While on a run tonight, a cop car stopped me and threatened to give me a ticket for running.

How did you already go on a run tonight if tonight has not happened yet?

Willing Perpetrator wrote:

not all cops are of the highest intellect

Agreed.

I'd say a large portion of cops are ex military and a large portion of military joined for reasons related to not being able to contribute to the working economy so we can do the math on this one pretty easy. There are good cops and bad cops. Since there are bad cops I hate cops. Plain and simple.

Raptured wrote:

I still sent an email to the police chief describing the situation, the time of day, and the location, so it is possible that they may figure out who the officer was.

As a followup to the email, I would call and talk to him.

I'm interested to see the result.

If that doesn't go well, you could followup with the city attorney, and file a report with them, for your own protection.

Bang wrote: I'd say a large portion of cops are ex military and a large portion of military joined for reasons related to not being able to contribute to the working economy so we can do the math on this one pretty easy.

I'm sure it isn't the case with all cops, but I will say that the handful of them I know personally were always the kids who got picked on or disrespected in school. Getting that badge and gun and "authority" is their way of exacting revenge.

I knew a criminology major in college who used to say that he couldn't wait to become a police officer so he could shoot somebody and get away with it. Of course, now the guy is police detective, city councilman, and born-again Christian. Frankly, I'm not sure which version of the guy is worse.

Raptured wrote:

Looky Here wrote:

You should have asked for his badge number and called up your local PD.

In hindsight, yes. I still sent an email to the police chief describing the situation, the time of day, and the location, so it is possible that they may figure out who the officer was. In any case, am I correct that I was not doing anything wrong? I can understand how it's less safe to use the road following a large snow-fall, but it doesn't change the legality.

You did the right thing, you can ask the police chief to look into it.

You could also send a message to your mayor.

Sometimes cops get ideas in their head, get mixed up, remember laws wrong.

The cops aren't always right, they are human like the rest of us.

Sounds like you researched the local laws and are in the right / law abiding.

It sounds pretty upsetting to get pulled over running!

You know that cops are (often) chosen for their lack of smarts, right?

Since some of you are no doubt thinking TROLL ... I dug up the reference:

http://abcnews.go.com/US/court-oks-barring-high-iqs-cops/story?id=95836

come on now. you are not being persecuted.

the likely real scenario is you were on a "plow right of way". We have these where i live. You can drive on these after a snowstorm but may not park or walk. The plows come through whenever they can to clear the roads as they are considered "essential" for travel. get over yourself.....or continue to try and make a guy lose his livelihood for having the gall to be concerned about your safety, regardless of your ignorance of ordinances.

Jimmy Chitwood wrote:

Bang wrote: I'd say a large portion of cops are ex military and a large portion of military joined for reasons related to not being able to contribute to the working economy so we can do the math on this one pretty easy.

I'm sure it isn't the case with all cops, but I will say that the handful of them I know personally were always the kids who got picked on or disrespected in school. Getting that badge and gun and "authority" is their way of exacting revenge.

I knew a criminology major in college who used to say that he couldn't wait to become a police officer so he could shoot somebody and get away with it. Of course, now the guy is police detective, city councilman, and born-again Christian. Frankly, I'm not sure which version of the guy is worse.

It's stunning. One of my most screwed up childhood friends became a successful sniper in the "war on terrorism", left with a purple heart, assaulted a peace officer so now he can't be a police officer like he wanted and now works at a morgue to be around dead bodies. ..Amurica!

That's crazy!

http://therealfoodrunner.blogspot.com/

Yeah, some cops are just dicks. To be fair they often have some pretty stressful shit to deal with. He probably decided you posed an increased safety risk to drivers (which is likely true), however he just isn't smart enough to realize that anyone using the road regardless of method of transport is creating an increased risk. It really isn't his business to judge who can/can't use the road, but this sort of fascist attitude is nothing new in many small towns even if it has likely become more common since the whole America became fascist thing (who knows when that started though). As a second thought, what if Joseph Smith just got trolled by some ET's? Let's reveal all this unexplainable miraculous stuff to one guy, but then offer no corroborating evidence for history.

More Likely wrote:

What likely happened...

The cop kindly suggested the runner stay off the street for his own safety in case a distracted driver over-corrected because of the snowy conditions...

The runner gave the cop attitude (which most of us build up when running) at which point the cop became irritated and the situation turned hostile. The cop eventually threatened the runner with a ticket, and whether legal or not, in the grand scheme of things was looking out for your safety and trying to get you off the road in unsafe conditions.

"The cop kindly suggested." What planet are you from? I had a few incidents with Salt Lake's "Finest" for running in bike lanes when driveways and sidewalks were blocked with vehicles or snow drifts. Total dicks, and I kept my cool. Glad to be out of that state!

A few years back while running in Dallas at 7am on a sunday morning I was stopped by a police officer, who gave a quick burst on the siren with lights flashing. He told me that I had crossed the street in the middle of the block and I had to turn around and go back. He told me I had to Proceed to the intersection and cross there. I pointed out that there was not a car in sight. He threatened a ticket for jaywalking. I sucked it up and did as I was told. What sense does it make to argue?

J.R. wrote:

Raptured wrote:

I still sent an email to the police chief describing the situation, the time of day, and the location, so it is possible that they may figure out who the officer was.

As a followup to the email, I would call and talk to him.

I'm interested to see the result.

If that doesn't go well, you could followup with the city attorney, and file a report with them, for your own protection.

Ok, so I heard back from the chief of police and he agreed that my understanding of the law was correct and that I was not breaking any laws; however, while it has never happened in Bountiful City, where I was running (just north of Salt Lake), cops CAN issue a ticket for 'disorderly conduct' in this circumstance if they feel that it is especially warranted, ie if I am endangering myself or someone else (WTF?). In any case, while he offered to let me file a case with the department, I thanked him for his time and dropped it as I'm not really interested in becoming a target for police. These guys like to protect their own, so nothing can come to me but harm if I were to make my complaint more official. At the very least, the chief backed me up with regards to the legality of the situation, so if this happens again in the future, I can at least explain to any officer that I've discussed the situation with the chief of police and been given the green light to run on the street. Hah...

Form a group of local runners, organize chaotic and drunken running protests once a month, lobby your local state legislators to pass laws making runners the same cars, when you see and 18 wheeler attempt to take the lane.

Don't you have some homework to do?

Doclove wrote:

Should have asked him if he's seen First Blood

I have never even seen this movie but your post made me laugh out loud anyway.

More Likely wrote:

What likely happened...

The cop kindly suggested the runner stay off the street for his own safety in case a distracted driver over-corrected because of the snowy conditions...

The runner gave the cop attitude (which most of us build up when running) at which point the cop became irritated and the situation turned hostile. The cop eventually threatened the runner with a ticket, and whether legal or not, in the grand scheme of things was looking out for your safety and trying to get you off the road in unsafe conditions.

HAHAHAHAHA! That's a good one since we know all cops care about is the best interest of others...

What most likely happened...

The cop set down his mug of coffee harder than he should have on his stone counter top. A piece from the bottom rim fell to the floor below. His life was falling to pieces ever since his lover left. He pounded the counter harder than he should have. Burried his distraught face in his hands and sobbed. He pounded the counter again jostling the mug and sloshing coffee onto the surface. It ran down the side of the cabinets below where it would be left to permanently stain.

Evening had set in, and it was time to get himself together to immerse himself in the distractions of his job. But he knew it would never mask his pain of losing his runner boyfriend.

Within minutes of starting his patrol, who should he see. None other than his love, no doubt running away from his frustrations from the failed relationship one step at a time. One block at a time. One mile at a time.

Both knew it could never work. But in a moment if weakness, the cop pulled his car over to voice his concern about his lover's safety. The streets were snowy after all. He knew the only response would be that of rage lashing out at the only person who ever truly cared for him.

He put the car in park, donned his cap, opened the door to see if destiny might be kinder than he expected...

Raptured wrote:

I was out on a run tonight. We just had a snowstorm in Utah and I was running on a section of road with no sidewalks

Well there's your problem. You were in Utah. Bunch of inbred simpletons.