Ask A Cop: Getting Pulled Over
A new weekly feature allows readers to ask the Montgomery County Police Department questions.
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Montgomery County Police Capt. Paul Starks took the time to answer the questions submitted last week for our new Ask A Cop feature.
Question: I know this month officers are doing a "click it or ticket" campaign, citing drivers who are not wearing seat belts. Are they also simultaneously giving tickets to people using handheld cell phones while behind the wheel?
Answer: Yes, police can enforce more than one violation at a time.
Question: When a driver in Montgomery County is pulled over for speeding or another possible infraction why - more often than not - do I see two police cars on the scene instead of just one? Of all the counties I've ever lived in, this is the only place I've ever seen that on a consistent basis. Is having two officers pull one driver over standard procedure? If so, why?
Answer: We staff each police cruiser with one officer. It could be for a variety reasons why more than one officer is on the scene, from training to officer safety. Also, if an male officer is pulling over a woman he may want a witness there and because we live in a diverse area, we work in another officer to provide language assistance mostly Spanish, but it could be French or a language from Southeast Asia.
Ask your question in the comments section below or email Editor Sonia Dasgupta at sonia@patch.com.
We'll get an answer to your question by the following Tuesday.
MocoLoco
8:08 am on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
I think a more precise/complete answer to that first question is that cell-phone usage while driving is still a secondary violation--meaning that MoCoPo can only ticket you for it if they see you committing another violation first. Right?
Deb Sullivan
8:33 am on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
My question is this: Why do I see MC Police using cell phones, speeding with no emergency lights on, tailgating, and otherwise driving in ways that would get me a ticket? I'm not trying to be cynical...but it just doesn't seem right.
The Big Egg
8:46 am on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
It annoys me when I see police cars turn on their emergency lights, proceed through an intersection, and then turn them back off. This happens a lot! Going through an intersection against the lights (even with sirens on) is an added danger, and using them when there is no emergency is just inexcusable. I know it's not the point of this column to focus on police mis-behavior . . . .
Joe Thomas
10:26 am on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
You have no idea what you are seeing. Do you really think that an officer does that just so he doesn't have to wait for a red light? He is going to a call! Not every call necessitates a 80 mph response. If you saw someone on your neighbors deck would you want the police there as soon as possible? I bet yes thus you see an officer getting through intersections. Also there are calls where the police don't want to use their siren because it alerts the criminal that the police are coming.
charlie maier
9:50 am on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
If Beltway traffic is travelling at 65-70mph, is it safe to drive the posted limit of 55?
Richard Rice
2:13 pm on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
No. absolutely not! When driving the beltway or 270 I always set my cruise
control for 5 miles over simply for safety sake. No county or state police
officers have ever stopped me for this. If someone is doing 15 or 20 miles
over I observe lots of police pull overs!
Joanne Williams
10:12 am on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
We hear so much about people being pulled over by what they believe to be a legitimate law enforcement officer but turns out to be an impersonator. What safety tips or rule can you give to women who may be somewhat apprehensive about stopping especially if they are alone and in an area where no one is around?
fruityrudy
11:07 am on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
i witnessed a police officer punch a suspect in the face with his hands cuffed behind is back. is this legal?
bill marshall
9:19 pm on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Where can I see an archive of questions.?. I asked two questions last week and cannot find them? Do you answer all the questions? if not how do you choose?
Linda Finkelstein
1:20 pm on Friday, June 1, 2012
This column is a great idea ! I'd, too, would like to see an archive of questions AND answers. Several of the above questions are posted as just questions, some with answers posted by readers, but without answers given by police. Could you withhold the questions until there is a legitimate police response ?
c rogers
10:47 am on Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Maybe these types of crimes can be avoided if Mo. County police would do their job of being more focused on real crimes and not so quick to respond to noise complaints or dogs barking, etc.. I feel that our police force in this area are afraid of doing and looking for the real criminals and just like to bother people with the BS calls!!! Please do your jobs and protect this community from the real criminal and not the person with the tail light out or the ATV out you get the point !!!! Respectfully Submitted