Did you ever stop to think that over a period of time, it might have been YOU that was the problem? I mean, we don't go out there just looking for people to harass, but apparently the man was just out there to get you down. I'll say this again, I'm shocked to find this attitude coming from you as you have been around a long time.

 

When I was a kid, I was taught that the Sheriff was my friend and I needed to treat them as such.
On occasion they would show up in the canyon when we were shooting and hang out a bit and take a few shots with us. They knew me and this may have even helped me out a little when I was in High School being stupid.
Today, I view Law Enforcement like I view our Soldiers. They don't know me from Adam, but I know what they do and appreciate it.

 

I think it depends on the attitude of the department also. I've never had a bad experience with the Texas DPS.......they have always been very friendly and respectful (as I have been). I don't have a problem owning up to a mistake I have made. However, the local dept. in College Station when I was in school was a very different experience. Very aggressive and authoritarian......never wrong. I realize it is a college town, but it was a bit much at times.

 

Thanks for the replies to my off topic intermission.

My daughter loves riding in the center seat...no air bag.

We now return you to your regular scheduled program.

 

I would send a thank you card to the Officer for trying to keep your young one safe from harm. If you ever saw what a child looks like after being launched through a windshield, you would understand why they have that law in effect.

You don't have to work in LE long before you see your fair share of tragically avoidable injuries, some of which occurring at very slow speeds. I read a story recently about a young Father that moved his child temporarily into the front seat in a similar situation as yours.....

He was involved in a minor fender bender where another vehicle collided with his front end deploying the air bag. He leaned over to tell his child everything would be OK only to find her dead, her neck broken from the air bag that needn't have even deployed.

 

If I could, I would post some pictures so you guys can see what Lary is talking about. I've been on just barely under three years as a Trooper here in NC and have seen my fair share of tragedy. I don't see how guys can do this job for 30 years. I really don't. Thank God I don't have to do it for that long. I love it, but at the same time, it can make your heart very hard if you're not careful.

 

I would give the Officer a pass on this encounter. Although he did nothing that ensured the child's immediate safety, at least he brought it to your attention for future consideration without citing you for a violation if any exists. I think "launching" through the windshield a bit of "dramatic" considering the speeds and location evolved. I'm as hard as anyone on Law Enforcement, but I see no foul in this encounter. He may have been in the lot for a legitimate reason.

 

You wouldn't say that if you understood the dynamics involved...... I see people doing 30 or 35 in store parking lots all the time, talking on phones and acting like they are on the open road, seemingly oblivious to the fact any one else is around them.

Even if you are only doing 10 mph and one of these clowns hits you at 30 mph, any object that is not restrained is in for a rough ride if not a complete ejection from the vehicle. It is physics at it's very basics.

I find this statement to be very puzzling if not ignorant to say the least.... The Officers action of reminding the driver of the Law regarding child restraints in it self IS an effort to secure the child's immediate safety

 

When I was young you sat in the front and when mom or dad had to hit the brakes you got the arm across the neck seatbelt.

 

The LEO may have looked in the back seat and saw that there were boosters or child restraints in place and the story checked out that the guy was just parking. Not a great plan but the OP got off with a warning, he should be happy.

Another thing that no one has mentioned and could just as well of been on the officers mind was his interpretation of the wave the child made to the office could have looked less then innocent from where he sat and thought maybe the child wanted the officer to help her. There are too many Amber alerts.

 

That was back in the day when the dash was made from good old american steel.

 

you got off so i say no harm no foul (i didnt take the OP as "whining" though myself).

i have seen first hand what can happen and am a big proponent of child-seat laws. that being said, i think everyone has been in the situation such as the OP where you going 20 feet at 5 mph and rolled the dice. nothing in life is 100% safe, you have to pick your battles.

if you had gotten the ticket, i think it'd be relatively easily defeatable in court.

 

The car was already stopped and in a parking space......tell me how the Officer secured the child's immediate safety. How fast was the vehicle traveling? I have no trouble understanding the physics of acceleration for a stationary object, and the effects it can produce at a given speed. He stated he was traveling at less than 5 MPH.

 

STOP,take a breath

 

Why? Whats wrong with a good debate with one playing Devil's Advocate?