Wife is pretty shaken up from minor encounter with the police

[Section_31]

So, my wife is coming home on the train today. She gets off at her stop, and gets stopped by 3 cops, asking her for her ticket and to produce some ID. So she produces her ticket, and then realizes that she left her wallet at home, hence no ID.

It turns out her ticket had expired 5 minutes before they stopped her. I know this because her ticket stub says it expired at 4:15 pm and the ticket the cops gave her said issued at 4:20 pm.

So anyway, when she couldnt produce ID, they got pretty authorotatively rough, and slapped her with a 400$ fine and a court date. So she phones me at work, on the verge of falling to pieces. So i left early to go get her, because she said she was way too embarassed to walk home or try to meet me anywhere. Apparently the cop wasnt interested in hearing anything at all from her when she couldnt produce her ID and reemed her out, quite loudly in front of a bunch of people. Not a good situation for anyone with S/A.

This is an absolutely huge deal to her because she has NEVER, and i mean NEVER EVER been in ANY kind of trouble with the federalis. Not even a jaywalking. Shes all upset and very disapointed that this happened because she said she wanted to try to go her whole life without ever getting into trouble. I quietly thought she might be setting her personal standard too high, but i of course didnt say that. So shes an emotional and anxious wreck right now, but is slowly starting to calm down. Ended up running out to get her favourite cheesecake and starbucks latte to try to ease things a bit.

I tried to go pay the ticket and just get this over with, but i have to go downtown to the courthouse before Nov 15 to take care of it, otherwise they put out a warrant for her arrest. I think thats overkill, but im not going to bother with it. Luckily my holidays start on oct 27, so thats the day im going to go take care of this and be done with it.

I havent seen her this frightened since the night before our wedding. poor thing.

Crappy night!

 

[coyote]

too bad there's not more crime in Canada to give those guys something better to do

 

[Section_31]

I think part of the problem in this city, i cant speak for others, is the quota's they have to make for so many speeding/train tickets handed out. It basically turns it into a giant witch hunt.

I respect the law and police, i wanted to be an officer myself. I dont think it would be fair to paint them all with the same brush from this experience. Ok, sure, if you REALLY get down to it, yes she was in violation of the law. but 5 minutes? really guys?. common!

Just one of those things. Im wondering how shes going to do now when taking the train in the future :/

 

[DeadmanWalking]

Just try to be there for her and comfort her (of course, I probably don't need to tell you this). But, that does sound pretty off; I mean, really, a warrant for an expired ticket? That doesn't make any sense! Well, hope your wife feels better!

 

[BlueDays]

If she was getting off the train when the police met her and the police ticket's time is 4:20pm, that means that her ticket was still valid when she boarded the train.
What crabby policemen would write out a ticket when your wife had a valid train ticket at the time she boarded the train!?
That sucks.::

 

[coyote]

police persons are people, too - just trying to do a job

their boss probably shat all over them earlier

try not to take it too personally

 

[WeirdyMcGee]

Well, that's a ****ty situation all 'round.

I'm sure you could get that fine decreased or eliminated completely if she were to go to court.
There are programs like 'consumer support program' where a woman or man could speak for her with her permission and do all of the paperwork... although I'm sure the paperwork isn't the hard part-- it's having to stand in a lineup and be in a room with people you don't know- staring at you.
...anyway-- there is that; if she needs it.
Look into it.
It's a program for people with social anxieties to get help with whatever they need, if they're having trouble. Find a good enough worker and you're set!

Good luck!
Hopefully she'll do some relaxing and feel a bit better in the morning... poor thing.

 

[Solitudes_Grace]

These kinds of situation are why I hate cops. They have legitimized power, and they can use that power to screw you over.

 

[awkwardamanda]

too bad there's not more crime in Canada to give those guys something better to do

They should come to Winnipeg. Violent crime capital of Canada! o_0 Oh wait, some of the cops here have nothing better to do than give people tickets for riding their bikes on the sidewalks. -_-

I think part of the problem in this city, i cant speak for others, is the quota's they have to make for so many speeding/train tickets handed out.

Probably happens everywhere. The place I got my driver's license from supposedly had quotas like that. Everybody knew if you went late in the week for a road test, you were more likely to fail. What bullshat.

If she was getting off the train when the police met her and the police ticket's time is 4:20pm, that means that her ticket was still valid when she boarded the train.
What crabby policemen would write out a ticket when your wife had a valid train ticket at the time she boarded the train!?
That sucks.::

Yeah, that's what I'd like to know. Here, if you get a bus transfer, you can use it to get on another bus until the specified time. You don't have to be off by then. What happens if your train is running late? Do you have to get off a few stops early?! Stupid. -_-

 

[Pyrophosphate]

These kinds of situation are why I hate cops. They have legitimized power, and they can use that power to screw you over.

Agreed... except I don't hate people.

 

[SeniorRedrings]

Three grown men ganging up on a woman over a ticket that's FIVE MINUTES no longer a valid ticket?
That's not minor.That's major dickery and bullying of the most petty kind.
Talk about making someone feel fearful over nothing.
and they punished her too when common sense should have called for discretion.
Your wife is right to be upset.

 

[pinata]

Three grown men ganging up on a woman over a ticket that's FIVE MINUTES no longer a valid ticket?
That's not minor.That's major dickery and bullying of the most petty kind.
Talk about making someone feel fearful over nothing.
and they punished her too when common sense should have called for discretion.
Your wife is right to be upset.

Exactly.. Three people confronting one person, that's horrible and way over the top. The law is so stupid sometimes. Well, a lot of the time.

I'm sorry for both you and your wife - not that that helps anything. I can't wait you to both be done with this situation and put it behind you. It's such a joke :/ I'm sure you'll support her really well though, so good luck.

 

[Section_31]

Aw thanks for the comments guys.

Yea, i had a few choice words about the situation last night, but i decided to let that go and focus on trying to help her recover. She later apologized for falling to pieces, even though i told her she hadnt done anything wrong in that regard. She has an exam this morning that she had planned to study for but just couldnt concentrate last night because of what happened, so we just had a quiet night in. I did my best to take care of everything, dinner, cleaning up, ect, so she coudl just take it easy.

She didnt think she'd be able to sleep but she nodded off almost right away, so i think she'll be fine for this morning. My poor babe is SO going on a nail polish shopping binge after this one!.

Thanks for the support guys, even though shes too shy to come on here and thank you herself, she told me to tell you shes really touched. She reads these posts as well.

So, thanks again .

 

[Looking_in105]

that's crazy. The other night I was on the train (I live in Australia) and the security guard asked a guy for his ticket. The guy said that it "disappeared". The guard just told him to get off on the next stop...

 

[schist]

For those cops to threaten her with an arrest warrant for a ticket that had expired only 5 MINUTES AGO is way out of line.

The "big d*ck of the law" in action ... :S

 

[Feathers]

Oh gosh,

This is what I was kinda afraid of, a bit, governments and municipalities being low on money/in debt and looking for money wherever possible!! yikes!

Was the train late or on time? It's weird they'd make such a big deal out of 5 minutes...
And where does it say one needs ID with at all times? (Is there a law/regulation on that where you live?) Or does your wife look Asian/other ethnicity? I'm just trying to understand, didn't know you had to have an ID on a train?? (What about if someone got robbed etc?)
They were probably afraid she'd give them fake info (which hmm.. I'm not gonna say anything!!)

I think sometimes there can be a complaint and payment reduced or at least extended payment (payments), especially if the money situation is not so great. It would be good to contact a supportive organisation or maybe free legal help I guess, like mentioned above.
Some organisations can maybe talk it out 'like people' and even reduce any problems...

Maybe you can help her by teasing her about it, such as, hey you sexy law-breaker or something? (I don't know if she'd cry or it'd make her feel better.. Ideally find something she can grin over?)

And check if those were REALLY cops and it's really the account# of who it was supposed to be...

 

[Remus]

And where does it say one needs ID with at all times? (Is there a law/regulation on that where you live?) Or does your wife look Asian/other ethnicity?

Why on earth would that matter?

 

[theslowesthand]

Scarily-big egos out-of-control ... or just "innocent ticket-chasing"?
I suspect more of the former than the latter.

People "at the top" (authority positions, such as police, bosses, teachers,..) are still only human, and not immune to the many human failings, and as such a number of those people will have & express their various "issues" in a not-so-nice way - such as trying to belittle others to feel superior (even though their position of authority is kind of "superior" already), (over)reacting/acting very strongly to even the slightest of defiance/slight (due to insecurity & used to people "bowing down" to their wishes/whims all the time), and so on.

I've had some significantly bad experiences with people just like this. I think the "correct" or "best" way to deal with these types (from reading & experience) is probably to essentially give them what they want, but at the same time "not compromising your personal values". Practically, this means to learn know how they think/feel/operate, and then you can "play them like a drum" - give them want they/ego "need", but not out of fear, but by understanding .. and in a way that doesn't make you feel bad. That's the theory anyway.

 

[Agent_Violet]

Apparently those 3 big bad officers of the law were intimidated by one little lady...they needed reinforcements lest she bust out an uzi and start popping caps in their a$$es...

*sigh* If your ticket is valid when you get on the train it doesn't matter if it expires during the ride.

What if there's a hold up for some reason and everyone is stuck on the train for a LONG time and ALL their tickets expire???? Will they corner ALL of the riders checking for ID and ticket validity???

I think i'm the opposite of your wife though...in those situations I usually end up in more trouble bc I get my attitude going when I sense someone is being unfair. lol they probably would have had me in cuffs on the ground right there bc my smart mouth would have popped off letting them know how insane they were being.

ID to ride a train?? really???

 

[Section_31]

Oh gosh,

This is what I was kinda afraid of, a bit, governments and municipalities being low on money/in debt and looking for money wherever possible!! yikes!

Was the train late or on time? It's weird they'd make such a big deal out of 5 minutes...
And where does it say one needs ID with at all times? (Is there a law/regulation on that where you live?) Or does your wife look Asian/other ethnicity? I'm just trying to understand, didn't know you had to have an ID on a train?? (What about if someone got robbed etc?)
They were probably afraid she'd give them fake info (which hmm.. I'm not gonna say anything!!)

I think sometimes there can be a complaint and payment reduced or at least extended payment (payments), especially if the money situation is not so great. It would be good to contact a supportive organisation or maybe free legal help I guess, like mentioned above.
Some organisations can maybe talk it out 'like people' and even reduce any problems...

Maybe you can help her by teasing her about it, such as, hey you sexy law-breaker or something? (I don't know if she'd cry or it'd make her feel better.. Ideally find something she can grin over?)

And check if those were REALLY cops and it's really the account# of who it was supposed to be...

Hey Feathers,

the train was on time. Unfortunately this isnt the first time ive heard of transit police being a little too harsh with people.

My wife is caucasian, black hair, hazel eyes, 5'7. Honestly pretty average for people around here, im about the same. Nothing that would make her stand out.

The ID thing is complicated and annoyin. While its nto ILLEGAL in itself to NOT have ID, ive been told that if you dont have it when asked, they can automatically bump up your fine. Why? I have no idea.

Your question about the racial side of things unfortunately rings of truth. You hear lots of talk about how canada is multiculteral, ect ect ect, but ive personally witnessed alot of minorities get harrassed moreso than others by authorities. Its got to stop. Luckily theres a drive going on here to try to get more minority police officers, so im hoping things change for the better.

That being said, again, ive met many cops ive liked, and many that I havent liked. when i went to the academy in 2003, there were police there that just didnt get along with other officers. In movies you see a portrayal of cops beign one big family that look out for eachother, but thats not entirely accurate. Some just have a bad attitude and dont get along with anyone, even othe officers. it sucks.

Were going to investigate fighting the ticket, however if that fails im still giogn to just pay it and be done with it. I want to move forward from this.