DWR
But for Cody Hauer, being a Ron Paul supporter may wind up costing more than $550 following four citations in one week from the Owatonna Police Department for having a $40 window decal on the rear window of his Buick Park Avenue.
Hauer had a 13-inch-by-40-inch decal affirming his support for the "Ron Paul Revolution." The decal took up most of the window with red and white lettering, while mini decals advertising Paul's presidential Web site adorn the bottom of his passenger windows.
But on Jan. 26, Hauer said, he received a verbal warning from the Minnesota State Highway Patrol. The warning followed with four written citations from the Owatonna Police Department issued Saturday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Each citation could cost him $128 in fines.
This guy is claiming that he was stopped because he was a Republican, my proffesional opinion is he was stopped for having a big ass sticker on his back window that was obstructing the view. He was cited several times, and I wouldn't be surprised if it was the same officer, for not taking it off. I think there are many occasions where someone is breaking the law and they are stopped and cited for same but because they are morons they think it is because they are (insert Race,gender,religion,political affiliation here). Try a little experiment for me the next time you are on the road. When you see some dipwad run a light or do some other assanine thing in a vehicle, tell me their Race/gender/political affiliation in one second after that violation.
Are there police officers out there who are racists and are probably stopping people for the wrong reasons? Yes, but you will find these people in all proffesions and on both sides of the fence. Yes, racism is an equal opportunity hater, not just exclusive to Whites. My point here is to say that just because you got pulled over by Johnny law doesn't mean he stopped you because you are(Insert race/gender/religion here) it could mean you were a dumbass who broke the law and got caught. Suck it up and admit it and they may not write you a ticket, unless they are Highway Patrol, they would write their own mothers, the bastards. :)
posted by davis14633 at 05:43
5 Comments:
I'm not going to spend the time to investigate Minesota law, but I doubt obstructed view could be sighted.
Most states only require one rear view mirror and don't go into details about visibility out of the rear window(s).
Going by the officer and your logic a cargo van with no side or rear windows shouldn't be on the road because you can't look out the back windows.
--jv
Hell he is a Ron Paul supporter, that reason alone is enough to pull him over and cite him.
And to jv: if there is no law to cover the obstruction of a rear window then I wonder what codes or statue he used on the citation?
This story must be leaving something out, perhaps he had no side mirrors. Otherwise it makes no sense because it would seem to be impossible to legally pull a trailer or place anything in the bed of a pickup higher than the top of the bed level. Both of these actions would obstruct the driver's inside mirror.
My guess, Jimmy, is that it's a matter of a temporary obstruction, (i.e. - hauling a dresser in the back of a pickup), versus a permanent or semi-permanent obstruction, (i.e. - a large sticker blocking the rear-view mirror). Panel vans and such are specifically designed with their inherent view obstructions in mind -- towing mirrors, back-up beepers, etc. Passenger cars are designed with a more full-view concept. I'm not saying its necessarily a good or even enforceable law; just giving their probable logic in formulating it.
As for the driver, I've news for him: if he supports Ron Paul, he's not a Republican, he's a Libertarian. Ron Paul is no more a Republican than John McCain.
JV, obstructed view laws apply to both vehicles, but trucks are a special exemption, but must have side view mirrors or they have an equipment violation. The obstruction laws are almost universal from state to state. Nothing can be below the ISO line on the front window, Window tint on side windows can only block 35% of light except on limos, trucks must have side mirrors, and no visible obstructions on the rear window of passenger vehicles. Yes,placing large, or to many stickers on your rear window is a violation.
What is missing from the article is wether all the citations were issued by one officer or several different ones. If one, then I would have to say he/she may have had an agenda, but if several officers issued the tickets then i would have to say it may be he was just an idiot for leaving it on or was wanting to get press. I'm gonna go with an attention whore trying to get "free" press for his candidate.
Post a Comment
<< Home