Panhandling:

Please help them by doing the following:

· If you see someone panhandling on a roadway, at an intersection, or at a business, call the Police. We will come out, identify the person, and determine if they have any criminal history and offer alternative resources and options for their situation.

· Don’t give these people money. Every time you do, you are contributing to the problem not the cure.

· Donate to a local shelter. That will be far more beneficial to these people than by you giving them cash and the shelters accept a wide variety of donations besides money.

· Report immediately, any threats or intimidation displayed by a panhandler. This will not be tolerated!

Comments(0)

—–Original Message—–
Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 2009 8:18 PM
To: info@coptalk.info

Subject: breaking and entering

If I am a co owner of a house and do not physically live in the house but the co owner does and changes the locks. If I return to the house and break in physically can I be charged with a crime?

Our Replies:

Let me preface this with we are not lawyers and would never pretend to be, so check this with one before you do anything. Civil matters like this are usually handled by lawyers then the street cops get to be there as a standby when the warring parties clash.

Yes, even if you co-own the home, you cant break in if you do not live there but someone else does. We run into that a lot with rental properties where the owner of a home feels they have a right to enter the home without the renters permission. If you DID live there and own the home, you can break in, break your own things, whatever you want to do. But NOT living there is where the problem is. Yes, you could be charged with a crime for breaking into a home where someone else lives, even if you co-own it. You do not live there and someone else does so you can not break in. If you did live there, had belongings there, and he changed the locks to keep you out, then you would have a right to break in (although it would be better to call the police to assist you). Again, the fact that you do not live in the house but he does is where the problem lies.   

You didn’t give many details about the arrangement of who was supposed to be living in the home; if the other co-owner just moved in without discussing it with you, if you were supposed to share the home, if it was supposed to be a rental etc…..This becomes more of a civil issue where you will have to go to court to settle any issues.

There are a lot of laws regarding landlord / tenant / property disputes so check with the civil department of your local courts or seek advice from an attorney that specializes in property disputes to see what your options are.

And Additional:

Its not against the law to damage your own property – but it is against the law to enter someone else’s residence even if you own it.

That’s why there are landlord / tenant laws in place. Even though you both own the house, the person who has established residency at the house will have more rights than the owner not living there. Although the other person changed the locks, you still should be given keys as a co-owner so that you can enter the house in case of emergency. If the other person isn’t agreeable to that – I’d contact a civil or real estate attorney and let them handle it for you.

Thanks for writing and good luck to you.

Jim Lambert

Comments(0)

—–Original Message—–
Sent: Thursday, August 27, 2009 9:34 PM
To: info@coptalk.info
Subject: Running Radar

Is it legal for the police to run radar on a 4 lane highway (2 lanes north & 2 lanes south) after dark without having any lights of any kind on? I have seen the local city police and sheriff doing this in northern West Virginia.

Our Reply:

George,

You asked a simple question (thank you) and it can be answered in 3 words… "yes it’s legal".

Just as with motorist who don’t slow down at night – neither does traffic enforcement and it’s probably safe to say those officers sitting in the dark working radar have probably gotten a lot of intoxicated drivers off the highway just from working traffic enforcement. Those officers you see are more than likely using laser devices which are much more accurate than traditional radar units. The number of lanes on a highway running in either direction is not a factor. The lasers are extremely accurate and have a very long range. Our advice? Stay within 10 mph of the posted speed limit and that will usually keep you out of traffic court!

Stay safe – and thanks for your question

Jim Lambert
Coptalk

Comments(0)

—–Original Message—–
Sent: Monday, August 24, 2009 9:57 PM
To: info@coptalk.info

Subject: the wall agility

Hello,
I was just wondering if there is a better technique to getting over the six foot wall? I got over all three , but missed my time by three seconds. How can I speed my time up so that i get over all three walls in under 15 seconds. i have been running, is there anything else. please help if possible.

Our Replies:

There is no "one" technique that works for everybody. One technique may work for some while another technique works for others. Some run at the wall and then plant a foot on the wall as they jump to help propel themselves up and over. I’ve seen others jump or hop up at the bottom of the wall and use arm strength to pull themselves up and over. With most of the techniques, once you get up high enough, hook a leg over the wall and use your leg and arm strength to help pull your body over the wall. Watch others and practice several different ways to see what works best for you. Good luck.  

3 words….

practice
practice
practice….
running is one thing –

the wall is another…
practice on the wall just as much as you run.
My bet is you’ll see improvement in a weeks time!

Best of luck to you

Jim Lambert
Coptalk

Comments(0)