Clifton NJ cop brake checks driver then writes him tickets. Driver had a dash camera.

[Jimzz]

So a cop brake checks a driver, makes some stupid reason for doing so, and then writes the driver several tickets to cover it up after he learns the driver has a dash camera.


http://jalopnik.com/why-did-this-cop-brake-check-a-driver-1773612956?rev=1461863376699


They tried to make a plea deal for the tickets but the driver turned it down so now it goes before a judge next month.


EDIT:

Just heard back from the city manager when I asked about this incident...

I am referring your complaint to the Police Chief for an investigation by Internal Affairs,
[FONT=Times New Roman,serif][FONT=Calibri,sans-serif]And you will be contacted once the investigation is complete.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,serif][FONT=Calibri,sans-serif]Sincerely,[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,serif][FONT=Calibri,sans-serif]Nick Villano[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,serif][FONT=Calibri,sans-serif]City Manager[/FONT][/FONT]

 

[SSSnail]

That's pretty messed up. But, nothing new.

Remind me to get dash-cams.

 

[Insomniator]

I know the types of kids in high school that end up being cops. I'm never surprised by any of these stories.

 

[olds]

 

[Phoenix86]

That's pretty messed up. But, nothing new.

Remind me to get dash-cams.

Get a dash cam.

 

[TheVrolok]

I know the types of kids in high school that end up being cops. I'm never surprised by any of these stories.

Mmmhmm.

 

[SAWYER]

What is stopping these dirty cops from taking the cameras or footage? I'm surprised this doesn't happen

 

[Captante]

What is stopping these dirty cops from taking the cameras or footage? I'm surprised this doesn't happen

Shhhh ... don't give them any ideas! :sneaky:

 

[zinfamous]

 

[Subyman]

Lol cop says:

I braked ‘cause I – I thought you were gonna run into me.

Isn't that the worst thing in the world to do if you thought someone was going to run into the back of your car? Wouldn't you speed up if you thought they had lost control and needed more room? Idiot. Glad the guy isn't dropping it. The cop needs an attitude adjustment.

FWIW, it does seem like the guy is a little too close to the cop, but that doesn't mean the cop should brake check.

 

[Brian Stirling]

It's not like cops don't LOVE to ride real tight on your ass, but ride a bit closer than normal to a cop and this is what you get. But, as others have said in the linked piece it's better to give cops a wide berth than risk getting in trouble by them with made up charges. You may win but at what cost and the likely result is that you do not win.


Brian

 

[Mai72]

Sue millions for distress.

 

[Jeeebus]

It's not like cops don't LOVE to ride real tight on your ass, but ride a bit closer than normal to a cop and this is what you get. But, as others have said in the linked piece it's better to give cops a wide berth than risk getting in trouble by them with made up charges. You may win but at what cost and the likely result is that you do not win.


Brian

this guy really can't win in any traditional sense of the word. At best he goes to court, wastes 3 hours of his life, and ultimately gets the tailgating ticket thrown out (but still has to pay the other tickets). Cop doesn't give a shit if ticket gets thrown out. Not like that hurts him at all.

 

[cliftonite]

From Clifton, NJ

 

[Kaido]

I was prepared to say, if he got brake-checked, then he was following too closely...but at 25 MPH, that was a pretty dang reasonable distance in the video...

 

[Lean L]

this guy really can't win in any traditional sense of the word. At best he goes to court, wastes 3 hours of his life, and ultimately gets the tailgating ticket thrown out (but still has to pay the other tickets). Cop doesn't give a shit if ticket gets thrown out. Not like that hurts him at all.

Speaking from experience or speculation?

I'd hope that there's some accountability for cops when they do things like this. It can't hurt to drop by the PD and file a complaint as well as contest the ticket.

Allowing cops to have free rein over civilians with no possible recourse really encourages anti social behavior like this. The fact that they sit in patrol cars by themselves for most of the day also doesn't make things better.

 

[Ichinisan]

I was prepared to say, if he got brake-checked, then he was following too closely...but at 25 MPH, that was a pretty dang reasonable distance in the video...

He passed the check (stopped in time, no impact). He clearly wasn't following too closely.

 

[waggy]

What is stopping these dirty cops from taking the cameras or footage? I'm surprised this doesn't happen

We had a cop posting here that said that every time he sees a camera he takes the memory as evidence of the crime. granted this was years ago.

so yeah some scum bag cops out there do this shit.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

We had a cop posting here that said that every time he sees a camera he takes the memory as evidence of the crime. granted this was years ago.

so yeah some scum bag cops out there do this shit.

I would trust to the ignorance of cops and make up some shit like: "Officer, that camera records directly to the cloud, so I'm going to have you on theft as well as being an asshole driver." It would take a really special geek cop to be able to recognize that as bullshit.

 

[Elixer]

Lol cop says:



Isn't that the worst thing in the world to do if you thought someone was going to run into the back of your car? Wouldn't you speed up if you thought they had lost control and needed more room? Idiot. Glad the guy isn't dropping it. The cop needs an attitude adjustment.

FWIW, it does seem like the guy is a little too close to the cop, but that doesn't mean the cop should brake check.

I never have heard of a 'brake check' before, at least not done like that.
If someone was to just slam on their brakes out of the blue, and a cop was behind them, and hit them, can you say "Brake check!" and not get a ticket?

 

[DainBramaged]

FWIW, it does seem like the guy is a little too close to the cop, but that doesn't mean the cop should brake check.

Agreed. But yeah, aren't they supposed to be protecting us? Sheesh...way to act juvenile...

 

[bradly1101]

I was prepared to say, if he got brake-checked, then he was following too closely...but at 25 MPH, that was a pretty dang reasonable distance in the video...

You know how people seem closer than they really are? I'm sure that this officer was a rookie; I'm surprised no one got shot. :sneaky:

 

[Slew Foot]

Agreed. But yeah, aren't they supposed to be protecting us? Sheesh...way to act juvenile...

HAHAAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA, LOL good one

 

[shortylickens]

Agreed. But yeah, aren't they supposed to be protecting us? Sheesh...way to act juvenile...

The handful of cops who believe in justice are the quickest to get disillusioned and leave the force.

The rest are made up of guys willing to deal with all the nonsense so they can have a position of power. Add in one or two assholes with dreams of higher level offices and thats your local police department.

 

[jlee]

From Clifton, NJ

That's...not very far from me. I've been thinking about getting a dash cam for a while...perhaps I should.