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Marine says ranger roughed him up
Show me the data that prove just how "rampant" the abuse of handicapped placards is, please. Which and how many doctors will "fill out the form for almost anything" how many times? How many unjustified handicapped placards exist as a percentage of valid ones? What, specifically, do you suggest?— December 17, 2014 8:27 p.m.
Marine says ranger roughed him up
How much money should the Marine ask for? Who should pay the money? How much of a penalty does it take to modify behavior? How little money should the Marine ask for? How does the fact that public servants of all kinds are shielded from liability encourage bad conduct and brutality? How much money do taxpayers pay out every year to satisfy claims and judgments? How do you know that the charges are a stretch? Emotional distress? Can you be more specific? It seems that you are minimizing emotional distress? You're one tough cookie, Don, but maybe not everybody has your strength. But "strength" is relative to context. I don't know about you, but when I got out of the military, I was pretty close to the edge, but there was no such thing as PTSD--but frankly, I'm glad for today's young men and women that it's recognized. I'm not sure I've ever recovered from the context I was in. Nobody's context is the same. I suggest that you write another article when this case is resolved and the facts are out (as much as they can be).— December 17, 2014 8:18 p.m.
Marine says ranger roughed him up
Perhaps, but the officer must have probable cause and do other due diligence. If the man's paperwork was in order (the officer refused to look at it), it would be a bad pinch.— December 17, 2014 4:34 p.m.
Marine says ranger roughed him up
Sadly, this early rational and knowledge-based comment was subsequently and frequently ignored by others.— December 17, 2014 4:31 p.m.
Marine says ranger roughed him up
Skeptical, yes, cynical, no. I have felt considerable emotional distress when confronted by dumb (as opposed to well-trained) cops, and I can well understand how the vet might have been provoked into raising his voice. But, as anyone who has been through boot-camp should know, a raised voice is not justification for physical action. Resisting arrest was not mentioned. But that would be speculation, wouldn't it? Hardly a basis for a rational conclusion.— December 17, 2014 4:28 p.m.
Marine says ranger roughed him up
I, too, once "thought" that abuse was rampant, but then I learned that I needed evidence, not guesswork or presumption.— December 17, 2014 4:22 p.m.
Marine says ranger roughed him up
Excellent points. However, we need good data on the abuse. However, for the reasons you point out, if everyone who "suspects" that a person does not "deserve" a placard reports it to DMV, be prepared to inflate the DMV budget. Let us not have a solution in search of a problem . . .— December 17, 2014 4:19 p.m.
Marine says ranger roughed him up
The feds are supposed to recognize placards from all states. With respect to the underlying psychology, please see the movie, "Lonely Are the Brave." The lieutenant in the helicopter with the gun.— December 17, 2014 4:13 p.m.
Marine says ranger roughed him up
If the "ranger" was assigned to that duty he or she should have been trained in the law, not something made up our of her or his own prejudices.— December 17, 2014 4:08 p.m.
Marine says ranger roughed him up
There once was a thing called common courtesy. And in a free country, no one is required to take no $hit from nobody, no time. Reserving a few for the infirm, with or without papers, was once a kind of thing one did. But hell, an infirm person can't hardly cross the street anymore.— December 17, 2014 4:05 p.m.