Sandra Bland a turning point ?

Bruv · Post by **Bruv** » Mon Jul 27, 2015 3:05 pm

Why has this not been mentioned on here.....until now ?

Far too many questions unanswered.

Is it normal in the US for somebody to end locked up for a failure to signal ?

Sandy still speaks

Smaug · Post by **Smaug** » Mon Jul 27, 2015 4:06 pm

Bruv;1483307 wrote: Why has this not been mentioned on here.....until now ?

Far too many questions unanswered.

Is it normal in the US for somebody to end locked up for a failure to signal ?

Sandy still speaks

What huge ego's some cops have, especially U.S. cops. One law for them, another for us. Seems to be a world-wide trend in policing AND "justice". This country always seems to pick up America's worst ideas (workfare for one, invading Arab nations for another), and slavishly adopts them. I just hope the Americans don't adopt our bad ideas in exchange!:-5

Post by **LarsMac** » Mon Jul 27, 2015 7:47 pm

When I was growing up in the South, I learned not to talk back to cops. It served me well, many times.

They jut have too much power over you when they stop you, for whatever reason, and they are dangerous people. They have guns, and they are not afraid to use them, and the will get their way, one way or another. Some towns, you knew just to avoid when you were traveling because the cops would screw with anyone the knew was from out of town. Texas cops had a really bad reputation. Same with places like Shreveport Louisiana, and Baton Rouge.

This lady could have used that advice. The cop was out of line, but had she simply said she understood, and she that she would be more mindful, he would have moved on, in search of other prey.

Having said that, this cop should be removed from the force and disciplined. He was way out of line.

Wandrin · Post by **Wandrin** » Mon Jul 27, 2015 10:43 pm

I spent more than a few overnight stays in jail when traveling through the south, back in the day. Long hair and a beard was "justifiable cause", added to whatever signaling or minor violation they would come up with. My vehicle was searched and I was held because someone like me couldn't possibly own a decent vehicle, so there had to be some crime involved. The vehicle always had a somewhat damaging search.

Avoiding Texas on trips between California and Florida was difficult. I learned how to minimize the damage.

G#Gill · Post by **G#Gill** » Tue Jul 28, 2015 3:41 am

I'm sooo glad I don't live in America !

Bruv · Post by **Bruv** » Tue Jul 28, 2015 6:32 am

What a terrible indictment of the people entrusted to serve the community.

This female has left a legacy of videos showing her personality. She wasn't slapping down a shop owners, or crossing junctions at break neck speed, she pulled over at he request of a police officer and got problems for not indicating.

The fact that she was detained overnight, let alone for three days is a crime in itself.

God help America.

cars · Post by **cars** » Tue Jul 28, 2015 3:53 pm

That cop gave the USA LEO's a "black eye"!

FourPart · Post by **FourPart** » Tue Jul 28, 2015 10:40 pm

I reckon the US Police ought to use videos of the UK's Traffic Police as training in their way to handle a stop. Calm, Courteous & Friendly from the start (most of the time anyway). It's that attitude which prevents an incident getting out of hand in the first place. Whenever I see an American Traffic Stop - even on the standard American Traffic Cop shows, their standard approach that they seem to have been trained in is to be confrontational from the start, supposedly to take control of the situation & to be the dominant party in order to establish their authority. The thing is that it clearly doesn't work. When someone is approached in an aggressive manner, they automatically react in kind. It's Human Nature. The opposite is also true. You may have also experienced this when you've been really riled & wanting to have a go at someone on a company's Customer Service line. If you get someone who becomes confrontational the situation rapidly accelerates & the argument becomes heated. However, when someone responds in a calm, courteous, friendly & sympathetic way, you end up feeling guilty about feeling the need to complain. Whenever I answer the phone at work I even make sure I'm smiling first, as even that affects the tone in the voice. Attitude makes the world of difference.

Smaug · Post by **Smaug** » Wed Jul 29, 2015 4:33 am

Couldn't agree more, FourPart. The cop has a gun AND backup if required. Surely it's wiser not to escalate a situation needlessly, unless you're looking for trouble...

Post by **LarsMac** » Wed Jul 29, 2015 7:18 am

I have to say that this cop is not really typical of cops in the US. Yes, we hear about their ilk all the time in the news. But, that is because it is not an everyday encounter.

While I have encounter a few bad cops, some whose names are forever in my memory, I have also known a lot of good guys wearing badges.

Those guys almost never make the news. They are just out there, doing their jobs. The News does, on occasion, se fit to publish a story about a good cop, those don't often sell as well as the bad guys.

And of course, fewer people are killed by good cops.

ZAP · Post by **ZAP** » Wed Jul 29, 2015 10:19 am

I've been stopped a few times for speeding and the cops were always calm and courteous, however I was stopped once in my new Mustang for running a stop sign (which I had not done) and the belligerent cop said I was speeding, which was not true. I happened to be friends with the chief of police and explained what had had happened. Apparently this officer had had complaints about him before. My friend told me to go to the hearing and ask how long it had been since the police cars had been calibrated. It didn't get that far; the arrogant officer didn't even show up. Another time, 2 Hispanic officers stopped my 2 teenage daughters late at night for no reason (they said she was weaving) just to act smart and terrorize my girls. I think in both cases it was Hispanic macho cops showing off their machismo for white girls/women.

Bruv · Post by **Bruv** » Wed Jul 29, 2015 10:39 am

Is it legal in the US to detain anybody for any reason for three days without charge ?

(Apart from Guantanamo.......that's another story)

Post by **LarsMac** » Wed Jul 29, 2015 1:01 pm

Bruv;1483404 wrote: Is it legal in the US to detain anybody for any reason for three days without charge ?

(Apart from Guantanamo.......that's another story)

Not really, but we have so many laws on the books, these days, they can usually think of something should they so desire.

And there was a Supreme Court Decision recently that determined that a cop can request that you exit your vehicle for any reason, and refusing to do so is in violation of a lawful order from a designated officer of the law.

Smaug · Post by **Smaug** » Wed Jul 29, 2015 1:09 pm

LarsMac;1483389 wrote: I have to say that this cop is not really typical of cops in the US. Yes, we hear about their ilk all the time in the news. But, that is because it is not an everyday encounter.

While I have encounter a few bad cops, some whose names are forever in my memory, I have also known a lot of good guys wearing badges.

Those guys almost never make the news. They are just out there, doing their jobs. The News does, on occasion, se fit to publish a story about a good cop, those don't often sell as well as the bad guys.

And of course, fewer people are killed by good cops.

Well, they say bad news travels like wild-fire, good news travels slow...

Bruv · Post by **Bruv** » Wed Jul 29, 2015 4:33 pm

LarsMac;1483424 wrote: Not really, but we have so many laws on the books, these days, they can usually think of something should they so desire.

And there was a Supreme Court Decision recently that determined that a cop can request that you exit your vehicle for any reason, and refusing to do so is in violation of a lawful order from a designated officer of the law.

Nobody is allowed to remain under detention for longer than 24 hours before being charged with a crime in the UK.

I think there are exceptions for suspected murder or terrorist suspects.

During that period you are able to get legal advice and contact with next of kin.

I suspect there are breaches of these rights, but the detention of a person without legal representation or notifying a third party, is horrifying to anyone with a sense of right and wrong.

Snowfire · Post by **Snowfire** » Fri Jul 31, 2015 8:55 am

An excellent article if you look further than the headline and might go someway to explain why so many people lose their life or are imprisoned for minor infringements of the law

Police Shootings Won't Stop Unless We Also Stop Shaking Down Black People | Mother Jones

Bruv · Post by **Bruv** » Fri Jul 31, 2015 9:45 am

You can't walk on the roadway if there is a sidewalk, and if there is not a sidewalk, they must walk on the left side of the roadway. They must walk on the right of the crosswalk. They can't conduct a barbecue in the front yard and can't have an alcoholic beverage within 150 feet of a barbecue. Kids cannot play in the street. They also have restrictions against pants being worn below the waist in public. Cars must be within 500 feet of a lamp or a source of illumination during nighttime hours. Blinds must be neatly hung in respectable appearance, properly maintained, and in a state of good repair."

They are due a regime change with such laws on the books.

How can invade other lands promoting freedom ?

Smaug · Post by **Smaug** » Fri Jul 31, 2015 10:08 am

Bruv;1483561 wrote: They are due a regime change with such laws on the books.

How can invade other lands promoting freedom ?

I must admit it does sound rather hypocritical; "Do as I say, not as I do" springs to mind here...

As does a quote from Shakespeare....

“But man, proud man,

Dress'd in a little brief authority,

Most ignorant of what he's most assur'd—

His glassy essence—like an angry ape

Plays such fantastic tricks before high heaven

As makes the angels weep; who, with our spleens,

Would all themselves laugh mortal.

Most apt, IMO.

Bruv · Post by **Bruv** » Fri Jul 31, 2015 12:23 pm

Smaug;1483565 wrote: I must admit it does sound rather hypocritical; "Do as I say, not as I do" springs to mind here...

As does a quote from Shakespeare....

“But man, proud man,

Dress'd in a little brief authority,

Most ignorant of what he's most assur'd—

His glassy essence—like an angry ape

Plays such fantastic tricks before high heaven

As makes the angels weep; who, with our spleens,

Would all themselves laugh mortal.

Most apt, IMO.

Or jumped up little Hitlers for short ?

Smaug · Post by **Smaug** » Fri Jul 31, 2015 2:24 pm

Bruv;1483575 wrote: Or jumped up little Hitlers for short ?

Yeah, I can go with that!