..Something else...

I hate to destroy the haphazardly created reality of my blog. I am sure the two or three people who faithfully read the rambling poorly constructed sentences would grow quite cross at something resembling modernity encroaching the sentence construction. Rest assured this is a one time sort of thing, because I really find my life to be mundane and it’s more fun trying to make it sound like I am an opium sot, but I am really annoyed right now. I received a ticket, wrongfully so I might add, but try as I might to give it that light touch to be worthy if you will, of my blog, failed. Hence this forward and all the emails with my correspondence to the Florida Highway patrol. So read away, gentle readers and be amazed at their inefficacy.


I was driving on Victory Garden dr to chick filla,I stopped at Cals lane and turned right on to the lane.I had looked forward, looked to my right and looked forward one last time before beginning the process of turning. Officer R.M. Martina flashed his lights before I even started to turn. I pulled over, the officer asked do I know why I am being pulled over. I responded that I did not. Officer R.M. Martina accused me of running the stop sign.I explained to the officer that my car came to a complete stop, that I looked to my right looked forward and looked again to the right before turning. I explained that I had done this in approximately three seconds. The officer looked down at his watch and said, Oh really. Let's count. One. two. three. no , no you didn't. I don't appreciate first of all being called a liar, and I certainly don't appreciate the amount of sarcasm used by the officer. I completely understand the stresses put upon our law enforcement officers, but that does not excuse this behavior. I have never had a moving violation, never had a speeding ticket, the last ticket I was written was nearly six years ago when my I hit someone from behind on a rainy day. I am aware of how dangerous cars are and make every effort to lesson any dangerous impact that I might have on others. I treated this officer with the respect that he should have been afforded but he was incredibly sarcastic and rude. When this incident was over I thanked the officer and he walked off with out even acknowledging me as a human being. I am not certain if he had his dashboard camera turned off and felt emboldened but I find this officers lack of respect he shows is unfathomable. I will be looking into contact his immediate supervisor and bringing this incident further up the chain of command if necessary. I work in customer service and I understand how important good manners are, no body deserves to be treated so rudely especially by someone misusing their authority.
Respectfully
D


Thank you for contacting the Executive Director regarding your recent experience with Trooper Martina during a traffic stop. Courtesy and professionalism are very important to me and I have asked that this incident be thoroughly reviewed. Again, thank you for calling this to my attention.
Julie Jones
Executive Director


Dear Mr. D,
I conducted a supervisor’s inquiry into your complaint on Trooper Ryan Martina. I tried calling you 4 times and did not reach you. I used your email as the complaint. I determined your complaint was “unfounded” which means there is no evidence to support your complaint. Attached is Florida Highway Patrol Policy 3.03.06.A.19 which outlines dealing with the public.
Lieutenant Patrick Murphy
Troop Shift Commander
Florida Highway Patrol



Mr. Murphy,
I appoligize for not providing my work number, that was my fault. I saw that you had called when I checked my phone at lunch but no phone number was left on your voice message. I would like to know how you determined my complaint was unfounded. When I got the ticket, was the dashboard camera recording the audio? I would also like to have your supervisor name so I can raise this question to them becuase leaving your phone number on the last mesage before you decide I can't be reached is unprofessional. I have saved these voicemails and would me more then happy to provide them to you and your superviosrs if that would be helpfull.
Respectfully
D

Mr. D,
When I received your complaint I called Trooper Martina in and spoke to him about what had occurred. He said he received complaints from residents about people not stopping for the stop signs at Victory Gardens Drive and Cals Lane. He stated you did not stop at the stop sign and he turned his lights on to stop you after you made the turn. You stopped and when he told you why he stopped you, you told him you did stop at the stop sign for three seconds. I asked him if he said “Oh really. Let’s count. One. Two. Three. No, no you didn’t.” He said he did not say that. He said he did look at his watch for three seconds without counting and when three seconds was up he said he told you that was how long you said you were stopped, but you did not stop at the stop sign. I asked him if after he gave you the citation he just walked away without acknowledging you. He told me he said “drive safely”.
There is no video of the traffic stop. Trooper Martina’s car does not have a video camera. Most of our cars do not have video cameras. With no video, no witnesses and two differing versions as to what occurred and what was said I have no choice but to classify it as unfounded. I have nothing to support either side. A copy of your complaint, along with my inquiry will be placed in Trooper Martina’s file. The issue of whether or not you stopped at the stop sign is a issue to be resolved in court if you choose to pursue that. I have cc’d this email to my supervisor, Major Timothy Ashley, who have I kept informed throughout this whole process.
Lieutenant Patrick Murphy

Mr. Murphy
You have made only the bare minimum of efforts to contact me. Calling four times from a restricted line with no way to get back in touch with you is not an honest attempt to get the other side, it shows a great deal of indifference and shows that you have not taken my concerns seriously.
I again ask you how you my complaints are unfounded when you have made little effort to contact me. Both you and Officer Martina are to be held to a higher standard because you are officers of the law. I can certainly understand that you deal with complaints about your performance all the time, but that does not excuse the utter lack of manners and consideration that both you and Officer Martina have shown. I have spent my entire professional life dealing with customers and if I made such little effort to contact a client I would have long since lost my job. You are held to a higher standard and should act accordingly, calling me from a restricted line as I said earlier, with no way to reach you is a failure of the Florida highway Patrol policy 3.03.06.A which states members will be courteous to the public, Members will be tactful in the performance of their duties. In no way were or are your actions considered tactful, you leave one message with indifference in your tone, a tone of voice that says my request is somehow bothering you. I checked my email at 4pm yesterday, I saw that you classified my complaint as unfounded, and when I turned my phone I finally get a message from you with a way to get in touch. The idea that you honestly were committed to the idea of an inquiry is laughable, because you never made an honest attempt.
I work in a call center, and it is not possible for me to answer my phone during business hours, I am more then willing to talk but it would have to be after 5pm when I am no longer on the road . The best thing this ordeal has taught is how to be a better professional, and for that I thank you. I can say that I am now even more committed to delivering quality customer service, because it is so frustrating to deal with someone who clearly views my presence as a nuisance. There is never any excuse for Officer Martina or you to show me such a lack of respect and professionalism. I doubt that officer Martina would have treated me so rudely if he knew that he was bring recorded.
Respectfully
D


I left another message on your voice mail at about 12:45 today for you to call me if you wanted to discuss the complaint and findings. I left a number for you to call me at. I would like to hear the recording you have.
Lieutenant Patrick Murphy

Please call me at xxx-xxxx so we can meet and discuss your complaint.
Lieutenant Patrick Murphy
Troop Shift Commander
Florida Highway Patrol

So ends my tale gentle readers, I would have fought the ticket, but honestly the odds are stacked against me, and as Florida is a service based economy with no industry of its own most of its revenue comes on a local level comes from fleecing its taxpayers through speed traps and ticketing. Expect more of it as the National Economy staggers and the politicians want to only continue to protect the rich, politics aside I see no reason to contact the guy, an apology from the original officer would have be nice, and not getting a ticket in the first place would have been better. The only way I would meet this guy is if he offered to pay me back the cost of the ticket and driving school. I know that everyone says they are innocent, but in this instance I am. I only drive when I have to, and when I do, I am slow and extremely cautious. Driving isn’t something that brings me much joy, it’s a dread filled experience, and the thing that bugs me is why FHP was on Victory Gardeen Road in the first place; because The function of the FHP is to the safety of State Roads, U.S Highways, and Interstate Highways in Florida.