Noise snare law now in effect in Calgary

[hmmhmmcamo]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

My argument is that they are essentially running red lights for no good reason. Are cops now above the law because they're hurting for coffee?

It doesn't make any sense to have a cop sitting at a red light if it's safe for them to cross with their lights on. At the very least doesn't it give the less experienced officers a chance to practice driving through red lights but in a non emergency situation?

[JohnnyB]

Originally Posted by hmmhmmcamo

It doesn't make any sense to have a cop sitting at a red light if it's safe for them to cross with their lights on. At the very least doesn't it give the less experienced officers a chance to practice driving through red lights but in a non emergency situation?

It doesn't make any sense to have anyone sitting at a red light if it's safe for them to cross.

[Ozy_Flame]

I'm actually shocked that there is support for cops using their sirens to run red lights in order to get Tim Hortons, a non-emergency situation that does not call for breaking the rules. Unless this is some sort of joke, colour me surprised.

[DownInFlames]

Police, and other first responders, get in accidents going through red light with lights and siren while responding to emergencies. In that case it's the other motorists fault for not yielding to an emergency vehicle, but if you found out the cop wasn't responding to an emergency how fast would you sue?

Seriously, entering an intersection when you have a red light is very dangerous. No one should ever do it unless you have a damn good reason, and getting your Timmies in definitely not one.

[vanisleflamesfan]

Originally Posted by jammies

I want to set up one of those clothesline traps on my street; when buddy decides to take his noisemaking machine down the street at 3 AM, I could just press a button and have him decapitated by the razor wire that would spring up at neck height.

That seems both a measured and reasonable approach to the problem. Who will miss these d-bags? My guess would be: no one.

Lots of people: MMA fight promoters, Spray-on tan salons, vendors of white sunglasses, hairstylists who specialize in the 'faux-hawk', manufacturers of mens t-shirts with glitter, steroid dealers, neck tatoo artists, and the many, many women who love them.

[stampsx2]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Cops who use their sirens to cheat through a red light because they can't wait like everyone else should be getting fined for that too. I've seen that happen enough times to know that they're just as guilty as ######bag bikers and monster truck drivers.

I've seen them using cell phones in their cars, failing to signal on mcknight and not coming to a complete stop at a stop sign on their bikes. I see so much of it it makes me want to get a dash cam for a while.

I'm not gullible enough to believe their cell phone use is just for business.

I know there are a lot of cops that play by the rules. It's the ones that don't that stick out like a sore thumb and ruin it for the rest.

[metallicat]

Do you follow all the traffic rules, all the time? I'm just asking.

I find it funny that people complain so much about police doing this or not doing that, but they break the same rules themselves. And then there's the ol' complain about them going through red lights, when there could be perfectly plausible reasons for it. Yet for whatever reason, it's always them going to Tim's. I've never once seen a cop do that. Go through red lights and shut the lights off? Sure, loads of times. But then I just assume that they either got cancelled or they don't want people to hear them coming.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by oilers_fan

Do you follow all the traffic rules, all the time? I'm just asking.

I find it funny that people complain so much about police doing this or not doing that, but they break the same rules themselves. And then there's the ol' complain about them going through red lights, when there could be perfectly plausible reasons for it. Yet for whatever reason, it's always them going to Tim's. I've never once seen a cop do that. Go through red lights and shut the lights off? Sure, loads of times. But then I just assume that they either got cancelled or they don't want people to hear them coming.

I think it'd be kind of naive to think they don't use their lights to go through reds when there's no traffic coming the other direction. I've seen pretty blatant examples of it, and while it is plausible that they got a call then it was cancelled, it's not very likely the times Ive seen it.

However, who cares if they do it? They're driving around looking for crime, and put their lives on the line for us, so you know what? Go through that light when there's no danger, because we know you'll be the one racing in the direction of danger when everyone else is running the other way.

The other thing to keep in mind is they're professionally trained drivers, and can handle high speed pursuit, and getting info off their computer while driving to a call or pursuing a suspect. It's not like they're the 18 year old idiot, sitting at a green light for five seconds while blabbing on the phone.

[Minnie]

Originally Posted by flameswin

The other thing to keep in mind is they're professionally trained drivers...

Here's one we saw on Friday which I can't for the life of me figure out. Heading north on Metis Trail, having just come off McKnight. Middle lane. Far right lane is completely empty. My lane and the left lane are busy.

Cop comes flying up behind us all, lights flashing (no sirens) and instead of taking the empty right lane, heads into the left lane, and all the traffic makes a beeline into my lane to get out of his way - which is fine, it wasn't busy there, so everyone had room/time to get over. He goes flying up to almost 64th and then goes screaming across every lane of traffic, into the right hand turn lane, causing all the turning traffic to either do a brake stand to avoid hitting him, or they made for the shoulder.

I should also mention that I was glancing into my rear view mirror watching for an ambulance, and sure enough, here comes one not far behind, and he used the still relatively empty right hand lane.

I was a bit agog that the cop didn't just use the empty right hand lane especially since he needed to turn right at 64th anyway. Perhaps he had good reason but holy cow, he nearly took out a bunch of vehicles with that move.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Minnie

Here's one we saw on Friday which I can't for the life of me figure out. Heading north on Metis Trail, having just come off McKnight. Middle lane. Far right lane is completely empty. My lane and the left lane are busy.

Cop comes flying up behind us all, lights flashing (no sirens) and instead of taking the empty right lane, heads into the left lane, and all the traffic makes a beeline into my lane to get out of his way - which is fine, it wasn't busy there, so everyone had room/time to get over. He goes flying up to almost 64th and then goes screaming across every lane of traffic, into the right hand turn lane, causing all the turning traffic to either do a brake stand to avoid hitting him, or they made for the shoulder.

I should also mention that I was glancing into my rear view mirror watching for an ambulance, and sure enough, here comes one not far behind, and he used the still relatively empty right hand lane.

I was a bit agog that the cop didn't just use the empty right hand lane especially since he needed to turn right at 64th anyway. Perhaps he had good reason but holy cow, he nearly took out a bunch of vehicles with that move.

Maybe he was in the left lane because hightailing it up the right lane is way more dangerous for everyone. And maybe he made a sudden turn on 64th because the scanner told him that that was the newest and closest cutoff route to whatever emergency he was responding to.

[Minnie]

I hope so. It was a bit scary to watch.

[JohnnyB]

Originally Posted by flameswin

I think it'd be kind of naive to think they don't use their lights to go through reds when there's no traffic coming the other direction. I've seen pretty blatant examples of it, and while it is plausible that they got a call then it was cancelled, it's not very likely the times Ive seen it.

However, who cares if they do it? They're driving around looking for crime, and put their lives on the line for us, so you know what? Go through that light when there's no danger, because we know you'll be the one racing in the direction of danger when everyone else is running the other way.

The other thing to keep in mind is they're professionally trained drivers, and can handle high speed pursuit, and getting info off their computer while driving to a call or pursuing a suspect. It's not like they're the 18 year old idiot, sitting at a green light for five seconds while blabbing on the phone.

I would care if they do that. My memories of Calgary are that half the time cops are driving around looking for traffic offences. Police have authority in virtue of what the laws they represent and act in defence of. It's terribly unprofessional and disrespectful of those same laws for them to break them while enforcing them upon others.

If I was a cop I'd be annoyed about a colleague doing that kind of thing. The implicit message is the law isn't worth respecting but only their power is.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by JohnnyB

I would care if they do that. My memories of Calgary are that half the time cops are driving around looking for traffic offences. Police have authority in virtue of what the laws they represent and act in defence of. It's terribly unprofessional and disrespectful of those same laws for them to break them while enforcing them upon others.

If I was a cop I'd be annoyed about a colleague doing that kind of thing. The implicit message is the law isn't worth respecting but only their power is.

Well they are human and just because they wear a badge doesn't mean they are the most competent of people. I see them on their cell phones while driving, turning/changing lanes all the time without signalling, making illegal U-turns for no apparent reason. Not sure you will ever be able to remove the human element from the job as a lot of these guys follow traffic laws no better than the rest of us.

[jammies]

This thread needs to get away from talking about cops and their driving, and back to coming up with scenarios where loud motorbikes and their riders are crushed by giant, angry robots.

[Ducay]

I think we can all agree that at the end of the day, Ozy's original assessment that cops are the same as dbag motorbikers is pretty ridiculous and wrong. There. Settled.

Now back to motorbike vigilantism; would you say a banana or a plantain is more suited to blocking a straight-pipe?

[Ozy_Flame]

Not ridiculous. You are spinning my words.

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Not ridiculous. You are spinning my words.

I hate continually derailing the thread, but, how so? You put cops and 500dB motorbikes in the same catagory, which is totally unwarranted.

You have no idea where the cops are going, and if saving them 2 minutes here and there allows them to reach one extra call in a shift, its all worth it. Sure it might grind your gears, but these guys put their lives on the line every day, show some respect. End of story.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Ducay

I hate continually derailing the thread, but, how so? You put cops and 500dB motorbikes in the same catagory, which is totally unwarranted.

You have no idea where the cops are going, and if saving them 2 minutes here and there allows them to reach one extra call in a shift, its all worth it. Sure it might grind your gears, but these guys put their lives on the line every day, show some respect. End of story.

I said its ######y when they unnecessarily run red lights when they don't have to. I know a few cops who have done this. Not all cops do it but it does happen. And using sirens to go through red lights to do it should be punishable. Extremely unnecessary danger.

You advocate cops can do this even if they need Tim Hortons. This is the most ridiculous opinion I've ever heard on the board.

You are wrong. Dead wrong.

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

I said its ######y when they unnecessarily run red lights when they don't have to. I know a few cops who have done this. Not all cops do it but it does happen. And using sirens to go through red lights to do it should be punishable. Extremely unnecessary danger.

You advocate cops can do this even if they need Tim Hortons. This is the most ridiculous opinion I've ever heard on the board.

You are wrong. Dead wrong.

Well first off, they're not going to be blowing dangerously through the light if they're not being called, they usually go when its safe and clear.
Perhaps my wording on the Tims subject wasn't well worded. Sure they might be going to grab a bite, they might be responding to a non-urgent call, or a robbery. Again, if they're proceeding safely, how are you to know where they're going. Its saving them time and getting them to another call quicker. If they're doing it dangerously, sure, that might be something to discuss, but Ive never seen one do something outright risky if they're not responding to an urgent call.

The fact of the matter isn't my argument, but rather the other scum who you're lumping them in with, that is so wrong.

[Table 5]

Man, I wish there was a snare for the noise in this thread.