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[The Kraken]

OK, TJ, I have to ask . . .

Do the tears really work?

I have a 17 year old daughter who is really a very good driver.

I was riding with her one day and she thought she'd made a traffic transgression. Anyway a patrol car came up behind her and hit the blues. Fortunately, he was after the person in front of her.

The tears came welling up!

I know there are tears and there are "tears", but can you differentiate between the two, and, if so, do sometimes they just tug at the heart strings and the "good side" of you take over???

You don't really have to answer this question if you prefer not.

the K

 

[lowwall]

Where can I get real handcuffs? I just have the velcro ones now and my husband says I get out of them too easily.

Where else but http://www.handcuffwarehouse.com

I suggest the Hiatt-Thompson model CL, available in a wide array of colors.

"You gonna' relax or do I have to get out the pink cuffs?"

 

[TJcop]

OK, TJ, I have to ask . . .

Do the tears really work?

I have a 17 year old daughter who is really a very good driver.

I was riding with her one day and she thought she'd made a traffic transgression. Anyway a patrol car came up behind her and hit the blues. Fortunately, he was after the person in front of her.

The tears came welling up!

I know there are tears and there are "tears", but can you differentiate between the two, and, if so, do sometimes they just tug at the heart strings and the "good side" of you take over???

You don't really have to answer this question if you prefer not.

the K

Tears don't change anything that I do. Just this week I stopped a lady for speeding. She was very emotional, and told me that her life is all messed up right now due to a divorce, financial issues, etc...and the tears came a flying.
Now, not to sound completely cold hearted, I did tell her that I understand the difficult situation that she's in. And she mentioned that she understood that I was only doing what I'm supposed to be doing. We came to a mutual understanding, and everyone walked (drove) away happy. I still wrote her a ticket, but she was cited for a much slower speed than what she was actually going.
The tears didn't do it...her honesty did. And it's very easy to tell the difference between true tears (like this lady) and the "tears", usually from the young female drivers.

PS: Yes, young girls may actually be crying, but it's not because of me, it's because they know that their parents are goinog to murderlize them when they hear from me.

 

[Arete]

As for a non car related one, how do police feel about drug policy? Are stricter penalties the answer, or regulation? I ask because a few years ago Sydney had a heroin safe injecting room set up, and I was wondering how the police felt about that sort of facility being in place. Are dependant drug users criminals, suffering from an illness or both? Do you treat them differently than other criminals?

Oh and I come from a city where gun ownership is highly restricted and everyday people just don't have guns. However the criminals do have them (although they are in such high demand that private security guards have been held up simply to steal their handguns). Would you prefer to police a community with or without easy access to guns? How do you as a police officer feel about gun control?

Cans of worms I know, but I'd be interested.

 

[TJcop]

Arete, it's funny that you brought up gun control issues. Now, without making a major plug here, I am going to cover this topic on next weeks podCop episode. The same question was sent in by a listener, so I was going to answer it in the Ask A Cop segment of the show (www.podcop.net). But, my short answer is: I like the idea of concealed carry.

The drug issue is a difficult one. The problem isn't always the drug, it's what people do to GET the drugs. So, while people are high and not causing problems, I guess I don't care what they do to themselves. However, when they go and burglarize a home, steal a car, hold up a store, etc. so they can buy the drugs...that's when I have a problem.

 

[lowwall]

Bravo, TJ on both answers. I used to shoot action pistol when I lived in Los Angeles. I can't believe I ended up in one of the most reflexively anti-gun places in the U.S.

And I always kept my guns and my drugs rigorously separated.

 

[tiberiu]

I am in seattle wa. Do you know where I can read about regulation of how to keep a gun ( pistol ) in your car ( i have concealed weapon permit ) . What about when you are at work ? Does the gun have to be unloaded while is locked in the glove compartment and the car doors are locked ? or can it stay loaded ? If you can give me some links where I can read more. thank you

 

[Blitz]

You can read it in the RCW, but I strongly caution you not to leave a weapon in the car, loaded or unloaded.

 

[tiberiu]

You can read it in the RCW, but I strongly caution you not to leave a weapon in the car, loaded or unloaded.

I can't take it with me inside the building because there is regulation no fire arms alowed on property and that will only leave me with the choice of leaving the gun at home when I go to work .

 

[Kwbyron]

What happens when the person pulled over has a permit? who gets the ticket? or do you usually just lecture the new driver?