Oregon Attorney Slaps Cop With Illegal Parking Complaint

Sat Apr 19, 5:59 PM ET

PORTLAND, Ore


An attorney who watched a police officer park illegally in front of a restaurant, then wait around while his meal was prepared, issued the officer a series of citizen-initiated violations.

Eric Bryant said he was sitting at the restaurant March 7 when Officer Chad Stensgaard parked his patrol car next to a no-parking sign and walked inside to wait for his food, the Portland Mercury reported Thursday.

Bryant told the weekly paper that when he asked Stensgaard about his car, the officer 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?"

Bryant filed a complaint as a private citizen alleging several violations, including illegal parking and illegal operation of an emergency vehicle.
Stensgaard was issued a summons to appear in traffic court in May. The fines could total $540.

"Citizens should be concerned that he used his status as an officer of the law as justification for breaking the law," Bryant said.

Cathe Kent, a spokeswoman for the Portland Police Bureau, said Stensgaard would fight the complaint in court, "as he rightfully should."

Parking is limited on city streets, especially with many construction projects downtown, she said, and officers remain on duty even when they are picking up food.

"We are emergency responders and need to be ready to take an emergency call," Kent said Saturday.

I can see that going both ways. He needs to park closer so he isn't having to run four blocks to his car, if needed. But they should state what is ok to do when that situation arises. Our police are always speeding around here, when not needed. Some of them do abuse the law, but most don't. So, the question comes... why it is ok for them but not us?

Great... more rules to come.
We might as well use K-12 to just learn the laws.

Citizen's Arrest! Citizen's Arrest!

Originally Posted by Peddler

. Our police are always speeding around here, when not needed. Some of them do abuse the law, but most don't. So, the question comes... why it is ok for them but not us?

And just how in your infinte wisdom do you know exactly what those units are doing or responding to? Ya got a calibrated crystal ball? Not all responses dicate a response using emergency equipment. But they may dicate a speedy response without the use of emergency equipment for various reasons.

Most municipalties do not require marked in service police, fire, EMS units to observe no parking no standing markers. Because they are in-service and the Officers, Fire Fighters, Paramedics may need to respond to emergencies therefore they should be in proximety to their vehicles.

This is just a lawyer playing look at me. I'm a lawyer.

Originally Posted by 03USMC

And just how in your infinte wisdom do you know exactly what those units are doing or responding to? Ya got a calibrated crystal ball? Not all responses dicate a response using emergency equipment. But they may dicate a speedy response without the use of emergency equipment for various reasons.

Are they using their flashing lights? If they're not, then they shoudn't be allowed to speed. I've seen Police cars cruising at easily 20 over the limit, no lights. (I know it's about 20 over the limit because every car was doing the limit.)

I don't mind when the cops around here speed, because if I see them speeding I know I can match 'em without getting pulled over.

Originally Posted by Peddler

I can see that going both ways. He needs to park closer so he isn't having to run four blocks to his car, if needed.

Our police are always speeding around here, when not needed. Some of them do abuse the law, but most don't. So, the question comes... why it is ok for them but not us?

+1, this is why I posted it. I too am in the middle of the road.

I get very annoyed when I see police cars just around my town and they never use their blinkers, plus they are almost always going over the speed limit - never with their emergency lights on. Is it really something that is such a big problem that the lawyer had to pull this? Maybe there weren't any parking spots near...if there were though, is the lawyer in the right?

However, they are supposed to be up-holding the law, not using their status for perks.

Originally Posted by pixiedustboo

However, they are supposed to be up-holding the law, not using their status for perks.

My point exactly.

Originally Posted by The Other Guy

Are they using their flashing lights? If they're not, then they shoudn't be allowed to speed. I've seen Police cars cruising at easily 20 over the limit, no lights. (I know it's about 20 over the limit because every car was doing the limit.)

By policy I can exceed the speed limit by 20 MPH while enroute to a call. Without using my emergency equipment if by doing so I can safely manuver in traffic. However if I do not have my emergency equipment activiated I must obey traffic signals (traffic lights, stop signs etc.).

There are various reasons we might not run lights and sirens. We might not want the bad guys to know we are coming. Alot of motorists don't pay attention to the pretty lights and woo wooo's behind them anyway. Or if they do they slow down to well past the posted speed limit and don't yield the right of way any how. Thus slowing my response time. Alot of the time I don't use my lights and sirens unless I'm pulling a vehicle, approaching an intersection, traffic is heavy or it's a high priority call. Because I can get there faster without every other bonehead behind the wheel freaking out when they see me behind them and slowing down to 25 MPH and impeding the flow of traffic...and my response time.

Unless you have access to a scanner and know the unit number. You have no idea what those cars are or aren't doing.