3 thumbs down to City of Centennial Sheriff's Dept.

[KAPA]

Stopped by today at the Fireworks stand on Arapahoe Road just West of Parker road... Driving west down Arapahoe, I almost made the direct left turn right into the parking area but after the car in front of me did it, I realized it was a double yellow line. No traffic or anything so I almost did it but instead I drove about a half mile down the road and did a proper U-turn even though the guy in front of me took the short cut. I have a thing about following traffic rules. Anyway, when I make it back and turn in, I see a car from the City of Centennial Sheriff's Dept writing a ticket for the guy that crossed the double lines by directly turning left from Arapahoe in to the fireworks shop. After the sheriff went back to his spot that apparently he has been at all day long, I talked to the guy that got the ticket. $70 and this particular LEO decided that it was his duty to give these folks a 2 minute lecture about how fireworks are dangerous and they shouldn't be buying them.

After making a comment to the employees running the fireworks stand that the Sheriff is making sure things are extra safe here at the Fireworks stand, I was told that he has been sitting there most of the day. I guess he wrote many tickets for this same infraction by the time noon came around.

Now I understand it is his job to enforce laws but to me this looked like he was specifically targeting people buying fireworks, especially when you combine it with the lecture that he supposedly hands out. I mean i could be wrong and next month he will sit there all day long on this hidden road that no one ever really drives down, but this just looked like crappy law enforcement to me.

On another note, since when does a city have a Sheriff's office and why isn't Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office in charge of this area?

[ChunkyMonkey]

2/10 and city of centennial doesn't have it's own police dept. it got to be Arapahoe Sheriff. ;)

[micah360]

Glad I was coming from the west today when I stopped in, or I might have done the left turn thing there too!

[Squeeze]

Yes, Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office is in charge of enforcing laws for the city of Centennial. I agree, citing people for turning on the double-yellow is legit, however, handing out a "Fireworks are bad" lecture is bullshit. When I was a cop, they got the ticket, explained it to them and left...done. Doing anything more than that almost always guaranteed a complaint. Regardless, I hope you had a good day.

[DingleBerns]

Sounds to me like there were complaints about traffic so he was assigned there (traffic units usually work one place all day after a problem area has been identified whether it be accidents or violations). I never lecture people, I just say what they did wrong and give them the ticket. To each their own...

[sniper7]

Oh well you didn't get a ticket and it sounds like you got your fireworks. Seems like a good day to me!

[ray1970]

If it was me that got the ticket for the illegal turn I would have gladly taken it since I was in the wrong for doing it.

If the officer felt it was his duty at the time to remind me about the possible illegality of using fireworks I would thank him for the warning.

If he truly started preaching to me about the dangers of fireworks and I felt the lecture was demeaning or inappropriate I would probably help him out by remaining him doughnuts are bad for him or make sure he knows the dangers of tucking that radar gun between his legs.

[Tinelement]

Traffic laws are merely suggestions. Kinda like our new gun laws. But I guess if they save one innocent child.......

I would have been laughing my arse off during a ticket and lecture like that! [ROFL1]

[Bailey Guns]

Really?

[JM Ver. 2.0]

Stopped by today at the Fireworks stand on Arapahoe Road just West of Parker road... Driving west down Arapahoe, I almost made the direct left turn right into the parking area but after the car in front of me did it, I realized it was a double yellow line. No traffic or anything so I almost did it but instead I drove about a half mile down the road and did a proper U-turn even though the guy in front of me took the short cut. I have a thing about following traffic rules. Anyway, when I make it back and turn in, I see a car from the City of Centennial Sheriff's Dept writing a ticket for the guy that crossed the double lines by directly turning left from Arapahoe in to the fireworks shop. After the sheriff went back to his spot that apparently he has been at all day long, I talked to the guy that got the ticket. $70 and this particular LEO decided that it was his duty to give these folks a 2 minute lecture about how fireworks are dangerous and they shouldn't be buying them.

After making a comment to the employees running the fireworks stand that the Sheriff is making sure things are extra safe here at the Fireworks stand, I was told that he has been sitting there most of the day. I guess he wrote many tickets for this same infraction by the time noon came around.

Now I understand it is his job to enforce laws but to me this looked like he was specifically targeting people buying fireworks, especially when you combine it with the lecture that he supposedly hands out. I mean i could be wrong and next month he will sit there all day long on this hidden road that no one ever really drives down, but this just looked like crappy law enforcement to me.

On another note, since when does a city have a Sheriff's office and why isn't Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office in charge of this area?


Since you seem to think the rules some how don't apply other than when it's in your best interest, I'll just leave you with this.... [facepalm]

[kidicarus13]

Give me the ticket or give me the lecture. To give both is poor form.

[spqrzilla]

This is an outrage, I hope that we organize an immense protest of Arapahoe County Sheriff's department.

Uh, not.

[Aloha_Shooter]

Ticket for the illegal turn, lecture for engaging in a different (possibly illegal depending on location) activity when the whole state is one big tinderbox ... I'll give him a golf clap and this rant 1/10.

[hurley842002]

This is an outrage, I hope that we organize an immense protest of Arapahoe County Sheriff's department.

Uh, not.

LOL

[eneranch]

I have the utmost respect for all Law Enforcement Personnel, but once the lecture commenced, the first words out of my mouth would have been " Am I free to go now Deputy??"

[JM Ver. 2.0]

I have the utmost respect for all Law Enforcement Personnel, but once the lecture commenced, the first worlds out of my mouth would have been " Am I free to go now Deputy??"

..... :: Looks at user title :: .....


I've learned my lesson.

Sent from my teepee using smoke signals.

[funkymonkey1111]

Fireworks lecture one day, your guns the next... Remember, he knows better than you because he wears that badge! Or, he expects to be called "sir" like JM, here.

[Jesus-With-A-.45]

Fireworks lecture one day, your guns the next... Remember, he knows better than you because he wears that badge! Or, he expects to be called "sir" like JM, here. HOW DARE YOU QUESTION THE POLICE! THEY ARE ALWAYS RIGHT & YOU ARE ALWAYS WRONG! YOU MOST DO EVERYTHING THEY SAY, TAKE EVERY WORTHLESS LECTURE THEY GIVE & ALLOW THEM TO PISS & SHIT ALL OVER YOUR RIGHTS ANYTIME THEY SEE FIT! HOW DARE YOU DISRESPECT OR QUESTION THEIR RIGHTEOUS AUTHORITY! COP HATER! :)

[spongejosh]

If you're too stupid to realize you can't just wing a left turn across 3 lanes of traffic and a double yellow in a 55mph zone, maybe you need to be lectured on fireworks safety. He could have asked the officer if he was being detained and then walked away.

[Monky]

So a business sets up in a location not accessible from one side of the road (legally).. people who fail to understand that their want of fireworks, does not over ride the legality of an illegal left turn over a double yellow. The cops are generating revenue, by the blatant disregard for traffic laws.. sure they're taking advantage of stupidity.. but Darwin is right.

OP saw the double yellow and chose to go further down the road costing him a few minutes of his time.. The ticketed individual thought he had the right. The cop proved him wrong.

I don't see the problem with a lecture when a good portion of the state has already been set on fire. If you're dumb enough to make an illegal turn in front of a cop, you're dumb enough to set something on fire.

[Rabid]

At least it was not in Greenwood Village. They like to pull people over 3 patrol cars deep, for moral support i guess. You did the the right thing and did not get a ticket, keep up the good work. He did an illegal turn on a very busy road and got a ticket, maybe he will learn from that. As for the officer taking 2 minutes of his time oh well.

[BushMasterBoy]

I thought it meant no passing. So if you see a cop getting his ass beat by a bunch of illegals, make sure you drive by and turn around legally so you don't get a ticket! And yeah I have stopped and helped a officer rolling around on the ground with a suspect before...

[RonMexico]

I don't understand why the firework stand didn't post someone holding a sign next to where the cop was parked.

[ChunkyMonkey]

I thought it meant no passing. So if you see a cop getting his ass beat by a bunch of illegals, make sure you drive by and turn around legally so you don't get a ticket! And yeah I have stopped and helped a officer rolling around on the ground with a suspect before...

You is smart!

[Bailey Guns]

Must be a slow day for things to complain about.

[brutal]

Arapahoe SO should come and teach Parker PD how to control that double yellow line crossing shit. I get so tired of the arrogant idiots doing that at the Walgreens/Murdoch's location on E. Lincoln and Parker Rd.

[JMBD2112]

Arapahoe SO should come and teach Parker PD how to control that double yellow line crossing shit. I get so tired of the arrogant idiots doing that at the Walgreens/Murdoch's location on E. Lincoln and Parker Rd.

No kidding, I see it everyday when I leave the shop. I have seen a few people pulled over in murdocks parking lot though, but by Douglas county. Another that gets me is people driving 55 down drandsfeldt right in front if the police department.

[hollohas]

Why any of you morons would be buying pyrotechnic devices to use right now is beyond me. Do you really want to be the guy on 9news that is introduced as the guy who burned down all of his friends and neighbors home? Seems kind of stupid to me.

Not everyone lives in the Grasslands HBAR. Using LEGAL fireworks in a safe manner with no combustible materials nearby doesn't make a person a moron.

[hollohas]

thank God.




no living in the city does. [ROFL1]




it would burn fast out here. i imagine about anything COULD set this place ablaze. Without a doubt. Got to keep your grass short these days.

[Bailey Guns]

Got to keep your grass short these days.

Can't you buy it already cut short?

[hollohas]

Can't you buy it already cut short?

Costco can help you there.

​http://www.costco.com/CatalogSearch?storeId=10301&catalogId=10701&langId=-1&keyword=artificial+grass

[brutal]

Can't you buy it already cut short?

I wish my grass was EMO so it would cut itself.

[Bailey Guns]

Oh...lawn grass.

[KAPA]

Drove down Arapahoe again today and on the first pass the same Sheriff car had his lights on with someone pulled over. On the way back, he had assumed his position about 200 yards of the side of the road pointed at the intersection. Seems to be good business for them....

As stated, the original purpose of this thread was to point out that they specifically targeted this business. Yeah, people are breaking a traffic law, but to me, this seems to be a crappy way of getting the job done.

Anyone ever been to the Centennial Gun Club? I bet when you turned off of Arapahoe you then made a quick left onto the road in front of the store... Well guess what, same situation there as that is an illegal left turn because they never updated the painted lanes in the road when the business went in there. Wonder how long before some anti gun politician from Centennial points this out and this Sheriff sits there all day long too.

[OneGuy67]

Just an FYI for those with an interest in such things. The City of Centennial contracts their law enforcement services to the Arapahoe County Sheriff's office. It was a backdoor deal made during the planning stages of the incorporation to ensure the city planners had the support of then Sheriff Pat Sullivan as he was heavily politically connected. If the city had started its own police department at the time, it would have gutted the sheriff's office and the sheriff would have lost a lot of funding, employees and more importantly, his power.

The OP obviously has an ax to grind with the Sheriff's office and took the information concerning wha the deputy told the person pulled over as gospel instead of realizing that person may be exaggerating their contact a bit based upon their bias, the ticket, etc.

[cofi]

I didn't realize left over a double yellow was illegal

[ChadAmberg]

This is interesting: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Can_you_make_a_left_hand_turn_over_double_yellow_l ines_in_Colorado


Double yellow lines signify only NO PASSING, they are not a barricade to making a lawful left turn into a driveway or business on the opposite side of the road.

and http://www.ehow.com/info_8489482_law-yellow-lines-highway-colorado.html


Double yellow lines on any highway do not prevent you from making a turn that carries you across oncoming lanes of traffic. Unless there is a sign specifically stating you cannot make a left-hand turn, you are free to do so. Make your left-hand turn across the double yellow lines as you would make any other turn by using your turn signal in advance of your turn and allowing all oncoming traffic to pass before completing your turn.


I'm too lazy to look up the official laws on this right now...

[303sig1911]

Drivers handbook, making a left turn at a double yellow is legal, as long as there is nothing else prohibiting it and it is safe. Refer to section 10.1c PAVEMENT MARKINGS:

http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite?blobcol=urldata&blobheader=application%2Fpdf&blobkey=id&blobtable=MungoBlobs&blobwhere=1251800113662&ssbinary=true

As for the fireworks lecture, fireworks are illegal to be bought, sold (including retail stands), possessed or lighted within Centennial city limits. That stand is actually in Aurora I believe, but in Arapahoe County. Here is a friendly map of the city and all it's awkward angles.

https://www.google.com/maps/preview#!q=Centennial%2C+CO&data=!1m4!1m3!1d59499!2d-104.8833997!3d39.5999249!4m11!1m10!4m8!1m3!1d98371 !2d-104.8575216!3d39.6022395!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!1 7b1

Chances are the Sheriff setup there because most people have no idea that is not Centennial and live in Centennial and go buy fireworks. No one should have been ticketed there, but it's possible the Sheriff's dept claimed that is not an actual business entrance so it's not legal. Who knows. Hopefully it will be argued, but chances are people will just pay the fines and take the points.

[funkymonkey1111]

The OP obviously has an ax to grind

jump to conclusions much? and, yes, I'd take the word of a citizen over a cop any day of the week.

[OneGuy67]

jump to conclusions much? and, yes, I'd take the word of a citizen over a cop any day of the week.

With that statement? You bet.

[KAPA]

Haha, an axe to grind? I love most LEOs, especially Sheriffs particularly in these times. In fact, I didn't even know this department existed until this encounter.

As for the lecture, I heard part of it. The citizen just told me about too.

[JM Ver. 2.0]

Haha, an axe to grind? I love most LEOs, especially Sheriffs particularly in these times. In fact, I didn't even know this department existed until this encounter.

As for the lecture, I heard part of it. The citizen just told me about too.

[Shock]

[spongejosh]

There is a no left turn sign there so they indeed should have been ticketed.

https://www.google.com/maps?q=Centennial,+CO&ll=39.595055,-104.825937&spn=0.001397,0.003098&sll=39.6022395,-104.85752160000001&sspn=0.2031759245982862,0.35162434416717353&t=m&hnear=Centennial,+Arapahoe,+Colorado&z=19&layer=c&cbll=39.595056,-104.826132&panoid=jecBt5S54es2vOGG6g9J5A&cbp=12,223.96,,0,12.09


Drivers handbook, making a left turn at a double yellow is legal, as long as there is nothing else prohibiting it and it is safe. Refer to section 10.1c PAVEMENT MARKINGS:

http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite?blobcol=urldata&blobheader=application%2Fpdf&blobkey=id&blobtable=MungoBlobs&blobwhere=1251800113662&ssbinary=true

As for the fireworks lecture, fireworks are illegal to be bought, sold (including retail stands), possessed or lighted within Centennial city limits. That stand is actually in Aurora I believe, but in Arapahoe County. Here is a friendly map of the city and all it's awkward angles.

https://www.google.com/maps/preview#!q=Centennial%2C+CO&data=!1m4!1m3!1d59499!2d-104.8833997!3d39.5999249!4m11!1m10!4m8!1m3!1d98371 !2d-104.8575216!3d39.6022395!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!1 7b1

Chances are the Sheriff setup there because most people have no idea that is not Centennial and live in Centennial and go buy fireworks. No one should have been ticketed there, but it's possible the Sheriff's dept claimed that is not an actual business entrance so it's not legal. Who knows. Hopefully it will be argued, but chances are people will just pay the fines and take the points.