Ask MC – Follow That Ambulance…or Don’t?

In the comments on my last Ask MC post, Canoehead posed the following concern:

I recently assisted in transporting a baby to a city hospital after he was brought to our ER after an arrest. It was a roll of the dice as to whether he’d make it there, we had 4 adults in the back keeping eyes on him and praying. Stressful, to say the least. Before we left the family was told NOT to try to keep up with the ambulance, and the last thing anyone needed was a car wreck on the way. Every family has been told this, on every transport I’ve been on, and to date none have listened. This morning we were trying to part traffic in the city during rush hour, and the family car was on our butts all the way. About 1 foot off the bumper, in spite of getting floodlighted from the ambulance and the doc making “Get away!!” gestures from the back window.

Do you have any suggestions…our hospital frowns on firing warning shots out the back window. What could be more convincing, and within the law as far as instructions before the transport, and what are officers able to do to help. Obviously we went through several towns fairly fast, and a police chase after a speeding ambulance is darned disruptive and dangerous, so I was at a loss at the time.

My first response is why was the baby arrested?  *Rimshot*  Don’t forget to tip your waitress. … Continue Reading

Ask MC

This is a different kind of Ask MC post.

Usually, these posts are reserved for you, my readers, to ask me questions about either cop-related or traffic-related issues.  You may have come to know me as the Dalai Llama of traffic, but with a much more bitchin’ head of hair.

Huh?  You haven’t?

Okay, fair enough.  Wait…you meant the Dalai Llama part, right?  ’Cause I gotta tell you, the hair.  Oh, the hair.

No, friends, this Ask MC post was supplied by hundreds (and by hundreds I mean at least a couple dozen) of citizens during a traffic stop for speeding.  It goes a little something like this: … Continue Reading

Ask MC – Motorcycles, Meters, and You

This iteration of Ask MC comes from Shasta.  Despite her dubious acquaintances (she alleges to have found MCPD through HMHQ), she has a question about metered on-ramps and motorcycles.

Here’s my question: I am waiting at a metered light to enter the freeway at a two-lane on-ramp. The sign says “Two cars per green.” As I get to the light with one car ahead of me, a motorcycle splits the lane and pulls up even with the first waiting car.

Am I now car number three?  Would I be subject to a violation if I went through the light following the car and the lane-splitting motorcycle? Is the motorcyclist legally entitled to pull to the front of the line? Thanks! … Continue Reading

Ask MC

I’m always on the lookout for a good Ask MC question.  I’ve been getting some good ones via email lately and I’ll get to them as time permits.  This question was posted in response to my post on speed estimation.  EliMae asks:

I have a question. Why do cops ask if we know how fast we were going ? I suggest cutting it. It makes it sound like maybe you’re not sure, and we have a chance to make the situation look better. Just once, I would like to be stopped for speeding and have the cop open with, “How are you ma’am? I clocked you at 10 over the speed limit back there. May I see your license and registration, please?” If you ask me a question, I’m going to assume you don’t know the answer to it (yes, even though my daddy has told me I should never assume).

There are a couple of schools of thought on this one, EliMae.  As per usual, all I can do is tell you why I use it.  I’m looking for honesty.  I already know how fast you were going.  I visually estimated your speed, then used my lidar to confirm my estimation.  I open every stop with, “Do you know why I stopped you?” … Continue Reading

Ask MC – Train Derailment

Let me start by pointing out the possible Official Ask MC mascot to the left, submitted by Bill Bushman on the Facebook page.  There’s still time to get your submissions in!  Mostly because I have no deadline and there is no prize.

Today’s Ask MC is brought to us by another Facebook fan, Brian Rivera:

I have a couple of scenarios for you. As an employee of the railroad, I am curious as to how much first responders are trained to deal with trains and train accidents. I have a few insights to offer as well, I just want to see what you guys would do.

Okay, here goes.

Scenario #1: You are on patrol and you discover a tractor-trailer carrying roll steel high-centered on a railroad crossing. The track is known to be a busy main frequented by numerous trains. No information is available as to the crossing because the information sign has been painted by vandals. You know it is only a matter of time before the next train comes.

What do you do?  … Continue Reading

Ask MC – That Medic has a Gun!!

Ask MC

A quick note to those who haven’t been around MCPD for long.

I used to do what was initially dubbed “The Saturday Question”.  That quickly turned into “The Weekly Question” particularly during college football because nothing gets in the way of the Irish.  When I finally realized that I suck at keeping to that particular schedule, I renamed the posts “Ask MC”.

Ask MC is an occasional post in which you, my motoring friends, submit questions to yours truly about police-type stuff.  It doesn’t have to be relegated to traffic questions, although that is my particular bailiwick.  Contrary to popular opinion, I do not know everything.  I’ll wait while you pick yourself up off the floor from the shock.

Better?  Excellent.

If I don’t know the answer, I will do my best to find out what it is.  Or I’ll just make shit up.  You know, either way.  You are more than welcome, nay, encouraged to ask me whatever you like and I will make every effort to get to it before the end of time and post it here for all to see.  What I’m trying to say is I will make you famous.  Or at least my mom will read about it.  Eventually.  When I remind her I still write a blog.  xoxo, mom.

Now…on to the question… … Continue Reading