Once Upon a Time...

[BajaRon]

We had a traffic accident at the intersection in front of our BajaRon Shop on Wednesday. An old Ford Ranger ran a red light and a brand-new Ford Bronco hit them just behind the driver's door in the middle of the intersection. With carnage all over the road, Daniel and I checked on the occupants and then started directing traffic as cars were already backing up behind the blockage.

The lady driving the Bronco (Probably in her 40's) got out immediately and started walking around. I asked if she was OK and she said she was. She asked if she should move her vehicle out of the way. I told her that there was enough room for others to get by and that she should leave it where it was, which she did. Deciding to wait in the driver's seat.

Both occupants of the other vehicle, a man & woman, I assumed husband and wife, (Probably in their 40's as well) also got out. The man was limping and complained of pain in his leg, but it didn't look serious. They sat down on the curb of our facility.

We are only a block from the police station so law enforcement arrived quickly, and in force. Though none to eager to take over the traffic control duties.

Here's where it gets interesting. They gave the driver of the Ranger a sobriety test, which he failed. I am pretty sure his passenger would have failed as well. But no reason to check her, I suppose. Turns out his license had been suspended for DUI. He had no proof of insurance and told the officer he had none. He said he'd just purchased the PU truck and had owned it for less than an hour.

A tow truck arrived but it was determined that both vehicles were drivable and both declined the service. The Bronco left and the Ranger was moved to the side of the road while the officer wrote a citation.

When this was done, the police officer left in his squad car with the message (To Serve and Protect) emblazoned on both sides and in back. Then, once he was out of sight, the man who just failed his sobriety test got back into his PU truck and drove away. The whole left side of the bed caved in. And why not? If he got pulled over again, they'd just write him another ticket and let him go to create another accident. Not a big deal, I guess.

I was amazed!

Ignorance is bliss, they say. And another bit of my bliss drove away with that guy.

[Bangorbob]

Accountability. That's what it's about. I won't say anymore.

[troop]

Well ... Why wasn't the intoxicated driver taken to a police station for an intoximeter test, or hospital for blood draw? Different laws in different states I guess. As it is, sounds like the arresting officer was a bit neglectful.

[RangerRick]

.-.-.-

[canamjhb]

No license, no insurance, and drunk! And the LEO left them with their lethal weapon (Ranger) and just went away knowing they couldn't even go more than an hour before crashing!!!! That's a whole different world of "law enforcement" from what I (hope) I live in!

[ARtraveler]

Unfortunately, a sign of the times we are living in.

[Raven]

[redrazor]

Just remember: You Get What You Vote For!!

[RayBJ]

Was it time for coffee & donuts?

[BajaRon]

Every day, about 37 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes (according to government statistics) — that's one person every 39 minutes. Of course, this does not include accidents like ours. There are probably many more of these.

I must say, I wish I were making this up. I wish that I could say I'd embellished the story to make it sound worse than it was. I wish it weren't true.

I don't do what these people did for the same reason you don't. It's just no who we are. But if I did do it. I would expect a lot more stuff to come down on me for it. I'm sure this isn't a universal LE approach. But I believe it is much more prevalent that people realize.

I will be thinking about this guy when I'm riding or when my wife or family has to drive somewhere. But in reality, this couple is just a drop in the bucket. And they've been out there for a long time. Uninsured motorist (when it's illegal to be uninsured) with outrageous coverage costs are a direct result, at least in part, to this kind of enforcement.

But if the officer had booked the guy, he would have been out on the street before the policeman finished the paperwork. It's just too much trouble, and not worth the effort to enforce the law anymore.

[Gwolf]

I am pretty sure that in Florida, the DUI would not have driven away, and the truck would have been towed to impound yard.

At least some wrecker fees would have resulted. DUI is a serious offense in my state.

I guess there, it is now up to the victim or their insurance company to collect.

[RapidSpyder]

I am pretty sure that in Florida, the DUI would not have driven away, and the truck would have been towed to impound yard.

At least some wrecker fees would have resulted. DUI is a serious offense in my state.

I guess there, it is now up to the victim or their insurance company to collect.

Same here in South Dakota. Still doesn’t deter enough. Personally seen when I was working at the jail people bond out, get into a friend’s car in the jail parking lot, drive away and immediately pick up a new DUI charge….

[BajaRon]

A couple of years ago I did a stint with the Grand Jury. It was a steady stream of multiple DUI, driving on a revoked license, possession with paraphernalia to sell drugs. Some with as many as 10 or more convictions. And these are only when they got caught.

I guess I know why now. It's not really illegal if there is no enforcement.

[2dogs]

One of my friends used to be a bailiff for Muni Court. He told me that his judge, after a DUI hearing, would tell my friend to grab another bailiff and follow that defendant out of the courthouse, and if he, the defendant, got in a car behind the wheel, then bring his ass back in here to me. LOL....oh yeah, my friend loved his judge!

[canamjhb]

After reading this sad account I looked up what is customary here in Arizona. There used to be signs along roads that said ..... DUI? then had a picture of a tow truck with a caption that said.... No Exception. Haven't seen those signs for a while. My search now indicated impounding vehicles for DUI, insurance or license infractions are at the discretion of the officer. Guess we've gotten soft. Now I know who they are protecting and serving! Why these dangerous law breakers are allowed to go along their merry way is beyond me. If this drunk, unlicensed, uninsured driver killed one of my family after being let go by a LEO, I would hire the meanest junk-yard attorney and bring a lawsuit big enough to get attention! This is crazy!!!!!

[wolfeman]

Driver probably went to go shoplifting after that. In so many states, as long as it's under $999, it's no big deal and no prosecution will occur. Crazy times we live in.

[2dogs]

After reading this sad account I looked up what is customary here in Arizona. There used to be signs along roads that said ..... DUI? then had a picture of a tow truck with a caption that said.... No Exception. Haven't seen those signs for a while. My search now indicated impounding vehicles for DUI, insurance or license infractions are at the discretion of the officer. Guess we've gotten soft. Now I know who they are protecting and serving! Why these dangerous law breakers are allowed to go along their merry way is beyond me. If this drunk, unlicensed, uninsured driver killed one of my family after being let go by a LEO, I would hire the meanest junk-yard attorney and bring a lawsuit big enough to get attention! This is crazy!!!!!

My thoughts EXACTLY!!!

[computek]

In Jackson, MS (where I used to live) a woman drunk with multiple DUI's just had a hung jury because they could not reach a consensus on what an "aggravated" DUI is. This lady tried to escape from the hospital and had a half a dozen other substances in her blood stream as well as blood alcohol of .28 which is way way over the legal limit. She killed a mother and young child. The jury couldn't quite decide who was at fault for running the light. The prosecution wasn't allowed to use prior convictions on DUI as evidence.

They don't want me on a jury because I would have vehemently voted for her to spend the rest of her days behind bars.

Pretty simple, proven drunk (real hospital test), fatality accident, adios MF. Alas apparently not these days.

Also lately a LEO had a DUI arrest and even said on the arresting officers dash cam that his career was probably over (he was actually driving a State-owned vehicle at the time) and he walked because the arresting officer failed to show up for court. Riiiiiiiiiight.

Funny damn world we live in.

[Peter Aawen]

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[SportsterDoc]

Do not know the current situation in California, but prior to retiring from a city police department in 1993, I would have arrested the driver, done a field sobriety test on the passenger, confirmed she was not sober to drive and then towed the vehicle. Any overt actions on her part and she would be arrested for being drunk in public. Circa 1980-1981, the department had a federal grant for a driving under the influence team (DUIT) for a 24 square mile city (back then) with population of under 150K. I passed off a driving under the influence stop to the two man team almost every evening shift i worked.

Circa 1984, my wife and I were bumped from behind by a commercial truck as we slowed going into a sweeping transitional turn. I stopped and detained the driver for DUI (mid-afternoon). Before the cell phone era, I sent my wife home to call the department for a unit to transport.

Zero tolerance for DUI.

Fair amount of tolerance for speed, depending upon location and other actions. Typically 12 stops a night and only 3 citations, but those may have been for multiple offenses, such as (1) speed, (2) following too close and (3) unsafe lane change.

Never ticketed a motorcyclist. Had to arrest one after a 120+ MPH pursuit.

No issues, even with Hells Angels flying colors. Even had an offer to help me if in a bar fight (never did bar checks, only went if dispatched)

Thanks for the trip down memory lane

[ARtraveler]

Just remember people...

Forum Rules:

1. All posts must be written in English (Threads/Posts written in a language other than English may be removed without notice).
2. Political posts are NOT allowed on the site.
3. Don't Insult, Flame, Spam or Abuse any members via Threads, Posts, e-mail or Private Messages etc...
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A timely reminder. We have already dealt with two #2 violations.

[2dogs]

A timely reminder. We have already dealt with two #2 violations.

Not surprising. Keep in line. Good work.

[wyliec]

BajaRon,

Why not report what you saw to the police as a concerned citizen? You could have done it anonymously. Before you ask, I have reported someone. The tables were turned on me (for awhile) b/c the person I reported had a mother who knew someone in the local police station. The end result, I was still in the military and my division officer was a lawyer. I ended up with an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal, which was for 6 months. It took two years to get my just rewards. The mama's boy got nailed for child molestation. He got jail time. I actually did not learn my lesson that time, and I'll leave it at that.