How many cops will post that same sarcastic comment, thinking that they're being original? Is there a FAQ in the works, or maybe a Frequently Voiced Criticisms page?

One more time, B52: we all know that officers on duty are not required to follow the traffic laws. We understand that that's necessary for law enforcement, we support it, and we trust you not to abuse it. That's not what this site is about.

Admin note: Keep out the nasty comments, folks.

Officers on patrol are required to obey the traffic rules while on duty. As a matter of fact, if the mayor was shot, any unit responding isn't allowed to go over the speed limit.

There are rules about responding and rules for crossing a red light in a non emergency. There are rules against parking at a hydrant when responding to a fire.

As far as the first poster enforcing the law as required, we are hoping that's a promise and not a threat. Please feel free to run any red lights when responding code 3.

As far as going over the speed limit, it's a judgement call. You're expected to do so, but if a kids steps out and you are speeding, they will tan your hide.

Anon 12:09 AM:

Not sure where you're coming from on this. Are there other rules you can cite?

NYC Traffic Rules 4-02(d)(1)(i) states:

(i) Authorized emergency vehicles. The operator of an authorized emergency vehicle when involved in an emergency operation as defined in Section 114-b of the Vehicle and Traffic Law may exercise the privileges set forth in Section 1104 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law, subject to the conditions set forth therein.

Section 114-b of the VTL states:

114-b. Emergency operation. The operation, or parking, of an authorized emergency vehicle, when such vehicle is engaged in transporting a sick or injured person, transporting prisoners, delivering blood or blood products in a situation involving an imminent health risk, pursuing an actual or suspected violator of the law, or responding to, or working or assisting at the scene of an accident, disaster, police call, alarm of fire, actual or potential release of hazardous materials or other emergency. Emergency operation shall not include returning from such service.

Keep it up, we are vastly underpaid, incredibly underappreciated, stabbed, shot, spit on, cursed at, etc etc etc. And this is your stand on things? Have any of you ever said THANKS to a Police Officer? So a couple (who Cares) cops park illegally, WOW somw privilege. How about you really try to help.. Get on the mayor's back about the worst police pay in the tri state area.

Yeah, I've said thanks many times, go to precinct council meetings, etc. And I really like a lot of local precinct folks -- and not just because they do a much better job at following the parking rules than other folks in the area.

In past comments, many, many of the core participants here (including me) have said they support increased pay. Not really controversial at all.

The pay thing does not work, and neither does the hero argument. I have heard this stuff on many posts that I have read throughout this site. The "cleaned up city" argument doesn't work.

I had my car impounded because I don't make enough to keep up with the tickets, even though I was fanatically careful about parking illegally, I would still get tickets. That is to bad for me, someone bought my 1986 Honda Civic at auction. This is my tough luck. I could have ponyied up the $890 to get it out of the impound, but I faced the fact that I either needed to get a new job or had to let the car go. I let the car go.

The civil servants of this city need to realize that they are are not above the law, and keep on the issue of parking placard abuse, not pay or heroism or any other diversionary issues.

Uhm, if you were fanatical about not parking illegally I doubt you would have racked up $890 in fines... that is a significant number of summonses to accumulate. Just an observation, nothing more or less.

"The pay thing does not work, and neither does the hero argument."

So what if you guys are under paid, that isn't an excuse to park where ever you want because you are too lazy to take the time to look for parking instead of parking at a hydrant.

$890 is only 6 or 7 summonses. As I've gotten them 3 at a time, it isn't too many times before you're getting towed.

I've gotten summonses for being 3 inches into the crosswalk, on meters that were broken, for parking with a permit when it was legal, any excuse to hang paper.

The entire system is corrupt. Just as we have valid compliants, so do the cops.

I'm sorry-- parking in front of a hydrant is TERRIBLE, no matter how low one's pay (and I can't believe I just had to write that-- but these are the indignant non-sequitirs to which we are being treated).

Police officers who do so are jeopardizing everyone's safety. I do not write in to complain about self enforcement zones and silly No Standing areas, but handicapped spaces, ambulance bays and fire hydrants are sacrosanct.

# 15: Where does it say the speed limit can be exceeded, except a hint of in the pursuit situation?

I want to know because I like to be aware of what the law is and I thought what I said was right. If you know differently, do tell.

We recently had a debate about passing a red light and if unmarked was included. The law says "police car" and unmarked is such.

For those who want to know, it is legal, as long as a full stop is made first, marked or unmarked, according to the statute shown to me.