I was caught ‘walking while black’ by cops - A dean at University of N. Texas said so

[HumblePie]

She shouldn't have been walking in the street, but I've never heard of an ID check ever being performed in a situation like that and it seems way out of place. I'm not defending her actions as if I were driving I would be pissed off too, I'm just surprised that the cops didn't say 'get out of the street' and go on their merry way.

I don't see any reason to believe it was motivated by racism, I just find the action weird.

Impeding traffic in Texas is a fineable Class C misdemeanor offense that usually has tickets given out for it. Which require an ID to make such tickets enforceable. Even in the event that the cops decide to let someone go with a "warning" they are still require by law to fill out a stop report for their time spent in the encounter so that their activities can be accounted for as officers. This still requires an ID and the person singing the stop report for them so the officers may use their discretion in not giving out a minor ticket for whatever. It's to prevent people from pointing to cops and saying they only ever not hand out tickets to friends and family.

 

[fskimospy]

Impeding traffic in Texas is a fineable Class C misdemeanor offense that usually has tickets give out for it. Which require an ID to make such tickets enforceable. Even in the event that the cops decide to let someone go with a "warning" they are still require by law to fill out a stop report for their time spent in the encounter so that their activities can be accounted for as officers. This still requires an ID and the person singing the stop report for them so the officers may use their discretion in not giving out a minor ticket for whatever. It's to prevent people from pointing to cops and saying they only ever not hand out tickets to friends and family.

Due to your long history of being ridiculously wrong about the law just let me stop you right there and say I have no interest in whatever you have to say about legal matters and law enforcement.

 

[HumblePie]

Due to your long history of being ridiculously wrong about the law just let me stop you right there and say I have no interest in whatever you have to say about legal matters and law enforcement.

HAHAH look it up yourself moron.

For reference in Texas this is criminal classification scale.

http://www.tcjs.state.tx.us/docs/Offense Severity Scale.pdf

All crimes in Texas are categorized into that scale regardless of where in Texas. The lowest crime is always a Class C misdemeanor.

As for the pedestrian laws.

http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/TN/htm/TN.552.htm

of for easier reading at the txdot site.

http://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/modes-of-travel/bicycle/faq.html

Basically if there is a sidewalk, pedestrians are required by law to use them and aren't allowed in the road. If there isn't a sidewalk, they can use the road but must walk in the direction facing on coming traffic. They also are not allowed to impede traffic either. Doing so is breaking a statute. Breaking a statue is a crime. The lowest of which is a Class C misdemeanor as show in the first link for classifications of crimes in Texas.

 

[waggy]

Due to your long history of being ridiculously wrong about the law just let me stop you right there and say I have no interest in whatever you have to say about legal matters and law enforcement.

true he does.

BUT in this case he is right. This lady was breaking a law. sure a minor one but she was breaking the law.

The cops were right to stop her. They were right to ask for ID.

 

[woolfe9998]

true he does.

BUT in this case he is right. This lady was breaking a law. sure a minor one but she was breaking the law.

The cops were right to stop her. They were right to ask for ID.

Why ask for ID if you're not going to ticket her?

 

[HumblePie]

true he does.

BUT in this case he is right. This lady was breaking a law. sure a minor one but she was breaking the law.

The cops were right to stop her. They were right to ask for ID.

I have yet to be wrong about anything I stated about any law on these boards. Ever. Otherwise prove where I have. Idiots like him just don't like people disagreeing with him and use retarded levels of hyperbole to argue with.

 

[HumblePie]

Why ask for ID if you're not going to ticket her?

I already explained.

Cops in Texas are allowed to use discretion and NOT write a ticket. But they are still required to fill out a form stating why they aren't. This form does several things. It basically tracks the activities of the officers throughout the day. They are credited certain criminal worked hours based on actions. Things like a pedestrian stop count for l hour of criminal work. Cops that are just sitting around all day doing nothing but staring at traffic don't get moved up in the workplace.

The other reason for the stop form is to make sure cops aren't playing favorites with whom they decide not to hand out tickets to. To make that believable, they still require the person's ID for that stop form as well as their signature.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

I already explained.

Cops in Texas are allowed to use discretion and NOT write a ticket. But they are still required to fill out a form stating why they aren't. This form does several things. It basically tracks the activities of the officers throughout the day. They are credited certain criminal worked hours based on actions. Things like a pedestrian stop count for l hour of criminal work. Cops that are just around all day doing nothing but staring at traffic don't get moved up in the workplace.

The other reason for the stop form is to make sure cops aren't playing favorites with whom they decide not to hand out tickets to. To make that believable, they still require the person's ID for that stop form as well as their signature.

What a shit rule, basically write rickets or warnings or don't get promoted.

Crap I posted in this thread. I should have stayed away.

 

[HumblePie]

What a shit rule, basically write rickets or warnings or don't get promoted.

What other metric are cops going to have to prove they are doing a "good job" on the beat? Not everywhere has places where murders happen every day. Tickets are one easy metric that can be used to determine if they are doing their job of law enforcement. Used to be that cops never did warnings in Texas. That was until the state changed the law about how much revenue any one place can keep from tickets. So now cops hand out more warnings. Not a whole lot more, but more. The warnings are a way that still allow cops on the beat to show their bosses they are still working and not sitting in some bush off the side of the road in their cruiser eating donuts all day long.

 

[woolfe9998]

I already explained.

Cops in Texas are allowed to use discretion and NOT write a ticket. But they are still required to fill out a form stating why they aren't. This form does several things. It basically tracks the activities of the officers throughout the day. They are credited certain criminal worked hours based on actions. Things like a pedestrian stop count for l hour of criminal work. Cops that are just sitting around all day doing nothing but staring at traffic don't get moved up in the workplace.

The other reason for the stop form is to make sure cops aren't playing favorites with whom they decide not to hand out tickets to. To make that believable, they still require the person's ID for that stop form as well as their signature.

Cops everywhere are allowed to use their discretion to not write a ticket.

So far as this stop form goes, you say this is something that "Texas police" must do, meaning it would be a function of state law as opposed to local department policy. Do you have some cite or reference for this? Right now it sounds like everything you know about this you got or inferred from reading the police response in the OP's article.

 

[pauldun170]

Brown person who runs on the street here...

As soon as I saw the first 5 seconds of the video I knew exactly what was happening.
The walk. The flapping.
Generic suburban middle aged woman happened.
Trying to keep that hypertension at bay.

As for the cops.
I guess I'm used to NY. I believe the procedure here is to a quick blast of the siren followed by (over the PA) "Hey dumbass!!! Get out of the street". No reason whatsoever to ask for an ID when someone acting like a birdman on the side of the street.
However, if they are acting like birdman and they are moving kinda erratically it's probably a good idea to get close and make sure its not someone wandering around hopped up on something.
From the short video I say, that one little part where she wanders into the street a bit would be enough for me to actually get out the car and do a quick check. The asking for ID is way to check for responsiveness, coordination (do they fumble for it or are their movement controlled? Are they shaking? Combative?)

Between all the meds people get loaded up with nowadays, its doesn't even have to be illegal stuff. Sometimes someone hits the road in either their car or for their "Look! IMA bird walker" exercise routine

 

[Fanatical Meat]

What other metric are cops going to have to prove they are doing a "good job" on the beat? Not everywhere has places where murders happen every day. Tickets are one easy metric that can be used to determine if they are doing their job of law enforcement. Used to be that cops never did warnings in Texas. That was until the state changed the law about how much revenue any one place can keep from tickets. So now cops hand out more warnings. Not a whole lot more, but more. The warnings are a way that still allow cops on the beat to show their bosses they are still working and not sitting in some bush off the side of the road in their cruiser eating donuts all day long.

Maybe basic observations by a superior. How does writing tickets make a good cop?

Now I'm really out of this thread

 

[HumblePie]

Cops everywhere are allowed to use their discretion to not write a ticket.

So far as this stop form goes, you say this is something that "Texas police" must do, meaning it would be a function of state law as opposed to local department policy. Do you have some cite or reference for this? Right now it sounds like everything you know about this you got or inferred from reading the police response in the OP's article.

State law for cops? No. There is no law I am aware of that forces them to fill out stop reports. Just like there isn't a law that says they have to wear a specific uniform. I do know it is policy for all state troopers, and major city cops. Which means it tends to be policy for every county and municipal cop too. Just how it trickles out. There may be a few places in some small podunks town in the state that doesn't require the officers there to fill out stop forms, but all the major cities and state troopers for sure do. But then again, I never stated all cops have to do the form. I just said "Cops in Texas" which is generalize statement. But then again you dont have to believe me. Call any precinct in any major town in Texas such as Dallas, Houston, Austin, or San Antonio. I believe they'll tell you the same thing I just did here. The asking for ID for even a class C misdemeanor is a SOP by most if not all the cops here in Texas even if they decide to let the person go without writing a ticket.

 

[HumblePie]

Maybe basic observations by a superior. How does writing tickets make a good cop?

Now I'm really out of this thread

Because police departments can afford to have a supervisor out on the beat with every officer under them 24/7/365? Yes supervisors can and probably do make unannounced visits to their subordinates to check up on them, but I doubt many of them do it every day. Tickets and stop forms are just a way for officers to show that they are out doing work even when someone isn't watching over their shoulder during their 8+ hour stints of work during the day.

 

[waggy]

Maybe basic observations by a superior. How does writing tickets make a good cop?

Now I'm really out of this thread

I agree. it doesn't make a good cop. I don't care how many tickets a cop writes. I care about them keeping people safe and arresting really bad people. Quota's and such just lead to poor police officers.

They did what exactly what i want in a situation like this. they made sure she was all right. told her to walk on the other side of the road. They are required to ask for ID on stops.
the police were polite the whole time.

 

[pcgeek11]

Exactly. In your face racism right there.

Stupid bitch is a racist.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Because police departments can afford to have a supervisor out on the beat with every officer under them 24/7/365? Yes supervisors can and probably do make unannounced visits to their subordinates to check up on them, but I doubt many of them do it every day. Tickets and stop forms are just a way for officers to show that they are out doing work even when someone isn't watching over their shoulder during their 8+ hour stints of work during the day.

Ugh I'm in again.

Every retailer does this it doesn't have to be 24/7 surveillance. You need to hire trustworthy people, have the right people doing the right jobs and supervisors need to do observations some of the time. Give feedback and address poor performance. This isn't rocket science.

 

[HumblePie]

Ugh I'm in again.

Every retailer does this it doesn't have to be 24/7 surveillance. You need to hire trustworthy people, have the right people doing the right jobs and supervisors need to do observations some of the time. Give feedback and address poor performance. This isn't rocket science.

Hey I'm not saying I think it's the best way, it's just a feasible way. Cops jobs is law enforcement. Enforcement usually means writing tickets or arresting people most of the time. Tickets and arrests are easy metrics to track and more than likely are not the only ones. Unlike a retail job, cops have jobs that are much more visible in the community and many places have people requesting all sorts of data from cops on what they do. This is because police departments get money from tax revenue and places need to know how best to spend their money. To know how much money to allocate tends to require metrics.

Because these metrics are tracked they are also part of officer performance reviews. Along with many other metrics. Of which I'm not going to list all the possible ones.

Just think this through a bit more logically.

 

[momeNt]

Brown person who runs on the street here...

As soon as I saw the first 5 seconds of the video I knew exactly what was happening.
The walk. The flapping.
Generic suburban middle aged woman happened.
Trying to keep that hypertension at bay.

As for the cops.
I guess I'm used to NY. I believe the procedure here is to a quick blast of the siren followed by (over the PA) "Hey dumbass!!! Get out of the street". No reason whatsoever to ask for an ID when someone acting like a birdman on the side of the street.
However, if they are acting like birdman and they are moving kinda erratically it's probably a good idea to get close and make sure its not someone wandering around hopped up on something.
From the short video I say, that one little part where she wanders into the street a bit would be enough for me to actually get out the car and do a quick check. The asking for ID is way to check for responsiveness, coordination (do they fumble for it or are their movement controlled? Are they shaking? Combative?)

Between all the meds people get loaded up with nowadays, its doesn't even have to be illegal stuff. Sometimes someone hits the road in either their car or for their "Look! IMA bird walker" exercise routine

Not sure if dog whistle racism or a sincere post.

Do you have a stormfront account?

 

[pauldun170]

Not sure if dog whistle racism or a sincere post.

Do you have a stormfront account?

I'd like to see where you are going with this.

Let's assume that what you took away from my post is that I'm racist.
Can you explain to me what part of my post leads you to believe I'm racist?

 

[DrPizza]

Maybe basic observations by a superior. How does writing tickets make a good cop?

Now I'm really out of this thread

"Bob patrolled highway 7 on M, W, and Fri. He wrote 11 tickets for speeding, there were no accidents. You patrolled highway 7 on T and Th. You didn't write any tickets. There was one accident for which speeding was a contributing factor."

"I didn't see anyone speeding! Honest!"

Here's your basic observation: one officer caught 11 people speeding on that stretch of highway 3 weekdays out of 5. Another officer, on the same stretch of highway, didn't catch any speeders on that stretch of the highway on the other two days. You think that people break the law only on certain days of the week?

 

[Darwin333]

Right, but the cop doesn't know if you are from the neighborhood or not. People in nice neighborhoods want violent perps arrested BEFORE they commit acts of violence not after. Kind of a catch-22 situation for the cops.

Well you can't arrest someone before they commit a crime so I fail to see your point....

Cops are by their very nature reactionary, they show up AFTER crimes have been committed. Hell across the river in NOLA they show up 20ish hours after even violent crimes have been committed. Wasting time with this kind of nonsense does nothing but prevent them from chasing actual bad guys.

And really, this lady a potential violent perp??? Really?

 

[Darwin333]

Once I was vacationing in Ohio (wife's family) and was out running. A patrol car moving in the same direction slowed down, opened the window, and the cop said "it's safer on the other side of the road" and pointed to where he wanted me to move. That was the end of it. The cop didn't even exit the car. I can't say for sure, but I suspect this is the more typical scenario in a situation like this.

That said, I can't say whether or not the police behavior was racially motivated in this particular case.

Perfectly valid and good public service and a vastly better use of the cops time to let you know its safer and then just move on to do real police work.

That's my only real point. Can't actually say the cops did anything "wrong" but they sure didn't do right.

 

[Darwin333]

Because police departments can afford to have a supervisor out on the beat with every officer under them 24/7/365? Yes supervisors can and probably do make unannounced visits to their subordinates to check up on them, but I doubt many of them do it every day. Tickets and stop forms are just a way for officers to show that they are out doing work even when someone isn't watching over their shoulder during their 8+ hour stints of work during the day.

So in a nutshell these guys couldn't find anyone committing any serious offenses or crimes so they had to stop this woman exercising to prove they were "working"?

I get the idea but it's still pretty fucked up to say "you must fuck with X amount of citizens per day to keep and progress at your job".


Ironically they have to fill out these reports on stopping people for exercising in the street to prove they are doing their jobs but we still can't get nation wide standardized reports on the people they shoot.

 

[cubby1223]

I think she should not walk on the street and should be on the side walk.


Her story and the response from the police chief is at the bottom of the article = http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/l...hy-bland-i-was-caught-walking-while-black.ece


Video of the encounter = http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/l...-chief-no-officers-were-doing-their-jobs..ece

What do ya'll think?

Also considering you cannot accurately determine skin color the way she was dressed prior to confronting her...