Woman Arrested For Warning Drivers Of Speed Trap With Makeshift Sign

[longnecker]

A makeshift sign used to warn drivers of a speed trap landed a Houston woman in jail last week.

Natalie Plummer was riding her bicycle home from the grocery store when she noticed several cars beng pulled over for speeding. Hoping to save a few drivers from a potentially pricey ticket, she turned one of her paper bags into a sign that warned of the waiting police ahead.

While she was doing so, an officer pulled up and arrested her.

"I was completely abiding by the law," she told KRTK. "I was simply warning citizens of a situation ahead."

The Houston police, however, were not amused by her tactics and arrested her for, believe it or not, "standing in the street where a sidewalk is present," an offense that not only sounds ridiculous, but that Plummer also denies even doing.

"He couldn't take me to jail for holding up this sign or he would have. So all he could do was make up something fake about it," she said.

The officer also searched her backpack and threatened to arrest her for obstruction of justice, a much more serious charge, Plummer alleges.

She was held in jail for 12 hours until she posted bond and is scheduled to appear in court for her misdemeanor charge in the near future.
http://autos.aol.com/article/woman-a...usauto00000020

[Chase]

they do this all the time for checkpoints in PA.

google pennsylvania checkpoint nullification

[Bellicose]

Thought there was a sign somewhere in the Lower Delaware area, that some guy put in his front yard, that says speed trap ahead. Heard it was somewhat of a large sign too. Only because the speed limit drops so rapidly, they were busting everyone, and would jsut wait right at the line where it drops.

[Chase]

i believe it. i hate when your going up 13 toward middletown and you hit main street there and go straight. that stretch there is 55 until you hit from that gas station, over main street, and past apo admin bldg it is 35.

everyone slows down there to exactly 35, everyone, and im not sure why, maybe cops used to sit there all the time back in the day? i have never seen a cop there ever. i know heading back the other way north, there is a cop CAR that sets right after main street on the right, there is never a cop in it though.


it is always here

[longnecker]

Thought there was a sign somewhere in the Lower Delaware area, that some guy put in his front yard, that says speed trap ahead. Heard it was somewhat of a large sign too. Only because the speed limit drops so rapidly, they were busting everyone, and would jsut wait right at the line where it drops.

I had heard of one of those signs on Rt 13 in Sussex County. Those small town cops can be very vigilant!! They not only enforce where the speed limit drops but also where it goes back up. You can not increase your speed until AFTER you pass the sign.

[max1]

Is it all about revenue? I think that drives a lot of it. As far as checkpoints go i'm up in the air about that from one side I see the constitutionality of it then on the other hand you should not drink and drive and thats a bigger issue as far as I am concerned. As far as holding a sign up for a speed trap "eff the police" (well not really buy you know what I mean)

[Joe Walther]

Is it all about revenue? I think that drives a lot of it. As far as checkpoints go i'm up in the air about that from one side I see the constitutionality of it then on the other hand you should not drink and drive and thats a bigger issue as far as I am concerned. As far as holding a sign up for a speed trap "eff the police" (well not really buy you know what I mean)

Max, a lot of people question whether sobriety checkpoints violate the Constitution. And I’m not about to question their right to do so. However, the United States Supreme Court--the ONLY legal opinion that ultimately counts--has already ruled on the matter.

In Michigan Department of State Police vs Stiz (1990), the Court ruled (6-3) that the checkpoints were constitutional. The Court acknowledged that they infringed on a constitutional right, but that it was a minor infringement compared to the State’s interest in the prevention of drunk driving.

Provided that the police essentially shut down a roadway and stop EVERY vehicle coming through, checkpoints are perfectly constitutional. I’ve been stopped three times to date.

As for any possible revenue incentives, I’ve talked with too many of these officers; and revenue doesn’t cross their minds. They’re focused entirely on getting drunks off the streets; they’re proud to do it. And, the frequent nabbing of a few stray “wants and warrants” is icing on the cake.

Even for the local administrations that authorize the use of checkpoints, they’re not about to refuse the revenue, but I don’t think it’s THEIR primary motivation, either.

[max1]

No, I really don't have a problem with checkpoints, anything to prevent a mother or father or anyone from getting that phone call to come to the hospital. My issue is why the police have to go to such lengths to arrest someone who is only holding up a sign. So my question as to the revenue was based upon the speed trap :-)

I hope you and your family are well Joe.

[Joe Walther]

No, I really don't have a problem with checkpoints, anything to prevent a mother or father or anyone from getting that phone call to come to the hospital. My issue is why the police have to go to such lengths to arrest someone who is only holding up a sign. So my question as to the revenue was based upon the speed trap :-)

I hope you and your family are well Joe.

I know that Max, and I failed to address the main point: the warning signs to passersby. I can't speak for the motivation of the officers going to all the trouble, but it's mostly a matter of judgment relative to the underlying issue.

Warning signs, in themselves, are not illegal as long as the signs do not interfere with police officers in carrying out their sworn duty. It's one thing to stand on your lawn holding a sign for passing traffic that reads, "radar ahead!" It's quite another to place a sign on your property that warns people that the police often use radar to catch speeders. And, yet, it's quite another thing altogether to be standing on your property with even this type of sign ONLY when a radar trap is in progress.

There's no doubt that some of the arrests could be contested and won. However, most laypeople don't know this and have to decide if it's worth the expense to fight it. And the police know it.

However, they have nothing to lose. A judge may well dismiss the charge. The defendant has won but has legal fees to pay. But, no one is going after the police officers simply because they were following the law as they saw it at the time.

Even if you decided to get them civilly, they have nothing to lose. The legal principle of Qualified Immunity dictates that the State must pay for their defense as well as any judgement won. Even in situations where the civil suit was filed using joint and several liability, unless a judge sees obvious evidence of power misuse, he or she will rule out any judgements against local officials (police officers in this case) carrying out their official duties in good faith.

And, thanks for asking, Max. The family is fine. As for me, it's still so far, so good.

[max1]

Why anyone would stand in their own yard with a sign like that is beyond me we have a lot of children running in this neighborhood so to me the police doing their job is good, I wont even flash my lights if I see a speed trap on the road.

[longnecker]

I don't like some of the small town enforcement down here which I personally believe is part of the town budget. I don't have a problem with officers sitting along the road and getting some of these asshole drivers that have no respect for other's safety.

[Joe Walther]

I don't like some of the small town enforcement down here which I personally believe is part of the town budget. I don't have a problem with officers sitting along the road and getting some of these asshole drivers that have no respect for other's safety.

I've been through some of those small towns in Sussex County and there is no doubt that speed enforcement is part of their budget. In fact, I've been through some small towns in this country where I would not have been surprised to find that the police officers were on straight commission.

Like others, I think it sucks big time. But, the fact is that willfully interfering with police officers performing their duty--they have no choice but to follow orders if they wish to stay employed--is against the law throughout the nation. Claiming that elected municipal administrators are assholes is not a permissible defense.

My wife's small hometown had a big problem with speed traps many years ago. They solved the problem by voting a few burough politicians out of office and that ended the practice.

[Chase]

'TJ' in Delaware City was famous when I was young, that guy got EVERYBODY.

[Curly]

It works, everybody slows down in Elsmere and Newport. I used to flash my lights to warn people but not as much. If it's one of those stupid traps where the limit goes from 55 to 35, sure I'll flash if I can get away with it. If it's just a 35mph and people are flying through there, the hell with them, they deserve the ticket.

[Bellicose]

I can say that when there is a speed trap out on Rt 1, or something and I just happen to drive by it. I will make a post on facebook to let everyone know. Other then that, I don't do much of anything.

[motherof3]

Personally I love it when the cops set up a speed trap or seat belt check on the main road through our development. There is an elementary school 2 blocks from my house and it pisses me off to no end the way people speed down that road. It's 25 MPH anyway but drops even further when school is in. I've had more people than I can count ride the hell out of my bumper because I do the actual speed limit. There are kids out constantly so I'm usually thrilled to see the cops set up.

[EpicWin]