XPost: alt.thebird.copwatch, alt.law-enforcement, alt.true-crime   
   XPost: alt.california, nyc.general   
   From: dogglebe@yahoooo.com   
      
   On Mon, 8 Dec 2003 15:21:59 -0700, "Chas"    
   wrote:   
      
   >"Phil"  wrote   
   >> >So anyone going too fast is a potential murderer fleeing his crime?   
   >> That is the definition of the word 'potential...'   
   >   
   >I thought it was 'probable cause', not 'potential cause'.   
      
   If a cop sees someone blow a stop sign or a red light, there's no   
   probable cause.  He or she has seen a crime and has the authority to   
   pull the car over.   
      
      
   >> You completely glossed over the drunk driver scenario.  Are they that   
   >> rare where you are?   
   >   
   >No; they're around.   
   >So, your idea is to take a drunk driver, run him up to 80-100 mph and see if   
   >something fails?   
   >Good plan.   
      
   The police do not know if it's a drunk driver at the time, do they?   
   They see someone who chooses to race off than get pulled over.   
      
      
   >   
   >> Because some kid got spooked when he saw a police car.   
   >> A kid who could've pulled over at any time.   
   >> But chose not to.   
   >> And you're not blaming him.   
   >> Something about that is wrong.   
   >   
   >Certainly I 'blame him'.   
   >I would have not had so much to blame him for if the cops hadn't exacerbated   
   >the situation instead of acting like peace officers. If your charter is the   
   >public weal, break off a stupid chase. If your charter is law enforcement,   
   >without regard for the public welfare, chase on.   
      
   Again, you're Monday morning quartbacking.   
      
      
   Phil   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)