Ahem...Introducing my daughter the "citated" or "the suspect"...

[ScreamingMeemie]

or whatever you wish to call it.

Thank you all for the hugs because she was quite shaken last night and I am still rather baffled by it all.

Here's what happened:

She and a person I will not name but come on, a lot of you would know who, left my house last night (after a wild night of debauchery that included helping BabyG with his homework, eating food and internets surfing) and stopped for a bit in the parking lot of the school directly across from my house. About 15 minutes later I get a phone call,"Mom, there's a cop with his light shining in my window..." and then she hung up because the policeman was walking up. So I walked over (honestly a 30 second walk tops) to see what was up, calm her down etc... and met the meanest policeman ever. Just so we're all clear, there was no:

Drugs
Alcohol
Missing clothing...

and he was mad at me for showing up and I told him that she had called me, afraid. To which he replied that she wasn't that afraid if she was talking on her cellphone when he walked up and I said,"That was me!" (reserving the "dolt!" for in my head). Anyway, he took an extreme dislike to me and told me to "LEAVE NOW..." so I did. And they came home citated so I now have them under lock and key until their court date...for violating an ordinance that isn't posted and isn't listed anywhere on the city website... but they need to be watched, for apparently goofy kids are dangerous...

That's what happened, in an extremely condensed, absolutely ridiculous nutshell...

[ceile]

1. What was the ordinance he sited? n/t

[ScreamingMeemie]

2. Parking on school property after dark.

Who knew?

[Missy Vixen]

5. What happens when there's a school function?

Is it still illegal to park there? There may be some parents who find that interesting.

Julie

[ScreamingMeemie]

I hadn't thought of that.

He did say "No parking in this parking lot after dark". The real kicker is that they know of and allow an illegal fireworks display in another school parking lot just down the street.

[grace0418]

33. Uh, in the winter the sun goes down at 4:30 or so. Plenty of school activities go on

after that time. What a stupid ordinance. What a jerk cop.

[khashka]

80. It's weird...

I had a lover who got drunk and peed on a tree near a school. He got busted and was a registered sex offender. Uh what? There were no kids there and all he did was pee and it was 2 am......

Khash.

[LeftyMom]

3. I always knew that kid was trouble.

:rofl:

[ScreamingMeemie]

19. Sigh...my only hope now is the convent...

So it goes...

[Missy Vixen]

4. MrsGrumpy, I'm so sorry to read this

They were obviously "casing" the place, weren't they? :sarcasm:

Imagine how embarrassed the cop will be to get nailed by your attorney. No posted ordinance at the site or on the website? Oh, please.

Julie

[TrogL]

6. The school parking lot is private property

...a favourite make-out zone and, unfortunately, more.

I've worked as a volunteer police officer working and running patrols. I'd come up behind a vehicle in a school parking lot, shine the flashlight in and see the damndest things.

One night I was on dispatch and someone called in that they had a vehicle in sight that was rockin' with steamed up windows and the (volunteer) officer said it looked like people were "enjoying themselves". I had him approach the car to make sure. She wasn't. We'd interrupted a date-rape about to go really bad.

[ScreamingMeemie]

9. No, it's a city ordinance.

That particular parking lot is used for many things...only the city ordinance isn't listed anywhere and isn't posted...

...and I guess my point is, A citation??? A court appearance??? When we have rampant graffiti, people's cars (this happened to us) getting stolen out of their driveways and policemen saying (this is what they said) "We don't have the manpower to take this on (the theft) as a case?" That is my point.

[WannaBeGrumpy]

12. We weren'e even making out...

we were just trying to fix my mp3 player...

[TrogL]

32. He had no way of knowing that

...and if he sees one person bent over another person's lap...


ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!

[WannaBeGrumpy]

49. He was already right on top of us before I knew he was there...

so I think he did know that! I literally looked up from my mp3 player to see his headlights turn on.

[GreenPartyVoter]

55. Sounds like he way over-reacted. He could have just told you the ordinance and

asked you to leave.

[bigwillq]

7. That is just ridiculous.

You should go to the school and take some pictures around the property...you know, of all the signs they have up that say no trespassing or no being on property after school hours.

That is awful. What a hassle. But you're right, she didn't do anything wrong, and her mama will do something about it!!!!

Good Luck! :hug:

[DS1]

8. a tap on the window and a quick "beat it" would have sufficed

but no. sigh

[bigwillq]

10. That's happened to me

several times...where removal of clothes did take place.

Not at a school but at a park and a parking lot..

Cop just told us to find a new spot.


:evilgrin:

:hide:

[DS1]

14. I've been the 'tapper' a few times as an MP

Hell, I even helped one couple bump-start their car so they could take off. I was a pretty useless cop, I'll admit :rofl:

[ScreamingMeemie]

18. You were a decent cop DS1...

There is backstory here and I do figure that figures heavily in his heartless reaction.

[Shakespeare]

42. I don't know what the backstory is, but he WAY overreacted.

Once he'd investigated and saw that they weren't doing anything wrong, he should've just instructed them to leave.

I'm all angry for you now. :grr:

[ScreamingMeemie]

44. That is the part that bothers me. I have no problem with walking up

and knocking on the window. I have a problem with the overreaction on the part of the officer. Thanks Shakes...

[TrogL]

58. That's a good way to get yourself shot

The cop has no way of knowing what's going on below eye level.

Could be a BJ, could be a concealed weapon.

[ScreamingMeemie]

59. Oh please... policemen do it all the time and they were both sitting

upright. It's not the stopping...again...it's the citation. What is so very freaking hard to understand about that?

[bigwillq]

24. Ha. That's funny.

:rofl:

Yeah, I was surprised that the cops were so lenient with me, especially when they saw that it was two dudes in the car. :hide:

[ScreamingMeemie]

25. When I was young (and this never happened to me but to people

I know....) they would tap on the window and usually ask if everyone was okay, or are you being held against your will?. That sort of thing. Then they told us (erm, other people) to scram.

[bigwillq]

28. I believe you.

I really do.

Those friends of yours were soo bad...:P ;) :)

Yup that's what they did to me, uh, er, um,....friends of mine...just told them to leave..said the park closed at sunset and they could be citated...just told them to leave. yup.

[ScreamingMeemie]

11. That is what I expected to happen after I left...

When they came home with the tickets I was completely stunned. WannaB has a clean driving (and criminal) record.

[DS1]

17. Is town broke? They'll definitely turn up the pressure on the police to bring

in more ticket money when funds are low

[Puzzle]

13. Citated? You mean cited like they got a citation?

Actually it is perfectly legal to observe police and you had every right to stay and watch so long as you did not interfere.

[ScreamingMeemie]

15. I purposely wrote it that way to keep it light.

Welcome to DU. I have a decent command of the English language.

All I did was ask him what was going on and tell him that I was aware of where they were as it was directly across the street. :hi:

[Puzzle]

Didn't mean to imply you didn't... just wanted to make sure i

understood.

Thanks for the welcome!

[ScreamingMeemie]

27. I look forward to getting to know.

:hi:

[SacredCow]

16. Pretty ridiculous...

No doubt, they'll pull the "loitering on school's property" or somesuch thing.

But hey- give him a break: It was a heckuva lot easier and safer than doing actual police work! :sarcasm:

[Oeditpus Rex]

34. This was 'actual police work'

If a cop sees a car, especially an occupied car, in a place it has no logical reason to be, he or she should investigate. It's called "crime prevention."

[ScreamingMeemie]

35. Hello, that's not the part I take issue with. And there are logical

reasons for a car to be in a parking lot. Cars park in parking lots.

[Oeditpus Rex]

36. I wasn't addressing you

[ScreamingMeemie]

39. And I don't give a damn who you were addressing.

Here on DU we are free to respond to whom we wish. Got a problem with it, put me on ignore. I will respond to ridiculous responses in regard to a situation that I was in attendance for and which concerns my daughter. It wasn't police "work". It was a cop being an a$$.

[Oeditpus Rex]

40. I see some things never change

Buh-bye. :hi:

[ScreamingMeemie]

43. Too much has changed.

Thanks.

[WannaBeGrumpy]

46. You are an ass....

Leave my mother alone... she was merely defending me. I don't care if you think you knew what was going on. You don't I was there. He also was an ass. I was there. Nothing was going on besides me parking to fix my mp3 player instead of fiddling with it while driving. I don't really care what you think...you're just trying to be a big shot show off. Have a great day

[SacredCow]

50. Stopped to fix your mp3 player?

that's a paddlin.

[WannaBeGrumpy]

52. I know...

How dare i be safe? How dare I do something responsible and get off the road to fix it instead of endangering others.

[SacredCow]

53. As someone said upthread...

the local government may be wanting some extra fine money, and most people will pay the fine for a BS citation rather than take the time and energy to fight it (I'm guilty of that, myself). Whatever you choose, hope the resolution is to your liking.

Peace to you!

[BuelahWitch]

82. I was thinking the same thing

City needs money, getting close to the end of the month. But to ticket two kids barely out of high school, GEEZ! :grr:

[Connonym]

65. The cop clearly got out of control

I think he was doing his job when he looked into the car but to actually give them a citation and then tell you to get out of there, that's a bit of an abuse of power. I don't blame you for shaking but I also have to admit that when I was younger and managed a fast food restaurant I would often work until 1 am or so all by myself and if there was a car parked in the parking lot I always called the police to come check it out because I was afraid to walk out of there holding the key to the store and knowing the combination of the safe. It was in a small town and the cops were always cool coming around. Usually it was teenagers either sitting in the car talking or making out and the cops would just tap on the glass (and no doubt scare them to death) and ask them to move along.

I have to agree with Oeditpus that the cop started out just doing his job but he went over the line, probably trying to look like a big shot. I would imagine if you go to court it will be thrown out. Sorry you had to be scared like that. He should have just told you go move along and I certainly don't understand why he told Mrs.Grumpy to leave. Maybe it's no fun trying to be a bully when there's an adult around? Cop clearly crossed a line.

[LostinVA]

62. .

:thumbsup:

:loveya:

[SacredCow]

37. Yes, BUT....

it doesn't sound to me as if there was much call for a citation... A simple- "Please leave the premises" would have sufficed nicely.

[Oeditpus Rex]

38. Yeah, I don't understand that part, either

I could hazard a guess or two, but I wasn't there, so...

[ScreamingMeemie]

41. I'd like to know Mr. Rex

Yes I'm responding to you again.

When I say there was no drugs, no alcohol and no clothing missing...just what would you "guess" was going on?

[WannaBeGrumpy]

47. Exactly...you weren't there....

think before you speak...i was there... it happened to me and I don't give a flying fuck about what you think!

[WannaBeGrumpy]

48. Exactly...you weren't there....

think before you speak...i was there... it happened to me and I don't give a flying fuck about what you think!

[LostinVA]

63. So...

what's your point?

[DaydreaminHippie68]

20. I actually had my mom stay up until I went

to sleep last night, I was that shaken up.

But as in the words of Bob Marley..."Everything is gonna be alright!"

[ScreamingMeemie]

21. I hope you don't mind me posting it...

I asked WB's permission and decided not to bring up your name.

It is going to be alright. I know it. It's just a pesky bug in the soup of life right now. :hug:

But now you have implicated yourself...so, You're on your own. ;)

[DaydreaminHippie68]

22. Oh no it's totally fine.

don't worry about it.

[DaydreaminHippie68]

23. Oh no it's totally fine.

don't worry about it.

[Haole Girl]

26. Kids can't even hang out in a parking lot anymore?

*sigh*

And they wonder why they go bat crazy on spring break!! :eyes:

[KamaAina]

29. There are only two possible explanations for this:

1) It's DDH68's fault.

2) It's the Clenis' fault.

(probably #2 :-) )

edit: header

[ScreamingMeemie]

30. Totally...undeniably...#2...

The things that haven't been stooped to by the Clenis.

[KG]

31. welcome to police state america,

[merh]

45. The cop was just ticked off you came over and messed up his

chance to harass them more than what he did. Some cops get some odd pleasure out of being bullies and making folks squirm (not all, but some).

I bet it did have you all wound up, just think in the years to come how you will laugh about it though - cited for parking in a parking lot - whodathunk. ;)

:grouphug:


edited typos :blush:

[DarkTirade]

51. Wow... what an ass.

Any reasonable cop would have just checked to make sure nothing bad was going on, then sent them on their way.

[Phentex]

69. Yep, I agree...

power trip and an ass.

I'd fight it!

[MorningGlow]

85. Absolutely

When I was in grad school in Mass., three friends and I drove to a concert. We parked in a parking garage, and my friends decided to partake of some...ahem...illegal substances. Not two minutes after the car filled with smoke...tap tap tap. With the pot and all, the cop just told us to go wherever we were going. I practically fainted with relief and gratitude--I wasn't smoking, but it was my car, so I would have been busted too. Cool guy.

[WritingIsMyReligion]

54. That's really crazy.

Sorry she has to go through all of that. I think the cop was right to at least see what was going on, maybe even give a little bit of a scare, but to actually cite them for it and to be such an ass to you...that's a little bit extreme. Especially for such a specious ordinance. Sounds like he was on a bit of a power trip there, got a little carried away.

[1gobluedem]

56. Do you know your city council rep?

Put them on it. It's worked for me on various city things.

Good luck and keep us posted. :hi:

[kath]

57. welcome to the Murkan police state.

did they say "your papers (please)"?

What total fokkin' bullshit - outrageous!
second the recommendation to talk to your city council rep.

I hate asshole cops with an attitude. I know, they're not all that way. But WAY too many of them are...

[ghostsofgiants]

60. If that was me I don't think I could have resisted playing Fletcher's role from this strip...

[JVS]

61. No drugs, alcohol, or missing clothes? PUNISH THEM HARD!

Why break the law if not for a good reason?

[KitchenWitch]

64. Sounds like Mr Officer was on a power trip.

I echo the sentiments of the person who suggested you speak to your city council rep. I am glad WBG had the presence of mind to call you, even though the officer dismissed you.

[Midlodemocrat]

66. And police departments wonder why kids don't respect them.

What. A. Jerk. Hope WannaBe and DayDreamin' are feeling better today.

[ScreamingMeemie]

67. They are. Thanks Midlo...

It will all work out.

Of course I...I have to work on my obvious inability to not get offended by assholes... :eye:

[Midlodemocrat]

68. Yesterday, BoyMidlo had his own little encounter with the thin Blue Line.

We have a club here with pools, tennis courts, etc., You have to pay to belong. Fair enough.

He goes every day to play basketball on the courts and work out.

Yesterday, he signed in, but didn't get a wristband before heading to the courts. Apparently, there have been a lot of problems with kids coming to play who don't belong, so the staff got fed up and called the police.

BoyMidlo and his friend were walking back up the hill when a cop stopped them and gave them the absolute third degree, made them empty their pockets, etc.

When I called the club to find out :wtf: had happened, they were really nice about it; said he's never a problem.

I said, seriously, the least you can do is account for the fact that once in a while a teenager will forget to get a wristband.

Seriously ticked me off.

[OmahaBlueDog]

70. So are we talking court appearance?

..or is this just pay the ticket and move on?

[ScreamingMeemie]

71. Trial

[OmahaBlueDog]

74. Have you lawyered up?

Have you looked into the possibility of fleeing the country?

[ScreamingMeemie]

75. She's actually on her way to Canada at this moment, but don't

tell anyone...

We have an attorney and all will be okay. It's just ridiculous, but what I've come to expect from this community.

[OmahaBlueDog]

76. Your secret is safe with me...

Seriously, I would hope your attorney could get this thing dropped. Good luck.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

83. The lawyer should be able to get the case dismissed.

Especially if it's a non-existent statute. Your lawyer can ask the prosecutor to show him the statute in the statute book, or city ordinance book. If it ain't there, case dismissed.

[lightningandsnow]

72. What the hell?

That's messed up.

[ScreamingMeemie]

73. It's under control now. All parents involved have calmed the kids

down and we have route to move on it.

[khashka]

77. I think

she should get the death penalty. I mean just sitting in your car with a guy. EEEEEEEEEEvil.
On the other hand, someone should hold that cop down and slap him til he cries. I'll do it, for free.


Khash.

[WannaBeGrumpy]

78. I probably will get at least 20 years....

It would be my luck...

[khashka]

79. Oh WannaB

You didn't do anything wrong! If you had, your mom would be down on you like a ton of bricks. The whole thing is stupid! Ask swimboy about having to register as a sex offender ( all he did was swim nude in a state park when he thought he was alone). But like I said, I'll slap that cop silly, for free.

Khash.

[MonkeyFunk]

81. Well, Mrs.G

it's your own fault. You're not supposed to let her out of the house. She's supposed to stay home and give Jessie belly-rubs.

Damn hippies.... :mad:

[BlueIris]

84. Here's hoping the judge smacks that loser cop around but good.

Especially after s/he hears (if you plan to share, that is) everything your family has been through in the last year. HOLY CRAP. What an asshole.