A police officer can legally park in a fire zone when responding to an emergency call. A regular civilian cannot park in a fire zone under any circumstances. What's your point?
Emergency lights are just warning equipment, nothing more. It's not there for your convenience to judge about parking. You leave the lights on for too long and you risk a flat battery when you get back 30 minutes later! A parked police car with lights flashing everywhere at night will disturb other residents and blind drivers. They'll only leave them on if they're blocking a lane or are a hazard. It's just common sense. They stand with the law when being used for official purposes. They have certain rights as emergency drivers. So you're right, they're not above the law, they're afforded for within it.
@@ultra_vires On top of that in some circumstances it wouldn't be wise to turn on their emergency lights if they're looking for a prowler or any other type of suspect who might run or hide or start shooting at them. That's why they don't respond to every call with lights and sirens on.
+RobiSydney If police are on a call then by law they can park anywhere. Think about it, if you are getting your butt kicked or you home robbed do you want the police to take extra time to park in a particular spot or do you want them to get to your assistance as fast as possible?
+Richard Butler If you're getting your butt kicked or your home is being “robbed” (poor house, it got robbed at gun point), you better believe those cops should have their emergency lights on, because as you alluded to, time is of the essence.
+GplusGains Many police departments do not allow their officers to go code 1 (lights and sirens going) except under narrow circumstances. Burglaries (house being robbed is how many civilians put it) and disturbances (which includes many "butt kickings") often are not included as Code 1 calls.
That also means a fire truck or ambulance can be towed away. They're towing their and EVERYONE'S only life line to the hospital or emergency services. Tow truck drivers are just dumb
Tim Minh He tried to illegally tow a police car is what he did, so basically attempted theft of a police car. The cop can park there while engaged in his duties and dealing with a call.
DetJamesMcNulty Incorrect. A routine is not an emergency. Those lanes/spots are for emergency use only. This is why it is illegal for an officer to patrol from any no traffic and no parking zones. This is just what every state and the Supreme Court say.
Do you really expect a cop to drive around the lot looking for a parking space? And when there are no visitor spots to simply sit in the car until someone pulls out? While responding to a call? Man, I make deliveries for a living. I'm always astounded people expect delivery drivers to drive around looking for a spot to park the truck or van or to park in a stall and walk half a mile because there's "no parking in front". It's kind of astounding how clueless some people are. If you call police, you really want them to mess around driving around the block because there's no parking on the street in front of your apartment?
Very true. A lot of people may think a cop has to park in designated areas but they actually don't. When responding to a call or when investigating something they can park wherever the want (within reason of course). Handicap parking, fire lane, in front of a hydrant . . . they can park wherever they want IF they're investigating something. However, I've seen police get into trouble for parking in a fire lane "just because".
See how the media downplays the issue and acts like it is all the tow truck driver's fault. Oh, the officer was just there for a sec. You know, doing cops stuff. Don't question it. Bad tow truck driver. You go to jail.
I agree but, what if that cop needed to respond to a call and his car wasn't there. Cops should follow the laws the enforce. Should have just given him a ticket
+Anthony Kling That really isn't an excuse. There are other police officers in and around that locating who can handle it. More times than not I see cops sleeping in their cars or harassing people, so surely they have time to fill in if one of their buddies gets towed for being a irresponsible dumb ass. If a cop is responding to an emergency, I think it would be wrong to tow them, but that was not the case here. The cop was responding to a call. They had more than enough time to park in a freaken parking spot. The police know they can get away with parking where ever they want and that's why they do it.
+fit4ya1975 No qzetu is right, Cops know they are above the law, and they can park right just as easy as they can wrong. We wouldn't have this problem if they took away all the exceptions for Cops, and they need to. If something is illegal then it's fucking illegal across the board, or it is a bad law.
Typical, a man doing his job, what he is suppose to do and a cop ignoring the rules that apply to everybody, including him, clash and the cop flexes his prick authority and the man doing his job get arrested. Wonder what bullshit charge they will throw at the guy. Everything is illegal now so they may throw a dart at the "fuck over the people" board and see what comes up.
It's his job to tow vehicles parked illegally be it cop or not. A zone painted red for fire trucks here in my state are strictly for this, firetrucks. May it be different elsewhere, but to arrest him seems a bit vindictive and ass hole'ish.
But the Cop wasn't ignoring the rules, those lanes are for emergency vehicles (Fire, Ambulance and Police). Tow truck driver was "...mad about a ticket he received in the past...". Trying to tow for that reason alone could be considered a bit vindictive. That Cop didn't at all seem to be "a prick authority, seemed rather nice to me.
greenjeansmjr I can't really argue your point, you are correct. I find myself just always routing for the other guy in such cases. I have far to much of cops screwing over the people so I enjoy seeing the people try and turn the table on them now and again. But, I do agree with ya, you're correct..
Even if it means a delay in responding to an emergency? Following civilian parking rules is far more important. Yes, towing the cruiser away should teach him a lesson, far more important than preventing the next emergency situation from being responded to quickly.
No-parking zones are typically to leave room for fire trucks and EMTs in case of emergency. Unless the cop can prove (not argue - prove) that there was nowhere else to park and that he was responding to a life-or-death situation, the tow is legal, the arrest is illegal and that cop should be fined like everyone else and suspended for abuse of authority.Course, this is 'Murrica so the best-case scenario for that driver was that the charges probablygot thrown out.
The only markings were "NO PARKING"! Only the tow truck driver said it was a fire lane! P.S. There is no such thing as a fire lane at apartment complexes!
Actually (And I am *NOT* defending Police abusing their power!) in MOST areas, Marked Police Cars are often given exemption to Parking Prohibitions when on "official business". The idea being that if they need to leave the cruiser in a hurry to deal with an issue, they do not have to compromise time or effort by worrying about parking legally. I personally have no problems with that; if someone were breaking in to my house, I'd rather the cops just got there in a hurry! If this Tow Truck driver wanted to be "get back" at the cops, he should have just looked for one parked in front of a Fire Hydrant while running in to get Coffee...!
Danny Philp It's not when they're on official business... It's when they're on EMERGENCY business only, in which case, they dont actually park their cars nor do they tend to take the time to turn their lights off... While they dont have to leave them on, it's the normal thing to indicate that they are there on a call...
If the cop truly was on a call, the cop done nothing wrong. The tow truck driver was doing his job and towing cars and done nothing wrong. Why the hell did the cop have to arrest the guy and do something wrong!? Ruined a perfect record!!!!
Because Gresham, Oregon cops are total idiots and love that power. They are THE REASON why some people call cops PIGS. Gresham also only hires cops with IQ's under 50. It is well documented.
Emergency vehicles can park in no parking zones ONLY if there is an emergency. if there isn't, they should get towed and have to pay the same fines everyone does.
I honestly hate most police but most are corrupt assholes. the good ones get shot and die while more and more assholes survive. it is no parking for a reason. they were "on a call" which means just gathering intel or talking to people. learn the law stfu.
Most people don't call the police for a good time. They're calling because they want or need help. A call for police help is generally treated as an emergency.
tow truck drivers rob peoples money legally but I tell you this tow truck driver has my respect for having a set of balls and doing something that took courage.
the fire lane is for emergencies regarding fire trucks. He wasn't just parked, he was creating a hazard. Being a policeman doesn't mean laws, which are there for a reason, don't apply.
Red curbs are for emergency vehicles, police cars are emergency vehicles. This is the problem with these inbred tow truck drivers, low IQ and tendencies to be pedos.
***** where in the video did it say the officer was there on personal buisiness? He was there on a call, therefore official business and he can park in the emergency lane to do such business... just because it says fire lane doesn't mean it's just for fire aparatus.
***** you must have that new ATCV-1 disease. He's there on a call, according to the news. He can park where he wants... get over it and stop being a moron... plus learn to speak English properly or are you really just that stupid.
+Sam Frodo did your parents have any children that lived, because that last reply was so jumbled and full of crap I have no idea what you're talking about anymore. Take an English class or something. Stop using Google translate to try to talk to me.
I love it when I see police cars parked in the fire lane or no parking zones at Walmart and other places. I park right in front of them or right behind them and take my phone and take a picture. To this date I have received 27 tickets for parking in fire lanes or no parking zones and had 27 of them dropped with no contest after showing the judge the picture I took with my phone.
Here's Oregon State Law 820.300¹ Exemptions from traffic laws (1) Subject to conditions, limitations, prohibitions and penalties established for emergency vehicle and ambulance drivers under ORS 820.320 (Illegal operation of emergency vehicle or ambulance), the driver of an emergency vehicle or ambulance may do any of the following: (a) Park or stand in disregard of a statute, regulation or ordinance prohibiting that parking or standing etc...etc...etc... IT'S THE FIRST EXEMPTION PEOPLE.
Until you look up ORS 820.320, which supersedes any and all of the exemptions. The question as to whether or not this vehicle was operating under emergency conditions has yet to be answered. Actually, since the video doesn't mention what the call was for, a person has to question whether or not there was even a call in the first place; he could have been there visiting a friend or relative. Do cops lie or manufacture evidence? He would be a fool to lie about that by this time though, providing this evidence is out here floating around where he states there was a call. Hopefully the tow truck driver knows enough about procedure to file for discovery with the court clerk, or can retain the services of a good attorney to do these things for him. The video just says that the officer was on a call, not an emergency call. For all we know the call was in regards to loitering :/ Would that justify endangering the lives and property of everyone in the area? It's all hearsay from the evidence we have been presented.
He's on a call... ie emergency call, doesn't matter... it's a call for service and he's there doing business, ie on an emergency call... he can park where ever he wants... you think the dept would authorize his interview without knowing he was there on a call or not... it's simple public records request to get the call... I'm sure the news already had it, otherwise they'd be exposing the officer for wrongdoing like news organizations love to do... and as for 820.320, basically all that says is the emergency vehicle can be exempt of traffic laws and such when enganged in the duties of a call.... when you call the police for anything, you don't consider that an emergency call? By very nature of calling the police to come out, it's some sort of emergency... whether it's deemed it's happeneing right now emergency or someone comes home and they're house has been burglarized sometime during the day emergency... they're ALL emergency calls.
When you dial 911 they ask you to state what your emergency is. If it's deemed less than an emergency they direct you to call your local PD. So no, I don't consider the police being called for anything to be an automatic emergency. And no, if someone was burglarized, being of past tense, it's not an emergency. The emergency would have been during the time the thieves were in the home or near it while in possession of stolen property. Well after the fact, if that was the case, isn't close to being an emergency and certainly should not warrant endangering the safety and security of people and/or their belongings. Would you care if a fire broke out and your home was burned to the ground all because an officer was blocking a fire hydrant and fire crew couldn't put out the flames in time due to an officer who was taking a statement from someone who claims he or she was burglarized? Oh, and then let's say that this victim claiming to have been burglarized thought his or her wedding ring was stolen but later learned that it was simply misplaced :/ A call for service in order to do business is called a service call. A call for emergency assistance is an emergency call. I suppose it depends on whether 911 or local PD dispatched the call. ORS 820.320 exists for a reason. A good defense attorney would probably utilize this subsection: (b) The driver of an emergency vehicle or ambulance must use a visual signal with appropriate warning lights when the driver is exercising privileges granted under ORS 820.300 (Exemptions from traffic laws). If the officer was in violation of this, he was not exempt from the traffic laws.
Show me the definition of an emergency call per Oregon State law... a call is a call, if the officer is there on a call, it's an emergency call for service. An emergency call means a call to duty. The lights signals are for when driving on the road way, not for parking in a parking lot. And btw, all calls are dispatched by local pd or sherrif, 911 calls go thru the 911 call taker who then passes the info along to a local dispatcher... d) A driver of an emergency vehicle or ambulance who is exercising privileges granted under ORS 820.300 (Exemptions from traffic laws) by parking or standing an emergency vehicle in disregard of a regulation or ordinance prohibiting that parking, stopping or standing, shall not use the audible signal. (2) The driver of an emergency vehicle that is operated as an emergency police vehicle is not required to use either visual signal or the audible signal as described in this section in order to exercise the privileges granted in ORS 820.300 (Exemptions from traffic laws) when it reasonably appears to the driver that the use of either or both would prevent or hamper the apprehension or detection of a violator of a statute, ordinance or regulation.
It seems as though we disagree that all calls are categorized as an emergency by default, and that's okay. If you are allegedly on an emergency call, and parking in an emergency zone, why not obey procedures to qualify for the exemptions from traffic laws? You have to qualify before you are exempt. Noncompliance is considered illegal use of an emergency vehicle. I might be asking too much for anyone who swears an oath to uphold our laws, but I sincerely believe they should be on the front line to comply with them.
This is only dealing with cops parking. What about seeing them on there computers and phones at the same time while driving... not a good example to the public if you cant take a minute to pull over and stop endagouring the public.
I worked for the tow company in Oregon and know the laws. Official state law enforcement vehicles are exempt from towing no matter where they are parked. This driver had an attitude from day one.
The officer was responding to a call. If you called the police do you really want them to take their time trying to find an open parking spot somewhere and then have to walk from their all the way to your apartment or what ever you live in. You people are ignorant. Quit your crying.
The fact that it was a cop car, or that the tow driver was mad over a previous ticket is beside the point. The fact remains, officer snot catcher was parked in a fire lane, most likely with his emergency lights off. Typical above the law bullshit here.
Peter Sab a call to police is a call to police. He wasn't there to have lunch. Find me a legal definiton of what an emergency is as it applies to Oregon State Statute 820.320. Fact is he was there with another officer on a call for service. He is exempt from parking laws Oregon State Statute 820.300. And answer me this... so if the Fire Dept is there on a routine call out, such as testing fire hydrants or someone fell down and is not in a life threatening state, do they have to park in a regular space too? No, because all calls are the same and can be considered the same.
After watching it twice the police officer was in the wrong. It seemed based on the 2ay he explained what happen with the statement to the tow teuck driver "Its a police care i will be down in a minute" clearly shows it was not an emergency call. Only in emergency situation the police is allowed to use the fire lane. Even then in an emergency situation the police would still need to move for the fire trucks. The police officer should be arrested for obstruction of justice and false improvement.
Joosejpr of coarse they don't tell us if the lights where on or if it was an emergency... if they did, the intentions of the news program would be shown. I would bet it was the officers fault, and if they expect us to obey EVERY SINGLE law and ordinance, they better be doing the same... it's not right and does not make sense for cops to be above the law when they are the ones with the authority to implement the "law"... that's what they call tyranny.
kingdom come But we see the news agency and the pigs believe they are above the law. Another innocent citizen trying to thwart the tyranny gets fucked again.
this guy wasn't on a call please when will people stop believing everything cops say 2nd this is a prime example of cops thinking the law doesn't apply to them
You're no different than anyone else. If it isn't an emergency, you need to park in spaces made for all other citizens. You're not special just because you have a badge placed on you by the people you are supposed to serve and protect. You are only to act in a different manner when you are in an emergency situation.
People are beyond stupid, if they can't understand the simple concept, that ALL emergency vehicles (fire, police, paramedics) are "EXEMPT" from such laws.
What is up with everyone hating on the officer? Let me say this, if someone broke into you house and you needed the police but they had to park a block away just cuz it was a no park spot, would u be happy? NO you would want the police there as fast as possible. Why don't you people think before u post your bullshit about cops being above the law.
Because if they are at the residence, they can use their parking, or turn emergency lights on and park on street, general public can go around...Notice you will never see an Ambulance or Firetruck park directly next to any curb....the reason for this, is safe passage...Police are exactly the same! no parking means, it's not safe to do so or you are restricting passage, which is against the law...how bout learn basic road laws before acting smart
the rules are there for everyone to obey & that includes the police. do you think the police would let you off a ticket if you parked in a no parking zone in an emergancy...like fuck they would. how about you think about that
Nearly all states have laws against towing marked emergency vehicles. Those laws DO NOT protect unmarked cars, The company I work for has towed, and charged for the tow, several local police, the FBI and ICE.
If it was not an emergency then they need to find a place to park like the rest of us. He had every right to tow that cop car, and he was arrested. He should sue for false arrest.
What happens if the cop is in a fire lane dealing with something as petty as a civil dispute or even just ordering food(I see it WAY too often) when a neighbor building catches on fire and the fire dept has to move the cop car to get to the hydrant? If it is an emergency the cops lights will be on along with possibly sirens and should be allowed in no parking zones. If it is not an emergency call they do not need a no parking zone.
The cop was there on official business, and if you check you might find out that police, fire, ambulance just might be exempted from these types of regulations
How DARE they arrest the tow truck driver for doing his job!! There were no sirens on and Ive seen cops parked illegally buying lunch on many occasions. I hope he sues them and wins.
If a cop is responding to an emergency, he can park wherever he wants. I don't know about other states, but here in California, emergency vehicles are exempt from parking tickets/being towed/etc.
In regards to your friend, could there not be enough 'probable cause' to arrest AND convict him in Austrialia and the next best thing was to deport him and get him out of the country? What people believe in their heart is different from what can be proven in court.
THE OFFICER WAS RESPONDING TO A CALL! Understand that the officer was not being lazy; instead, he was doing his job trying to find out the situation. He was not stopping for a cup of coffee or grabbing a side of donuts. He was responding accordingly
unless its a code 3 they don't need to turn the lights on. he was there on a call, besides the fact that the fire lane is for fire trucks, ambulances, and police cars. he was legally allowed to park it there. the tow truck driver was impeding the law and there fore arrested. nothing wrong with what happened.
unless you're a first responder or law enforcement of some kind there isn't anything in this world that makes parking in the fire lane at the grocery store an emergency for you.
He was obeying the law. This is like towing a firetruck for parking in front of a fire hydrant. The officer was responding to a call. If you were being attacked, do you want the police delayed because they can not find a parking space?
cops CAN park in a fire lane if theyre responding to a call and are in FULL uniform in a MARKED police car. Have an issue, file a complaint, dont let some tow truck driver tow a marked unit with weapons in the vehicle thats 99.9% of the time locked and still running....Tow truck driver probably should have just recieved a citation but w/e
I'm an American, I legally bear arms. I don't need a cop in a life or death situation...Besides if I needed them and their were 3 armed robbers in my house they're seconds from me yet the cops are 15-30 minutes away....Don't rely to much on cops, from the way your admiration for them sounds it could seriously cost you your life!
I guess bashes grant extra parking rights. If any other person was parked in the fire lane their vehicle would be ticketed and towed obey the laws that you would force
phil in exigent matters yes I believe police do not need to find a parking space. However too many police officers abuse their power and will park anywhere even when not on a call.
I just found this but I'm sure the larger fire vehicles would have no problem pushing a police cruiser out of the way if they needed to. only the battalion chiefs would have to move elsewhere because their cars aren't sturdy or strong enough to push a car.
The standard response to that from authorities is usually "It's a police car!" and that's that. In truth it is illegal to do and police officers, who operate in public and under public scrutiny should be pulled up for it. They are there to enforce the law. Not to dance around it for their own convenience.
Not really, Law Enforcement, fire and EMS are operating an emergency vehicle and can park in "no parking zones" provided that they due so with "due regard". And it depends on that Departments policies. That tow truck driver had no legal authority to tow an Emergency vehicle. So yes, Police can park there without their lights being on.
I think it needs to be said over and over again. The cop was legally parked in the fire lane. the fire lane is for emergency vehicles only, which means fire trucks, ambulances, and police cruisers. its not that cops are above the law, it that they are the law, and to enforce the law and assist in emergency situations they are allowed access to certain things such as gate access to gated communities, parking in fire lanes, and the ability to block or stop traffic if needed.
The cop responded to a call. They didn't break the law by parking there at all. Police cars are allowed to park anywhere they please. Check your state's laws
In Michigan, a tow truck IS on the list for Emergency Vehicles. I know that is not the same state. It is even allowed to run any color light except blue. You can tow any vehicle away as long as you have consent of the property owner, and/or law enforcement agency. MCL-257.252 & MCL-257.698 (5f) (6). Feel free to look up the laws.
they don't have to be there on an emergency, the fire lane is for all emergency vehicles on and off a call. fire trucks can park there anytime as well. the tow truck driver was in the wrong in many ways. first, he is supposed to give sufficient notice that the vehicle is parked illegally before towing it away. but even then, cop cars, fire trucks, and ambulances as well as other vehicles such as Command centers are allowed to park there. that's why you aren't allowed to park there but they are.
So if someone has been bashed, robbed etc the cop must drive around the car park for 5 minutes to try and find an empty spot, and failing that, must leave his car running with the lights on with a shotgun and a rifle inside while he tends to the job?
If the police vehicle had its lights off then it is simply to be regarded as any other vehicle would. An emergency vehicle is only an emergency vehicle when clearly indicating it is responding to a call. You wouldn't see a police car, ambulance or fire truck run a red light without its sirens or emergency lights going, would you? If the car was parked, off and without lights then the tow truck driver would have been well within his rights to tow it.
What's so 'weird' about it? No Parking zone is marked...police car parks in no parking zone...POLICE CAR GETS TOWED. As soon as LEO's understand that BADGES DO NOT EQUAL MORE RIGHTS, the better off society as a whole will be.
Ultra Vires Last time I checked, exercising their duty DID NOT include running personal errands on taxpayer time. If he is on OFFICIAL BUSINESS, you are right, however getting donuts for the precinct, or whatever the fuck he was getting DOES NOT qualify as official duty.
lights don't have to be on unless its a code 3 call, and even then they don't have to stay on once the officer is on scene. fire lane is for all emergency vehicles. cop car counts.
If the lights were on, it would indicate emergency. No one would town such a car even if it's illegally parked. Lights were probably off. However if the fire department had to come, the cop car would be in the way and lives could be lost. It would take a few extra seconds to park it 10 meters away in either direction.
no, it doesn't. if there is a need for a fire truck to park there, then the police officer is required to move immediately. otherwise he can park there just fine. the purpose of the fire lane is to reserve space for emergency vehicles to park close as possible to the building to allow for quick responses to fire, medical, and police situations. so you are wrong.
Your right, the tow truck driver completly abused his powers by towing a cop car that was responding to a 911 call, where the cops had no time to think about parking and had to rush to see if someone was in a life or death situation and help them.
Police officers are exempt from the motor vehicle act while engaged in the execution of their duties. The use of emergency equipment (including flashing roof lights) is at the discretion of the officer outside of traffic enforcement. He was on a call for service, not having a coffee. The Tow operator was using his tow equipment illegally for a personal vendetta. No tow operator is authorized to to emergency vehicles without permission or consent from the agency for obvious safety reasons.
In Chicago, the street parking on our busy roads are privately managed by a parking company, and they frequently tow cops who are on "calls" with no lights, no backup, and in a store. Every time, the cops get mad. Every time, the parking company wins
And how is said tow truck driver supposed to tell the difference between an illegally parked cop car and a legally parked cop car? Tow it and sort it out in court.
Like I said before "of course police responding to a call have a right to park anywhere that does not endanger public" , if a cop wants to eat Donut and parks illegally, should not be tolerated, but there is a way to complain, not someone comes and tow the car. u don't want someone without official status or permission comes and tow your car, don't you?
if the cop cars did not have emergency lights on, it should be legal to tow
It is legal to do that .... I know because I've been towing cars for years.
Yes tow his car dumb punk ass cop
It is legal to tow a police vehicle, even if the lights and sirens had been turned on. 👈🏻
tow truck driver should be given a medal
Id buy this guy a beer.
But bye him a whole carton .🤣👍
if you could afford a beer
if this was a regular civilian there car would have been towed away.
If I was 7 feet tall I might have been in the NBA!
A police officer can legally park in a fire zone when responding to an emergency call. A regular civilian cannot park in a fire zone under any circumstances. What's your point?
Regular civilians do not respond to 911 calls
I guess being female doesn't preclude moronic comments! The pavement said "NO PARKING", not "FIRE LANE"!
If my uncle had tits he'd be my aunt.
emergency lights were not on. tow truck driver had the right to take it. cops are there to enforce the law. they don't stand above the law.
Emergency lights are just warning equipment, nothing more. It's not there for your convenience to judge about parking. You leave the lights on for too long and you risk a flat battery when you get back 30 minutes later! A parked police car with lights flashing everywhere at night will disturb other residents and blind drivers. They'll only leave them on if they're blocking a lane or are a hazard. It's just common sense.
They stand with the law when being used for official purposes. They have certain rights as emergency drivers. So you're right, they're not above the law, they're afforded for within it.
@@ultra_vires On top of that in some circumstances it wouldn't be wise to turn on their emergency lights if they're looking for a prowler or any other type of suspect who might run or hide or start shooting at them. That's why they don't respond to every call with lights and sirens on.
If the squad car didn’t have his lights on then “yes” tow the vehicle
why keep the lights and engine running once they get to call and the car is parked . I do see many policer cars idle for no purpose
Wrong it doesn’t matter what the vehicle is his emergency lights we’re not activated so he is no acceptation to being towed out of a dam fire lane
I didn't see any lights going on the Cop car.. It looked like a good tow to me.
+RobiSydney If police are on a call then by law they can park anywhere. Think about it, if you are getting your butt kicked or you home robbed do you want the police to take extra time to park in a particular spot or do you want them to get to your assistance as fast as possible?
+Richard Butler cops lie
+Mikevdog "Cops lie" Really? That is the best that you can do? You still failed to answer the question.
+Richard Butler
If you're getting your butt kicked or your home is being “robbed” (poor house, it got robbed at gun point), you better believe those cops should have their emergency lights on, because as you alluded to, time is of the essence.
+GplusGains Many police departments do not allow their officers to go code 1 (lights and sirens going) except under narrow circumstances. Burglaries (house being robbed is how many civilians put it) and disturbances (which includes many "butt kickings") often are not included as Code 1 calls.
How would the tow truck driver/operator know that the cop was doing something if he didn't have his lights on?
The tow truck driver is allowed to tow a police vehicle, even if the lights and sirens are turned on. 👈🏻
Exactly. 👍
the MARKED unit can park anywhere
That also means a fire truck or ambulance can be towed away. They're towing their and EVERYONE'S only life line to the hospital or emergency services.
Tow truck drivers are just dumb
I watched the entire video twice and I still can't see what the tow truck driver did wrong.
Tim Minh He tried to illegally tow a police car is what he did, so basically attempted theft of a police car. The cop can park there while engaged in his duties and dealing with a call.
Tim Minh Then you are an idiot.
***** You can if you're towing a legally parked car... or you're just a car thief stealing cars using a towtruck.
DetJamesMcNulty Incorrect. A routine is not an emergency. Those lanes/spots are for emergency use only. This is why it is illegal for an officer to patrol from any no traffic and no parking zones. This is just what every state and the Supreme Court say.
Do you really expect a cop to drive around the lot looking for a parking space? And when there are no visitor spots to simply sit in the car until someone pulls out? While responding to a call? Man, I make deliveries for a living. I'm always astounded people expect delivery drivers to drive around looking for a spot to park the truck or van or to park in a stall and walk half a mile because there's "no parking in front". It's kind of astounding how clueless some people are. If you call police, you really want them to mess around driving around the block because there's no parking on the street in front of your apartment?
Very true. A lot of people may think a cop has to park in designated areas but they actually don't. When responding to a call or when investigating something they can park wherever the want (within reason of course). Handicap parking, fire lane, in front of a hydrant . . . they can park wherever they want IF they're investigating something. However, I've seen police get into trouble for parking in a fire lane "just because".
See how the media downplays the issue and acts like it is all the tow truck driver's fault. Oh, the officer was just there for a sec. You know, doing cops stuff. Don't question it. Bad tow truck driver. You go to jail.
I agree but, what if that cop needed to respond to a call and his car wasn't there. Cops should follow the laws the enforce. Should have just given him a ticket
+Anthony Kling That really isn't an excuse. There are other police officers in and around that locating who can handle it. More times than not I see cops sleeping in their cars or harassing people, so surely they have time to fill in if one of their buddies gets towed for being a irresponsible dumb ass. If a cop is responding to an emergency, I think it would be wrong to tow them, but that was not the case here. The cop was responding to a call. They had more than enough time to park in a freaken parking spot. The police know they can get away with parking where ever they want and that's why they do it.
+qzetu your a complete moron...
+fit4ya1975 LMAO You're you stupid ignorant fucking troll.
+fit4ya1975 No qzetu is right, Cops know they are above the law, and they can park right just as easy as they can wrong. We wouldn't have this problem if they took away all the exceptions for Cops, and they need to. If something is illegal then it's fucking illegal across the board, or it is a bad law.
I support tow driver to tow that cop car. Cop are not above the law
Typical, a man doing his job, what he is suppose to do and a cop ignoring the rules that apply to everybody, including him, clash and the cop flexes his prick authority and the man doing his job get arrested. Wonder what bullshit charge they will throw at the guy. Everything is illegal now so they may throw a dart at the "fuck over the people" board and see what comes up.
It's not his job to tow away emergency vehicles in areas designated for emergency vehicles.
It's his job to tow vehicles parked illegally be it cop or not. A zone painted red for fire trucks here in my state are strictly for this, firetrucks. May it be different elsewhere, but to arrest him seems a bit vindictive and ass hole'ish.
But the Cop wasn't ignoring the rules, those lanes are for emergency vehicles (Fire, Ambulance and Police). Tow truck driver was "...mad about a ticket he received in the past...". Trying to tow for that reason alone could be considered a bit vindictive. That Cop didn't at all seem to be "a prick authority, seemed rather nice to me.
greenjeansmjr I can't really argue your point, you are correct. I find myself just always routing for the other guy in such cases. I have far to much of cops screwing over the people so I enjoy seeing the people try and turn the table on them now and again. But, I do agree with ya, you're correct..
Understood! Can't blame ya, thanks for the civil comment, kinda rare here on YT!
Steven Syverson, did the right thing. Unless your a fire truck, no one should be able to block a fire lane, even a Police Officer.
Even if it means a delay in responding to an emergency? Following civilian parking rules is far more important. Yes, towing the cruiser away should teach him a lesson, far more important than preventing the next emergency situation from being responded to quickly.
Where I used to live, cops and regular citizens were all the same in parking. You illegally parked, car will be towed, no exceptions.
No-parking zones are typically to leave room for fire trucks and EMTs in case of emergency. Unless the cop can prove (not argue - prove) that there was nowhere else to park and that he was responding to a life-or-death situation, the tow is legal, the arrest is illegal and that cop should be fined like everyone else and suspended for abuse of authority.Course, this is 'Murrica so the best-case scenario for that driver was that the charges probablygot thrown out.
The police officer was parked in a FIRE LANE. The police is not above the law, the car should have been towed. FALSE ARREST.
Lol
Um, you are too stupid for words.
The only markings were "NO PARKING"! Only the tow truck driver said it was a fire lane! P.S. There is no such thing as a fire lane at apartment complexes!
Hell yes it is and he should sue the county for it ty oo ..
Dumbass
Law is the law, the badge does not give special rights.
Actually (And I am *NOT* defending Police abusing their power!) in MOST areas, Marked Police Cars are often given exemption to Parking Prohibitions when on "official business". The idea being that if they need to leave the cruiser in a hurry to deal with an issue, they do not have to compromise time or effort by worrying about parking legally. I personally have no problems with that; if someone were breaking in to my house, I'd rather the cops just got there in a hurry! If this Tow Truck driver wanted to be "get back" at the cops, he should have just looked for one parked in front of a Fire Hydrant while running in to get Coffee...!
Danny Philp It's not when they're on official business... It's when they're on EMERGENCY business only, in which case, they dont actually park their cars nor do they tend to take the time to turn their lights off... While they dont have to leave them on, it's the normal thing to indicate that they are there on a call...
that's right you don't tow the car of a GOD!!!!!!.......but somehow I feel justice was served both ways being that I don't care for either side
Ether008 That might be how it is in your state but in Oregon it's 'official' business not just emergency.
YamiSphinx Sorry but federal law overrides state law...
Thank you for clearing it up. So emergency vehicles cannot just park anywhere without being in emergency mode?
If the cop truly was on a call, the cop done nothing wrong. The tow truck driver was doing his job and towing cars and done nothing wrong.
Why the hell did the cop have to arrest the guy and do something wrong!? Ruined a perfect record!!!!
Because Gresham, Oregon cops are total idiots and love that power. They are THE REASON why some people call cops PIGS. Gresham also only hires cops with IQ's under 50. It is well documented.
That's just great. Remind me never to visit there on my trips to America :)
Wow
Cops are
SPECIAL
WISH WE ALL HAD IT LIKE THAT.
Emergency vehicles can park in no parking zones ONLY if there is an emergency. if there isn't, they should get towed and have to pay the same fines everyone does.
The Tool Guy it was a call. not an emergency. there is a difference.
I honestly hate most police but most are corrupt assholes. the good ones get shot and die while more and more assholes survive. it is no parking for a reason. they were "on a call" which means just gathering intel or talking to people. learn the law stfu.
hey DUMBFUCK (A.K.A the Tool Guy) 0:09 "Police officers were responding to a call" not an emergency. man up and listen to what was said.
Most people don't call the police for a good time. They're calling because they want or need help. A call for police help is generally treated as an emergency.
Please go back to school and educate yourself.
Does anyone else find it obsurd that the police go to someone's house to uphold the law while breaking the law in the process.
It's what they do, cops are total hypocrites.
tow truck drivers rob peoples money legally but I tell you this tow truck driver has my respect for having a set of balls and doing something that took courage.
No. It's police aka road pirates that rob us.
the fire lane is for emergencies regarding fire trucks. He wasn't just parked, he was creating a hazard. Being a policeman doesn't mean laws, which are there for a reason, don't apply.
Red curbs are for emergency vehicles, police cars are emergency vehicles. This is the problem with these inbred tow truck drivers, low IQ and tendencies to be pedos.
***** where in the video did it say the officer was there on personal buisiness? He was there on a call, therefore official business and he can park in the emergency lane to do such business... just because it says fire lane doesn't mean it's just for fire aparatus.
***** you must have that new ATCV-1 disease. He's there on a call, according to the news. He can park where he wants... get over it and stop being a moron... plus learn to speak English properly or are you really just that stupid.
***** keep trying troll. I accept your white flag of surrender.
+Sam Frodo did your parents have any children that lived, because that last reply was so jumbled and full of crap I have no idea what you're talking about anymore. Take an English class or something. Stop using Google translate to try to talk to me.
NO PARKING means NO PARKING period
Except for firetrucks
yee
+juan Under the law, police can park in a no parking zone if they are responding to an emergency call, which this officer was.
Great to see this tow truck scammer arrested for attempting to steal a Police Car! Hope he serves some time!
He later was found guilty of 1st degree theft of a motor vehicule and recieved one year in prison.
Really 😨
And when I got out of jail, I would find that cop and fuck him up!
Another case of double standards
Just because you’re a cop you have the same rights as us. That tow truck driver did the right thing. Let him go.
I love it when I see police cars parked in the fire lane or no parking zones at Walmart and other places. I park right in front of them or right behind them and take my phone and take a picture. To this date I have received 27 tickets for parking in fire lanes or no parking zones and had 27 of them dropped with no contest after showing the judge the picture I took with my phone.
not a single fuck was given by that tow truck driver, lmao😅
Here's Oregon State Law
820.300¹
Exemptions from traffic laws
(1) Subject to conditions, limitations, prohibitions and penalties established for emergency vehicle and ambulance drivers under ORS 820.320 (Illegal operation of emergency vehicle or ambulance), the driver of an emergency vehicle or ambulance may do any of the following:
(a) Park or stand in disregard of a statute, regulation or ordinance prohibiting that parking or standing
etc...etc...etc...
IT'S THE FIRST EXEMPTION PEOPLE.
Until you look up ORS 820.320, which supersedes any and all of the exemptions.
The question as to whether or not this vehicle was operating under emergency conditions has yet to be answered. Actually, since the video doesn't mention what the call was for, a person has to question whether or not there was even a call in the first place; he could have been there visiting a friend or relative. Do cops lie or manufacture evidence? He would be a fool to lie about that by this time though, providing this evidence is out here floating around where he states there was a call.
Hopefully the tow truck driver knows enough about procedure to file for discovery with the court clerk, or can retain the services of a good attorney to do these things for him. The video just says that the officer was on a call, not an emergency call. For all we know the call was in regards to loitering :/ Would that justify endangering the lives and property of everyone in the area? It's all hearsay from the evidence we have been presented.
He's on a call... ie emergency call, doesn't matter... it's a call for service and he's there doing business, ie on an emergency call... he can park where ever he wants... you think the dept would authorize his interview without knowing he was there on a call or not... it's simple public records request to get the call... I'm sure the news already had it, otherwise they'd be exposing the officer for wrongdoing like news organizations love to do... and as for 820.320, basically all that says is the emergency vehicle can be exempt of traffic laws and such when enganged in the duties of a call.... when you call the police for anything, you don't consider that an emergency call? By very nature of calling the police to come out, it's some sort of emergency... whether it's deemed it's happeneing right now emergency or someone comes home and they're house has been burglarized sometime during the day emergency... they're ALL emergency calls.
When you dial 911 they ask you to state what your emergency is. If it's deemed less than an emergency they direct you to call your local PD. So no, I don't consider the police being called for anything to be an automatic emergency. And no, if someone was burglarized, being of past tense, it's not an emergency. The emergency would have been during the time the thieves were in the home or near it while in possession of stolen property. Well after the fact, if that was the case, isn't close to being an emergency and certainly should not warrant endangering the safety and security of people and/or their belongings.
Would you care if a fire broke out and your home was burned to the ground all because an officer was blocking a fire hydrant and fire crew couldn't put out the flames in time due to an officer who was taking a statement from someone who claims he or she was burglarized? Oh, and then let's say that this victim claiming to have been burglarized thought his or her wedding ring was stolen but later learned that it was simply misplaced :/
A call for service in order to do business is called a service call. A call for emergency assistance is an emergency call. I suppose it depends on whether 911 or local PD dispatched the call.
ORS 820.320 exists for a reason. A good defense attorney would probably utilize this subsection:
(b) The driver of an emergency vehicle or ambulance must use a visual signal with appropriate warning lights when the driver is exercising privileges granted under ORS 820.300 (Exemptions from traffic laws).
If the officer was in violation of this, he was not exempt from the traffic laws.
Show me the definition of an emergency call per Oregon State law... a call is a call, if the officer is there on a call, it's an emergency call for service. An emergency call means a call to duty. The lights signals are for when driving on the road way, not for parking in a parking lot. And btw, all calls are dispatched by local pd or sherrif, 911 calls go thru the 911 call taker who then passes the info along to a local dispatcher...
d) A driver of an emergency vehicle or ambulance who is exercising privileges granted under ORS 820.300 (Exemptions from traffic laws) by parking or standing an emergency vehicle in disregard of a regulation or ordinance prohibiting that parking, stopping or standing, shall not use the audible signal.
(2) The driver of an emergency vehicle that is operated as an emergency police vehicle is not required to use either visual signal or the audible signal as described in this section in order to exercise the privileges granted in ORS 820.300 (Exemptions from traffic laws) when it reasonably appears to the driver that the use of either or both would prevent or hamper the apprehension or detection of a violator of a statute, ordinance or regulation.
It seems as though we disagree that all calls are categorized as an emergency by default, and that's okay.
If you are allegedly on an emergency call, and parking in an emergency zone, why not obey procedures to qualify for the exemptions from traffic laws? You have to qualify before you are exempt. Noncompliance is considered illegal use of an emergency vehicle.
I might be asking too much for anyone who swears an oath to uphold our laws, but I sincerely believe they should be on the front line to comply with them.
Having a badge dont grant extra rights
Steven you are a true hero!!
>be cop
>break the law
>get away with it
This is only dealing with cops parking. What about seeing them on there computers and phones at the same time while driving... not a good example to the public if you cant take a minute to pull over and stop endagouring the public.
Lights/siren have to be used. Without them, he is parking in the wrong place.
Um WRONG. You clearly don't know anything about cops or fire lanes.
ffjsb I can't recall where did they say it was a fire lane.
mongolz1000 It shows it in the video, and the cop says it. And cops can park wherever they need to in the performance of their duties.
ffjsb Ahh, OK, I didn't pay enough attention then.
However, imho they can't park everywhere, only if it is needed (possibly in this case)
I worked for the tow company in Oregon and know the laws. Official state law enforcement vehicles are exempt from towing no matter where they are parked. This driver had an attitude from day one.
The officer was responding to a call. If you called the police do you really want them to take their time trying to find an open parking spot somewhere and then have to walk from their all the way to your apartment or what ever you live in. You people are ignorant. Quit your crying.
Fact of the matter. in NY, Police are Required to follow ALL traffic laws unless responding to an emergency! That is a LAW and not a RULE!
The fact that it was a cop car, or that the tow driver was mad over a previous ticket is beside the point. The fact remains, officer snot catcher was parked in a fire lane, most likely with his emergency lights off. Typical above the law bullshit here.
The law says he CAN park there while engaged in official duties, which he was...
thebatman101069 Official duties, or buying crack from his favorite dealer in the projects? The world may never know.
thebatman101069 A yo mama joke, that's so lame man. What are you, ten? You're a police groupie pole smoker, that's what *you* are.
thebatman101069 No, I think you will find, the law says he can park there in an EMERGENCY. A standard callout does not qualify as an emergency
Peter Sab a call to police is a call to police. He wasn't there to have lunch. Find me a legal definiton of what an emergency is as it applies to Oregon State Statute 820.320. Fact is he was there with another officer on a call for service. He is exempt from parking laws Oregon State Statute 820.300. And answer me this... so if the Fire Dept is there on a routine call out, such as testing fire hydrants or someone fell down and is not in a life threatening state, do they have to park in a regular space too? No, because all calls are the same and can be considered the same.
Should have towed it.
After watching it twice the police officer was in the wrong. It seemed based on the 2ay he explained what happen with the statement to the tow teuck driver "Its a police care i will be down in a minute" clearly shows it was not an emergency call. Only in emergency situation the police is allowed to use the fire lane. Even then in an emergency situation the police would still need to move for the fire trucks. The police officer should be arrested for obstruction of justice and false improvement.
What's weird is the cop looked like the tow truck driver and the tow truck driver looked like a cop.
This is awesome!! 😂😂😂😂😂
I would've done the same, these road pirates love generating revenue huh? A good taste of their own medicine is warranted.
I wish the video told us if the call he was responding to was an emergency call and if his lights were on.
um, it DID
MDbandit10 all it says was he was responding to a call...
MDbandit10 It never says if his lights were on or the nature of the call.
Joosejpr of coarse they don't tell us if the lights where on or if it was an emergency... if they did, the intentions of the news program would be shown. I would bet it was the officers fault, and if they expect us to obey EVERY SINGLE law and ordinance, they better be doing the same... it's not right and does not make sense for cops to be above the law when they are the ones with the authority to implement the "law"... that's what they call tyranny.
kingdom come But we see the news agency and the pigs believe they are above the law.
Another innocent citizen trying to thwart the tyranny gets fucked again.
this guy wasn't on a call please when will people stop believing everything cops say 2nd this is a prime example of cops thinking the law doesn't apply to them
Who's the lower form of life? Corrupt pigs, or tow truck driving garbage?? I can't decide which one to laugh at! 😁
Dude! You're my hero!
lol.. I bet the officer was at his booty call house taking care of some things
if the lights on the police car had no lights running it should have been towed
Why can cops park any where they want in a non emergency
Now THATS a mustache!
Tow truck driver would be my hero if he had actually sealed the deal!
You're no different than anyone else. If it isn't an emergency, you need to park in spaces made for all other citizens. You're not special just because you have a badge placed on you by the people you are supposed to serve and protect. You are only to act in a different manner when you are in an emergency situation.
The judge should have tossed the case in the trash,
People are beyond stupid, if they can't understand the simple concept, that ALL emergency vehicles (fire, police, paramedics) are "EXEMPT" from such laws.
What is up with everyone hating on the officer? Let me say this, if someone broke into you house and you needed the police but they had to park a block away just cuz it was a no park spot, would u be happy? NO you would want the police there as fast as possible. Why don't you people think before u post your bullshit about cops being above the law.
stop eating paint chips and leave the floride water alone you're making America look bad.
Because if they are at the residence, they can use their parking, or turn emergency lights on and park on street, general public can go around...Notice you will never see an Ambulance or Firetruck park directly next to any curb....the reason for this, is safe passage...Police are exactly the same! no parking means, it's not safe to do so or you are restricting passage, which is against the law...how bout learn basic road laws before acting smart
the rules are there for everyone to obey & that includes the police. do you think the police would let you off a ticket if you parked in a no parking zone in an emergancy...like fuck they would. how about you think about that
David Tyler I guess emergency vehicles can't go over the speed limit then either?
if you parked in a no parking zone and got a ticket for being an emergency then some police may let you go without a ticket.
No fortune teller can predict how bad a situation is until it's over.
Nearly all states have laws against towing marked emergency vehicles. Those laws DO NOT protect unmarked cars, The company I work for has towed, and charged for the tow, several local police, the FBI and ICE.
Cops can break the law legally! BEST JOB EVER!
Too bad the cop showed up too early. Was the tow truck driver postal whipped and tasered that part was left out.
Good job dude, the cops are not above the law.
If it was not an emergency then they need to find a place to park like the rest of us. He had every right to tow that cop car, and he was arrested. He should sue for false arrest.
What happens if the cop is in a fire lane dealing with something as petty as a civil dispute or even just ordering food(I see it WAY too often) when a neighbor building catches on fire and the fire dept has to move the cop car to get to the hydrant?
If it is an emergency the cops lights will be on along with possibly sirens and should be allowed in no parking zones. If it is not an emergency call they do not need a no parking zone.
The cop was there on official business, and if you check you might find out that police, fire, ambulance just might be exempted from these types of regulations
These comments make me sick, whether you people like it or not an emergency vehicle can park anywhere when responding to a call.
Lol Only in America would a tow truck try and tow a police car away, ROFL, God Bless America
How DARE they arrest the tow truck driver for doing his job!! There were no sirens on and Ive seen cops parked illegally buying lunch on many occasions. I hope he sues them and wins.
If a cop is responding to an emergency, he can park wherever he wants. I don't know about other states, but here in California, emergency vehicles are exempt from parking tickets/being towed/etc.
No one is above the law!!!
In regards to your friend, could there not be enough 'probable cause' to arrest AND convict him in Austrialia and the next best thing was to deport him and get him out of the country? What people believe in their heart is different from what can be proven in court.
Pigs are NOT above the Law.
+Alan Thompson ....have you looked in the mirror lately.
Ur mom says they are
THE OFFICER WAS RESPONDING TO A CALL! Understand that the officer was not being lazy; instead, he was doing his job trying to find out the situation. He was not stopping for a cup of coffee or grabbing a side of donuts. He was responding accordingly
unless its a code 3 they don't need to turn the lights on. he was there on a call, besides the fact that the fire lane is for fire trucks, ambulances, and police cars. he was legally allowed to park it there. the tow truck driver was impeding the law and there fore arrested. nothing wrong with what happened.
unless you're a first responder or law enforcement of some kind there isn't anything in this world that makes parking in the fire lane at the grocery store an emergency for you.
He was obeying the law. This is like towing a firetruck for parking in front of a fire hydrant. The officer was responding to a call.
If you were being attacked, do you want the police delayed because they can not find a parking space?
cops CAN park in a fire lane if theyre responding to a call and are in FULL uniform in a MARKED police car. Have an issue, file a complaint, dont let some tow truck driver tow a marked unit with weapons in the vehicle thats 99.9% of the time locked and still running....Tow truck driver probably should have just recieved a citation but w/e
I'm an American, I legally bear arms. I don't need a cop in a life or death situation...Besides if I needed them and their were 3 armed robbers in my house they're seconds from me yet the cops are 15-30 minutes away....Don't rely to much on cops, from the way your admiration for them sounds it could seriously cost you your life!
I guess bashes grant extra parking rights. If any other person was parked in the fire lane their vehicle would be ticketed and towed obey the laws that you would force
phil in exigent matters yes I believe police do not need to find a parking space. However too many police officers abuse their power and will park anywhere even when not on a call.
***** like I said if there is an exigent matter, I have no problem where the police park. Exigent look that word up
I just found this but I'm sure the larger fire vehicles would have no problem pushing a police cruiser out of the way if they needed to. only the battalion chiefs would have to move elsewhere because their cars aren't sturdy or strong enough to push a car.
The standard response to that from authorities is usually "It's a police car!" and that's that. In truth it is illegal to do and police officers, who operate in public and under public scrutiny should be pulled up for it. They are there to enforce the law. Not to dance around it for their own convenience.
Not really, Law Enforcement, fire and EMS are operating an emergency vehicle and can park in "no parking zones" provided that they due so with "due regard".
And it depends on that Departments policies. That tow truck driver had no legal authority to tow an Emergency vehicle. So yes, Police can park there without their lights being on.
I think it needs to be said over and over again. The cop was legally parked in the fire lane. the fire lane is for emergency vehicles only, which means fire trucks, ambulances, and police cruisers. its not that cops are above the law, it that they are the law, and to enforce the law and assist in emergency situations they are allowed access to certain things such as gate access to gated communities, parking in fire lanes, and the ability to block or stop traffic if needed.
The cop responded to a call. They didn't break the law by parking there at all. Police cars are allowed to park anywhere they please. Check your state's laws
Deciding if i'm on cops side or tow truckers side, is like deciding between getting bit by a black widow or a rattle snake
In Michigan, a tow truck IS on the list for Emergency Vehicles. I know that is not the same state. It is even allowed to run any color light except blue. You can tow any vehicle away as long as you have consent of the property owner, and/or law enforcement agency. MCL-257.252 & MCL-257.698 (5f) (6). Feel free to look up the laws.
Here is a lesson; when calling the police for an emergency first check to see if there is a parking spot, if none, don't bother calling.
they don't have to be there on an emergency, the fire lane is for all emergency vehicles on and off a call. fire trucks can park there anytime as well. the tow truck driver was in the wrong in many ways. first, he is supposed to give sufficient notice that the vehicle is parked illegally before towing it away. but even then, cop cars, fire trucks, and ambulances as well as other vehicles such as Command centers are allowed to park there. that's why you aren't allowed to park there but they are.
So if someone has been bashed, robbed etc the cop must drive around the car park for 5 minutes to try and find an empty spot, and failing that, must leave his car running with the lights on with a shotgun and a rifle inside while he tends to the job?
If the police vehicle had its lights off then it is simply to be regarded as any other vehicle would. An emergency vehicle is only an emergency vehicle when clearly indicating it is responding to a call. You wouldn't see a police car, ambulance or fire truck run a red light without its sirens or emergency lights going, would you? If the car was parked, off and without lights then the tow truck driver would have been well within his rights to tow it.
What's so 'weird' about it? No Parking zone is marked...police car parks in no parking zone...POLICE CAR GETS TOWED. As soon as LEO's understand that BADGES DO NOT EQUAL MORE RIGHTS, the better off society as a whole will be.
Except that they do have more rights when exercising their duty, such as driving and parking exemptions. But don't let facts escape you.
Ultra Vires Last time I checked, exercising their duty DID NOT include running personal errands on taxpayer time. If he is on OFFICIAL BUSINESS, you are right, however getting donuts for the precinct, or whatever the fuck he was getting DOES NOT qualify as official duty.
lights don't have to be on unless its a code 3 call, and even then they don't have to stay on once the officer is on scene. fire lane is for all emergency vehicles. cop car counts.
Since the report states that the tow truck driver was "eventually arrested," it leads one to think there was more to this story.
If the lights were on, it would indicate emergency. No one would town such a car even if it's illegally parked. Lights were probably off. However if the fire department had to come, the cop car would be in the way and lives could be lost. It would take a few extra seconds to park it 10 meters away in either direction.
no, it doesn't. if there is a need for a fire truck to park there, then the police officer is required to move immediately. otherwise he can park there just fine. the purpose of the fire lane is to reserve space for emergency vehicles to park close as possible to the building to allow for quick responses to fire, medical, and police situations. so you are wrong.
Your right, the tow truck driver completly abused his powers by towing a cop car that was responding to a 911 call, where the cops had no time to think about parking and had to rush to see if someone was in a life or death situation and help them.
Police officers are exempt from the motor vehicle act while engaged in the execution of their duties. The use of emergency equipment (including flashing roof lights) is at the discretion of the officer outside of traffic enforcement. He was on a call for service, not having a coffee. The Tow operator was using his tow equipment illegally for a personal vendetta. No tow operator is authorized to to emergency vehicles without permission or consent from the agency for obvious safety reasons.
In Chicago, the street parking on our busy roads are privately managed by a parking company, and they frequently tow cops who are on "calls" with no lights, no backup, and in a store.
Every time, the cops get mad. Every time, the parking company wins
And how is said tow truck driver supposed to tell the difference between an illegally parked cop car and a legally parked cop car?
Tow it and sort it out in court.
Like I said before "of course police responding to a call have a right to park anywhere that does not endanger public" , if a cop wants to eat Donut and parks illegally, should not be tolerated, but there is a way to complain, not someone comes and tow the car. u don't want someone without official status or permission comes and tow your car, don't you?