morbid curiosity - she will be fired. It's literally that bluntly stated. The words "Private and Confidential" have both meaning, and consequences.
Back when I drove a taxicab, we had a few customers who thought they could get away with writing a bad check on us. Not a smart move considering that you had a record of where you dropped them off and picked them up. We eventually caught up with them. Maybe it would be considered stalking today.
“Politely declined, logded a complaint with his superiors and/or local authorities before running off to US District Court to sue? “
And what really would that have accomplished? They would have made fun of him and ignored her. Possibly given her a few more speeding tickets to teach her a lesson.
The cop stalked her.
False assumptions on your part. Did the she willingly and personally provide a potential date with her address, or did she comply with a lawful demand, under duress? What were her choices? She really didn't have a choice, did she?
Now, perhaps you've never dealt with 'personal and private information' as part of your job. If you work in a hospital, you will get private and deeply personal information - can you use this for personal gain? Nope. How about running a credit card at Walmart and getting their address; then stalking your prey to their home? Nope. How about working with the airlines, and looking up the personal information of celebrities, then using that information to stalk them? Nope. In EVERY instance, getting fired is the least of your concerns, and take my word for it "you WILL be fired, on the spot". Additionally, the company may decide to press charges for damage to their reputation, for you abuse of their system. Why should cops be treated any differently?
Now, if she handed him her number/address and said "Call me sometime" - that is something completely different.
He probably is a fan of “Friends.” :)
Broad brush much?
Yup, and if you look at the cover on that book of tickets and carbon paper; you will find a notice that the contents of that book are Personal, Private and Confidential. That information is not now, never was, and never will be the private property of the officer, nor was, is now, nor will ever be, available for the officer to use as he see's fit. And, isn't that the way you would want it?
Or, would you like to have an officer who just doesn't like the way you look, to be able to track you at home, leave intimdating messages on your car, parked outside of your home? Perhaps follow you home, or follow you to work 'as part of his route' he just 'happens' to follow every day? Perhaps a few more tickets to get you to comply to his whims? Maybe follow you into the parking lot where you work and eyeball you as you head in. Follow you to the grocery store, your friend's homes .... After all, you address was in his book; and every time that book get's full - you just 'happen' to run another stop sign.
There is an easy fix- spend a little money and buy a PO Box. Then register your cars and your license to that box. Do not know about other states, but I have done that here in Florida. No home address on either one. Besides this, though, I think one can access home addresses on any People Finder site on the internet. Try it.
This cop (he shouldn’t ever again be called a policeman) is a damned creep. This is nothing more than stalking and intimidation. Any of you out there that think he’s just clumsy are idiots - he’s done this before and will do it again. Nothing but a predator. I hope this lady gets his badge, his gun, his car and his house.
Where did I say they were beyond reproach because they were related to me?
Make false assumptions much?
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing
From personal experience, I can say with relative certainty what would happen is fairly predictable.
1. She calls the Supervisor and files a complaint
2. Supervisor makes fun of the officer, everyone laughs at the officer and makes fun of him.
3. She is now targetted by every cop on the force, to put her 'back in her place'. She will suddenly and 'mysteriously' have more traffic stops, speeding tickets, brake lights out, etc.
4. Cop who used this practice, resumes the practice until the cycle repeats.
And, honestly - I think we will both acknowlege that there are cops that can intimadate single women into getting 'whatever' they want, however 'frequently' they want it; before moving on to the next 'target'.
This insures that the cycle is broken, and sends a clear warning that people in this perpetual cycle have been duly warned.
Thanks. Because I’ve got so many retired cops in my family I am usually the first to admit there are bad ones out there. I learned that listening to stories from my grandfather and father. But based on personal dealings, outside of my own family, I also know that the vast majority are really the good guys.
Give her $1, and her Lawyer can have his $.50 out of that.
So, in order to be free from stalking by officers, using information gleaned under duress - one must resort to the hassle of using a PO Box?
How about the cops be held to the law, like eveyrone else? Also, bear in mind; she had NO CHOICE in giving the officer her full name, as well as her contact information. Something she may, or may not have opted to share if they met under different circumstances. She didn’t have a choice - nor do we.
As for the cyber-sites having your personal information; this can be removed by a simple email. I’ve done it, and my address isn’t listed. And yes, as a matter of fact; I do check on that frequently. Just takes a moment to have your data removed.
First, there's no doubt this is mis-use of info that is confidential.
HOWEVER, hot females are tracked down all the time by ANYONE who has access to their personal information, such as driver's license, license plate registration, credit card applications, etc., etc.
To believe otherwise, you are either a tooth-fairy believer, or a Ron Paul voter.
He had no need to search any database for her address because it was on her drivers license
she alleges that Collins used his position as a police officer to "manipulate" her into going out with him.
How did he manipulate her as a police officer? He didn't offer to void the ticket in exchange for going out, did he? He didn't offer to reduce the speed she was caught driving, did he? He left a note on her car, after the incident and probably on his own time.
Lame, really lame.
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