Do you use your Explorer status...

[Glock]

To get out of tickets? Not to condone traffic violations or anything just trying to see if officers view you as one of their own in your area...

[RaychelR]

As an Explorer, one would think you would try and set a standard for others and not get stopped by police for traffic violations. Isn't that a Boy Scout creed, leadership by example?

[Rimfire]

If I were to get stopped by an officer in my (now former) department.

The ticket would be the least of my worries. I can sense some extra PT and who knows what else coming my way.

[Don]

I would STRONGLY suggest that no explorer attempt to get out of a ticket this way. I might cut you a break one time, but if it happened a second time, not only would you be signing the cite, you would be explaining to your advisor why you got a ticket and how you tried to get out of it.

This sort of comes under the heading of "tough love." You are still at a young impressionable age, and there is no way I'm going to be letting you think you are "above the law."

Look at it another way. You folks are explorers and part of the department. But you are also teenagers with a lot of friends. If your friends see you violating the VC and getting away with it, what do you think that does for them. How do you think it makes them feel when they get "scratched?" What do you think it does for their overall impression of law enforcement?

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Who is General Failure and why is he reading my hard disk?
6P1 (retired)

[Godside]

The Round Rock PD's Explorer post has strict repercussions for those using the program as grounds to get out of a ticket. I think it really depends on the officer who is issuing a citation. Some will ticket you because you should have known better because of your status, and others still not ticket you because they know you and know that for the most part you obey the laws (And if you dont, how did you get in explorers?!)

Godside

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Contact me on AIM/AOL, at "GodsideJCC".
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[RPD Explorer]

Kinda like what Godside said.

The officer might not give you a ticket just cus he know's you, but our executive advisor has told all the officers that if an explorer i.d.'s him/herself as an explorer, to write them the ticket.

Also, you will most likly get in trouble post wise.

Mike

[Kelly_431]

I've never been an explorer, (from too small of a town http://www.officer.com/ubb/frown.gif ) but I see something here. Maybe it just bothers me or something, but the heart of the question seems to be this: just trying to see if officers view you as one of their own in your area... I keep seeing this theme pop up...why? I am a police intern, which is considered to be a civilian employee of the police department. I would never dream of using my status to get out of a ticket, or any other trouble. Whether or not the officer would issue me a ticket, I know they would be disappointed with me. Am I considered to be "one of their own"? No, nor should I be. I am very well accepted by the officers, but only law enforcement officers become "one of their own". Maybe it's just me...but that's how I think it should be.

[JKT]

Folks, FYI, I was involved in an accident a couple of weeks ago. The car behind me was rear-ended and pushed it into me. (Ironically, no damage to mine or the one that bumped me http://www.officer.com/ubb/smile.gif )

Anyway, my point is that when it came time to hand over the DL's and Insurance cards, I didn't have my current Ins card with me.

The Officer (City, I work for the County), had no choice by his Departments' policy ( and State Law) but to give me a citation to "no proof of financially responsibility" (no insurance).

When I realized that I didn't have my current Insurance card on me, I EXPECTED that citation. And I got it. (First ticket in 24 years!)

I do have insurance, and had the citation dismissed the next day, but at the time, I did deserve the ticket. I don't now and never have expected to get out of a ticket just because I'm a LEO.

I just try not to do anything to get stopped for.

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Optimistic pessimist: Hope for the best, but expect the worst.

Jack

[This message has been edited by JKT (edited 04-17-2001).]

[Sig220Man]

We had one explorer who epitomized how NOT to act when given a citation.

He was walking back to his car, with his girlfriend, when he saw one of the civilian parking enforcement officers writing a ticket for his car. He goes up to the parking enforcer, and begins screaming at her, "I'm an explorer with the department, you have NO right to give me a ticket!"

This parking enforcement officer, who has been doing her job longer than this kid has been ALIVE, simply looked at him, finished her ticket, and handed it to him personally.

This should have been the end of it, however the explorer didn't think so. So, he goes to the station, and DEMANDS to see the Chief. The Chief, being the nice man that he is, allowed the kid to sit down in his office for a talk.

This next part is speculation (only the Chief and this explorer really know what happened in there), but those who overheard the conversation say that basically, the explorer thought it was ridiculous that he got a ticket, and that since he was an explorer the ticket should be voided out.

This explorer is no longer with my department.

[Godside]

Just a case of an explorer who cannot handle the little power that comes with the job. Geeze, can you see that kid as a cop? That's the last thing LE needs, someone who thinks they're God and rules over all the laws of the land.

Godside

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Contact me on AIM/AOL, at "GodsideJCC".
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[phuzz01]

Originally posted by Don:
Look at it another way. You folks are explorers and part of the department. But you are also teenagers with a lot of friends. If your friends see you violating the VC and getting away with it, what do you think that does for them. How do you think it makes them feel when they get "scratched?" What do you think it does for their overall impression of law enforcement?

Don,

Personally, I think the same thing applies to officers, not just explorers. I go to college in Connecticut, and in CT, state troopers have take-home cruisers with removable lightbars. So, off-duty troopers are pretty easy to recognize. Being the young, impressionable teenager that I am, when I see an off-duty trooper cruising at 85mph+, I begin to wonder: if 20mph over the limit is dangerous enough to get stopped/cited, why do they do it? In addition, it does not help the public's overall impression of LE. When I become a trooper, I hope that I'll be a better role-model than some of the ones I see driving around here.

Alex

[Don]

Alex,

I agree with you completely! Officers that make a habit of "driving on their badge" are probably officers that "bend" other rules as well. It does NOT make for a good "example" it does NOT speak well of the department that they work for and it gives all of us a black eye.

In many cases it has been the "last straw" in getting an officer REMOVED from his job.

Alex, one thing I forgot to mention in the original post. You may not be aware of why that trooper is driving the way he is. There may be a reason for it. It is possible. . .

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Who is General Failure and why is he reading my hard disk?
6P1 (retired)

[This message has been edited by Don (edited 04-17-2001).]

[Niteshift]

Well Glock, I'd say your question has been pretty much answered.

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Niteshift-
Perseverate In Pugna

[Godside]

I agree Don. I actually was going to post basically the same thing had I not have read your post. One of the things I've learned in life is that you don't always know the reason behind everything. While so many times I've looked at officers in a negative way and thought wrongly of them, little did I know they were actually merely doing their job and it wasn't anything but that. A coin always has two sides to it. God bless..

Godside

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Contact me on AIM/AOL, at "GodsideJCC".
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[phuzz01]

Originally posted by Don:
Alex, one thing I forgot to mention in the original post. You may not be aware of why that trooper is driving the way he is. There may be a reason for it. It is possible. . .


Don,
That is definitely true. I just see it so often that I have a feeling there is not ALWAYS a reason for it. But point well taken.

Alex

[Glock]

Yes it's been answer nite. I try to discourage things like that in our post I was just asking out of curiosity...seeing how other posts are run that's all.

[Don]

Glock,

I think your question had merit, if only to answer any question in anyone's mind. (The only stupid question is one that is not asked.) You may have saved some explorer that you have never met a real problem by posting this question!

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Who is General Failure and why is he reading my hard disk?
6P1 (retired)

[Godside]

Yeah Glock..lol..

Good job..

Godside

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Contact me on AIM/AOL, at "GodsideJCC".
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