Wednesday, January 9, 2013

The View Through Our Rear Window

Apache Junction, AZ  High 70  Low 42

P1020137

9:30 a.m. Yep, that’s a Mesa officer of the law behind us. Sure does make the heart beat faster and the blood pump a whole lot harder. Jim saw the lights in the rear view mirror and pulled over to let him go by. Gee – he pulled in right behind us. Oh goodie.

Officer: I’m Officer Talley. Do you know what you did wrong?

Jim: I have no idea.

Officer Talley: You made a right hand on red turn from Greenfield onto Broadway. Did you see the two signs posted there stating No Turn on Red.

Jim and Sandie: No sir, we had no idea we couldn’t turn there.

Officer Talley: May I please have your license and proof of insurance?

Jim: Yes sir.

Officer Talley goes back to his vehicle and in the meantime another police officer pulls in behind him. Now what? We need two officers to handle three old people? (We had picked up my sister.)

Second officer visits for a few minutes and then turns off his lights and drives off. (I think they are being extra cautious because there have been several police officers shot in this area in the last couple of weeks.)

Officer Talley: I am just going to give you a warning. There are only about four or five intersections in Mesa that do not allow you to turn right on red. So please pay more attention in the future.

Jim: Yes sir. Thank you sir. We certainly will.

P1020140

All-in-all the experience wasn’t too bad and that is thanks to the attitude of Officer Talley. We have met law enforcement personnel that seem to have an arrogant, power hungry, bully type attitude. (Most of the Billings, MT police force.) But Officer Talley was polite and took the time to explain that intersection was the scene of several bad accidents and the signs were there to cut down on the number of accidents.

And we are really happy that he only gave us a warning and not a ticket. Needless to say, we are reading every sign at every intersection.

18 comments:

  1. Sounds like he handled it well. We had one in our hometown that would even write his mother if he caught. He once chased down a speeder while towing the portable radar sign back to the station. He was real gung-ho gestapo.

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  2. Good to know their is some nice ones out here.

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  3. Close call, I hate to think how much gas could be bought with what a ticket may have cost.

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  4. You are right some love the fear they put in people and they really play on it. I noticed one "No turn on red sign" in Tempe as I was in the middle of turning. Oh Oh. Glad you only got a warning but it sure is enough to make your stomach turn and heart beat faster for sure.

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  5. Its nice to hear that he only gave you a warning. Like others many of us have encountered officers who seem to delight in giving you a ticket. There is one in a small town back in Iowa that every one calls Barney (remember Barney Fife?) He seems to wait and find every out of towner to make sure they get some type of ticket in his town. Ours was for tinted windows, something we didn't know anything about until we bought this truck. John hadn't had a ticket in over 25 years and he still wouldn't give us a warning.

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  6. A close call, nice of the officer to turn it into an education instead of a fine. :c)

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  7. Good morning Sandie.....law in AZ usually is a little rougher than in Montana.....you guys got off lucky. (O:(O: BTW....read your last post...you guys are going to Quartzsite. I've forgotten when the gem show is? Can you tell me.

    xo

    Jo

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  8. ohhhh I hate those lights behind me... we should not be afraid of our police people... but we are... glad you got a polite policeman.

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  9. ooo..heart dropping to pit of stomach moment!!!

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  10. Wow, glad to hear that police officers still give warnings, that has never been my luck in the past unfortunately. :(

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  11. Very nice way to handle the situation. I truly believe he was only doing his job.

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  12. I have said many times since I retired, I was lucky enough to get in on the Golden Age of Police work where you had discretion and could actually make your own decisions. Since 2001 ( 911)it seems all the decision making is gone the young officers today have to be strictly by the book and no one is there to help if they make a mistake, they know they will be crucified.It's a shame the town Next to us O'Fallon MO. has a reputation for being like the Gestapo. even the good kid's hate the police. We have the Sheriff's Dept here in Dardenne Prairie and the older deputies are like we were. you can still get a wave and a break. In my opinion it's all about money, that's why warnings are gone and tickets are in.Like I said I had a good ride and no complaints for over 30 years, but I am glad to be off the bus now. Glad your guys experience was good, that is a rarity today.

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  13. Good thing it was a warning. I wouldn't like the fine. Ouch!

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  14. They put those signs up just to write tickets. Quotas!

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  15. lucky very lucky! nice to hear that there are 'nice police officers' out there!

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  16. I don't think that it is only the police office that was nice. I also think that a lot has to do with you and how you react to the office that can make the different. If you admit that you made a mistake or that you didn't notice (as in your case) and that you are calm and polite it goes a long way. Glad that you just got a warning.

    Kevin and Ruth
    www.travelwithkevinandruth.com

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  17. I looked at your post this morning and thought Jim forgot to hitch the trailer. See ya soon.

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  18. I have visons of people saying, "Yes, sir, I saw the signs but decided to turn anyway." :D

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Thanks for visiting today. I look forward to reading your comments. Have a beautiful day.