One night this week while driving home, I was waiting to
turn left at an intersection downtown. Vehicles going straight in my direction
had a green light, so if there was no oncoming traffic I would have been
permitted a left-hand turn. However, as there were cars coming and also pedestrians
using the crosswalk, I waited behind the white line.
It had been about one
minute and the car behind me honked. I shrugged it off, thinking they were just
another impatient driver. Ten seconds later, I heard the chirp of a police
siren. I jumped out of my seat, turning to see where the cop was so I could
ensure I was not in their way. While looking, the light turned red and I
realized car behind me who had hit their horn WAS the police car. At this point
the policeman reversed, flipped on his lights, went around me, and then made a
left-hand turn while running a stale red light. After he rushed through the
intersection, he turned off his flashing lights.
This is just one of hundreds
of examples I have personally seen where a cop abuses their power in order to
not have to follow traffic laws. Cops routinely flip on their lights to run red lights, park in the road during rush hour, tailgate, drive on the shoulder of the highway, drive the wrong way down a one-way road... you name it, I've seen it.
Why should the everyday Chicago driver obey
the rules of the road when our cops, the ones who should be setting an example,
don’t have to and are not held accountable? Not only is it an abuse of power,
they create potentially dangerous situations. Most of us were taught to be on
the lookout for emergency vehicles and to maneuver out of the way so they can
attend to accidents. What incentive do we have to clear a path if the majority
of the time the policeman is using his lights to get to lunch/home/the station
faster?
>> Sorry for the rant; I am just completely frustrated with the cops in this city. I submitted an edited version of this letter to two newspapers, so we'll see if it goes anywhere! <<
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