So you think it’s OK to run down police officers?
The reason this law exists is because a number of police officers in the past have been struck by passing vehicles while they were standing next to a driver’s door giving a ticket.
Ideally, the officer should have the offender pull over into a parking lot, but that isn’t always possible. Most of the time the car pulls over onto the shoulder of the road, which means the officer must stand on the edge of the roadway while cars zoom past him only inches away (literally, only inches away) from his body.
How would you feel if you were standing next to a car, and car after car (driven by complete strangers) were passing withing just a few inches of you? The danger of the officer being clipped by a fender or mirror is high. Even at only 20 miles an hour, the damage done to someone hit by a car can be serious.
This is a safety issue for police officers. The fine is high, because it’s the only way to get the message across to the thick-headed that you need to watch out for police officers if they are standing on the side of the road interacting with a citizen.
Normally, I’m opposed to governments using traffic citations as money-making opportunities (which most are), but this is a time when a high fine is called for (imho).
RE: So you think it’s OK to run down police officers?
How did you conclude that from my post? SHEESH !
The reason this law exists is because a number of police officers in the past have been struck by passing vehicles while they were standing next to a driver’s door giving a ticket.
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So explain, if you please, how your scenario constitures an emergency.
If anything, the cop is creating an emergency (where none existed) endangering himself, the poor slob getting a ticket, and hundreds of other motorists who must take quick and evasive action.
This is a bad law.