License and registration
The real irony of the traffic stop shootings here in Portland is that they start with a supposed traffic infraction by the deceased.
In my 25-years-plus of living in this town, I have seen driver behavior deteriorate from model to largely dangerous, and the police bureau's interest in enforcement sink from mild to nonexistent. The police don't enforce the traffic laws much around here any more. People speed, run stop signs, run red lights, cut each other off, give each other the finger, etc. all the time. And except for drunk driving and photo red-light cams, law enforcement could care less. It says it just doesn't have the money or the person-power to do much about it.
But if you're a young male of color driving a funky old sedan or a "booming" car, you'd better use that turn signal, come to a full stop at the stop sign, and otherwise be a poster child for the driver's manual. If you know what's good for you.
| Posted at 1:38 AM | Permalink |
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Comments (2)
When you don't have the resources to enforce traffic all the time, you do it when calls aren't stacked up. That's late at night or on a Sunday afternoon. Both of these times were when Perez and James were killed.
Training is another issue. Funding is just part of it. When you don't get reprimanded for accidentally shooting unarmed people in training, you won't change that reflex on the streets. Our department had a few Officers accidentally shoot unarmed suspicious people in training. They were pulled aside and admonished. Every training since, they've never once gone trigger-happy.
Can't say the same about PoPo trainers. Ask one if you know any. That, to me, is the biggest and only problem.
Posted by Jill Blevins | April 4, 2004 3:55 PM
Is there an instruction/advisory page about the comment forum? I have had two out of maybe five removed in two weeks, for reasons I cannot *begin* to fathom.
Posted by Petey | April 5, 2004 11:16 AM