Harassment or Boredom?

You can’t make some of this stuff up!  Honestly!  The nannyism going on in the world today has definitely gotten out of hand.

From the UK, I bring you what could possibly happen if a police officer is bored working in what obviously must be a crime-free town:

Motorist stopped by police for laughing

A motorist was stopped by a police officer and questioned because he was laughing at the wheel.

By Nigel Bunyan
Last Updated: 8:54AM GMT 05 Mar 2009

When Mr Saunders got out of his car, the policeman told him: ‘Laughing while driving a car can be an offence.’ Photo: ELEANOR BENTALL

Gary Saunders, a company director, was using a hands-free phone when he burst out laughing at a joke told by his brother-in-law, who he was talking to.

A few moments later he noticed a traffic officer flashing his lights at him and gesticulating at him to stop his Renault.

When Mr Saunders got out of his car, the policeman told him: “Laughing while driving a car can be an offence.”

The officer spent half an hour questioning his suspect before reluctantly allowing him to carry on his way.

However, he took another hour-and-a-half of Mr Saunders’ time by ordering him to produce his licence and other documents at a police station.

Mr Saunders, the managing director of Spontex Workwear, of Liverpool, said the delay meant that he missed an important appointment.

“I couldn’t believe it when he told me I’d been pulled over for laughing,” he said.

“I was driving very safely in the Birkenhead Tunnel and took a call.

“He said something funny and I was laughing – simple as that. I never took my eyes off the road and was in full control of the car.

“I definitely wasn’t speeding so I asked what the problem was and he told me I was laughing too much.”

Now, I’m fully aware of the fact that just about anything can be  distraction while driving.  I’m also fully aware of the fact that the majority of us know this AND are responsible enough to NOT allow distractions to actually distract us to the point of being irresponsible.   Personally, I think having kids in the car with you is one of the most distracting things you can do, but I don’t hear about that being an offense.

You really have to wonder if they officer was in a bad mood and looking to harass someone or if he was just so terribly bored he needed something to do.  Worst case cause would be he had to meet a ticket quota.

But wait, it gets better:

He went on: “The officer accused me of throwing my head back in a dangerous way, which I denied since it is definitely not something I do.

“It became a bit ridiculous when he wanted to know the colour of my hair as I have alopecia and there isn’t a hair on my head.

“When I pointed this out he asked: ‘What colour was your hair when you had some?’

“It went from ludicrous to unbelievable. He definitely had a bee in his bonnet about something and I got the brunt of it.

“In the end he reluctantly admitted that he had nothing he could accuse me of, but still required me to take my documents to the station.”

© Copyright of Telegraph Media Group Limited 2009

WHAT exactly does the color of his – or lack of as the case may be – have to do with any of this?  Nothing, that’s what!  This officer was just in the mood to give someone a hard time I think.

You can read the FULL STORY here.

There’s just nothing else I can say about this as it is just too ‘way out there’ for even me…..LOL

Happy Saturday everyone!!  And don’t forget “NO LAUGHING WHILE DRIVING“!

~ by swfreedomlover on March 7, 2009.