Attorney Cites Cop for Parking Infractions

Criminal Justice

Posted Apr 21, 2008, 06:16 pm CDT
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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Posted by fed up - 2 months, 4 weeks, 22 hours, 40 minutes ago

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.
Posted by Poor sod - 2 months, 4 weeks, 10 hours, 44 minutes ago

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.
Posted by Jay - 2 months, 4 weeks, 9 hours, 2 minutes ago

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.
Posted by Pirate News TV - 2 months, 3 weeks, 5 days, 23 hours, 27 minutes ago

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
Posted by Jack - 2 months, 3 weeks, 2 days, 4 hours, 48 minutes ago

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!!!
Posted by Roger - 2 months, 2 weeks, 4 days, 8 hours, 47 minutes ago

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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