Should a person be able to cause a motorest to recive a traffic ticket?

[2LaneCruzer]

Infraction- ie speeding
Misdemeanor- ie trespassing

Either case if a citizens arrest is made you would probably be in court as a witness.

No doubt about it, unless perp plead guilty. I for one do not intend to make a citizen's arrest for something like that. I have done it when I worked in a grocery store, and a kid stole a carton of cigarettes. Knowing what I know now, I probably wouldn't do it; I had to grab him, hold him and when the cigs started falling out of his clothes, escorted him back into the store and turn him over to the manager.

 

[TomSeller]

No doubt about it, unless perp plead guilty. I for one do not intend to make a citizen's arrest for something like that..

Right. And talk about a pissed off "Perp". Later the "Perp" might follow the "Good Samaritan" around and file a report against the "Good Samaritan" (everyone violates the law somehow, somewhere). Now the "Good Samaritan" is the "Perp" and the "Perp" is the "Good Samaritan". Vicious cycle to be in that could escalate badly. Leave it to the police. People think their **** doesn't stink, but stink is in the nose of the beholder. If you want to be a do-gooder, become a cop.

 

[dodge man]

I once had someone call the law on me. This person was driving less than 15 mph in a 30 mph zone. I thought they were lost or breaking down. I followed two blocks before I passed them. I guess they didn't like it and called me in. I thought it was weird when they caught up to me right away, to get my plate number and call me in for dangerous driving. The police didn't really laugh it off but didn't write me ticket either. In his eyes, the guy who called me in, I was driving like an idiot, in my eyes he was, there were 10 cars backed up behind us when I passed. Who gets to make these descisions? The police and not some Five-Oh wanna be.

 

[PILOON]

Funny that U pose that question.
Not long ago our Provincial LEO's were handing out pamphlets with a hot line phone # to report motorists violating road laws.
The joke was that you had to have a cell phone (and hands free at that) in order to do so.

That promotion was soon dropped.

 

[KubotainNH]

Our PD has an e-mail address that allows you to ask questions or report things. In the past I reported a group of teenagers doing 50+ and blowing through stop signs in a residential area. I gave them all the details of the car, date, time and dangerous actions plus all my information. I got a reply back later saying they brought this up to the owner of the car (parents I think) and eventually the driver. Did it help keep a child from getting killed in the future? I dunno but I had to do something. All of this was done in an anonymous way except for the PD knowing who I was so they know it's legit.

 

[Soundguy]

Just looking at Wikipedia ( I know ) , under united states law, misdemeanor and felony and certain other crimes are covered, in reference to citizens arrest, However I did not see anywhere where it covered penal code violations. Many traffic laws/infractions are penal code, and not misdemeanor or felony.

Seems that somewhat answers the question...

Aside from that, the huge personal liability one must take for that sort of thing looks very unpleasant. I can see stepping in, in a self defense situation and helping an old lady being beat and robbed, and intervening when life/serious bodily harm is at stake ( and there will be significant liability there too ).. But I just can't see following Someone doing 6mph over the limit and exposing myself to all that to be a white knight defender of justice and vigilante defacto traffic nark.

If you have that much time on your hands and that much extra personal umbrella liability insurance and you want to make a difference to someone in society, go volunteer at a soup kitchen, food pantry, be a boys/girls mentor big brother/sister, or become a guardian ad litem

 

[TomSeller]

Aside from that, the huge personal liability one must take for that sort of thing looks very unpleasant. I can see stepping in, in a self defense situation and helping an old lady being beat and robbed, and intervening when life/serious bodily harm is at stake ( and there will be significant liability there too ).. But I just can't see following Someone doing 6mph over the limit and exposing myself to all that to be a white knight defender of justice and vigilante defacto traffic nark.

If you have that much time on your hands and that much extra personal umbrella liability insurance and you want to make a difference to someone in society, go volunteer at a soup kitchen, food pantry, be a boys/girls mentor big brother/sister, or become a guardian ad litem

Agree 100%. Once the person you turned in finds out who you are, you would be a target. Not a good thing to be.

 

[jaxs]

Thanks to everyone for responding with your opinion. I'm not surprised by opposition to citizen involvement,however I'm astounded by the number fearing retaliation for faceing the accused in court. That make's me wonder what % of people would out of fear, refuse testifying against someone accused of violent crime. I've always heard some individuals make poor witnesses due to lack of attention to details. I was again surprised that 100% of the 16 respondents elected to ignore the question of inhanced charges if violator made a conscious effort to commit a violation witnessed and ticketed by an officer. I'll tell you straight up that I support provisions that alow an officer to impound the vehicle, put the prep in handcuffs and haul them to jail for the most recent violation I saw that exemplify's what I'm talking about. NOoooo,I wasn't following this fool around in hope's of seeing him go 6 miles over the speed limit. Traffic was backed up in both directions while a school bus unloaded at a moble home park on a two lane road. The violator went off pavement to pass the bus and over a dozen cars in both directions. He went balls to the wall,hammer down up the ditch,slinging dirt and grass in the fashion of a teen off-roading in his 4x4. Anyone alowing fear to prevent facing that guy in court is a coward in the truest sense.
Once again,thanks for the opinions.

 

[PJSprog]

Well, here in The Peoples' Republic of Illinois, violations in construction zones are fined quite harshly. Speeding is $375 for first offense, $1000 and 3 month suspension for second, etc. Hitting a worker in a construction zone gets you a $10,000 fine and 14 years in jail. You wouldn't know that, though, to see the way people still drive through these areas, in spite of signs posting the details of such laws.

I'm guessing that even in Texas it's probably not your job to apprehend traffic violators, jaxs. However, since you've implied that others here might be "cowards," I'm curious to know exactly what noble actions you took to stop the two incidents you cited.

 

[Redlands Okie]

I think there might be some misreading of what was written.

Sort of paraphrased below

“ I'm not surprised by opposition to citizen involvement,however I'm astounded by the number fearing retaliation for faceing the accused in court.”


“Anyone alowing fear to prevent facing that guy in court is a coward in the truest sense.”


I would think it would be pretty hard to stop or prevent someone doing something wrong. Holding them accountable I think one can and should make a effort at. I would hope most would at least call the police and give them some info on the issue.