Is this Legal/Ethical?

[Poofs]

So my neighbor, who is 16, a new driver was driving home on a Friday night. He arrived in his driveway at 12:03 to find that a cop had tailed him all the way back to his house. As the curfew was midnight he was technically violating it, so the cops suspended his license until he turned 18. thats just under 2 years for 3 minutes past curfew. So i was wondering, are cops allowed to do this. And if they are, do you agree with it. Explain.






*Also, i would like to note that this isnt a hypothetical, it happened next door to me, i mean the house DIRECTLY next to mine.


EDIT: Alot of you guys are asking about the curfew. This happened in Ohio, where the curfew is 12:300 on weekdays and 12:00 on weekends

 

[Griphphin]

If the guy was on his way home, that wasn't cool. He could have been doing something more useful than trying to get someone on a technicality when the person in question was trying to obey the law.

 

[Scout Tactical]

So my neighbor, who is 16, a new driver was driving home on a Friday night. He arrived in his driveway at 12:03 to find that a cop had tailed him all the way back to his house. As the curfew was midnight he was technically violating it, so the cops suspended his license until he turned 18. thats just under 2 years for 3 minutes past curfew. So i was wondering, are cops allowed to do this. And if they are, do you agree with it. Explain.

*Also, i would like to note that this isnt a hypothetical, it happened next door to me, i mean the house DIRECTLY next to mine.

It's legal, there's nothing really unethical about it either. Honestly, your neighbor should have left sooner and planned to be back with time to spare. Just because you have a reasonable expectation of getting away with your crimes doesn't excuse them when you make a slight error.

If the cop tailed him home and asked to see his vehicle inspection, found it expired, and ticketed him, I'd think the same thing.

 

[MarcFirewing]

What Pirate Kitty said. Curfew is curfew. It's strictly enforced to make sure teens don't go screwing up late at night.

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

3 minutes past 12 is still after 12.

 

[Skorpyo]

Why would you WANT him to be driving? He's 16!

You're lucky he didn't get tailed and then drive right through your goddamn house in the confusion.

 

[starhaven]

its the law

sure 3 mins and 2 years is harsh but the law is the law

 

[Hellz_Barz]

Wells that's some cops for ya. Does he have to go to court? Maybe he could challenge it there. It definitely is abit harsh.

 

[Frozen Donkey Wheel2]

Cop was in the right.

Neighbor was in the wrong.

/thread

so, umm, why do you question it? He should have just left earlier. You need to be prepared for this stuff when you have such a responsibility.

Yeah, no. This is like handing out a ticket for going 3 miles over the speed limit. It's just a dick move on the cop's part. The simple fact is that sometimes common sense is a good substitute for the law.

(And by the way, PLEASE don't try to tell me that you would happily except a ticket for driving 3 miles over the speed limit. That's just insane.)

 

[Toriver]

While the cop was following the law and it was legal, if the guy left for home before curfew and the cop actually gave him the ticket at his house, I don't think that was ethical. Of course there is no real way to prove that he left for home before curfew, so there's really nothing your friend can do about it. It's legal, but really, at his house? Really?

 

[3AM]

That seems really extreme for 3 minutes over curfew, but I'm not a cop. Is there anything about your neighbor to warrant this - has the kid been in trouble before? What is the punishment for violating curfew in your town? What time did the police start following your neighbor? If it was before midnight wouldn't that be entrapment? I'd suggest your neighbor go with their parents to the police station on Monday and talk to someone in charge. As for you and your friends - stick to curfew.

 

[Jamboxdotcom]

it is indeed the law. and although i don't necessarily think it's fair, i would point out that "driving while 16" is a much bigger public hazard than the old standby "driving while black".

besides, i want those darn kids off my lawn!

 

[crudus]

Yes, he was out passed curfew. However, you can argue inaccuracy or inconsistent measurements when it is that close to midnight. Who's to say that the clocks were accurate to the minute anyway? Unless the cop actually did have the Grenage Mean atomic clock with him then we can give a 3-5 minute difference of the clocks of everyone involved. That is just semantics though. I will admit that 2 years is way too harsh for 3 minutes and tailing him was a waste of goddamn time. There really are worse things that cop could be stopping that a teenager a few minutes late going home.

Short version: dick move, technically correct.

 

[zidine100]

easy target much?

oh well the cop was following the law to the letter anyway, hes probably trying to set an example witch is fair, but a dick move all the same.

 

[Ham_authority95]

What the hell? 4-6 months I could understand, but two fucking years?

Dick move if you ask me, even if it's legal.

 

[Balimaar]

(And by the way, PLEASE don't try to tell me that you would happily except a ticket for driving 3 miles over the speed limit. That's just insane.)

Where I live they have to test the speed cameras each and every time before they are used during a shift with a car travelling at 60 km/h. The speed the camera detected for that car is also on the ticket.

If I received a ticket for driving 3 miles over the limit i'd check that first. If it was bang on 60 (or below!) I wouldn't challenge the ticket. 61 and above yes I would.

Bottom line is:

OP - Its the law so yes it is legal. Ethical? Well maybe that is something else but that is for the court to decide if your neighbour challenges that punishment.

Donkey - Its the law. Break it and get punished. In Victoria (AUS) I hear you get booked for driving 1 km/h over the limit (thank the stars I don't live there!)

Speeding laws are one of the good ones

 

[Ham_authority95]

So my neighbor, who is 16, a new driver was driving home on a Friday night. He arrived in his driveway at 12:03 to find that a cop had tailed him all the way back to his house. As the curfew was midnight he was technically violating it, so the cops suspended his license until he turned 18. thats just under 2 years for 3 minutes past curfew. So i was wondering, are cops allowed to do this. And if they are, do you agree with it. Explain.






*Also, i would like to note that this isnt a hypothetical, it happened next door to me, i mean the house DIRECTLY next to mine.

By the way, what state do you live in? Because there isn't such a curfew is Oregon.(except for loud noise)