Friday, July 13, 2012
Montgomery County Police Department spokesman answers questions submitted by Patch readers.
This week, Captain Paul Starks of the Montgomery County Police Department takes on questions from Patch readers. Patch Reader Question: What is the law regarding stopping for a school bus on a road where there is a left turn center lane like Route 355 in Gaithersburg? Captain Paul Starks: Unless the highway is divided, all traffic must stop. Patch Reader Question: It seems to be customary in Montgomery County for drivers who are pulled over by police to stop their car immediately, even if they are on a busy thoroughfare such as Georgia or Connecticut, instead of turning onto the next side street before stopping. This leads to traffic problems and puts the officer at greater risk. Is it considered evading arrest if a driver proceeds to …
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Montgomery County Police spokesman answers questions submitted by Patch readers.
This week, Lucille Baur of the Montgomery County Police Department takes on questions from Patch readers. Patch Reader Question: How many people were, in 2011, charged with violating the state's wiretapping laws for photographing or videotaping police officers? Baur: We are not aware of any such charges in 2011. Please note that wiretapping laws do not apply to photography or videotaping without sound. Officers know that they may be photographed or videotaped by anyone as they are in the course of conducting their regular duties. The wiretapping laws protect a conversation when there is a reasonable expectation of privacy such as during a phone call. No one is allowed to record a verbal conversation without the permission of all of the …
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Montgomery County Police spokesman answers questions submitted by Patch readers— including those about privately installed speed cameras, when to stop for pedestrians and court fines.
This week, Capt. Paul Starks of the Montgomery County Police Department takes on questions from Patch readers about speed camera installations, cops and photography and court fines. Reader Question: Since the speed cameras are operated by a private company for their own profit and the county's profit, can a private person or homeowner put one in the neighborhood? Starks: No. R: Do we have to bid to get one? S: No. R: If it's about safety, as we hear so often, why not [put a speeding camera] where speeding is occurring? S: We do that. R: How about canvassing neighborhoods to find out if one is necessary? S: That is not a part of the process or the law. To learn more about the automated Traffic Enforcement Unit, please go to www.…
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
A new weekly feature allows readers to ask the Montgomery County Police Department questions.
Patch has partnered with Montgomery County Police to answer residents questions about crime, public safety, police procedures and the law in a new feature called Ask A Cop. So District 1 residents, ask a cop about laws you are curious about, how often they patrol your neighborhood and why you got that ticket. Ask your question in the comments section below or e-mail Editor Sonia Dasgupta at sonia@patch.com. We'll get an answer to your question by the following Tuesday.
A.Lopez
1:22 pm on Wednesday, October 17, 2012
I got pulled over yesterday and the officer informed me that this stop was being recorded. What threw me off is the questions he was asking. pulled me over for tint and then he started asking my criminal history. "have you ever been pulled over and arested before?" "Have you ever been arrested for robbery?" " Have you ever been Arrested with firearms in your car?" I was really confused and it … more ›