nycm'er

I had an interesting interaction with the NYPD tonight. I have to embarrass myself to tell the story but I must soldier on: I was coming home from an enjoyable evening in Queens with my girl. We turned off the Willy B bridge path and hair-pinned on to the road just south of the bridge that travels east towards the 7th Precinct. This road is one way, heading east and as were we. On this road headed west is a small car traveling about 40 mph. (NYC speed limit = 30 mph) I am bothered by this, as it is annoying, unsafe and threatens us directly. I call up what spittle I can and let a WEAK one loft in the car's general path (This is the embarassing part because I know am a lameass for spitting at all), the car drove in to it and stopped - abruptly, then began to back up almost as fast as it was going forward. So I am telling my GF that they guy is coming back, (the reverse gear is screaming) and to watch out. I am dreading her getting hurt and can't believe I have included her in my childish, vindictive acting out.
We round the bend where there happens to be the Precinct and the car stops, and so do I, as well as a uniformed cop getting out of his cruiser. The guy wants to know "What did I think I was doing?" I ask him "What did he think he was doing driving the wrong way up a street?" He says "BECAUSE I CAN." and I say "Really? Who are you?" and he announces that he is a Sergeant, to which I demand I.D. and he pulls it out. He shows me a very unconvincing I.D. but the uniform cop says "Hey Sarge." so that game is up. He leaves my GF with the bikes and makes me come in for a "while" and runs my name. I should say here that I believe in the system, I want to believe that it can work for everyone (even though it isn't). I do not think we as American citizens should be afraid of our own Government, at all, right down to the underpaid sergeant that drives a crap, nondescript little car the wrong way down the street.
I have nothing on me, have no priors and have done nothing exceptionally wrong, so I am not worried and really enjoy watching the cops dump my commuter bag out and talk tough to me and kiss the Sarge's butt. All the while they are telling me to lose the attitude and what a favor he is doing just writing a summons. (apparently, if you can't prove your identity they can put you in front of a judge to give you the summons, which on a Friday night in NYC, can mean Sunday night before you see one.) So I guess he did me a favor in that sense, but if he had not been driving home the wrong way, I never would have had the pleasure of his intimidation and chest puffing. While I am sitting there, and my name is being run, I hear him telling all those at the desk that I spit on his car, (soooo lame, I know) but I can't hear him telling them that he was galloping up a street the wrong way. I wonder what they think I was doing?) (What was I doing?) So 20 minutes later, (after a pleasant conversation with the uniformed cop who watched me in which among other things told me that the summons would most likely be thrown out.) the sergeant had gave me my summons (spitting in public). The two plainclothes guys who searched me were watching me pack up my dumped out stuff, they kept saying "You should be careful out there, you never know what people are going to do. What if this spit on car had some psycho in it? Watch what you do," (As is said in New York: oink, oink, Stay in line!) and I tried to add that maybe the Sergeant shouldn't be driving the wrong way threatening me. And Cop #1 says, "Two wrongs don't make a right." I guess I'll take that as an assignment of partial blame.
So, should I go to Internal Affairs/ Civilian Complaint Review Board, or should I shut my Cake hole?

jeff williams

They were right. Spit on the wrong car and some sick f would have @ it.
Smarten up. Home safe with chickola is all that matters.
Have a nice day Orificer. Also don't get cock-y when you know... safer for them and you.
Your @$$ will not be getting laid when your @$$ is laid up in a hospital bed.

Fight when you HAVE to. Spit when you have a bug in your mouth.

lilHinault

Come on man, who are you? Joe Llama?

nycm'er

NO!! I said WEAK one, I had just climbed a "hill". I am still ashamed so there.

jeff williams

Sometimes if I ride early and don't breakfast, I choke up acid.
Spit it on a car, it might eat the paint? Hydrocloric acid.

Try it...riding early.
Forget spitting.

Fingers useless too. Yes I do . **** you very much!

twahl

Explain it in court. What happens depends on the judge, because I doubt that they will view spitting as an appropriate action to take with a wrong way driver. Calling it in might have worked well, they would have to dispatch to see if it was a drunk or something. Glad to see that you are owning what you did wrong, don't make it worse, just go to court, explain your actions while being appropriately embarrassed, and hope for the best. Judge should see that the ticket was a lame-assed attempt to find something to write you up for.

genec

The actions of the wrong way Sargent though are clearly wrong... and he dismissed his personal responsibility and falsely claimed "the power of the badge" to his own advantage.

Spitting was wrong, abusing power is worse.

brokenrobot

NYCM'er - Going to court? I'd DEFINITELY make a complaint with the CCRB, or at least report to them that the white shirt thinks his badge makes him immune from all traffic laws, even when off-duty, and is therefore willing to endanger the citizens in his precinct... but that's just me!

Twahl - The NYPD has *never* dispatched for a traffic report, drunk driver or otherwise. I've called in for drunks (and aggressive drivers) probably a dozen times, and I always call back with my case numbers for an update - nothing has EVER been done: no patrol cars have been dispatched, nobody's been ticketed. There's no such thing as traffic enforcement in this city; the traffic bureau, inasfar as they do ANYTHING at all, act exclusively as traffic COACHES, standing in intersections and waving cars through red lights. This is a city with a citywide 30 MPH speed limit in which the average speed on the avenues (other than rush hour) is in the 50s, a city where the comptroller estimates a million red lights run every DAY, where you can find at least one row of double-parked cars on every commercial street in the city all day long... and there's no enforcement whatsoever. Last week, I called in a report of kids writing graffiti on my block. To my surprise, a patrol car actually followed up - but they interviewed the kids on the spot, watched them paint for a little while, and left without ticketing or detaining anyone. This was the same day the city announced their new graffiti elimination campaign, promising zero tolerance...

Don Gwinn

You already know what you did wrong, no need to belabor it.

I would say that you MIGHT be able to get him in some trouble, but for the most part, he was right when he told you he did it because he could get away with it. Of course, when he kills somebody in a head-on collision, there may be some question as to whether he should get away with it any more.

Call it a lesson learned.

khuon

IANAL but I believe the law would say that these are two seperate issues. The OP is going to court for spitting. Persuing a case against a wrong-way driving cop is another matter entirely. Bringing up the fact that the officer was driving the wrong way will not do any good in court and could actually possibly be detrimental by suggesting that the spitting was an act of vigilantism.

oboeguy

IMO you did nothing wrong. However, you messed with a cop, which in this town means you're screwed. Some cops get away with all sorts of crap.

However, AFAIK, spitting on the *sidewalk* is against the law, but on the street I'm reasonably certain it's OK. Check into the fine points of that and you might very well embarrass a j@ck@55 cop.

Oh, and got paragraphs? They're a good thing.

filtersweep

Yeah... some 1800s law about spitting (tobacco) in public is still on the books...

John E

Humbly and respectfully admit that you were wrong to spit, but do quietly slide in some words to the effect that it is pretty scary to encounter a wrong-way motorist on a one-way road.

nycm'er

I couldn't get paragraphs to stick I even re-edited before posting and no luck. (and still dont think this one will indent either...)
I think the problem may be with arguing is that I am charged with spitting in public (such a child) and the wrong-way car bit has nothing to do with it. I don't think anyone is looking for a cause and effect here. I wish I had flipped him the bird, then seen what happened. (rude gesture in public) I do agree there is a lesson learned here, but I also believe that this is where it is my responsibility to stand up for what I think is right, THEN AGAIN, I gotta pick my battles and this little man isn't one of them.
I am going to make sure I can lodge a complaint so there is a record.

nycm'er

Perfectly put.

pseudobrit

tell him you sneezed. or coughed.

hollow

1. I would
2. do two things:
3. file a report and
4. learn how to write

gajohnson

I have some initmate experience and connections with the CCRB and could possibly tell you what maybe the likely results will be if you pursue it.

PM if you are serious about it.

I glad it was you and not me, "my kind" (African American male ) usually do not get off so easily

manboy

I wonder what would have happened if you had taken the lane...

bcspain

What on earth possessed you to spit at some one anyway? Does this sort of behavior impress your lady? Ok, the car was going the wrong way. Did it disconnect your brain? I suppose it never occurred to you that this person could have simply been lost or confused, or possibly running away from threat. And it might have been a simple mistake. Or is spittle New York shorthand for "hey buddy, road goes THAT way" If he knew he was going the wrong way, your adolescent gestures would not have changed his mind about doing it, and if he didn't know, he still wouldn't have, but would have written you of as a jerk.

Has the entire world lost all conception of "do unto others as you would have them do unto you?" I've never been to NYC, but if that is the way the residents act, that's one more reason to never visit.

nycm'er

Which really burns my A$$ and is why I feel I should pursue it; "my kind" of people don't have that problem.

What's wrong with my writing? Is it the run-ons? It's the run-ons isn't it?

nycm'er

I think I was pretty clear that I don't think that my reaction was at all respectable and that I am embarrassed that I did it, thanks for the riot act anyway. The girl was most unimpressed.

I have found that most lost people don't speed up narrow streets at night with two (well lit and lane occupying) bicyclists coming towards them. But it happens all the time by residents anyway. I should have realized it was a cop, being so close to a Precinct.

Where does the "do unto others" bit start? I reacted out of frustration with an incredibly inept gesture that got me no where, but where does it start? I am sick a feeling like the meek, threatened guy on a 22lb vehicle, squaring off with people who chose to drive 3000 - 6000lb vehicles. I know there are other methods to vent my frustration. At that moment I reacted that way.

bcspain

It starts with each and every one of us, every day. You said you felt threatened by this car, was he trying to hit you, or was he simply going the wrong way? Don't get me wrong, I don't think we should be a herd of sheep. If you need to defend yourself, by all means do so, but keep in mind, you made the choice to ride the 22 pound vehicle out there amongst the behemoths. You have to assume that they are not going to watch out for you, so you have to do it for yourself. Another question, was the street you were on so narrow that there wasn't room for the car to pass you safely? If so, how would have it been any different if he had been going the right way and came up behind you? You said he was speeding, at least coming at you you could see and try to avoid him. Please don't misunderstand me, I'm not defending the cop, he quite obviously was in the wrong. My point is that being right, morally or otherwise, won't keep you from getting dead if you get run over. The cars think they own the road and you are not going to change thier minds by giving obscene gestures and spitting.

I've had this same conversation with motorcyclists. They have just as much trouble with cars as we do, and small cars have trouble with SUVs. I was in an accident myself once driving a 3/4 ton custom conversion van. It was 22 feet long, weighed in excess of 6000 pounds. Got tangled up with an 18-wheeler. No one was hurt, but the van was totaled. My point here it that even though the accident was technically my fault, the driver reacted with concern and kindness, which made me feel even stupider than if he had been hostile.

Civilized behavior is all that separates us from the beasts. We can't claim it's intelligence, because as a whole, we ain't that smart. All you have to do is look at the air and water quality to see that. All we can hope for is to treat each other decently and with respect, even when others don't do it first.

brokenrobot

OH, agreed - I didn't intend to imply that the two were related, or that being in court for the one ought to involve discussion of the other! My apologies for the lack of clarity in my original post.