Police Reveal When They Had To Stop And Think 'Wait, Is that Illegal?'

Police Reveal When They Had To Stop And Think 'Wait, Is that Illegal?'
avid_creative/GettyImages

Being a police officer means making judgement calls on the fly. If you're in the line of fire, with your partner relying on you, you need to know what to do. Sometimes, though, the answer isn't always clear and you see a woman riding down the street on a motorized sofa...

So, that's what these stories are about.

Reddit user, u/A-Deadly-Man123, wanted to hear when the law wasn't clear when they asked:

Police officers of Reddit: what was something you saw someone do that made you say "wait...is that illegal?"

Should We Go And Get Their Car?

Some family reported their car as stolen. When I asked them to come to the station for the hearing, they just told me It was never stolen, they left it in a car dealer to be sold, the business went wrong and the dealer would not pay them what they wanted or return the car. So they reported It stolen "because that way the police will get the car back faster".

They were very simple people and I figured a way not to screw them over this.

crowlol

How Fast Should We Be Going?

Giphy

Driving above the posted school zone speed limit when the sign states "20mph when children are present". Well then what constants present? Children inside the school? Children playing well away from the road in the fenced in yard? Just school hours in general? During after school sports and activities?

No idea so unless someone's blatantly reckless and an a--hole, I won't stop people for driving over the posted 20.

RindgeTinge17

Can They Go Around, And Around, And Around...?

Repeatedly driving around a round-a-bout, like 25 times in a row.

Edit: Where I am in Australia (QLD) it is not illegal.

Judging by the comments it seems to be illegal in Switzerland and Germany, and some US state.

smith_who

How Do You Drive, Again?

You can turn left on a red light from a one way street to another one way street in most states (and provinces - for us Canadian boys). You need to stop and yield just like a right turn on a red light.

It does seem illegal when you do it though.

lordpanda

In Defense Of Homer, You Shouldn't Do That

Saw a kid drop a donut on the ground.

Nearly radioed for backup before I remembered I could tell the kid to be more careful with his food.

SuperSamoset

"Should I...Pull Him Over?"

My friend since I was like 5 ended up becoming a cop and he told me that he once saw a guy towing a boat down the road without a trailer...so it was just dragging. He pulled him over but admitted that he wasn't sure why.

And then he consulted with a state trooper because they know a lot of obscure traffic laws, and even he admitted that he didn't know what violation, if any, could be written up. Apparently it was a junk boat and the guy was going to scrap it so he wasn't concerned with ruining the boat.

rojoshow13

Is She Technically Driving?

Drunk lady had many DUI's and got her license revoked. Drunk lady owns horses. Drunk lady rides horse to nearest bar. "Too far to drive the mower" as she put it.

Cops were unsure of what to do.

7hr0wxm3x4w4y

"Are They...Moving?"

Drink a beer at a red light.

Nickawow

"If They Don't Have A Pulse...Does It Count?"

Dealt with a guy that was smacking around a sex doll and it got called in as a domestic.

I showed up and he had the doll sitting at the kitchen table and had purposely smeared fake mascara to make it look like she was crying. He said he gets off on that sort of thing. I was only 1 year into the job at the time and remember being like "wtf" this has to be illegal. Turns out it wasnt. Still feel disturbed by that sh-t when I reflect on it.....

Silvertap

"Is It Yours Yet?"

Taking food out of someone's grocery cart.

htbav

"Who Is In The Wrong?"

Guy had sex with a prostitute. Guy does not pay the prostitute.

Prostitute wanted to file a report for not receiving payment.

Are-Twenty

"Can They Legally Stop Me?"

Store owner refusing me to use their public restroom because I had not bought anything yet.

mallykv

Is This Technically Parking?

Giphy

Had a sea plane land in the harbor, taxied up the boat ramp and parked in a parking lot while also paying the meter while they went for lobster rolls.

Apparently its legal.

1_disasta

Wait, It's Legal Now...

Every time I walk down the street and see/smell someone smoking pot. I know it is legal now but my brain still thinks it is illegal for about the first two seconds.

One-Eyed-Willies

"Ma'am, Do You Have A License For That...Sofa?"

Driving a motorized sofa down the road to the store to buy beer.

I honestly have no f-cking clue how the courts will classify mobility sofas when it comes to traffic laws and open beer laws. Told the reclining driver same, and advised he treat his couch like a pedestrian and only drive on the sidewalk, without any open alcoholic beverages.

ArbiterOfTruth

Are you a police officer that's ever been confused by the law? Let us know about it!

Pet Owners Who've Had Wild Animals Get Into Their Homes Share Their Experiences

Two raccoons perched on a tree
Zdeněk Macháček/Unsplash

Dog and cat owners are constantly amused by their quirky four-legged besties.

And while we are as captivated as dogs chasing their tails and cats determinedly chasing after that evasive laser point, pet owners can witness quite a show when an uninvited animal enters the domestic environment.

So what happens in those unusual circumstances?

Lucky for us, we don't have to wonder, thanks to a subReddit that addressed the very subject confirming we are merely spectators really living in the animal kingdom.

Keep reading...Show less
animals

People Describe The Absolute Worst Ways They've Ever Heard Of Someone Dying

Cemetary
Photo by Anton Darius on Unsplash

CW: Deaths and accidents.

News of someone's death is always sad.

In some cases, one can at least take comfort in the fact that the deceased at least lived a long, fulfilling life.

In other cases, however, news of someone's death is an unspeakable tragedy.

Particularly if this person was still young, and had so much more to offer in the world.

Be it a tragic accident or as the victim of an act of cold blood, some stories are so heartbreaking that even those who never met them can't help but shed a tear.

Keep reading...Show less
death

People Explain How They'd Respond If Their Partner Asked For An Open Relationship

silhouette of a man and a woman
Photo by Etienne Boulanger on Unsplash

Many couples who've been together for many years will often look for a way to "spice up" their relationship.

Worried that their relationship has or is getting stale, they look for ways to reignite the flame that lit the fire when they first met.

One idea which is becoming more and more common among couples is to open their relationship up.

Allowing each other to see and have fun with other people, while remaining committed to one another.

For some, this proves just the ticket, as it opens up communication between the two of them, while also letting them meet new people and explore areas they hadn't with their partner.

For others, however, the very notion is a firm no, and the suggestion might even put their relationship in worse jeopardy than it was already in.

Keep reading...Show less
relationships

People Break Down The Most NSFW Thing They've Ever Done That They Don't Regret

People Break Down The Most NSFW Thing They've Ever Done That They Don't Regret
Photo by Jamie Haughton on Unsplash

Some of us just love the more scandalous moments in life.

They can be too far and few in between.

But when they come around, they always provide a good story.

Who doesn't love great mic drop action?

There is such freedom in embracing the... "I did that. And what?!" mentality.

Try it sometime. Within reason, of course.

Keep reading...Show less
no regrets