Originally Posted by
Standalone
Warning a citizen and telling him to stay off the road certainly fulfills the LEO's responsibility.
Sorry, but you are incorrect. If this had been a drunk driver, rather than a lack of legal lighting, do you really think any DA, judge or jury would think that the LEO had fulfilled his responsibility? How about if he was stopped for carrying a gun? The key issue here is that violation of the applicable law might endanger lives...and it was obviously more than a might in this case.
Cutting someone some slack then finding that doing so cost a life is one of a cop's worst nightmares.
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"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey