He was going for the car. To get a weapon. Or go on a high speed chase. That wasn't really his wife and baby in the car, they were terrorists.

Yeah.

Dumbass tags to both.

Cop's an idiot. Driver's an idiot. Let the lawyers sort it out (your tax dollars hard at work)

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Authorities are speeding up their investigation of a state trooper who zapped a motorist with a Taser now that video of the traffic stop has been posted on YouTube, the Utah Highway Patrol said Wednesday.

The video, taken from Trooper John Gardner's patrol car, shows him drawing his Taser after Jared Massey refused to sign a speeding ticket Sept. 14 and walked away from the officer on U.S. 40 in eastern Utah.

A surprised Massey asks, "What the heck is wrong with you?"

Gardner fires, and Massey shrieks and falls.

"Face down! Face down! Put your hands behind your back!" Gardner orders.

A woman screaming hysterically emerges from the passenger side of the sport-utility vehicle Massey was driving, and the trooper tells her to get back inside "or you're going to jail, too."

Massey could not be reached for comment Wednesday. There was no phone listed for him in the Vernal area, where authorities said he is from. The highway patrol declined to make Gardner available for comment.

"I can't speculate on what was happening in the trooper's mind," said Trooper Cameron Roden, a patrol spokesman. "We have an internal investigation going on. ... With it coming out on YouTube, we have expedited the investigation."

The 10-minute video landed on YouTube after it was released to Massey under a public records request.

"We definitely have received a lot of feedback on it, calls and e-mail," Roden said.

Signing a speeding ticket is not an admission of guilt, Roden said. He described it as a promise that a motorist "will take care of the citation."

Under patrol policy, troopers can use a Taser if someone is a threat to themselves or others and other means of control are unreasonable, Roden said. Massey has filed a complaint, Roden said. He didn't know the status of the speeding ticket.

That was a pig, for sure. Policeman shouldn't act like pigs if they want respect. Nobody should sign anything under duress, especially during a police action. If pindick would have let the judge take care of it, he wouldn't have his mug all over Youtube.

The guy just seemed bewildered by the whole thing, at least until he took the header onto the pavement.

As a former one of those guys you all love to hate, this cop appears to have been way out of line.

My question is, though...in this age of photo radar, red light cameras and speed enforcement blitzes in construction zones, school zones, etc., how the hell are there still jurisdictions where you actually have to SIGN your ticket? What is this, 1980?

A ticket is merely a summons being served by a Peace officer. HE makes the affidavit of service by signing his name to it. Having you sign it has no bearing that I know of on the veracity of the ticket or its enforceability.

(Although, many things about U.S tickets mystify me, not the least of which is how having to pay a ticket on the spot or face arrest in any way can be reconciled with Due Process.)

Getting a ticket should be a completely one-sided process. HE asks for your license and proof of insurance over, HE fills out the details, runs your plate/name for warrants, HE hands you the ticket and sends you on your way. If you feel you're innocent of the offense on the ticket, then you have the opportunity to attend traffic court (STFU about "losing a day's work" to fight it. There's no reasonable alternative). The point is, you and the cop shouldn't be arguing about it.

This whole business of requiring motorists to "sign" tickets when issued has caused probably hundreds of thousands of angry confrontations on the side of the road needlessly. That's why every jurisdiction with any common sense hasn't done it in YEARS.

Crazymuthafarker: Perfect example of a cop pig who needs a cockpunch. Of course, they should all be cockpunched. I have no respect for any of them. I hope the "tazee" sues the fark out of both the piggy and the department.

Your statement makes you sound like an overly-self-entitled white person, did you know that?

Sign the ticket, if you're innocent... fight it in court (unless you really DID violate a law, then be a man, admit your mistake and take responsibility)... is this new to people? Or just new to precious little snowflakes..?

Crazymuthafarker: Perfect example of a cop pig who needs a cockpunch. Of course, they should all be cockpunched. I have no respect for any of them.

I hope you remember what you posted the next time someone breaks into your house, steals your car or murders a family member.

I bet if any one of those things happen, you'll be dialing 911 in a panic like everyone else that has "no respect" for cops.

Not trying to single you out, but you do realize there are dickheads in every profession. Sooner or later you'll encounter one. I've had more run-ins with good cops than bad ones. And one thing I've noticed with cops(and just about anyone else), you act like a dick, they're gonna act like a dick. Most people that are "harassed" by the police, usually do something to bring it upon themselves.

The best thing to do with the police, whether they're wrong or not, is be courteous and do what they ask of you. If the police are in the wrong, let the courts handle it. Unless police are trying to kill or injure you for no good reason, then do what you have to do.

Crazymuthafarker: I am not overly self entitled but I am also not going to kneel down and take it in the ass for a guy who took some community college courses to get a badge and gun. a fairly high percentage of people seem to do just that and reinforce the cops feeling of superiority. The burden of proof is on them. If you can prove to me that I was doing 10 over the limit when I know I wasn't then you should have no reason to not show me the radar reading. That is precisely what happened when I got my first ticket. Turns out my speedometer was out of whack. I took the hit and had it fixed.

They shouldn't have to prove anything to you on the side of the road. That is what court is for.

"Officer, I realize you are here to arrest me for murder but I just don't feel you met MY burden of proof."

Churchill2004: He might, but the police would be of absolutely no help to him at that point.

Try to file with your insurance company when your car is stolen without a police report.

darkhorse23: I think that tasers need to be outlawed. Too many cops with too many self-esteem issues that shouldn't be cops in the first place have them and are using them instead of common sense and civility.

not that i'm defending what this jackass did, but better he uses a taser, which, ostensibly at least, is non-lethal, then he shoots the guy with his gun.

Crazymuthafarker: I am not overly self entitled but I am also not going to kneel down and take it in the ass for a guy who took some community college courses to get a badge and gun.

So you have a sense of superiority over law enforcement personnel..? I wonder how many Community College grads there are on Fark who would take issue with that statement.

The burden of proof is on them.

Actually, no. That happens in court. Or did you skip Civics class that day?

That is precisely what happened when I got my first ticket. Turns out my speedometer was out of whack. I took the hit and had it fixed.

So you didn't initially take responsibility to make sure your vehicle was in proper running order? Why didn't you have your car fully checked out before you took it on the road?


See, these are just small items in the "social contract" we all sign onto when we decide to enjoy the privileges of driving.

As for this wannabe-hippie in his minivan... I'm just sorry there weren't more volts in that taser. Scorch marks make a better impression.

/races cars
//on tracks
///fan of Tom Swift

Highroller48: ...every jurisdiction with any common sense hasn't done it in YEARS.

Interesting, and I haven't earned myself a ticket in years, either, but every one I have ever received said "Promise to appear" above the signature. I once asked a cop about this.

Cop: Sign here.
Me: What does it mean when I sign this?
Cop: By signing, you acknowledge receipt of this ticket, and you promise to appear in court or forfeit bail.
Me: What if I don't sign it?
Cop: Then I have to arrest you and take you to jail to wait for your court appearance.
Me: (signs)

The Taser: when your verbal judo just won't cut it.