Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!seismo!lll-crg!nike!ucbcad!ucbvax!USC-OBERON.ARPA!asbed From: asbed@USC-OBERON.ARPA (Asbed bedrossian) Newsgroups: mod.legal Subject: Officers, but far from gentlemen... Message-ID: <8608220949.AA19814@usc-oberon.ARPA> Date: Fri, 22-Aug-86 05:49:00 EDT Article-I.D.: usc-ober.8608220949.AA19814 Posted: Fri Aug 22 05:49:00 1986 Date-Received: Fri, 22-Aug-86 20:54:00 EDT References: <436@argus.UUCP> Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU Reply-To: Asbed Bedrossian Distribution: net Organization: USC Computing Services, Los Angeles, CA Lines: 101 Approved: info-law@brl.arpa Of people prejudiced, and TA drivers... First off, two bits of relevant info about me: I'm 25, American, educated in Canada and in the States, born in Lebanon, Armenian (therefore Christian) and I drive a TransAm (because I like the car's shape ok?) which looks like it is speeding while parked in the driveway. I live in the San Fernando Valley (Los Angeles) and I commute 30 miles one way, and the commute back and forth is not the time of day when I feel like doing car-acrobatics. At 1:30am exactly two weeks ago I was pulled off the freeway by the CHP for speeding. The guy came up to my window: - Have you had anything to drink? - No, I'm just returning from work. - What year is your car? - 78. - Follow this pen with your eyes. I did, and he realized I was not drunk. - I'm citing you for speeding at 65mph. He took my driver's licence from my hand and disappeared in the back before I could say another word. I wanted to tell him that I had put the car to cruise at 55mph, and my cruise control gains 3 miles on downhills and loses 3 on the uphill and even if he caught me at 58-59 I was definitely not doing 65mph. After a few moments, I decided maybe I should tell him anyway, so I stepped out of the car, easy and slow in full view of their lights. Immediately his partner appeared and said - Get in your car and sit down. - May I speak to your partner for a second? I said calmly. - I said get in your car and sit down NOW! he yelled doggedly. - Can I have a word with him before he writes the ticket? I insisted. - Get in your car and sit down NOW or I'm gonna arrest your ass for it! he foamed with anger while brandishing his baton-like flashlight, obviously ready to beat me to a pulp. So i got in and sat down. What was I to do? When the first guy returned to my window with the ticket, I signed it, then said: - Can I talk to you about something? - Not just anything. - No, not just anything. I think your partner there is being very discourteous to me and treating me like a drunken criminal for no reason. - Going home from work does not mean you can speed. - I am not arguing about that. He looked at me for 2-3 seconds then went: - Where are you from? - I live a couple of blocks away. - No! I mean where were you born? - I was born in Lebanon. But immediately I noticed that was not a friendly question and added: But I am an American. - You're not an American. You're gonna learn that we do things differently here in america. You know what they do to people like you in Lebanon? They shoot them don't they? I was REALLY taken by surprise here. So I replied: - What are you talking about? I am an American citizen. I've been here over ten years, I was educated here, and before that I was a Canadian. I know how things are done around here. - You're not American. You were not born in California. You're some fuckin' import, and you're gonna learn how we do things here. If you were caught for speeding in Lebanon, they'd shoot you, wouldn't they. - WHAT ARE YOU SAYING? I don't know what they'd do! why are you being insulting and discourteous to me? He looked at me as if searching for an answer... - You're being discourteous to me. - What? What did I ever say or do to you? He looked again searching for his answer. -You were speeding. End of Story. If you have stories to tell, go home to your... (and here he hesitated for 4-5 seconds searching to see what I look like I go home to.) your... momma or whoever cares, and tell them. I don't care. And he stuffed my driver's licence and the ticket in my hand and disappeared. There I was, awake and wondering what had just hit me. Now then- I realize getting out of my car was a mistake. They're paranoid about this. But still, that is no reason for this prejudiced, profane conduct. Besides, how threatening does a 5'6" guy look in front of two 6'+ gorillas? I've already complained to the CHP and they're processing my claim. The guy's supervisor told me he denies the profane words, but has "some recollection" of the incident, but neither officer can be witness of the other's words. He told me if my claim's unsubstantiated due to his denial, then all I can expect is that his record will be marked, but that if he already has a bad record, the repercussions might be more serious. I still think the biggest problem is not just his breaking departmental policy by saying a couple of "profane" words, I think there's the bigger issue of a prejudiced, immoral jerk being in charge of a gun in the name of the law! (to top it all, the dweeb is Mexican, you'd think he'd be aware of America's diverse heritage!) I'd like to know what I can expect out of this realistically. Who's attentions should I bring this to? Who should I complain to? It is really scary to have the law resting in the hands of a bunch of angry, prejudiced thugs under the disguise of their uniforms, and to know that these hoods can simply lie their way out of legal problems, courtesy of their badges. I plan to plead not guilty. Will the judge hear me out? What can I expect out of traffic court, with the officer present under subpoena, beyond maybe getting off on the ticket? (note how he conveniently cited me for 65mph, the rule of thumb minimum that the CHP can fight for in a court.) I welcome your discussion and advice. I personally am so angry I feel like nothing less than booting the dweebface from the service will do. What do you think is my best avenue, how should I go about it? And to think MY TAXES (and yours too) go to pay the salaries of assholes like these! THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS! Asbed Bedrossian sdrdcf!usc-oberon!asbed asbed@usc-ecl.arpa