planetdan

Thursday, June 16, 2005 :::

Park Police

Today I was cruising down the freeway when I spotted an unmarked police car a few cars up and a couple lanes over. It was the tell-tale dark sedan with the bulky light/siren apparatus not-so-cleverly hidden in the back window. I thought, "Ooo, good eye, dan, better slow 'er down," but then I looked at the license plate and it said "Park Police". I thought "Park Police?!? Ppfffft!!" and I returned to my normal speed and passed him right up, confident in his jurisdictional impotence. I barely got it back up to 65MPH when he pulled me over.

I don't know how it is in other parts of the city, state, or country, but I've never seen a park police patrol car outside of a park. And I always lived with the [apparently mis-]conception that they were more akin to mall security than they were actual cops. Sure, they could act threatening and carry a flashlight, but short of kicking you out of the parking lot after curfew on a school night, they had very little actual power. Guess I was wrong.

Afterwards I was temporarily ashamed of my hubris, but I charmed my way out of a ticket, so all is well that ends well, and now I can pass the knowledge on to you: park police are people, too.

::: posted by dan at 10:38 PM :: [ link ] :: (3) comments

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3 previous comments:

Didn't Eric's career as a tree hugger teach you anything? Or were you not listening to anything he said from 1998 - 2001? Some friend you are! I hope you at least know not to go into a drug induced crazy rage wearing nothing but a tool belt and acid washed jeans cause a police officer will kick you face. You've been warned.

By

brent, at 1:34 AM

He always said he was a Park Ranger or something. So I never associated him with being part of the Park Police. I imagined him more as a State Trooper for wooded areas.

By

dan, at 10:40 AM

You know, Dan, you're a terrible driver. A few months ago, you -- or someone who looks exactly like you -- made an extremely illegal left in front of my car on Lyndale near Pizza luce. It appeared as if you were singing along to some song and had no idea there were any other cars on the road.

By

Anonymous, at 11:36 PM

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