Citations

[RPD Explorer]

We, as explorers, work many events where we do traffic direction and "patrolling (roaming)." Always one of the big problems is parking. I've been to events where parking is 3 cars deep.

Do you believe that explorers should be allowed to write parking tickets, or any tickets for that matter. I can obviously see why speeding, smoking, etc, tickets can't be written by us, but parking? I think it would be a great benefit to the department and the public, and sure would educate the drivers for parking like that in the future http://www.officer.com/ubb/wink.gif

What are you thoughts on this?

Mike

[Don]

Gosh Mike,

I'm beginning to feel bad here. But I feel about this, the same way I do about you carrying weapons.

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"I'm just a "senior teen-ager!"
6P1 (retired)

[phuzz01]

Once again, it seems sensible at first. But with a little thought, it's just not a good idea.

1)Legally, you guys do not have the power to enforce the law. So, parking tickets written by explorers will never hold up in court.

2)You are exposing yourself to unnecessary danger. Few things get people more ticked off than tickets (ESPECIALLY parking tickets), and if some large, drunk guy saw you writing him a ticket, he would probably pick you up by the scruff of your neck and slap you around. Of course, in that case, you would feel justified in pulling out that can of OC that you shouldn't be carrying and voila, there goes your law enforcement career due to a felony conviction.

[Glock]

A felony conviction for defending yourself? In Indochina maybe not in America...

Originally posted by phuzz01:
Once again, it seems sensible at first. But with a little thought, it's just not a good idea.

1)Legally, you guys do not have the power to enforce the law. So, parking tickets written by explorers will never hold up in court.

2)You are exposing yourself to unnecessary danger. Few things get people more ticked off than tickets (ESPECIALLY parking tickets), and if some large, drunk guy saw you writing him a ticket, he would probably pick you up by the scruff of your neck and slap you around. Of course, in that case, you would feel justified in pulling out that can of OC that you shouldn't be carrying and voila, there goes your law enforcement career due to a felony conviction.

[phuzz01]

You'd think not in America. But it's amazing how quickly you can be hung out to dry for what was probably a totally justified response. Besides, even if you got off in criminal court, a good lawyer would have a field day with it in civil court. Think about it, their client just got clocked with a baton by a 16, or 18, or 20 year old kid who didn't have any formal law enforcement training. Not to mention, your explorer post would be shut down before you could even get a chance to explain yourself.
I hope i'm not coming across as an as*hole here. I'm just trying to explain myself.

Alex

[RPD Explorer]

Hehehehehe, Indochina?

Anyway, how about the parking attendant people that are through the citizens police academy or other programs that are allowed to write parking tickets or handycap tickets? They are allowed to write them, yet are not peace officers, and are help up in court.

And hold on a second, I never said that I do cary spray or asp/baton or anything. But I know what you're saying.

Mike

[phuzz01]

Anyway, how about the parking attendant people that are through the citizens police academy or other programs that are allowed to write parking tickets or handycap tickets? They are allowed to write them, yet are not peace officers, and are help up in court.

Very true, and I had a feeling you would say that. And I know this sounds bad, but people are just more accepting of tickets when they come from older adults whose JOB it is to write them, and those parking attendants have a dangerous job sometimes!

And hold on a second, I never said that I do cary spray or asp/baton or anything. But I know what you're saying.

Yeah, I didn't mean to suggest that you did carry any of those things. It was more of a general response, and I was trying to tie both discussions together.

[RPD Explorer]

Yeah, I knew you wern't talking about me specifically, and got the point of both subjects...

Mike

[Delta_V]

Why in the world would you WANT to write parking tickets??? If there is a flagrent parking violation, have an officer write one. As previous posters have said, people could threaten you or place you in danger because they are mad over the ticket. Why would you want to risk this? You're not cops, you're not security, and you're not even getting paid!

You say you want to write tickets because of problems at EVENT parking. This raises an entirely new issue. Just where exactly are these cars parking? City streets or private lots? If it's on a private lot then it's at the owner's discretion whether or not to take action against the violator, not yours or any officer. Not to mention the fact that if YOU are doing parking control at events then it is YOUR responsibility to direct the vehicles to a parking space. If someone willfully disregards your directions, tell them to move or you'll have them towed (that works more than the threat of a ticket).

Bottom line is that unless it's on city property and unless the owner requests it, you have no business doing actual parking enforcement.

[This message has been edited by PatrickM98 (edited 05-16-2001).]

[RPD Explorer]

Ok...since we are paid by the people holding the event, they want us to keep the peace, keep everything safe, do traffic, blah blah blah...they always complain to us about the parking. They always want something towed. We, the PD, obviously can't tow every single car that parks where it's not supposed to be.

Therefore, if we can't catch the driver as he/she is parking, one of the only solutions is to write them a ticket. If they get enough of these, it might actually get into their heads that they need to learn how to park. The main reason people keep braking these laws/rules, is because it is not being enforced enough, if at all.

Mike

[phuzz01]

Originally posted by RPD Explorer:
We, the PD, obviously can't tow every single car that parks where it's not supposed to be.

Perhaps it's logistically impossible to tow every car, but with:
1) $50-60 going to the towing company, im sure they're willing to tow as many cars as you'll give them.
2) another $25-30 going to the city, it pays to make that call to the towing company
3) a $90 bill in their hand, most people are going to think about illegaly parking again.

I say, tow away! It even rhymes...

Alex

[Delta_V]

Originally posted by RPD Explorer:
Ok...since we are paid by the people holding the event, they want us to keep the peace, keep everything safe, do traffic, blah blah blah...they always complain to us about the parking. They always want something towed. We, the PD, obviously can't tow every single car that parks where it's not supposed to be.

Therefore, if we can't catch the driver as he/she is parking, one of the only solutions is to write them a ticket. If they get enough of these, it might actually get into their heads that they need to learn how to park. The main reason people keep braking these laws/rules, is because it is not being enforced enough, if at all.

Mike

It seems to me since you're getting paid by a private company to provide parking/security duties on their property, then basically all you are is private security (since you aren't actually a sworn LEO). In that case, go ahead and tow away. It works sooo much better than writing $10 parking tickets and the towing companies in your town would be itching to get as much business as you could give them...trust me.

I'm still of the belief that if you're providing services at a private facility, you really have no business issuing city parking citations...that's what towing is for. City parking tickets are for illegal parking on PUBLIC property (at least around here, anyway). Plus I don't see how your ticket would stand up in court ("Gee Judge, I paid money to park for that event and nobody told me I couldn't park there...by the way, what is some kid doing giving me a city parking ticket for illegal parking at a private facility")?

[Godside]

I've got a friend who was an explorer at our local PD and they do a lot of training. In the training, they actually use vehicles and put them in positions that suggest that they were involved in an accident. Then, the explorers write MOCK accident reports. I think they could really do the same regarding parking tickets. Officers/Advisors could walk with explorers questioning them about how this or that vehicle and how it may have been breaking the law. If the program had a lot of money, allow them to write MOCK explorer tickets and leave it up to the officer to issue a real citation.

Godside

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Psalms 118:6 - "The Lord is on my side, whom shall I fear? What can man do to me?"

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[DoubleSix]

Originally posted by phuzz01:
Few things get people more ticked off than tickets (ESPECIALLY parking tickets), and if some large, drunk guy saw you writing him a ticket, he would probably pick you up by the scruff of your neck and slap you around.

RPD, Continue to explore and learn the job. And when you become Police you will find that parking tickets are a pain in the butt and not worth the OC spray. http://www.officer.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[DoD Police]

HOOK 'em!!!! Nothing gets the attention of a selfish idiot that doesn't know how to park then to see his precious car gone when he returns.... if that doesn't get his attention, the towing and impound fees will. If you let the towing company know ahead of time that your event may require vehicles to be towed, those commision hungry tow truck drivers will be lined up like vultures waiting to get a fare.