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

Sure, maybe he was a tool. Indeed most cops are. Nevertheless most states as well as local municipalities have statutes regarding pedestrians in the roadway.

There are various names for the infraction but the bottom line it is meant to ensure pedestrian safety. You can whine to the chief but it doesnt change anything. He will blow smoke up your a$$ and afterward he and the officer who stopped you will have a good laugh about the jogger with the tights and miners hat. Don't think they wont. And no, in small places the cops DON'T have anything better to do.

The cop can ticket you for dangerous behavior. Running on the side of a snowy road at night does not seem terribly safe, so I can't blame the cop for being concerned. You were wearing a headlamp, after all.

Fukk I hate cops.

sue him and get rich. the American way.

arrestification wrote:

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

That article is from September 2000. If it's more than ten years old, it can't be used since laws or information may have changed.

No problems with cops buy daily problems with idiot cyclists on the roads and sometimes runners while I'm driving. Lots of cyclists/runners with deathwish or just stupid.

Gather what you can carry and leave the state immediately.

Don't tell anyone. Just go :)

Actually this happens more often than you would believe. In my area we had a police officer in one of outer little outlying areas of San Antonio go on a power trip and pull runners over, telling them that if cars were coming they had to get off the road and run on the shoulder. I had always felt that the runners had to be running in the middle of the road to have gotten his attention. However when he actually pulled me over (by pointing the front of his patrol vehicle at my group who were all running single file on the far left, facing traffic, but on the road). He began by telling me we had to get off the road when cars were approaching and we had to run on the shoulder. I simply waited for him to finish and politely informed him that I was a retired military policeman, and that I had enforced Texas Traffic Code for 8 years, with a specialty in Traffic Management. I recited the section in which he was try to, in error, enforce. I further pointed out that the section was a two part section, and as long as the pedestrian was doing on of the requirements of the section we had fullfilled our obligation of said section. He was pissed that I called him out and said I was wrong. I asked him to issue me a ticket and he simply refused and drove off. We have not had any problems with him since. We have actually been pulled over one time after that by one of his co workers who simply asked us to make sure if cars are coming we run single file. (Just to clarify, in Texas, if there is a sidewalk present the pedestrian is required to run on the sidewalk, this is part one, if there is no sidewalk the pedestrian can be on the roadway and/or shoulder facing traffic)

Also, Desi Davilla posted this on twitter recently - "Sheriff said I was dangerous, rude, and should be running w/traffic not against it -- 2 for 3 ain't bad."

0/10

I think that was a good read.

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.

I think you people hate traffic officers not real cops. There is a big difference.

Call the Police Chief and ask that he respond in writing to your email. That way you can have the email with you if you get stopped again.

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.

So... in other words you were a bitch and let someone tell you what to do, grow a spine is the only advice i can give.

You should have taken the ticket and argued back with him, and when it comes time to pay the fine; go to court and dispute it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1M8vei3L0L8

ray wrote:

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?

"what sense does it make to argue"....now they got you right where they want you---intimidated and submissive....that's a cops wet dream