The official "Ask a cop/deputy anything!" thread

[premier3is]

Originally Posted by Sara

Dang. Good to know.

Does that same rule apply for watches? If I’m reading and replying to a text on my watch, I can’t get in trouble, right?

Or... you know... maybe don't text while driving and keep your eyes on the road? Just a smart thought there.

[premier3is]

Originally Posted by Murf993

When I was working on night shift if I had a hankering my go to was a slice of Hawaiian. That being said, downtown Toronto has some great pizza places will some killer pie.

I had respect for you.... until you said Hawaiian pizza. Let's not start the "should pineapple be on pizza" topic.

[Sara]

Originally Posted by premier3is

Or... you know... maybe don't text while driving and keep your eyes on the road? Just a smart thought there.

I can dictate or read a text on my watch while in the 20 minute long line at the drive thru at McDonalds. There is nothing wrong with that and I'm sure 99% of parents also do it.

[premier3is]

Originally Posted by cmyx6go

Drives me batshit crazy! Put the phone down and drive. What the F is so impotent you have to text or read while driving. I see it every single day.

I wonder how people are that selfish who can't wait to text till they stop driving. I don't give a fuck if they put themselves in danger, because they don't care about themselves clearly, but they are putting others in danger for their actions.

[vreihen16]

Originally Posted by premier3is

I wonder how people are that selfish who can't wait to text till they stop driving. I don't give a fuck if they put themselves in danger, because they don't care about themselves clearly, but they are putting others in danger for their actions.

Hang up and drive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!

[premier3is]

Originally Posted by Sara

I can dictate or read a text on my watch while in the 20 minute long line at the drive thru at McDonalds. There is nothing wrong with that and I'm sure 99% of parents also do it.

How about the part where you stated earlier you "text at red lights..."? Is there not a problem with that too?

[Murf993]

Originally Posted by premier3is

I had respect for you.... until you said Hawaiian pizza. Let's not start the "should pineapple be on pizza" topic.

I know, I'm damaged goods. You're not the first one who lost respect for me....you should talk to my ex-wives.

[Fly320s]

Originally Posted by premier3is

I wonder how people are that selfish who can't wait to text till they stop driving. I don't give a fuck if they put themselves in danger, because they don't care about themselves clearly, but they are putting others in danger for their actions.

Hang up and drive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!

Have you two thought about how many times a day you get distracted while driving? Strictly speaking, all of these acts can be categorized as distracted driving, if you take your eyes off of the road to do them:

- Tuning the radio
- Changing volume
- Adjusting the HVAC
- Adjusting mirrors
- Looking at the scenery
- Reading advertising billboards
- Looking at a map/directions
- Plugging in your phone
- Looking at that hot chick in the Z4
- Looking at that awesome M2C in Sunset Orange
- Drinking
- Eating
- Etc.

The point is that we all get distracted while driving. Much of it is self-induced, but that doesn't change the fact that it happens.

Do you want to know how to reduce accidents from distracted driving? Training and practice. Learn how to manage your distractions. Learn your limits about how long you can be distracted. Practice dividing your attention in short bursts. Practice reacting to surprise distractions.

Sounds like work, doesn't it? It is. Learning to be better at something is work.

You know what doesn't work? More laws. Laws keep honest people honest. For everyone else, "It won't happen to me" is a much easier answer. Besides, we already have laws governing distracted drivng. Cell phones are just the latest distraction.

[Murf993]

Originally Posted by Fly320s

Have you two thought about how many times a day you get distracted while driving? Strictly speaking, all of these acts can be categorized as distracted driving, if you take your eyes off of the road to do them:

- Tuning the radio
- Changing volume
- Adjusting the HVAC
- Adjusting mirrors
- Looking at the scenery
- Reading advertising billboards
- Looking at a map/directions
- Plugging in your phone
- Looking at that hot chick in the Z4
- Looking at that awesome M2C in Sunset Orange
- Drinking
- Eating
- Etc.

The point is that we all get distracted while driving. Much of it is self-induced, but that doesn't change the fact that it happens.

Do you want to know how to reduce accidents from distracted driving? Training and practice. Learn how to manage your distractions. Learn your limits about how long you can be distracted. Practice dividing your attention in short bursts. Practice reacting to surprise distractions.

Sounds like work, doesn't it? It is. Learning to be better at something is work.

You know what doesn't work? More laws. Laws keep honest people honest. For everyone else, "It won't happen to me" is a much easier answer. Besides, we already have laws governing distracted drivng. Cell phones are just the latest distraction.

Most of that stuff distracts drivers, I think when you get into reading text or sending text the distraction seems to be much worse. I remember driving in the Scout Car and typing on the work station to run a plate or reply to the dispatcher or other car....it was on a full size keyboard so was easier but clearly my focus wasn't on the road.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by Murf993

Most of that stuff distracts drivers, I think when you get into reading text or sending text the distraction seems to be much worse. I remember driving in the Scout Car and typing on the work station to run a plate or reply to the dispatcher or other car....it was on a full size keyboard so was easier but clearly my focus wasn't on the road.

Yep! Typing on our mobile computers while driving - especially Code 3 driving - can be quite distracting, as can working the radio (...as in, the radio that communicates with dispatch, etc.), coordinating calls, navigating your partners, etc. I agree with the above poster that mentioned limiting distractions. It's at the point now where my department is beginning to come down on us for using the mobile computer while driving (...acquired and confirmed via body worn camera footage). I don't think there's a way around it because the patrol car is the office and multitasking while driving is the name of the game.

[Murf993]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

Yep! Typing on our mobile computers while driving - especially Code 3 driving - can be quite distracting, as can working the radio (...as in, the radio that communicates with dispatch, etc.), coordinating calls, navigating your partners, etc. I agree with the above poster that mentioned limiting distractions. It's at the point now where my department is beginning to come down on us for using the mobile computer while driving (...acquired and confirmed via body worn camera footage). I don't think there's a way around it because the patrol car is the office and multitasking while driving is the name of the game.

Responding to a Hot Shot and trying to read details on the workstation, talk on the radio and not spill your fresh coffee, watching for folks that seem to have no idea when they see and hear the lights and sirens, clear intersection.....good times.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by Murf993

Responding to a Hot Shot and trying to read details on the workstation, talk on the radio and not spill your fresh coffee, watching for folks that seem to have no idea when they see and hear the lights and sirens, clear intersection.....good times.

I got into an "unofficial" pursuit yesterday with a motorist who decided my patrol car's position (...with lights activated and blocking multiple lanes of traffic) didn't apply to him and he didn't need to yield, and felt inclined to drive over a raised concrete median to circumvent me. I conducted a traffic stop and he yielded; I was seconds away from putting it out over dispatch that I was in pursuit of a reckless DUI. Not surprisingly, he was intoxicated, had no license/insurance (..only a Matricular card) and he had just committed a misdemeanor hit & run and fled the scene. The victims were in pursuit of him when they observed me initiate a chase. He's toast!.....and I took his truck.

[Sedan_Clan]

Oh, and honesty matters folks. I pulled over a motorist who disregarded a stop sign completely. I tend to give people A LOT of breaks.....and in this instance I was going to give this motorist a break too, but when I asked if she had a license she chose to lie to me. A records check revealed she was unlicensed. Had she been truthful, I would have let her slide (...I have a soft spot for people with babies in the car, but the fact that she decided to run a stop sign with her daughter in the car annoyed me). I was also annoyed that she made up this elaborate story to explain why she drove through the stop sign. She's lucky I didn't take the car.

[Sara]

Originally Posted by premier3is

How about the part where you stated earlier you "text at red lights..."? Is there not a problem with that too?

Completely stopped at a red light, yup. I also look and read the navigation screen when going new places, like I did today. Guilty. My vehicle doesn’t have heads up display so I have to look to the right of the steering wheel at my nav screen. In fact today, after 3 hours of riding I was hungry and went to get food from the drive thru. Drove back to the barn and was sipping on my drink in one hand while driving. Someone take away my license stat.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by Sara

Completely stopped at a red light, yup. I also look and read the navigation screen when going new places, like I did today. Guilty. My vehicle doesn’t have heads up display so I have to look to the right of the steering wheel at my nav screen. In fact today, after 3 hours of riding I was hungry and went to get food from the drive thru. Drove back to the barn and was sipping on my drink in one hand while driving. Someone take away my license stat.

This dialogue between you and him is intriguing. I have my popcorn ready.

[Sara]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

This dialogue between you and him is intriguing. I have my popcorn ready.

I’m just fucking with him. But I’m sure he’s being serious lol

[Murf993]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

This dialogue between you and him is intriguing. I have my popcorn ready.

I've been sitting in the weeds with my mouth shut.

[Sara]

I also steer with my knees when I need to tighten my pony tail.


Going down bridges you have to take your hands off the wheel and put them in the air like you’re on a roller coaster. My child will yell at me if I forget that one.

I can’t think of anything else at the moment... other than opening and closing the sunroof while in motion... hmm

[Sara]

Oh, I know one. I’m guilty of watching the horses while driving. Glancing at them every 30 seconds or so while in motion and looking at them while stopped at traffic lights on the video cam that’s hooked up to the trailer.

[Fly320s]

Originally Posted by Sara

I can’t think of anything else at the moment...

Uh, hello? Air drumming. Even air guitar if you're into that weirdness.

[rwheels]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

Yep! Typing on our mobile computers while driving - especially Code 3 driving - can be quite distracting, as can working the radio (...as in, the radio that communicates with dispatch, etc.), coordinating calls, navigating your partners, etc. I agree with the above poster that mentioned limiting distractions. It's at the point now where my department is beginning to come down on us for using the mobile computer while driving (...acquired and confirmed via body worn camera footage). I don't think there's a way around it because the patrol car is the office and multitasking while driving is the name of the game.

With modern technology, I'm surprised that Siri-Like devices can't be implemented. A lot of computers use voice recognition, and I don't see why something like that couldn't be used in your cars. Cost perhaps?

[TiMSport]

Originally Posted by rwheels

With modern technology, I'm surprised that Siri-Like devices can't be implemented. A lot of computers use voice recognition, and I don't see why something like that couldn't be used in your cars. Cost perhaps?

Um that AND cell phones.