Wanna Be Cop...I mean Photographer Stops Suspect

[steveincowtown]

Fox 4 DFW is reporting that a "Photographer" helped intercept a fleeing suspect.

A photographer who had:

#1> Police grade dash cam installed in his car (you can see the reflection in the front window).

#2> Was driving a vehicle that looks like a squad car, and has a push bumper.

#3> Flashing overheads (and maybe a siren, can't quite tell).

#4> Police scanner.

Give me a break. There is a 100% chance he is a full time wannabe cop and may occasionally take photos.

http://www.myfoxdfw.com/story/22861961/ ... e-suspects" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[jayinsat]

Another male suspect jumped out in front of a FOX 4 photographer's vehicle with his hands in the air. The photographer ordered him to get on the ground and flagged down officers.

I wonder if news station photographers vehicles are always decked out that way?

[anygunanywhere]

DId he have a photographer's badge? It is not a valid response if he does not have a badge.

Anygunanywhere

[steveincowtown]

Another male suspect jumped out in front of a FOX 4 photographer's vehicle with his hands in the air. The photographer ordered him to get on the ground and flagged down officers.

I wonder if news station photographers vehicles are always decked out that way?

On the newscast that don't call him a "Fox 4" photographer, I wonder if that is a typo. If a photographer did stop a suspect, and he was employed by me, it would be his last day on the job. Way to much liability exposure.

[steveincowtown]

Another male suspect jumped out in front of a FOX 4 photographer's vehicle with his hands in the air. The photographer ordered him to get on the ground and flagged down officers.

I wonder if news station photographers vehicles are always decked out that way?

He must be a freelance guy, as all the local news stations are claiming him as "their" photographer.

http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Chase- ... 06861.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

NBC 5's photographer was following the chase and pulled in behind a nearby shopping center

[Keith B]

Fox4 and NBC5 contract to the same helicopter company for their aerial video. Maybe this guy works for that company? I know they do ground work as well when they are not flying.

[texanjoker]

Nice dash lights.... I do not like how people in TX can have those lights are there cars w/o being the police or fire, but hey this is TX....

[steveincowtown]

Nice dash lights.... I do not like how people in TX can have those lights are there cars w/o being the police or fire, but hey this is TX....

(Off Topic)

Texanjoker, and this why there should be no requirement to show CHL and a greatly reduced authority to disarm. Fake cop pulls me over. Being the good CHL'er I am I had him my CHL and License. Fake cope tells me he is going to disarm me. Fake cop now has my gun. Bad. Bad. Bad.

[JJVP]

DId he have a photographer's badge? It is not a valid response if he does not have a badge.

Anygunanywhere

Maybe he had a sash or a tiara.

[cb1000rider]

#2> Was driving a vehicle that looks like a squad car, and has a push bumper.

When I was in college, my brother bought an ex-County Sheriff Caprice (Gold color) with the LT-1. I drove it for a few weeks and I routinely got LEO waves and clearly it was accepted as an LEO vehicle.
No lights, no markings other than the teardrop spotlight... He did install a 6-sp manual in it, which made it fun to drive, but that's a story for another forum.

I'm a Ford guy, but just can't bring myself to buy a Crown Vic... I did threaten my wife with it a few times, mainly in jest...

[anygunanywhere]

I'm a Ford guy, but just can't bring myself to buy a Crown Vic.

Finally. Something about you I can agree with. About Fords anyway. Don't have a Vic either. Nice car but doesn't fit my lifestyle.



Anygunanywhere

[gthaustex]

I'm a little confused...the dashcam video was from the photographers car. Were the flashing red lights on the photog car and not a LEO vehicle behind him? If they were on the photog car, how can he legally do that, given that I found the following:

Texas Transportation Code § 547.305

§ 547.305. RESTRICTIONS ON USE OF LIGHTS. (a) A motor
vehicle lamp or illuminating device, other than a headlamp,
spotlamp, auxiliary lamp, turn signal lamp, or emergency vehicle or
school bus warning lamp, that projects a beam with an intensity
brighter than 300 candlepower shall be directed so that no part of
the high-intensity portion of the beam strikes the roadway at a
distance of more than 75 feet from the vehicle.
(b) Except as expressly authorized by law, a person may not
operate or move equipment or a vehicle, other than a police vehicle,
with a lamp or device that displays a red light visible from
directly in front of the center of the equipment or vehicle. (c) A person may not operate a motor vehicle equipped with a
red, white, or blue beacon, flashing, or alternating light unless
the equipment is:
(1) used as specifically authorized by this chapter;
or
(2) a running lamp, headlamp, taillamp, backup lamp,
or turn signal lamp that is used as authorized by law.
(d) A vehicle may be equipped with alternately flashing
lighting equipment described by Section 547.701 or 547.702 only if
the vehicle is:
(1) a school bus;
(2) an authorized emergency vehicle;
(3) a church bus that has the words "church bus"
printed on the front and rear of the bus so as to be clearly
discernable to other vehicle operators;
(4) a tow truck while under the direction of a law
enforcement officer at the scene of an accident or while hooking up
to a disabled vehicle on a roadway; or
(5) a tow truck with a mounted light bar which has turn
signals and stop lamps in addition to those required by Sections
547.322, 547.323, and 547.324, Transportation Code.
(e) A person may not operate highway maintenance or service
equipment, including snow-removal equipment, that is not equipped
with lamps or that does not display lighted lamps as required by the
standards and specifications adopted by the Texas Department of
Transportation.
(f) In this section "tow truck" means a motor vehicle or
mechanical device that is adapted or used to tow, winch, or move a
disabled vehicle.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended
by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 380, § 1, eff. July 1, 1999.


I'm not seeing any exceptions for a photographer in his POV.....