Opinions needed

[bluejeans07]

My mother was driving in Koreatown when a police car parked in the lane next to her didn't see her and suddenly opened the door of his car without warning, causing her to drive into it. You'd think that a police officer would be extremely responsible, take her over to the side, and take responsibility. Instead, when my mother asked for the usual (insurance info, etc), he claimed that as an LAPD officer, he was privileged to the entire lane and so this incident was her fault and he'd be charging HER.

Poor Mom's kind of shook up from all this and I've been googling and hunting around the LAPD website. Have you guys heard any info on this sort of thing?

Edit: Thanks for all the info everyone! I passed it all to my mom and got a lot more details.

This police officer is amazing. Not only did he refuse to apologize, he actually CALLED FOR BACK UP. He called over FIVE OTHER OFFICERS. So two other cop cars and one on a motorcycle showed up to deal with one upset and meek 5'2" Korean lady. Jack-off. Don't they have anything better to do? Isn't crime supposed to be on the rise?! Gah!

Anyway, Mom opted to call insurance and let insurance handle it (even insurance was surprised that the dude called 5 other officers for this), but this is pissing me off. I'll probably get the badge info of this jerk and call the District Attorney's office. This is unacceptable.

Comments

[strollerman.livejournal.com]

Put in a call to the state District Attoney's office and I hope she at least got the officer's badge number. The DA is always on the people's side, so they should be able to help.

[bluejeans07.livejournal.com]

I'll totally do that. She's a bit shook up right now so after she calms down, I'll ask her for the info. You= awesome, thanks so much!

[strollerman.livejournal.com]

Comes with the territory of being in random trouble over the years.

Hopefully, they can help. Police are not entitled to anything because they are police. In fact, it's quite the opposite. Jurisdiction and entitlement are two different things. As a former Federal Agent (lowliest of its kind), I know that as we are sworn into duty, we relinquish all rights as an American in exchange for service to the people. As such, we are entitled to authority of our jurisdictions, and constant service to the people, not whatever that cop was on about.

So, contact the DA at least and proceed from there.

[strollerman.livejournal.com]

Here's the LA County DA office:
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fda.co.la.ca.us%2F&ei=wFbdSKuZFJnMsAOzhcHqAw&usg=AFQjCNHvzLvfOsMBKC63mh_F0xoRFfSW0Q&sig2=F5CLwmYWj4jm7_1O3cqaeg

[muralasa.livejournal.com]

...what the hell. Did she get the insurance info anyway, or at least his information? I don't believe that's the case. He isn't privileged to open his freaking door in the middle of a busy lane, that he isn't even parked in! That's BS and tell her she should fight that.

[bluejeans07.livejournal.com]

It totally sounds like BS to me too! He's privileged for HIS lane, and Koreatown is super freaking busy all the time, lots of cars.

[strollerman.livejournal.com]

Technically, as explained in my answer, it's not really his lane anymore.

I didn't realize until about a year after I was sworn in that I had given up my right to the First Amendment, so it's kind of like that with him. He's supposed to uphold the law, but he's not really protected by it anymore. Not really a free citizen, as it were.

[cactus-sandy.livejournal.com]

Uh hello power trip much? That's ridiculous - it's like those officers that use their police siren to get through busy intersections and traffic lights =_= Fight! Fight! Fight!

[garfeimao.livejournal.com]

There is what the LAPD officer says, and then there is what his superiors say. Put a call in to his station and just ask for some guidance. If you'd rather not put attention there, call another station, in another area, and just ask for advice.

[forest-rose.livejournal.com]

Sounds like absolute rubbish to me. I would ask my mum (former police, used to teach traffic law) but I suspect everything's different in the US. Also, she is snoring quietly on the sofa whilst our kitty tries to eat her head. I do know, however, that over here (UK) a woman was prosecuted for causing death by dangerous driving not so long ago, when she opened her door without looking and knocked a motorcyclist into the path of oncoming traffic. Surely it can't be that different?

I hope your mum feels better soon. Whoever's fault it was (and I'm pretty sure it was his), car accidents are horrible and mean people just make everything worse. *hugs you both*

[thebluelady.livejournal.com]

I wish I could help you but a cop ran over my dad when he was on a bicycle in the bike lane and somehow it still became his fault. A cop admitted screwing up my police report and only was punished ( written-up ) when it was found he'd messed up several reports over the years. Cops are assholes. They are liars and they are one of the WORST elitist clubs out there. Supervisors will lie to your face. You are looking up a long, painful frustrating road to fight a cop and if you do I wish you luck. You know me and not accepting "no" and unfair and I almost want to say just let it be what it comes out to be and let the insurance handle it. You and your mom have my heart and sympathy.