Criminal Justice
Attorney Cites Cop for Parking Infractions
Posted Apr 21, 2008 5:16 PM CST
By Martha Neil
When a city police officer allegedly parked his patrol car last month in a no-parking zone in front of an Asian restaurant on the trendy Northwest side of Portland, Ore., a local attorney happened to be there, too.
So, after looking up the relevant law, attorney Eric Bryant, who recently passed the state bar, cited Officer Chad Stensgaard, in a citizen complaint, with parking infractions that carry a total of $540 in fines upon conviction, according to the Portland Mercury.
"Stensgaard walked into the restaurant wearing his police uniform, but did not make any arrests or citations. Instead, he turned his attention to the basketball game on television, according to Bryant," the publication recounts. "When Bryant asked Stensgaard about his vehicle, Stensgaard allegedly acknowledged being in a no-parking zone but asked Bryant, 'If someone broke into your house, would you rather have the police be able to park in front of your house or have to park three blocks away and walk there?' "
Through a police spokesman, Stensgaard declined to comment but he reportedly plans to fight the ticket.
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Comments
fed up
Apr 21, 2008 10:45 PM CST
Finally some citizen action on police parking abuse. In NYC, civil servant abuse of dashboard parking placards, which lets them get away with parking in places like road merge shoulders, is one of the biggest contributors to the volume of cars clogging up Manhattan. It’s time civil servants, including cops, play by the same parking rules as everyone else.
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Poor sod
Apr 22, 2008 10:42 AM CST
Poor, silly, sod Eric Bryant. So naive, so optimistic. The Portland cops are going to make his life a living hell. If he fails to signal a lane change he’s going to get hauled in and cavity-searched. I have two in-laws that are cops, and for arrogance, power-madness, and complete disregard for the meaning of the word “public servant,” they can’t be beat. One brags about beating speeding tickets by flashing his badge. There’s a reason they were called “pigs” in the ‘60s.
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Jay
Apr 22, 2008 12:24 PM CST
Eric Bryant is clearly destined to be a cop-hating defense attorney who will use his whole life fighting against those who would protect him.
Likely, the cop should have parked elsewhere. But give him a break: he spends every day dealing with the worst of humanity (and getting paid crap). Let him get some over-priced sushi.
Anti-cop sentiment is strong in Oregon. This article illustrates why liberalism is like the HIV virus. The Left attacks all the white blood cells of our society (cops, military, etc.) with the ultimate goal of destroying the host (the U.S. of A.).
It’s a dangerous ideology that must be kept in its place before it evolves into the liberalism we saw in the USSR and 1930 Germany.
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Pirate News TV
Apr 23, 2008 9:59 PM CST
I always file criminal charges against cops in traffic court. Best defense is a good offense, using 14th Amendment Equal Protection doctrine. If the judge refuses to prosecute the cop, my ticket MUST be dismissed.
http://piratenews.org/how-to-win-in-dragon-court.html
Here’s the Oregon statute, that merely codifies an Affidavit of Probable Cause for Criminal Complaint, as already allowed in all criminal courts;
http://piratenews-tv.blogspot.com/2008/04/citizen-issues-540-parking-ticket-to_23.html
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Jack
Apr 27, 2008 4:38 PM CST
Obviously this guy is a flaming liberal who hates the very people that keep him safe. I guarantee you that he has never served his country or community for a single hour of a single day in any meaningful way. Who will protect the sheep (like Eric) if we scare off the sheep dogs? ...certainly not whimpy nerds like Eric!!!
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Roger
May 2, 2008 12:39 PM CST
The police officer isn’t above the law. That should be clear to everyone. He especially shouldn’t be above a law called “Illegal operation of an emergency vehicle.” He probably should have picked another restaurant, one with parking. It is a scary time when the police feel that they can ignore a law that specifically tells them what they can and can’t do.
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