On The Sly

I made a citizens arrest on Long Island. I caught a 21 year old male trying to steal my headlights. I had a small piece of pipe in my pocket, ( I found it on the beach) and I came up behind him and put it to the back of his head. I told him I'd blow his brains out if he moved. I called 911 and the police arrived in about 3 minutes. They drew their weapons and told me to drop my weapon. When I dropped the pipe, the thief went nuts.
I never pressed charges but he stayed in jail over night. Maybe he learned a lesson....

Most people should be glad that I can't make a citizens arrest, because I would "arrest" just about everyone I come into contact with on a daily basis!! I don't know what's worse, cars running red lights or bicycles running red lights!!! As far as cell phones go, even hands free ones aren't safe. Driving takes total concentration, if you are on the phone arguing with someone, it is goint to take your mind off the road!! But watch out red-light runners, and cell phone users, Gomer Gagnon is watching you!!!

“Citizen’s Arrest” is when a citizen has witnessed any violation, misdemeanor, or felony committed in his/her presence and wishes to arrest that person committing said offense. The person executing the arrest has to detain the offender and immediate serve the offender to the police. Often times this subsequently results in being asked to give a witness statement to the police. The citizen can also be held liable for making an unauthorized (or false) arrest. One cannot make a “citizen’s arrest” for a traffic infraction (most offenses under New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law are traffic violations) committed in New York State. So when some knucklehead is jabbering away on his/her cellphone, cutting people off, and running through red lights, the only charge you can pursuit would be that of Reckless Driving under the VTL.

As much as we would all like to “do the right thing”, please, please make sure that you are acting wisely and prudently if you should ever be placed in the position to have to arrest someone. Unless you are being physically harmed or witnessing the physical harming another person, there are very few incidents where your intervention would be absolutely necessary enough for you to jeopardize your personal safety. The best thing you can do for the police is be a good witness. Remember as many pertinent details about the situation you are witnessing. Remember the make, model, color, and plate number of the vehicle that commits a very hazardous act in front of you. Try to recall the clothing, voice, skin color, hair (or lack thereof) color, eye color, scars, marks, and tattoos of a person. Always be able to justify and specifically describe the alleged infraction that you witnessed. Don’t go “Joe Friday” when the police come to interview you. Relax, be honest, be accurate, and don’t embellish or speculate.

Please drive smartly!

(Foxy's note: I was hoping Kern would come to the rescue on this topic. Thanksfor the excellent advice. Kern, a Plattsburgh native, works in Albany as a highly-regarded New York State State Trooper. I think I have that right!)

Foxy,

Gomer is on his way! "Citizens arrest. citizens arrest!"

Paul

Hey Fox, I've had that experience so many times lately so I have learned to wait a couple seconds before I venture after I have received the green light.
I have a cell phone, but I use it only when I am in Myrtle Beach and contact my cohorts there and it is handy to call home rather than use my phone card from the condo. It is a fact that too many people while driving use their cell phones in defiance of the law , and unfortunately , with impunity. I have also noticed that many use the driving time in applying makeup, checking hair, teeth, etc.
To make me responsible to police their activities is a non-issue. I wouldn't do it.
On the other hand, in recent events where old men and women are being beaten and robbed in full view of others, I would be active to try to stop the perpertrator, perhaps not physically but by shouting and trying to enlist the bystanders to take action. The cell phone could be a deterrent in abating these crimes just by calling 911.
These crimes of assault seem to be the bane of urban living, and I hope and am pretty sure that this would not happen in the North Country where the populace is more involved with each other and not indifferent as those living in cities.

Skip

Well, Foxy ... welcome to Reno. Road rage is the norm here. Yes, I'd like to arrest all the egregious idiots; I'd spend my days doing nothing but that. I even had a guy a while ago, speed by me at 55 mph as I was crawling at 15 mph in a school zone. And, yes, he gave me a look from hell as he gave me the finger. Where are the cops when these things happen - well, too busy chasing illegals, drug pushers and shootings.

However, have you ever driven in Montreal? It makes us look like little old ladies going to church! One time, years ago, I took a taxi from point A to point B. The driver ran three red lights in a row. Heart in throat - gott'a love it.

As for cell phones ... good for long trips or bad weather, otherwise, drive time is the only time I have to relax and not be bothered with anything but my thoughts. I had to put a sign up at my meetings for people to turn off their cells. Unless you're a doctor waiting for emergency calls, what is so important it can't wait. Can I imagine having a cell when I worked at the PR? Man, I'd have had no peace at all!

Time to sign off ... have a great day. "Hi" to all my friends back in the B'urgh!

Lynda

I don't know if it's just me or if it's a new thing or what, but I've noticed that a lot of drivers in Plattsburgh have decided that the yellow light means to drive faster. Following the yellow light is the first flash of the red light. This has become a sign, to said drivers, to drive faster, also. There's some unspoken period of time at the beginning of the red light that's now ok to drive through for some reason or other. I don't know what that time period is or how it came to be. Foxy, Jim said there is such a thing as a citizens arrest. You'd have to detain them and go to court, etc. so it's a pain in the neck.

Well, having been an urban dweller for 30 years, I've noticed when I'm in Plattsburgh that the traffic lights are set in accident mode. The traffic lights in the City: 1) don't have a long enough yellow segment and 2) don't have a short delay in between the light changing from yellow to red for the people stopping and it changing from red to green for the people starting. Believe me, these 2 features work - you have a reduction in the accidents occuring @ traffic lights when they are implemented. I know you want everyone to follow the traffic rules, but in a world where we've legistated our values away I would say that's an unreasonable expectation. Instead of fighting to make others do what you think is right, fight to gain consensus so we can implement a solution that works for everybody. By gaining consensus, people buy into the soluton. I guess maybe that person hasn't heard about hands-free units for cell phones .. like Bluetooth, it fits in your ear - easy peasy.