Posted on 02/28/2003 12:25:11 PM PST by Husker24
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol has ticketed a man who had helped motorists get their cars unstuck during a recent snowstorm.
According to a report on KOTV-TV, Doug Jones was just trying to assist his neighbors get out of a ditch using his four-wheel drive vehicle, but ended up with a $117 ticket.
Jones says a friend called him Sunday asking for help pulling his son's car out of a ditch. Pulling onto highway 169, Jones found the car and pulled it to safety.
"There was a trooper who pulled up behind us about 150-200 feet and turned his lights on," Jones told KOTV. "He never got out, never said anything, so, after we got him out, we unhooked and I left."
Seeing a woman stuck further down the road, Jones stopped to help her, too. He then saw a couple stuck and stopped to help them. It was at that point, according to the report, that a trooper approached Jones and informed him that he had been warned about being in the road and that he now was being ticketed for improperly parking.
A report in the Oklahoman newspaper quotes Jones as saying the officer "came up and started to throw an uncontrollable fit."
Said Jones, "I was sitting there thinking that I'm just out here trying to help and getting chastised for it. This is the way I was brought up, to try to help your neighbor and that's what I teach my kids, but I don't know what do to."
Jones says he was not warned by the first officer but that if he had been, he would have taken the warning to heed.
According to KOTV, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol appreciates Good Samaritans helping out, but says safety must come first.
Trooper Mike Harrell told the station that a motorist must be ticketed "if it starts causing problems with vehicles trying to avoid them and running off the road. We appreciate their help, but there's a time and place for you to try to help."
Jones says he didn't like getting the ticket, but what was worse was having to drive off, leaving the couple still stuck in the snow. The Highway Patrol points out that keeping people out of the road is for the safety of the Good Samaritans, too, and that tow trucks have lights and safety equipment to make the process safer.
KOTV reports that the original story about Jones' ticket generated livid e-mail and phone calls from viewers. The station says people have offered to sign petitions, protest and even pay the ticket for Jones.
Jones, who says he will fight the ticket in court, says he's most upset about the way he was treated by the trooper.
"I would probably do it again," he said. "I'm not for bucking against law enforcement, cause they have a job to do, but, if I saw someone in need, I would help."
We had several accidents in Arkansas this week during an ice storm.
In one incident, a city policeman was injured while assisting a motorist.
In another, a state legislator struck and killed three people - a stranded motorist and two people who were trying to help.
These are not police officers; They are bureaucrats whose only function is to generate revenue for the state by "citing" people for victimless crimes like driving 60 in a 55 zone.
Ask yourself what kind of person would want to take a job like that.
Answer: The kind of person who likes to carry guns and wield absolute power over other people.
In a different society, these would be the same people leading Jews to the gas chambers because it was "their job".
Bottom line - the tow company did all it could to ensure they kept the car from moving (in order to gain ownership through lein sale). I fixed everything, and gave 'em the finger on my way out. Pissed the tow guy off something awful. Then, I learned later that he's the brother-in-law of the police chief, and the seizing and resale of cars coming from Mexico has been quite profitable for them.
I hate theft, but theft under the color of authority should be met with capital punishment.
Well said! Here in Taxconsin we're debating if we should get rid of our state highway patrol completely.
IMO Highway Patrol is a waste of money, considering that county Sheriff's Depts already handle some highway functions.
They said that it takes money away from other people with contracts to tow.
It's a good thing we hav the WOD, otherwise this might have happened! ;-)
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