Thursday, October 1, 2009

Nice Meeting You, Officer Watson



















So I get home and examine the ticket.






















  1. They DO have distinctive horns. Those photos may come in handy. I'd have cited you for having bad thoughts about the Ennis Traffic Dept. If making up rules, at least he could have chosen an amusing one. Do not feel shy if you feel a need for help. Laughs aside, this is important.

  2. Upon further reflection, the place of violation has me wondering. If they are claiming I blocking traffic where it is a "single lane", they overlooked a number of illegal overtake maneuvers.

    I will be seeking clarification from the city as to what statute I am accused of violating. If they can find one.

  3. Chip: Good job keeping it cool!

    Next: Get Selz vs Ohio (Ennis,TX is not Ohio but principles could help). Check if dashcam video is available, get copy.

    I wonder why the Sgt signed the ticket versus the Officer? Is that standard procedure? How often do traffic police car have two officers?

    Finally: Once again good job keeping it civil.

  4. I think the dual officers in a patrol car is unusual. I think perhaps it was a training exercise or something like that. A normal supervisory ride-a-long.

    The ticket was printed out from an electronic gadget that took my "signature" with a stylus on a screen- like a card swipe console or UPS delivery tablet. You can see it in Officer Watson's hand in the photograph.

    It may be that the officer that signs out the patrol car- the senior officer- is then also named on all the electronic tags. But this just my speculation.

    I am apparently shockingly un-observant about some things! I hope I "see" better during head checks!

  5. ChipSeal:

    Thought you might find this interest:

    "The Ennis Police Department utilizes Mobile Video Units in all of our first line patrol cars. This means that each of the cars that are normally driven during a shift have video systems installed. The video systems are Watchguard Video Systems model DV-1. These systems provide for greatly increased documentation on many cases. The video evidence obtained since the system has been in service has proven invaluable in the court cases in which the video evidence is submitted."

    OK, look at the first picture, to the left of the rear view mirror are two lights, probably LEDs! Let's see GREEN for power and RED for recording! OK now it gets interesting request a copy of the video, hopefully you have a minute or two of info before you where stopped. Request a standard operation policy for the mobile video system, when is it used, turned on, off to evaluate the recorded materials. Don't want any missing 18 seconds!

    Impeding traffic charge will go down the drain if traffic is moving around you on the multi-lane or if no other vehicle traffic.

  6. Wow! Good sleuthing, danc, thanks!

    My next step is to get clarification on what statute I am being accused of violating.

    There is also some confusion as to where the alleged violation occurred.

    I have a high degree of confidence that this will be dropped. It is hard to see how traffic (I am traffic) was impeded when there are two travel lanes in each direction.

  7. I can't wait for the court date post. As others have said, civil and pleasant is very good. The officers are likely to learn more this way than in some argument on the street.

  8. Wow, I would not have been able to keep my cool. That is insane.

  9. Supreme confidence that I am in the right gives me courage and calmness. (Or I am blind to my stupidity and I will make public fool of myself!)

    Heck, either way it will be a spectacle!

    Thanks for dropping by, Dottie. You are one of the rising stars of the cycling blogosphere! You have a blog that promotes cycling an a winsome low key way, and I admire your work. If my reader hasn't visited, he should give it a look-see

  10. Danc: there is lots of video and lots of audio! I have been told it is in everyone's interest to review them, and I expect it will happen soon as we try find an appropriate law to charge me with.

    Officer Watson was being evaluated by his superior officer, Sgt. Pillow. (A woman! And I didn't even notice her in the car! Now my male self-identity is in a crisis!) that means there is at least one more audio recording than normal!

    This was just a normal thing all the EPD officers are subject to, I was told. Saturday, I noticed a pair of officers in one patrol car and a solo officer in another.

  11. One good thing is - if it goes to court and Sgt Pillow shows up, she won't look much like the officer in your photo. If Officer Watson shows up, he won't be the one named on the ticket. Somewhat inconvenient for the prosecution...

  12. Adding to what others have said: great job handling this traffic stop! I have not been put to the text (thank goodness), but concur that confidence knowing the law really helps in staying cool.

    I'm looking forward to more reports on this... but sorry you have to deal with it. What a pain.

  13. ChipSeal, what ever happened in the case?

  14. Who was officer Pillow a woman or a man ? if I may ak