Police used Taser on pregnant driver (Seattle)

The Seattle P.I. ^ | May 10, 2005 | HECTOR CASTRO

[Old Mountain man]

Talk about a sexual harassment suit!

8-)

[kdot]

We have to draw a line somewhere. Argue about the specific mph all you want, but where I live, the school zones are congested. Not only are there kids and busses around, there are people trying to enter/exit the school driveway. Like it or not, there is a public safety concern and the speed limit slows everyone down for a reason.

As far as limits posted according to what "safety dictates", who decides? What is safe for some may not be safe for others. We elect people to run governments to decide.

[Old Mountain man]

I already know that. Now define the action you would have take place instead. Bearing in mind that speeding through a school zone is one of those pesky little misdemeanors that can get your or my children killed. And that probably the law in the State of Washington requires either a signature in lieu of bail or posting bond to assure appearance in court.

Now, back to the question at hand: what would you have the officer do?

[Atlas Sneezed]

What would you have the officers do?

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Put away the radar unit, and spend some time enforcing the traffic laws that pertain to public safety, and only those speed offenses that are obviously unsafe.

Don't insist on a signature, and testify that the signature was refused.

[Chieftain]

I drive through 2 school zones everyday. Even 20 MPH is too fast when kids don't pay attention to traffic.

[Old Mountain man]

Your comments are extremely interesting. Now, suppose the law in Washington State requires either a signature on the ticket in lieu of bond for a misdemeanor traffic arrest, or a bond posted, what would you have the officer do? He has a burden on him placed there by the State of Washington to arrest the driver, and to legally secure her appearance in court. Should she refuse the signature, she and she alone is placing the additional burden upon the officer to use reasonable and necessary force to place the driver under physical control.

So, with all these givens, what would you have the officer do? Use a nightstick?

[marvlus]

What would you have the officers do?

It looks like you got plenty of answers in your question to me, all of which support my assertion that it was wrong to taser an eight month pregnant woman. The woman could have been arrested at home at a later time, or perhaps backup should have been called in this case. I'll ask my son, who is a police officer, what he would have done, and report back to this thread.

[Old Mountain man]

I am certainly glad that you do not think enforcing speed limits through school zones is important. Please be advised that the rest of us with children do, however, think it is extremely important.

[processing please hold]

Talk about a sexual harassment suit!

Lololol. Never thought of that. You're probably right.

[MEGoody]

"32 isn't endangering anyone unless there are special circumstances."

How often do you drop your kids off at school?

[Lazamataz]

Tow the car.

NOT taser the chick.

[Old Mountain man]

You would not beat mine.

Your signature was in lieu of bail.

[Old Mountain man]

You ever try to hook up a wrecker to a car with a woman at the wheel with her keys in her possession? You really do want to get somebody killed, don't you.

[Old Mountain man]

Well, I've never liked tasers. Too chancy for my tastes. I would have used a triangle hold with a nightstick. No bruises, no damage because you are not striking the individual and immediate compliance. Then the war would have been over and I would definitely not let her ever sign a ticket again.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Argue about the specific mph all you want, but where I live, the school zones are congested. Not only are there kids and busses around, there are people trying to enter/exit the school driveway. Like it or not, there is a public safety concern and the speed limit slows everyone down for a reason.

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MOST school zones, MOST of the time (during the enforceable hours) are not congested, and there are no children present to generate an enhanced risk justifying abnormally low speeds.

Your mention of a "reason" is usually not justified.

What I don't get is how these kids survive the portion of their walk to and from school that is not in the school zone.

What I observe of student behavior outside of schools (when they are actually present by the street, and when going slow is important) is that they seem to have been taught a contempt for automobiles. Could the leftists at the front of the classroom be teaching kids the same values held by the leftists who rail against cars in favor of socialist transit?

[Atlas Sneezed]

Even 20 MPH is too fast when kids don't pay attention to traffic.

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And 30 is too slow when there aren't kids in or near the street.

[Atlas Sneezed]

How often do you drop your kids off at school?

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Poor rhetoric. Dropping moppets is not needed to comprehend traffic engineering safety principles.

[Atlas Sneezed]

You would not beat mine.

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That is what the arrogant cops thought when they faced me in court (or ducked the trial, knowing their sloppy or dishonest case would not hold up.)

[sam_paine]

No. I'm trying to help you. You've already stated that tasering her was wrong. Good for you!

Now you need to admit that 32MPH is not an absolutely dangerous speed...if that were so, then there would not be 35MPH school zones ANYWHERE.

[Lazamataz]

You ever try to hook up a wrecker to a car with a woman at the wheel with her keys in her possession? You really do want to get somebody killed, don't you.

Boot her car.

Now what's she gonna do????

A thinking cop will have solutions other than tasering her.

I know, I know.... the impossibility of a "thinking" cop....