On 12/23/02 11:16 AM, "Terrell Brown" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> -----Original Message----- > From: Mark Snyder > > However, if Ms. Jones is now dead because the driver was under the influence, > distracted by a cell phone, was speeding or was engaged in any other activity > that one shouldn't be doing while driving, then I think some charge of > negligent manslaughter or whatever it would be is most warranted and should be > pursued with great vengeance. > > > [TB] This is the first suggestion I've read that the Minneapolis > police are lax in the area of DWI/DUI enforcement. > > In a city where zoning codes provide for serving a Big Mac and fries > along with assorted other foods at a drive thru window, I think a > driver conversing with another person be it one sitting in the > adjoining seat or across an ocean is rather low on the distraction > list. Nor am I willing to accept the premise that every pedestrian > death is the result of driver negligence. Likely that is the reason > charges are not filed after many -accidents-. I believe my statement is being taken out of context. It was not my intent to suggest that Minneapolis police are lax in the area of DUI enforcement. That was just one possible cause of an accident that occurred to me. It was my intent to point out that if Gary Hoover's account of the situation is correct and there is little investigation taking place because Ms. Jones was poor and alone, we will NEVER be able to find out just what caused this driver to strike and kill her. We won't know if it was negligence committed by the driver, a case of Ms. Jones not watching where she was going or just some unfortunate twist of fate. If it was driver negligence, we wouldn't know if it were caused by cell phone distraction, someone taking their eyes off the road while fiddling with their briefcase or purse or as Terrell suggests, the delicate act of balancing a super-sized Big Mac meal while attempting to maintain control of the vehicle. That's my problem with this situation. We all get into an uproar over the number of murders we have in the city of Minneapolis, it got so bad several years ago that folks were calling our city Murderapolis. Why is there no uproar over people being killed by cars? Why do we just brush those off as "collateral damage" or something that must be accepted as the status quo. Why do St. Paul crack down on streets where rampant speeding is taking place when neighborhoods demand it but Minneapolis neighborhoods have to invest NRP money in those radar wagons that tell you how fast you're going since we apparently can't be bothered to check the speedometer located in our cars? Also, please understand that I am by no means calling for a ban on cars or a return to the horse and wagon. However, I do think Minneapolis would be well-served to crack down more on dangerous drivers than we have been. Someone more knowledgeable than me, such as Mr. Avidor, could probably cite the disparity there is between homicides that occur in Minneapolis and deaths by auto accidents. Also, if I was going to accuse the Minneapolis police of being lax about anything, it would be their own propensity to flout traffic laws. At about 10:30 pm on Saturday night, downtown on 3rd Avenue South, I witnessed a near-miss that was caused by a police officer who got tired of waiting at a red light and turned on his/her lights and sirens to stop oncoming traffic so he/she could make a right turn. One car was just reaching the intersection and so had to slam on the brakes so as not to hit the patrol car. The patrol car number was #463. I'm pretty sure the officer was not responding to a call because the lights went off again as soon as the turn was completed and didn't come on again until the next red light came up that needed to be rolled through rather than wait for a minute. That's hardly the first time I've seen such shenanigans, only the most recent. I'm sure I'm not alone in such observations. Maybe that's why some Minneapolis cops might be less likely to enforce traffic laws than their peers in other cities? Because they'll feel like hypocrites? Mark Snyder Windom Park _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
