Police Department Closed

win231

SF VIP
Location
CA
This afternoon, I was driving out of the park where I have my 30 minute walk. Nice, sunny 72 degrees & at the exit, there are many pedestrians & a bike path. While I was waiting for pedestrians to finish crossing, a guy behind me starts honking repeatedly - even while pedestrians & bicyclists were crossing in front of me....like, "I don't care; run 'em over."
Then he hits my car - obviously intentionally. While I was getting pen & paper to write his license plate in case he took off, he speeds around me & drives off. I wrote down his license plate number.
I went to the police station to file a report & there is a sign on the door: "Police Station Closed." I thought it was a joke; I've never heard of a closed police station.
Another sign says "Scan bar code on your phone or call to make a report." When I called, a recording says the police station is open until 11:00pm 7 days/week & leave a message. Well, it isn't; I was there at 3:30pm. I left a message.
What a time to need police for something really serious.
 

Good grief. Hope you weren’t hurt at all. A very strange situation. Staff shortage? Staff unrest? Let us know.
He bumped me from behind at slow speed. Only put a little dent in my trunk.
I think the city is using what I call the "Coronaexcuse." "We had to close the building due to the risk." Yeah....every market & liquor store that sells food & is much more crowded than a police station isn't a risk. Most likely, "We can save a fortune."

After over 50 years of a perfect driving record, this is the SECOND accident I've had (although this one was deliberate). A few weeks ago, someone made an illegal left turn from the RH side curb in front of a "No Left Turn" sign & plowed into me when I passed him; I thought he was parking. I've notice quite a bit of reckless & aggressive drivers ever since March.
 

Oh yes we have many Police stations ''closed''... and long before the Pandemic too... some stations like yours are only open the same hours as a post office.. ( only crimes committed between these hours will be dealt with?) .. verrrry annoying :oops:

I absolutely agree with you about more aggressive drivers since March..I was just saying this the other day. My theory is that some of the millions who are furloughed and working all day from home, are taking full advantage of getting through the day with alcohol or similar , and then going out to drive... I can't think of any other reason for the uprise in aggression , and downright dangerous driving on the roads since the beginning of this year
 
I agree that there seems to be more aggressive driving; I came to a complete stop before making a right turn the other day, at a lighted intersection which is posted saying right turns only permitted after stopping & then when it's safe mind you, I stopped for just an instant to make sure it was safe & the guy behind me went crazy with the horn. Seems like everyone's gone nuts.
 
He bumped me from behind at slow speed. Only put a little dent in my trunk.
I think the city is using what I call the "Coronaexcuse." "We had to close the building due to the risk." Yeah....every market & liquor store that sells food & is much more crowded than a police station isn't a risk. Most likely, "We can save a fortune."

After over 50 years of a perfect driving record, this is the SECOND accident I've had (although this one was deliberate). A few weeks ago, someone made an illegal left turn from the RH side curb in front of a "No Left Turn" sign & plowed into me when I passed him; I thought he was parking. I've notice quite a bit of reckless & aggressive drivers ever since March.
Dear husband and I have noticed a distinct level of negligence in the driving skills of many as of late, both young and old, and we attribute it to the way of world.

It's a reflection of where our world is going and where the world has been going for quite sometime. Everyone in a big rush to go no where fast, combined with a lack of proper policing, and... people having a general and overall lack of respect for others.
 
This afternoon, I was driving out of the park where I have my 30 minute walk. Nice, sunny 72 degrees & at the exit, there are many pedestrians & a bike path. While I was waiting for pedestrians to finish crossing, a guy behind me starts honking repeatedly - even while pedestrians & bicyclists were crossing in front of me....like, "I don't care; run 'em over."
Then he hits my car - obviously intentionally. While I was getting pen & paper to write his license plate in case he took off, he speeds around me & drives off. I wrote down his license plate number.
I went to the police station to file a report & there is a sign on the door: "Police Station Closed." I thought it was a joke; I've never heard of a closed police station.
Another sign says "Scan bar code on your phone or call to make a report." When I called, a recording says the police station is open until 11:00pm 7 days/week & leave a message. Well, it isn't; I was there at 3:30pm. I left a message.
What a time to need police for something really serious.
Glad you were able to jot down the plate number.
 
Glad you were able to jot down the plate number.
I'm wondering how much help that will be. Even if I'm able to eventually make a report, police are ignoring "minor" crimes. There aren't enough officers due to cutbacks, so if someone hasn't been murdered, they'll typically ignore it.
 
I'm wondering how much help that will be. Even if I'm able to eventually make a report, police are ignoring "minor" crimes. There aren't enough officers due to cutbacks, so if someone hasn't been murdered, they'll typically ignore it.
I hope such isn't the case, Win.

That driver deserves to lose his license.
 
I'm wondering how much help that will be. Even if I'm able to eventually make a report, police are ignoring "minor" crimes. There aren't enough officers due to cutbacks, so if someone hasn't been murdered, they'll typically ignore it.

"There aren't enough officers due to cutbacks,"

Early retirement, followed by low job application numbers ...... Who would want to be a police officer these days ?
 
This afternoon, I was driving out of the park where I have my 30 minute walk. Nice, sunny 72 degrees & at the exit, there are many pedestrians & a bike path. While I was waiting for pedestrians to finish crossing, a guy behind me starts honking repeatedly - even while pedestrians & bicyclists were crossing in front of me....like, "I don't care; run 'em over."
Then he hits my car - obviously intentionally. While I was getting pen & paper to write his license plate in case he took off, he speeds around me & drives off. I wrote down his license plate number.
I went to the police station to file a report & there is a sign on the door: "Police Station Closed." I thought it was a joke; I've never heard of a closed police station.
Another sign says "Scan bar code on your phone or call to make a report." When I called, a recording says the police station is open until 11:00pm 7 days/week & leave a message. Well, it isn't; I was there at 3:30pm. I left a message.
What a time to need police for something really serious.


Well, you're always stating how much you hate them ..... maybe they saw you coming & locked the door.
 
At the heart of a jackass driver is a jackass, so rudeness comes with the territory . But I wonder if the increase in discourtesy, which you all seem to state, is a kind of fear. You are out of the safety of your four walls, into a germ filled arena, where everybody is masked like bandits?
 
At the heart of a jackass driver is a jackass, so rudeness comes with the territory . But I wonder if the increase in discourtesy, which you all seem to state, is a kind of fear. You are out of the safety of your four walls, into a germ filled arena, where everybody is masked like bandits?
I don't think it's fear; I think it's anger & frustration at not being able to work & worrying about finances. And maybe the stupidity that going on about who to blame for every sniffle - like what's been going on in my family.
 
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Our local police is a volunteer organization. There's only someone in the office if they feel like being there and then that would only on weekdays between 6 and 11 pm. I've been over to our local office on occasions where the door was locked. They say on their Web page that if anyone needs the police and there no local officer available to call the Sheriff or State Police.
 
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Even if I'm able to eventually make a report, police are ignoring "minor" crimes.
Have you checked their website, maybe they have a process for reporting aggressive drivers. In Colorado they have some sort of program like that, I remember my Dad got a letter from the police that he'd been reported, or more specifically a letter came for him but he had already passed away. I'm only surprised they didn't get more reports about him because he was getting quite weird and although my Mom would try to hide the car keys it didn't always work.
 
I had to drive down to my mother in laws this morning due to a problem or sound her furnace was making. It’s about a 2 hour trip one way, the speed limit is 70. I was running 75 and the people driving me behind me was flashing their light and blowing the horn and I was in the right lane. For two hours, mid day of driving, I never saw one police, sheriff or state patrol and I was on the interstate.
 
I'm wondering how much help that will be. Even if I'm able to eventually make a report, police are ignoring "minor" crimes. There aren't enough officers due to cutbacks, so if someone hasn't been murdered, they'll typically ignore it.
The problem is that you can not prove who was driving the car at the time so nothing will be done probably
 
I don't think it's fear; I think it's anger & frustration at not being able to work & worrying about finances.

An interesting thing I learned about was a study of people who spent part of the year with enough income and part of the year in want/need/poor circumstances. They found I think it was a 20 point drop in IQ of people when they were struggling to survive compared to the exact same people when they were doing okay. It sounded awfully unlikely but then last year we had a flood and after 4 emotionally stressful (but safe) days followed by a month of disrupted routine (having to hike the last half mile to and from my house due to the flooded out road), I really did feel like I had dropped 10 IQ points. Our brains are so complicated. I guess while our brains are busy worrying about the outside dangers they don't have as much reasoning/intellect capacity.
 
Now would be a perfect time to get involved in local politics. Go to town council meeting or whatever the governing body for your home area. Take your neighbors and speak up when you get there.

This is America. Local governing bodies are elected by the people who live there but those elections are ignored by many.

We only get as good a government as the voters choose.
 
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Ah just be thankful the other driver didn't shove your car into the people crossing the street. I got popped from behind already for slowing down and stopping instead of speeding through the yellow. I let it go because filing complaints and trying to get justice is a pain in the a** and bad for my mental health.
 
Oh No! The people who were yelling "Defund the police" and how horrible the law enforcement officers are, are now yelling "Where are the police"?

In my area, there is only the Police Chief. All officers have quit the force.

When i lived in Alaska, it was quite common to go to the Court House or Police Department and see a sign on the door, "Gone fishing".
 
The problem is that you can not prove who was driving the car at the time so nothing will be done probably
Legally, it doesn't matter. If a car owner lets someone drive their car, the registered owner is responsible for whatever happens. That's why in court cases involving accidents with borrowed cars, the registered owner tries to claim the car was taken without their permission. It usually doesn't work. Even in cases where a minor took his parent's car keys, the parent is usually held responsible. I've heard judges say to the parent: "You left your car keys where your son/daughter could take them."
That's also why when selling a car privately, the title should be changed immediately.

What may be hard to prove is that the driver hit my deliberately. He'll say "My foot slipped off the brake."
 


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