Dog Dies After Cop Stops Couple Speeding to Vet

[ThePhoneGoddess]

http://www.news8austin.com/content/y...sp?ArID=217331

I would like some thoughts on this.


Make sure to watch the video, the stuff the cop says is unfortunately, rather revealing.

The couple believes the cop made them wait for 20 minutes on the side of the road because he wanted to 'show them who's in charge'.

The cop was ordered into counseling and sensitivity training but not reprimanded or punished.

[anriana]

There's not a time listed, but it says early morning and the cam shows that it's dark, so I'm guessing they were pulled over between 12am and 5am. I drive during those times all the time, and I am almost certain that the only reason they were pulled over is for bored cops to meet quota. Whoever that guy in the video was who said there was a risk for human life there is dumb and clearly diurnal. There is almost no one out on the roads at night, and it's much easier to see cars as well. Going 95 down the left lane of any highway isn't going to cause an accident with another car.

I am curious why the drivers didn't just call 911 and explain the situation. The cop could have followed them to the vet, and if he was truly concerned about risks to human life he could have left his lights and siren on. I've done this when I was pulled over in a dark part of town and didn't feel comfortable stopping - they told me to just pull over at the next lighted area.

[ebonyknight]

I am curious why the drivers didn't just call 911 and explain the situation. The cop could have followed them to the vet, and if he was truly concerned about risks to human life he could have left his lights and siren on. I've done this when I was pulled over in a dark part of town and didn't feel comfortable stopping - they told me to just pull over at the next lighted area.

Because 911 operators have no authority over officers and considering the cop's attitude (you can buy another one), he would probably have delayed things further, just to be difficult. He was being an asshole, just because he could. Unfortuantely too many cops let their "authority" go to their head.

I have two words for that couple. Civil Lawsuit.

[daleduke17]

I have two words for that couple. Civil Lawsuit.

Just what needs to be done...a lawsuit. Do I agree that the cop could have handled it better? Yes. But, it does not have to be a lawsuit. The cop has been reprimanded, that should be the end of it.

And before anyone says "But if it was a human...." a human would have been in an ambulance most-than-likely.

[anriana]

Because 911 operators have no authority over officers and considering the cop's attitude (you can buy another one), he would probably have delayed things further, just to be difficult. He was being an asshole, just because he could. Unfortuantely too many cops let their "authority" go to their head.

I have two words for that couple. Civil Lawsuit.

No, I'm saying they should have called 911 and said "We can't pull over because we are taking our dying animal to the vet" and then gone from there. The cop wouldn't be able to delay things until they get to the vet's office.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Think that's bad?

http://www.goofball.com/news/20000304_bizarre

[Boozy]

Some jackass cop would not have stopped me from rushing my dying dog to the vet. I would have kept driving, and worried about the consequences later. Maybe that would be stupid, but I really, really, really love my dog.

[Sylvia727]

Y'know, the cop was a jackass to them, but the couple could have saved the dog's life by ignoring him and taking a higher penalty. And I definitely think the cop should be punished more severely, not for killing a dog, but for being such a control freak. There's no excuse whatsoever for his power trip here.

[Difdi]

If my dog (or cat, or goldfish) were dying and I was rushing him/her to the vet...and a cop said I could always get another. My response would be: "so write me another ticket."

And drive to the vet.

[ebonyknight]

Just what needs to be done...a lawsuit. Do I agree that the cop could have handled it better? Yes. But, it does not have to be a lawsuit. The cop has been reprimanded, that should be the end of it.

And before anyone says "But if it was a human...." a human would have been in an ambulance most-than-likely.

Under the law a dog is considered personal property. Through no fault of their own, the cop destroyed said property, and thus can be civilly sued. I think they should sue, then regardless of the outcome, that jackass would think twice about being such an asshole.

Some jackass cop would not have stopped me from rushing my dying dog to the vet. I would have kept driving, and worried about the consequences later. Maybe that would be stupid, but I really, really, really love my dog.

As for leaving the cop or not stopping, what if they were Black or Hispanic? I'm sorry, but I believe that, that cop would have no compunction about shooting at them and or calling an APB, if they were a minority.

What maybe a no-brainer for some of you guys would be rolling the dice for others.

[Flyndaran]

...
As for leaving the cop or not stopping, what if they were Black or Hispanic? I'm sorry, but I believe that, that cop would have no compunction about shooting at them and or calling an APB, if they were a minority.

What maybe a no-brainer for some of you guys would be rolling the dice for others.

All racists are a-holes, but not all a-holes are racist.
The cop was evil enough without having to assume evils not in evidence.

[ebonyknight]

All racists are a-holes, but not all a-holes are racist.
The cop was evil enough without having to assume evils not in evidence.

That may indeed be true, but would you be willing to test that with you life or freedom????

[Pedersen]

As for leaving the cop or not stopping, what if they were Black or Hispanic? I'm sorry, but I believe that, that cop would have no compunction about shooting at them and or calling an APB, if they were a minority.

Wow, a thread about a jackass of a cop causing the death of an animal, resulting in emotional trauma for the people trying to save the animal, and people hoping that something more happens to the cop than just a reprimand, and now racism can be brought in.

Of course, race wasn't mentioned in the story. Or in the thread, until here. Why bring it up now? Because it's a hypothetical? Because, in one set of circumstances, something else could have happened?

Why does it seem like every thread has to be about race? Why can't it be about something else? Is it asking too much to even try to stay in the same solar system with the original topic? I mean, hell, we're now being lectured on what could have happened if the couple was a race which was hated by the officer in a thread about how said officer was a jackass and caused the death of a dog.

Nope, not in the same ballpark, state, or country. Not even on the same planet, and I'm not sure it's within the same solar system at all.

[BlaqueKatt]

so I'm guessing they were pulled over between 12am and 5am. I drive during those times all the time, and I am almost certain that the only reason they were pulled over is for bored cops to meet quota. Whoever that guy in the video was who said there was a risk for human life there is dumb and clearly diurnal. There is almost no one out on the roads at night, and it's much easier to see cars as well.

My husband is usually riding his bicycle home during those hours, they'd kill him without even having a chance to hit the brakes. Bike lights are harder to see at night.




Why is it ok to endanger others for any reason?

what if they were speeding to get to the bar/store before it closed?
See I just want to know when its ok for me to break the law

What if there were deer in the area ever, see a car hit a deer at 95 MPH?

Going 95 down the left lane of any highway isn't going to cause an accident with another car.

you may want to double check your math on that one-braking distance is 404 feet-total distance for braking is 580 feet at 80 MPH-if you can only see 160 feet ahead of you how can you possibly stop in time?


Your low beam headlights will allow you to spot an object on the road about 160 feet ahead of your vehicle. Most drivers need about 1.5 seconds to react.

from this website
your headlights only reach 160 feet-reaction time/distance is 176 feet

At 80mph you only have time to think about braking. Your foot will probably still be on the accelerator pedal at impact.

[anriana]

My husband is usually riding his bicycle home during those hours, they'd kill him without even having a chance to hit the brakes. Bike lights are harder to see at night.

Why is it ok to endanger others for any reason?

as they headed south on Interstate 35

Does your husband cross freeways during those hours? Does he jaywalk (jayride?) across the middle of the street? It doesn't say they sped through a red light or a stoplight (places where this argument might be relevant), it says they were on an Interstate.

What if there were deer in the area ever, see a car hit a deer at 95 MPH?

Is it significantly different from hitting a deer at 55+?

what if they were speeding to get to the bar/store before it closed?
See I just want to know when its ok for me to break the law

I don't have any moral issues with people speeding on freeways in the wee hours of the morning regardless of the reasons. How often do you drive on them at that time of day? Do you never go a single MPH over the speed limit?

you may want to double check your math on that one-braking distance is 404 feet-total distance for braking is 580 feet at 80 MPH-if you can only see 160 feet ahead of you how can you possibly stop in time?


Your low beam headlights will allow you to spot an object on the road about 160 feet ahead of your vehicle. Most drivers need about 1.5 seconds to react.

from this website
your headlights only reach 160 feet-reaction time/distance is 176 feet

At 80mph you only have time to think about braking. Your foot will probably still be on the accelerator pedal at impact.

It's the left lane of a highway - any object that should be there would be going at least 60 mph (although why you would be in the left lane of a freeway and only going 5 over I don't know).