Do you report the police?
By maezee
@maezee (41997)
United States
March 22, 2012 7:26am CST
I had a childhood friend who would call in (report) cops who broke traffic laws, such as turning on red lights (when no turning is allowed) or turning their lights on for a millisecond to get through a red stop light. I saw one cop earlier this morning, about a block away from my job, who turned his flashers on to get through a red light and then promptly turned them off after he got through the light. It's kind of like abusing their power and taking advantage of it.
This friend in question used to write down their vehicle number and call the precinct and complain. I kind of envied her for her bravado in this. I was thinking about calling this one in this morning, but I am somewhat lazy and it didn't really affect me personally I guess.
Is this something you would do?
1 person likes this
11 responses
@lampar (7584)
• United States
23 Mar 12
In my opinion, complain about police breaking traffic law is just a waste of time here, nothing will change and probably after you hang off the phone, the beat cop on the other end of the line will immediately forget about ever talk to you at all. You don't really believe the department is going to take any action to discipline one of their own for traffic violation, do you?? They probably is going to make your life miserable just for reporting, like filling out many pages of document, interview, and personal harassment to teach you a lesson for doing your civic duty. 
@lampar (7584)
• United States
24 Mar 12
It will be a miracle for police department to be interested investigate one of their own for traffic law violation. In real life scenario, even in a case you have information that point to the involvement of a cop on a very violent crime, the police department may not even believe in you and care to pay much attention to your statement, let alone a traffic light run.
@honest_efforts100 (1607)
• India
5 Jul 12
At the end of the day police men and women are society’s role models. A police officer ignoring to abide by the law should be immediately reported. Do you mean to say you noticed this and just ignored it? Its actions like this that put third world countries where they are. We do not have such luxuries as reporting police officers. If you have such opportunities you should really take advantage of them.
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
23 Mar 12
When it's small things that don't harm others, I don't worry about it. I just assume that they might have a valid reason for not having their sirens on the whole trip (maybe they are responding to a non-urgent call) and don't really think about it.
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
29 Mar 12
I see those all the time here. Not only police, but sometimes I see firetrucks and ambulances. Sometimes it irks me, specially when I'm on a traffic line up, and they just pass along with their sirens, and then you see them turn it off after they pass through whatever it was causing traffic.
I wouldn't say all of them do it, but there's definitely some who abuse it.
If I weren't too lazy, I would report it!
@Elviswangboy (24)
•
23 Mar 12
in my opinion,you do not need to call the police.if you call the police,they only ask the simple question ,and then,they leave and ask you to wait the result that they will inform you as soon as possible.they don't care about it,if you can solve the problem.it is the way i do.
@rpaler (30)
• Philippines
23 Mar 12
We should. It's just like voting,it's our duty to so. Change must begin somewhere, maybe no one will act on it, but maybe someone will. But that won't happen unless someone begins the process by reporting those violations.
There have been a lot of officers lately which have been caught on camera with their various violations and they have been reprimanded or dismissed from service because they got reported.
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
22 Mar 12
I have heard of people doing that in the past but it is not something I would personally do unless it was something that could be harmful or dangerous. I'd rather just leave them be as they are human, and go through the same emotions we do. While I do not think it's fair to put on their siren just to get through a light, I don't see the harm in it as long as they aren't doing it to try to get around people either.
@WakeUpKitty (8694)
• Netherlands
22 Mar 12
It's not that I am lazy but also I don't call the police that easily.
I think they have better things to do and you should not call for every small thing.
Many things we can solve ourselves and also there are times I make mistakes too.
So it depends when I call or not.
I think it's well known all over the world that cops abuse their power the way you described but it's also well known that mostly you loose the case as a normal citizen.
@thelmadacullo112659 (642)
• Philippines
22 Mar 12
Maybe i wont report it.I will just wait that he will be caught by police and make clearical investigation..Let them solved it for they know more than us........
Thats there job as well..........
@god_is_good (683)
• Philippines
22 Mar 12
As I was reading your wonderful post about your experience, it made me think of the days when I witnessed some irregularities that I should have done something. I am one of those guys who want to abide by the laws of the land. It saddens me and bring out the police-blood in my d.n.a when I see people breaking laws just to get what they want. The problem I have is that when I witness some of these, I don't have much time to do it, or I think of negative things. I hope that when I see illegal things going on that I will make time to report to the nearest police station, or call if I can. Good day Maezee.
